Brain Signal Acquisition During Charging for Implant Storage Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable neurostimulators, such as those used for treating Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, face limitations due to their limited storage capacity, preventing continuous and periodic monitoring of brain electrical signals, which hinders timely detection of abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A method and device enabling two-way communication between a brain electrical signal acquisition device and a charging device, allowing for the transmission of acquired brain electrical data during charging, thereby releasing storage space and enabling continuous monitoring without additional patient operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large-capacity memory chip is placed inside the neurostimulator, then the storage space is increased, but the volume of the neurostimulator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into two parts: a small memory chip inside the neurostimulator for local storage and an external charging device with larger storage capacity. The neurostimulator transmits data to the external device during charging, effectively expanding storage without increasing the implant volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging device serves as an intermediary between the neurostimulator and external storage systems. It receives data from the neurostimulator during charging sessions and manages the actual storage, allowing the implant to maintain small size while achieving large-capacity storage through the intermediary device.
2Productivity
If brain electrical signals are acquired continuously, then the monitoring capability is improved, but the storage space is depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data transmission during charging sessions before the memory becomes full. By proactively transferring data to external storage during scheduled charging times, the system prevents storage depletion and maintains continuous monitoring capability without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous monitoring by transmitting data during charging periods rather than pausing acquisition. The charging process itself becomes the transmission window, allowing the system to maintain uninterrupted signal acquisition while periodically offloading data to external storage.
3Quantity of substance
If data is transmitted frequently, then the storage limitation is overcome, but the patient operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging function with the data transmission function. During the necessary charging sessions, the system automatically transmits accumulated data to external storage. This combination means patients perform only the required charging operations, and data transmission occurs passively during these sessions without requiring separate patient actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method for transmitting a brain electrical signal, and a device. The method for transmitting a brain electrical signal is applied to a brain electrical signal acquisition device associated with a patient and includes the following: establishing a two-way communication with a charging device; receiving a charging instruction sent by the charging device, and interacting with the charging device according to the charging instruction to perform charging; and in a case where the brain electrical signal acquisition device is charging, receiving a brain electrical related data fetch instruction sent by the charging device, and transmitting brain electrical related data of the patient acquired by the brain electrical signal acquisition device to the charging device according to the brain electrical related data fetch instruction.