Brainstem Response Monitoring Using Repeated Sound Stimuli
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current auditory brainstem response measurement techniques face challenges in accurately comparing brainstem profiles between individuals due to high variations caused by cognitive abilities, medication effects, and the difficulty in reproducing stimuli, leading to unreliable and costly assessments that miss subtle brainstem patterns.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine lateral brainstem response state development by repeatedly presenting identical and modified sound stimuli to evoke consistent neuronal responses, allowing for real-time monitoring and comparison of brainstem activity, enabling precise detection of substance effects before the subject is aware of them, and providing a psychoacoustic profile for therapeutic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional auditory brainstem response measurement techniques are used, then hearing loss or deafness can be screened, but high variations caused by cognitive abilities and medication effects lead to unreliable comparisons between individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using each subject as their own reference. The system compares brainstem response patterns within the same subject across different conditions (e.g., before and after substance administration) rather than comparing between different subjects. This eliminates inter-subject variability caused by cognitive abilities and medication effects, making the measurement reliable and precise.
2Ease of manufacture
If unmodified click stimuli are used for brainstem response monitoring, then the screening process is simple, but the ability to detect subtle brainstem patterns and substance effects is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying stimulus parameters (such as intensity, duration, frequency) to evoke different brainstem response patterns. By changing these parameters and comparing the responses, the system can detect subtle patterns and substance effects that would be invisible with fixed, unmodified stimuli, while still maintaining a relatively simple implementation approach.
3Reliability
If repeated measurements are taken to improve reliability, then more data is obtained, but the subject may become aware of the stimuli and cognitive factors may interfere
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using rapid, repeated stimulus presentations at intervals too short for the subject to become consciously aware or for cognitive processing to interfere. The measurements are taken in quick succession, allowing multiple data points to be collected while maintaining the subject in a pre-conscious state, thus preserving pure brainstem response data while improving reliability through repetition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides accurate, reliable, and cost-effective monitoring of brainstem responses, allowing for early detection of substance effects and improved therapeutic efficiency by using the subject as their own reference, reducing noise and variability, and capturing subtle changes in brainstem activity.
Implementation Method 1
a sound stimuli generating unit is provided as operative to repeatedly send, over a period of time, a sound stimulus to a subject to evoke a population of neurons response patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and computer program are disclosed that are adapted to detect a lateral brainstem response state development of a subject over a period of time as a function of a population of neurons evoked response patterns to sound stimuli. In these a sound stimuli generating unit is operative to repeatedly send a sound stimulus to the subject to evoke the neurons response patterns. The sound stimulus comprises a first and at least a second consecutive train of sounds pulses. A detection unit is operative to detect a brainstem response signal related to the neurons response patterns, wherein a first response signal is caused by the first train of sound pulses and a second response signal is caused by the second train of sound pulses. A storage unit may be included that is operative to store information based on the brainstem response signals. Further, a control unit is operative to determine the lateral brainstem response state development based on a comparison between the first and second response signals.