Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation for Effortful Mental Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems for treating mental disorders like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are limited by their open-loop nature, which fails to address the dynamic nature of neuropsychiatric illnesses and lacks accurate targeting of specific brain areas, leading to mixed clinical trial results and inefficiencies in symptom management.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop DBS system that uses monitoring sensors and hardware processors to detect effortful mental states by analyzing neural activity from multiple brain regions, employing classification models to determine when stimulation is needed, and providing real-time deep brain stimulation to augment brain function during specific mental tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional open-loop DBS delivers constant stimulation, then continuous therapy is provided, but it cannot address the dynamic nature of neuropsychiatric illness and lacks responsiveness to changing symptoms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop DBS system that continuously monitors neural activity patterns and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust stimulation parameters. The system detects biomarkers of neuropsychiatric states in real-time and modulates stimulation delivery accordingly, enabling responsiveness to changing symptoms while maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated monitoring and control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static constant stimulation to dynamic adaptive stimulation by continuously adjusting stimulation parameters based on real-time detection of neural activity patterns. This allows the therapy to adapt to the dynamic nature of neuropsychiatric illnesses, matching the temporal variability of symptoms with corresponding adjustments in stimulation intensity and timing.
2Measurement precision
If monopolar field delivery is used for stimulation, then implantation is simplified, but accurate targeting of specific brain areas after implantation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-contact electrode array that segments the stimulation field into multiple discrete regions. By selectively activating specific contacts or combinations of contacts, the system can precisely target specific brain areas post-implantation while maintaining a relatively simple implantation procedure. The segmented electrode design allows for flexible configuration of stimulation fields without requiring complex surgical procedures.
3Speed
If fMRI is used to monitor brain activity for closed-loop therapy, then regional connectivity differences can be detected, but the system is not portable and has poor temporal resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fMRI system with an electrophysiological monitoring approach using intracranial electrodes that directly record neural activity. This substitution provides superior temporal resolution by capturing rapid neural dynamics in real-time, while maintaining the ability to detect functional connectivity through analysis of synchronized neural oscillations and cross-correlation of signals from multiple electrode contacts.
4Adaptability or versatility
If DBS uses a single stimulation regime, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot address heterogeneous sets of symptoms in patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal DBS system that can address multiple symptom types and neuropsychiatric conditions through a single multi-contact electrode array. By programmatically activating different contact combinations and adjusting stimulation parameters, the system can target various brain regions and address heterogeneous symptom profiles without requiring multiple separate devices or complex surgical procedures.
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 allows for tailored and immediate therapy adjustments based on the patient's mental state, potentially improving treatment efficacy by targeting specific brain regions and tasks, reducing latency in therapy responses, and enhancing brain function during effortful mental activities.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of monitoring sensors, each of the plurality of monitoring sensors configured to capture signals indicative of neural activity from one or more regions of a subject's brain using one or more contacts
Implementation Method 2
an implanted stimulator configured to provide stimulation to a region of the subject's brain adjacent to the implanted stimulator
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, mechanisms (which can, for example, include systems, methods, and media) for detecting an effortful mental state providing real-time deep brain stimulation to enhance performance of effortful mental tasks are provided. In some embodiments, system for detecting and facilitating effortful mental states is provided, the system comprising: monitoring sensors to capture neural activity from a subject's brain; an implanted stimulator to provide electrical stimulation to the subject's brain; a hardware processor programmed to: correlate activity in a first and second region of the subject brain during task performance; correlate activity in the first and second regions during task non performance; train a support vector machine (SVM) using the correlations as first and second class examples; and provide stimulation to augment brain function when the SVM indicates, based on activity in the first and second regions, the subject is in the mental state.