Implanted Brain-Machine Interface Data Routing for Electrode Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing the number of electrodes for detecting electroencephalograms in brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) leads to higher communication data rates, which restricts the design of implanted internal devices.
Innovation Solution
Implement a system where data from a group of N electrodes are transmitted at non-real-time intervals, and a subset of M electrodes with priority for BMI control are identified to match the communication section's data transmission capability, allowing real-time transmission only for these electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of electrodes is increased to detect electroencephalograms more accurately, then the brain condition detection precision is improved, but the communication data rate increases which restricts the design of the internal device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the N electrodes into multiple groups, with N1 electrodes dedicated to real-time BMI control and N2 electrodes used for non-real-time data transmission. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high detection precision through all N electrodes while managing communication load by separating real-time and non-real-time data streams, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the communication data rate based on whether real-time BMI control is requested. When real-time control is needed, only N1 electrodes transmit data at high rate; when not needed, N2 electrodes transmit at lower rate. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maintain flexibility in design while achieving high precision through the full electrode array.
2Productivity
If the communication data rate is increased to transmit data from all electrodes in real time, then the data transmission capability is improved, but the power consumption and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting data from only N1 electrodes at real-time rates when BMI control is requested, while N2 electrodes transmit at reduced rates during non-real-time periods. This partial transmission approach maintains sufficient productivity for the required function while significantly reducing power consumption compared to transmitting all N electrodes continuously at full rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between real-time data transmission periods (when BMI control is requested) and non-real-time periods (when batch transmission occurs). This periodic modulation of transmission intensity allows the device to achieve necessary productivity during critical periods while reducing average power consumption through lower-rate transmission during non-critical periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
An internal device (1) is implanted in a body (300). A control unit (6) allows a communication unit (5) to wirelessly transmit, to an external device (200), data corresponding to a brainwave signal which is from the body (300) and is detected through a group (2) of N (N being at least 2) electrodes. When the communication unit (5) receives a designation signal designating a group (2a) of M electrodes, M being less than N, data corresponding to a brainwave signal which is from the body (300) and is detected through the group (2a) of M electrodes is transmitted in real time to the external device (200) by the communication unit (5).