Intracranial Electrodes for Brain State Modeling and Adaptive Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional techniques for measuring and stimulating brain activity are limited in their ability to determine suitable stimulation parameters and accurately model complex neural systems, often resulting in inefficient and potentially erroneous over- or under-stimulation due to their surface-level measurements and lack of sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

Intracranial electrodes are used to obtain high-sensitivity measurements of brain activity, enabling the generation of accurate brain state and functional models, which facilitate closed-loop adaptive therapeutic systems that adjust stimulation parameters for precise modulation of brain states, reducing the risk of over-stimulation and improving cognitive and therapeutic outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional surface-level measurement techniques are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that includes signal filtering, artifact removal, and feature extraction components. This intermediary layer processes the raw measurements from sensors to produce refined brain state parameters, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring the sensors themselves to be overly complex. The intermediary processing bridge between simple sensors and accurate measurements resolves the contradiction between device simplicity and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with computational approaches. Instead of using highly complex physical sensors to achieve high precision, the system uses standard sensors combined with sophisticated signal processing algorithms, machine learning models, and computational methods to extract accurate brain state information. This substitution of mechanical complexity with computational intelligence resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional stimulation techniques are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where brain state measurements continuously inform stimulation parameter adjustments. The system measures brain activity, processes the data to determine current brain state, and automatically adjusts stimulation parameters in real-time based on the measured state. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable and safe stimulation by preventing over-stimulation while maintaining ease of operation through automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment of stimulation parameters based on real-time brain state monitoring. The closed-loop system automatically determines appropriate stimulation levels without requiring constant manual intervention or complex operator judgment, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation. The system serves itself by using its own measurements to control its own stimulation output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If surface-level measurements are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the need for complex, hard-to-manufacture high-precision sensors with standard, easily manufactured sensors combined with sophisticated computational processing. The system achieves high measurement precision not through complex sensor hardware that would be difficult to manufacture, but through software-based signal processing, artifact removal, and feature extraction algorithms that work with standard sensor outputs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes raw sensor data to produce high-precision brain state measurements. This intermediary processing layer includes components for noise filtering, artifact removal, and feature extraction that transform ordinary sensor measurements into precise brain state parameters, thereby achieving high measurement precision with easily manufactured sensor hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If traditional stimulation parameters are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from static, fixed stimulation parameters to dynamic, adaptive parameters that change in real-time based on measured brain state. The stimulation system continuously adapts its parameters (amplitude, frequency, duration) according to the current brain state, making the system more reliable by responding to actual physiological conditions rather than relying on predetermined fixed parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230363690A1Systems, methods, and devices for intracranial measurement, stimulation, and generation of brain state models

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 STIMSCIENCE INC

AI summary

Provided are systems, methods, and devices for intracranial measurement, stimulation, and generation of brain state models. Systems include a plurality of intracranial electrodes configured to be coupled to a brain of a user. Systems further include an interface configured to obtain measurements from the plurality of intracranial electrodes. Systems include a first processing device including one or more processors configured to generate a plurality of brain state parameters characterizing one or more features of at least one brain state of the user, and a second processing device including one or more processors configured to generate at least one model of the brain of the user based, at least in part, on the plurality of brain state parameters and the measurements. Systems include a controller including one or more processors configured to generate a control signal based on the plurality of brain state parameters and the at least one model.