Neurological Stimulation Timing Controller Artifact Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Closed-loop neurological stimulation systems face challenges in reducing stimulation-induced artifact signals, which are generated when electrical stimulation and signal acquisition occur simultaneously, leading to interference in physiological signals like EEG.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a sensing assembly for acquiring brain activity signals, a stimulation assembly for neural stimulation, and a timing controller to control the timing of signal acquisition and stimulation such that they occur at different times, reducing overlap and thus minimizing artifact signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If stimulation and signal acquisition occur simultaneously, then the system can operate continuously with high productivity, but stimulation-induced artifact signals interfere with physiological signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic alternating cycles between stimulation epochs and signal acquisition epochs. The timing controller switches between delivering stimulation signals and acquiring physiological signals in discrete time intervals, creating a periodic pattern that prevents simultaneous occurrence of both operations and eliminates stimulation-induced artifact contamination.
2Force
If stimulation amplitude is increased to improve therapeutic effect, then treatment efficacy improves, but artifact signal amplitude increases and interferes with physiological signal detection
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful artifact signal generated by stimulation is extracted and isolated from the physiological signal acquisition process by implementing separate time epochs. The timing controller ensures that stimulation signals are delivered only during stimulation epochs when signal acquisition is inactive, thereby removing the artifact contamination source from the measurement process while allowing high stimulation amplitudes to be used during dedicated treatment periods.
3Loss of information
If signal acquisition is performed continuously to monitor brain activity, then measurement completeness improves, but power consumption increases and stimulation artifacts contaminate the signals
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic signal acquisition during dedicated acquisition epochs rather than continuous monitoring. The timing controller activates the sensing assembly only during these scheduled intervals when no stimulation is occurring, thereby reducing overall power consumption while still capturing brain activity data at regular intervals. This periodic approach balances measurement completeness with energy conservation in implantable devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for neuromonitoring a subject are described. The system may include a stimulation assembly including a pulse generator that generates one or more stimulus waveforms; an electrode array coupled to the stimulation assembly and configured to deliver a stimulation signal to nervous system of the subject; a sensing assembly adapted to acquire a signal from a subject indicative of the subject's brain activity; a power supply configured to supply power to the stimulation assembly and the sensing assembly; and a timing controller programmed to control the use of the power supply by the stimulation assembly and the sensing assembly, said timing controller being programmed to control the time the sensing assembly is powered to acquire the signal to be substantially different than the time the stimulation assembly is powered to stimulate the subject.