Neural interface methods and apparatus to provide artificial sensory capabilities to a subject

摘要

Embodiments of neural interfaces according to the present invention comprise sensor modules for sensing environmental attributes beyond the natural sensory capability of a subject, and communicating the attributes wirelessly to an external (ex-vivo) portable module attached to the subject. The ex-vivo module encodes and communicates the attributes via a transcutaneous inductively coupled link to an internal (in-vivo) module implanted within the subject. The in-vivo module converts the attribute information into electrical neural stimuli that are delivered to a peripheral nerve bundle within the subject, via an implanted electrode. Methods and apparatus according to the invention incorporate implantable batteries to power the in-vivo module allowing for transcutaneous bidirectional communication of low voltage (e.g. on the order of 5 volts) encoded signals as stimuli commands and neural responses, in a robust, low-error rate, communication channel with minimal effects to the subjects' skin.

主权项

1. A neural interface apparatus to provide an artificial sensory capability to a subject, the artificial sensory capability providing information to the subject obtained from sensors operating beyond the natural sensory capabilities of the subject; the apparatus comprising:
a sensor module for sensing, from an external environment within which the subject is operating, one or more attributes of the external environment, the one or more attributes being outside the natural sensory capability of the subject, the sensor module comprising a sensor transmitter, the sensor transmitter operationally configured to wirelessly transmit the one or more attributes; an external module mounted ex-vivo on the subject, the external module operatively arranged to wirelessly receive the one or more attributes, the external module operatively arranged to encode the one or more attributes and wirelessly transmit the encoded one or more attributes; an internal module mounted in-vivo to the subject and proximal to the external module, the internal module operatively arranged to wirelessly receive the encoded one or more attributes, the internal module operatively arranged to convert the encoded one or more attributes into one or more electrical neural stimulus signals; a battery mounted in-vivo to the subject, the battery operatively arranged to provide power to the internal module; an inductively coupled link comprising one or more in-vivo inductors connected to the internal module and one or more ex-vivo inductors connected to the external module and located proximal to the one or more in-vivo inductors, the inductively coupled link operatively arranged to provide for the transcutaneous transmission of the encoded one or more attributes from the external module to the internal module; and an electrode mountable in-vivo to the subject, the electrode electrically connected to the internal module and electrically contacting one or more neurons within the subject, the electrode operatively arranged to deliver the one or more electrical neural stimulus signals to the one or more neurons; wherein the one or more attributes is selected from a group consisting of range to an object, wavelengths of light outside of visible light wavelengths, radiation, chemical data analysis, sound outside of human hearing frequency, and a human characteristic of another; wherein the human characteristic of another is selected from a group consisting of vital signs, cortisol levels, EEG measurements and galvanic skin response; and wherein the external module is further operatively arranged to encode the one or more attributes with a frequency-shift-key (FSK) encoding and, wirelessly transmit the FSK encoded one or more attributes; and, the internal module is further operatively arranged to wirelessly receive the FSK encoded one or more attributes and decode the one or more attributes with a frequency-shift-key (FSK) decoding.