Implantable wireless neural device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10433754-B2
Application number	US-201314028178-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2013
Priority date	Mar 17, 2011
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an electrical interface to a body are provided. In one embodiment, an implantable module is disclosed, comprising: an implantable electrode array, implantable within a body and capable of providing a plurality of communication channels for communicating electrical signals detected in a body; an amplifier circuit for processing electrical signals received from the electrode array; a wireless transceiver for sending and receiving telemetry data between the amplifier circuit and a wireless receiver located outside of the body; and a sealed enclosure that houses the amplifier circuit and the wireless transmitter and is biocompatible with surrounding tissue, the enclosure having a window that is transparent to a wireless medium used by the wireless transceiver. In another embodiment, a wireless transceiver and amplifier is detachably coupled to a transcutaneous attachment device, and the implantable electrode array is electrically coupled to the interface board via the transcutaneous attachment device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An implantable system for providing an electrical interface to a body, comprising:
an implantable electrode array, implantable within a body and capable of providing a plurality of communication channels for communicating electrical signals detected in a body;
an interface board coupled to the electrode array for providing a fan-out of electrical wires to a plurality of electrical contacts;
an amplifier board in stacked relationship with the interface board, the amplifier board having an amplifier circuit coupled with the plurality of electrical contacts for processing electrical signals received from the electrode array into data signals;
a wireless transceiver board, the wireless transceiver board having a wireless transceiver coupled to the amplifier circuit for sending and receiving telemetry data between the amplifier circuit and a wireless receiver located outside of the body;
an electromagnetic shield disposed between the amplifier board and the wireless transceiver board, the electromagnetic shield configured to reduce unwanted crosstalk between the amplifier board and the wireless transceiver board;
a sealed enclosure that houses the amplifier circuit and the wireless transmitter and is biocompatible with surrounding tissue, wherein the electromagnetic shield is entirely enclosed within the sealed enclosure; and
a window within the enclosure that is transparent to a wireless medium used by the wireless transceiver,
wherein the wireless transceiver is capable of sending data from the plurality of communication channels.

2. The implantable system of claim 1 , the wireless transceiver comprising one of a radio frequency transceiver and an optical transceiver.

3. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver includes both a radio frequency transceiver and an optical transceiver.

4. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is capable of sending real-time data from each of the plurality of channels.

5. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier circuit is capable of processing detected electrical signals in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz for transmission by the wireless transceiver.

6. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is for receiving data from an external wireless device, and wherein the implantable system further comprises a stimulation circuit for applying the received data to the electrode array to stimulate neurons.

7. The implantable system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light-emitting diode observable through the transparent window.

8. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable electrode array is for insertion into a brain and is capable of detecting electrical signals generated by a plurality of neurons.

9. The implantable system of claim 1 , wherein the implantable electrode array is capable of detecting electrical signals in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz.

10. The implantable system of claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery housed within the sealed enclosure.

11. The implantable system of claim 10 , further comprising an antenna for receiving wireless power and a charging circuit for charging the battery with the received wireless power.

12. The implantable system of claim 1 , further comprising means for wirelessly powering the implantable system from a power source located external to the implant system.

13. The implantable system of claim 1 , the electrode array comprising at least 10 electrodes.

14. The implantable system of claim 13 , wherein the electrode array comprises at least 50 electrodes.

15. The implantable system of claim 12 , further comprising an external charging assembly for transmitting one of power and data to the sealed enclosure via wireless transmission.

Assignees

• Univ Brown

Inventors

• Nurmikko Arto V
• Yin Ming
• Patterson William R
• Aceros Juan
• Borton David A
• Bull Christopher W
• Laiwalla Farah

Classifications

• G16H30/40

  for processing medical images, e.g. editing · CPC title

• A61B5/0017 Primary

  transmitting optical signals · CPC title

• A61N1/3758

  Packaging of the components within the casing · CPC title

• A61N1/0531

  Brain cortex electrodes · CPC title

• A61B2560/045

  with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication · CPC title