Non-invasive neural interface
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorKrishnan Thyagarajan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A neuromodulator includes an electromagnetic (EM) wave generator configured to generate EM waves remote from a patient and to direct the EM waves to one or more target regions within the patient. Frequencies of the EM waves fall outside a range of frequencies that activates neurons. Intersection of the EM waves in each target region creates envelope-modulated electric and magnetic fields having one or more frequencies that fall within the range of frequencies that activates neurons. The neuromodulator includes control circuitry configured to control parameters of the EM waves produced by the EM wave generator. The neuromodulator may use feedback based on one or more of patient input and/or sensing of physiological signals in order to close the loop and control the EM waves.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a neuromodulator comprising:
- an electromagnetic (EM) wave generator configured to generate EM waves remote from a patient and to direct the EM waves to one or more target regions within the patient, frequencies of the EM waves falling outside a range of frequencies that activates neurons, intersection of the EM waves in each target region creating envelope-modulated electric and magnetic fields having one or more frequencies that fall within the range of frequencies that activates neurons;
- and
- control circuitry configured to control one or more parameters of the EM waves produced by the EM wave generator;
- wherein the frequencies of the EM waves are greater than about 150 kHz and frequencies of the envelope-modulated electric and magnetic fields are less than about 100 kHz.
A method, comprising:
- generating electromagnetic (EM) waves at a location remote from a patient, frequencies of the EM waves falling outside a range of frequencies that activate neurons;
- directing the EM waves to one or more target region within the patient;
- and
- intersecting the EM waves in the target regions, in each target region, intersection of the EM waves creating envelope-modulated electrical and magnetic fields having frequencies falling within the range of frequencies that activate neurons.
- wherein the frequencies of the EM waves are greater than about 150 kHz and frequencies of the envelope-modulated electric and magnetic fields are less than about 100 kHz.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.