Neural signal data capture
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsWilliam Henry Von Novak, Osvaldo Alcala, Stephen Jay Shellhammer, Daniel Butterfield
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Abstract
Techniques described herein provide for the detection and capture of neural signals in a manner that compresses data sent from electrodes to controller by several orders of magnitude over current techniques. In particular, embodiments include detecting a threshold amplitude and/or slope of a detected neural signal, and capturing the detected neural signal once these thresholds are met. A threshold timing detector may be implemented as well. Additionally, these thresholds may be configurable to accommodate various factors, such as electrode placement, sensitivity, etc.
Claims29
An electrode of a neural recording system, the electrode comprising:
- a neural sensor configured to provide an output signal representative of a detected neural signal;
- detection circuitry coupled to the neural sensor and configured to determine, from the output signal of the neural sensor, the presence of an action potential in the detected neural signal, the detection circuitry comprising:
- voltage threshold circuitry configured to detect when a voltage of the output signal of the neural sensor reaches a threshold voltage, and
- slope-detection circuitry configured to detect when a rising slope of the output signal of the neural sensor reaches a threshold slope;
- capture circuitry coupled to the detection circuitry and configured to, based on the determined presence of an action potential, capture a value indicative of an amplitude of the action potential and a value indicative of timing of the action potential;
- and
- transmission circuitry coupled to the capture circuitry and configured to send the value indicative of the amplitude of the action potential and the value indicative of the timing of the action potential to a device communicatively coupled with the electrode.
A method of operating an electrode of a neural recording system, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a neural sensor, an output signal representative of a detected neural signal;
- determining, from the output signal of the neural sensor, the presence of an action potential in the detected neural signal, by:
- determining a voltage of the output signal of the neural sensor reached a threshold voltage, and
- determining a rising slope of the output signal of the neural sensor reached a threshold slope;
- in response to the determination of presence of the action potential, capturing a value indicative of an amplitude of the action potential and a value indicative of timing of the action potential;
- and
- sending the value indicative of the amplitude of the action potential and the value indicative of the timing of the action potential to a device communicatively coupled with the electrode.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving, from a neural-sensing means, an output signal representative of a detected neural signal;
- means for determining, from the output signal of the neural-sensing means, the presence of an action potential in the detected neural signal, by:
- determining a voltage of the output signal of the neural-sensing means reached a threshold voltage, and
- determining a rising slope of the output signal of the neural-sensing means reached a threshold slope;
- means for capturing a value indicative of an amplitude of the action potential and a value indicative of timing of the action potential;
- and
- means for sending the value indicative of the amplitude of the action potential and the value indicative of the timing of the action potential to a device communicatively coupled with the apparatus.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions embedded thereon for operating an electrode of a neural recording system, the instructions comprising computer code for:
- receiving, from a neural sensor, an output signal representative of a detected neural signal;
- determining, from the output signal of the neural sensor, the presence of an action potential in the detected neural signal, by:
- determining a voltage of the output signal of the neural sensor reached a threshold voltage, and
- determining a rising slope of the output signal of the neural sensor reached a threshold slope;
- capturing a value indicative of an amplitude of the action potential and a value indicative of timing of the action potential;
- and
- sending the value indicative of the amplitude of the action potential and the value indicative of the timing of the action potential to a device communicatively coupled with a computing device operating the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.