Adaptive sensory-motor encoder for visual or acoustic prosthesis
AssigneeIntelligent Implants Limited
InventorRolf Eckmiller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention describes an adaptive, sensory-motor encoder for a visual prosthesis or for an acoustic prosthesis and equipped with a central control unit for signal processing functions, monitoring functions, control functions and external intervention functions as well as with a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters for the conversion of sensor signals into stimulation impulse sequences, whereby a bi-directional interface is provided for coupling the encoder with an implantable microstructure (2) for stimulation of nerve or glial tissue on the one hand, and on the other hand for function monitoring of brain function.
Claims44
A visual or acoustic prosthesis comprising:
- an adaptive sensory-motor encoder, comprising:
- a central control unit for performing signal processing functions, monitoring functions, control functions, and external pick-up functions, the central control unit including a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters for converting sensory signals into stimulation pulse sequences;
- an implantable microstructure for providing stimulation to nerve or glial tissue and for functional monitoring of neural functions;
- and
- a bi-directional interface coupling the encoder to the microstructure, through which at least one of stimulation and control signals are provided to the microstructure and monitoring signals are provided to the encoder.
An adaptive sensory-motor encoder for use in a visual or acoustic prosthesis, the prosthesis including an implantable microstructure for stimulation of neural or glial tissue and for monitoring of neural function and a bi-directional interface coupled to the implantable microstructure, the bi-directional interface facilitating the transmission of at least one of stimulation and control signals from the encoder to the microstructure and of monitoring signals from the microstructure to the encoder, the encoder comprising:
- a central control unit performing signal processing functions, monitoring functions, control functions, and external pick-up functions, wherein the central control unit includes a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters, the adaptive spatio-temporal filters converting sensory signals into stimulation pulse sequences.
A method for use with an adaptive sensory-motor encoder for a visual or acoustic prosthesis, the encoder comprising a central control unit performing signal processing functions, monitoring functions, control functions and external pick-up functions, as well as including a group of adaptive spatio-temporal filters, the prosthesis further including a microstructure for stimulation and monitoring of neural activity and a bi-directional interface coupling the encoder with the microstructure for transmission of at least one of control and stimulation signals from the encoder to the microstructure and of monitoring signals from the microstructure to the encoder, the method comprising the steps of:
- supplying a minimum single-channel evaluation entry unit for individual adjustment of said signal processing functions by means of a dialog process, the evaluation entry unit using a subjective evaluation vector, where the evaluation vector represents similarity of a currently perceived pattern to a desired pattern;
- transmitting the evaluation vector to a parameter adjustment system, to produce suitable sequences of parameter vectors, said parameter adjustment system comprising a neural network with non-monitored adaptation rules;
- and
- generating, by said evaluation entry unit, a parameter vector at a multi-channel output for a respective signal processing function to be adjusted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.