A61B5/40

ANS ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS, KITS, AND METHODS
20200390328 · 2020-12-17 ·

Systems, devices, methods, and kits for monitoring one or more physiologic and/or physical signals from a subject are disclosed. A system including a head mounted display to monitor one or more physiologic signals from the face or head of the subject is disclosed. A method for analyzing an ocular parameter of the subject to determine a sympathetic and a parasympathetic outflow thereto is disclosed.

Pattern Interference Radiation Force (PIRF) neural stimulators

Improved acoustic neurostimulation is provided by having two or more acoustic transducers generate an acoustic interference pattern in a region of a patient being treated. The apparatus has at least two operating modes it can switch between. A first operating mode has the transducers driven at the same frequency. A second operating mode has the transducers driven at different frequencies. Full control of the acoustic transducers allows the acoustic interference pattern to be varied electronically at will.

Method and apparatus for enhancing nervous function
10849552 · 2020-12-01 · ·

Disclosed is a method for interacting with the nervous system. The method includes detecting signals associated with a biological function at one or more sensors. It also includes processing the signals to create a representation thereof, delivering effector responses based on the representations, and controlling a physical process.

WEARABLE DEVICE WITH TRAGUS MODULATION SYSTEM

A wearable device combines its existing functions (e.g., a headphone) with non-invasive autonomic modulation using tragus or other external auditory meatus stimulation. The wearable device can output audio to a user, such as music, podcast, etc., and further provide modulation of the vagus nerve via tragus stimulation or other external auditory meatus stimulation to treat various diseases.

LATERAL RETRACTOR SYSTEM FOR MINIMIZING MUSCLE DAMAGE IN SPINAL SURGERY
20200367876 · 2020-11-26 ·

A lateral retractor system for forming a pathway to a patient's intervertebral disc space includes a single dilator and a retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly. The dilator may feature a narrow rectangular body for insertion at an insertion orientation parallel to the fibers of the patient's psoas muscle, at an approximate 45-degree angle to the patient's spine. The retractable dual-tapered-blade assembly consists of only two blade subassemblies, each having a blade bordered by adjustable wings, along with built-in lighting and video capabilities. The dual-tapered-blade assembly may be passed over the single dilator at the insertion orientation and rotated approximately 45-50 degrees to a final rotated orientation parallel to the intervertebral disc space before the two blade subassemblies are retracted away from one another to create the surgical pathway, while simultaneously and continuously assessing for encroachment upon one or more nerve structures within 360-degrees of the instrument. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

NEUROMODULATION AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CANCER
20200360081 · 2020-11-19 ·

Methods for treating a human patient diagnosed with cancer with therapeutic neuromodulation and associated systems are disclosed herein. Sympathetic nerve activity can contribute to several cellular and physiological processes associated with the progression of cancer. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that attenuate neural traffic along target sympathetic nerves innervating tissue proximate a primary malignant tumor. Other aspects are directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in a renal nerve of a patient diagnosed with cancer or who has a high risk of developing cancer. Targeted sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a measurable physiological parameter corresponding to the progression of cancer in the patient. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g., a therapeutic assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the target sympathetic nerve.

PROCESS AND HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTIVE REAL-TIME NEURAL SPIKE SORTING
20200352520 · 2020-11-12 ·

Various methods and embodiments of the present technology generally relate to neural spike sorting in real-time. More specifically, some embodiments relate to a real-time neural spike sorting process using distributed nodes and edges to form clusters in the vector space to learn the neural spike data distribution adaptively for neural spike classification in real-time. The state of the brain or the onset of a neurological disorder can be determined by analyzing the neural spike firing pattern, and the first stage of the neural data analysis is to sort the recorded neural spikes to their originating neurons. Methods that can sort the recorded neural spikes in real-time with low system latency and can be implemented with resource limited digital electronic hardware, including a Field-Programming Gate Array (FPGA), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit and an embedded microprocessor, are beneficial in understanding neuronal networks and controlling neurological disorders.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING MOTION SICKNESS IN A VEHICLE
20200353934 · 2020-11-12 ·

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to mitigating effects of motion sickness on a passenger in a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing sensor data about the passenger to produce a passenger state that characterizes a current physical condition of the passenger while riding in the vehicle. The method includes determining whether the passenger state correlates with symptoms of motion sickness in the passenger. The method includes controlling, in the vehicle, a vehicle component to adjust a current configuration relative to the passenger when the passenger state correlates with the symptoms.

NEURAL OSCILLATORY SIGNAL SOURCE LOCATION DETECTION

Techniques are described to determine a location of at least one oscillatory signal source in a patient. Processing circuitry may determine expected electrical signal levels based on a hypothetical location of the at least one oscillatory signal source. Processing circuitry may determine the electrical signal levels and determine an error value based on the expected electrical signal levels and the determined electrical signal levels. Processing circuitry may adjust the hypothetical location of the at least one oscillatory signal source until the error value is less than or equal to a threshold value, including the example where the error value is minimized.

ANS assessment systems, kits, and methods
10791924 · 2020-10-06 · ·

Systems, devices, methods, and kits for monitoring one or more physiologic and/or physical signals from a subject are disclosed. A system including a head mounted display to monitor one or more physiologic signals from the face or head of the subject is disclosed. A method for analyzing an ocular parameter of the subject to determine a sympathetic and a parasympathetic outflow thereto is disclosed.