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Patent No. 6128527  Apparatus and method of analyzing electrical brain activity (Howard, III, et al., Oct 3, 2000)

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mapping a patient's brain includes analyzing the waveform of electrical action potentials generated in the patient's brain to determine whether the waveforms match one or more predetermined waveforms. A system embodying the invention includes waveform discriminator circuitry capable of comparing the waveform of a sensed electrical action potential to predetermined waveforms. A system embodying the invention may also include a user interface for selecting a waveform and a transducer for generating a user recognizable signal when a waveform of a sensed electrical action potential matches a selected waveform.

Notes: 

Apparatus and method of analyzing electrical brain activity. Filed December 1997, granted October 2000. Fairly self-explanatory. Does mention electromagnetic communication between implanted microelectrode and receiver. Also goes into brain mapping, or if you prefer brain activity mapping. Uses microelectrodes in or on brain as opposed to earlier skin electrodes. Everything listed could also be done with remote neural monitoring.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus and method for analyzing electrical action potentials in a patient's brain based on the waveforms of the sensed electrical action potentials. In a system or method embodying the invention, the waveforms of sensed electrical action potentials in the patient's brain are compared to one or more predetermined waveforms to determine whether the sensed electrical action potentials match or are substantially similar to the predetermined waveforms. An apparatus or method embodying the invention allows a neurosurgeon to determine whether a particular electrical action potential corresponds to a motor activity or sensory function with greater accuracy and precision. Thus, apparatus and methods embodying the invention allow a neurosurgeon to better map different portions of a patient's brain.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

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The foregoing embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.