US 12,722,013 B2
System and method for delivering sensory feedback to the cortex via electrical stimulation
David Bjanes, Seattle, WA (US); and Chet T. Moritz, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by University of Washington, Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/090,685.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/933,147, filed on Nov. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0138251 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. A61N 1/00 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36175 (2013.01) [A61N 1/0529 (2013.01); A61N 1/0551 (2013.01); A61N 1/36062 (2017.08); A61N 1/36171 (2013.01); A61N 1/36178 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for delivering information to a user, comprising:
an implant electrically coupled to a brain, a spinal cord or peripheral nerves of the user through implant electrodes, wherein the implant is configured to deliver electrical stimulus through the implant electrodes, wherein the electrical stimulus conveys somatosensory information to the user, wherein the user is aware of the somatosensory information being conveyed, and wherein the somatosensory information evokes a limb perception of a functioning limb, and wherein the limb perception is sensed by the user being aware of the somatosensory information being conveyed and capable of interpreting the somatosensory information being conveyed;
a computing device comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium includes computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, in response to execution by at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform actions comprising:
delivering a first electrical stimulus via the implant electrodes,
wherein the first electrical stimulus evokes neural signals,
wherein the neural signals correspond to information transferred to the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves through the implant electrodes, and
wherein the first electrical stimulus is encoded as a combination of a pulse-width and an amplitude,
detecting user's response to the first electrical stimulus; and
based on detecting user's response, determining a second electrical stimulus, wherein a second intensity of the second electrical stimulus differs from a first intensity of the first electrical stimulus, and wherein the first electrical stimulus and the second electrical stimulus are perceivable to the user having the implant;
wherein both the pulse-width and the amplitude of each of the first electrical stimulus and the second electrical stimulus are concurrently varied to produce a variable charge-per-pulse (CPP) at the implant electrodes.