US 12,447,349 B2
Brain-computer interface system
Yao-Hong Liu, Eindhoven (NL); and Barundeb Dutta, Leuven (BE)
Assigned to IMEC VZW, Leuven (BE); and Stichting IMEC Nederland, Eindhoven (NL)
Filed by IMEC VZW, Leuven (BE); and Stichting IMEC Nederland, Eindhoven (NL)
Filed on Dec. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/546,616.
Claims priority of application No. 20212668 (EP), filed on Dec. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176136 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. A61N 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/372 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/37252 (2013.01) [A61B 5/4064 (2013.01); A61B 5/6803 (2013.01); A61N 1/0529 (2013.01); A61N 1/37223 (2013.01); A61N 1/37247 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A brain-computer interface system configured for use with a subject, the subject including a cranium and a brain, the brain having a dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid, comprising:
at least one data processing unit, at least one data transceiver unit, and at least one sensing or stimulation unit,
wherein the data processing unit is configured to be external to the cranium of the subject, the data transceiver unit is configured to be implanted into the cranium of the subject, and the sensing or stimulation unit is configured to be implanted under the dura mater of the brain;
a first communication path between the data transceiver unit and the sensing or stimulation unit comprising a first downlink channel transmitting power and data from the data transceiver unit to the sensing or stimulation unit and a first uplink channel transmitting data from the sensing or stimulation unit to the data transceiver unit,
wherein the first uplink channel and the first downlink channel employ different communication methods such that a data rate for the first uplink channel is greater than a data rate for the first downlink channel, and
wherein the first uplink channel is an intrabody conductive coupling communication channel configured to transmit data through the dura mater and cerebrospinal fluid via
(i) a pair of first electrodes disposed on the data transceiver unit toward the sensing or stimulation unit, wherein the first electrodes are configured to be disposed within or under the cranium of the subject, and
(ii) a pair of second electrodes disposed on the sensing or stimulation unit toward the data transceiver unit, wherein the second electrodes are configured to be disposed under the cranium of the subject,
wherein the first downlink channel is an intrabody ultrasound communication channel; and
a second communication path between the data processing unit and the data transceiver unit comprising a second downlink channel transmitting power and data from the data processing unit to the data transceiver unit and a second uplink channel transmitting data from the data transceiver unit to the data processing unit, wherein
the second downlink channel is an inductive communication channel,
the second uplink channel is an electromagnetic-based impulse-radio ultra-wideband communication channel, and
the sensing or stimulation unit is a high spatial integration unit for sensing or stimulating a brain area.