Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods for treating disorders using agents for promoting hypoglossal motoneuron excitability. In some instances the disorders include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), cataplexy, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD) or depression. Related products are also included within the invention.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus combine a calculation of chaos of a quantifiable cardiac characteristic associated with a patient with a measurement of a non-increasing parasympathetic activity of the patient to detect a physiological abnormality of the patient.

Abstract: An entrainment-based mechanical ventilator may be initially set to approximate the patient's spontaneous respiratory frequency, enabling the patient to entrain to the ventilator if the ventilator frequency matches the patient's spontaneous breathing frequency or is within a reasonable range from it. If the preset frequency of the ventilator is set too high or too low from the spontaneous frequency, the patient will fall out of phase and “fight” the ventilator. The ventilator phase relative to the patient's breathing effort indicates the difference between the ventilator frequency and spontaneous frequency. Based on the phase difference, a closed-loop control mechanism may continuously adjust the ventilator frequency to match the patient breathing frequency until the phase shift is within a preset limit. Patient-ventilator entrainment will occur when the ventilator frequency is within a certain range from the patient breathing frequency.

Abstract: A pulse modulated neural integrator circuit is comprised of discrete analog electronic components and has a plurality of discrete stable states. In some embodiments, the pulse modulated neural integrator circuit is fabricated in whole or in part on an integrated circuit substrate using analog VLSI techniques. A phase locked loop circuit can use the pulse modulated neural integrator circuit in place of some conventional phase locked loop circuits.

Abstract: A neuromorphic circuit performs functions representative of spiking timing dependent plasticity of a synapse.

Abstract: A pulse modulated neural integrator circuit is comprised of discrete analog electronic components and has a plurality of discrete stable states. In some embodiments, the pulse modulated neural integrator circuit is fabricated in whole or in part on an integrated circuit substrate using analog VLSI techniques. A phase locked loop circuit can use the pulse modulated neural integrator circuit in place of some conventional phase locked loop circuits.

Abstract: A neuromorphic circuit performs functions representative of spiking timing dependent plasticity of a synapse.

Abstract: A current-mode analog-to-digital (IADC) has subnA sensitivity. An IADC cell receives an input current signal and provides an output to a comparator for comparison with an adjustable input reference signal. A digital output signal is generated and an analog output is provided to the next cell.

Abstract: An entrainment-based mechanical ventilator may be initially set to approximate the patient's spontaneous respiratory frequency, enabling the patient to entrain to the ventilator if the ventilator frequency matches the patient's spontaneous breathing frequency or is within a reasonable range from it. If the preset frequency of the ventilator is set too high or too low from the spontaneous frequency, the patient will fall out of phase and “fight” the ventilator. The ventilator phase relative to the patient's breathing effort indicates the difference between the ventilator frequency and spontaneous frequency. Based on the phase difference, a closed-loop control mechanism may continuously adjust the ventilator frequency to match the patient breathing frequency until the phase shift is within a preset limit. Patient-ventilator entrainment will occur when the ventilator frequency is within a certain range from the patient breathing frequency.

Abstract: A current-mode analog-to-digital (IADC) has subnA sensitivity. An IADC cell receives an input current signal and provides an output to a comparator for comparison with an adjustable input reference signal. A digital output signal is generated and an analog output is provided to the next cell.

Abstract: A Hebbian synapse emulation circuit models the conductance of a synapse circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a counter that provides control signals determining the conduction states of electrical pathways, which define the conductance level of the synapse. The counter can increment, decrement, or leave the same, the synapse conductance value based upon potentiation and depression signals that are derived from a voltage that corresponds to the calcium concentration in the synapse. The counter can be coupled to a plurality of synapse circuits on a time-shared basis.

Abstract: A Hebbian synapse emulation circuit models the conductance of a synapse circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a counter that provides control signals determining the conduction states of electrical pathways, which define the conductance level of the synapse. The counter can increment, decrement, or leave the same, the synapse conductance value based upon potentiation and depression signals that are derived from a voltage that corresponds to the calcium concentration in the synapse. The counter can be coupled to a plurality of synapse circuits on a time-shared basis.

Abstract: A Hebbian synapse emulation circuit models the conductance of a synapse circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a counter that provides control signals determining the conduction states of electrical pathways, which define the conductance level of the synapse. The counter can increment, decrement, or leave the same, the synapse conductance value based upon potentiation and depression signals that are derived from a voltage that corresponds to the calcium concentration in the synapse. The counter can be coupled to a plurality of synapse circuits on a time-shared basis.

Abstract: A Hebbian synapse emulation circuit models the conductance of a synapse circuit. In one embodiment, the circuit includes a counter that provides control signals determining the conduction states of electrical pathways, which define the conductance level of the synapse. The counter can increment, decrement, or leave the same, the synapse conductance value based upon potentiation and depression signals that are derived from a voltage that corresponds to the calcium concentration in the synapse. The counter can be coupled to a plurality of synapse circuits on a time-shared basis.

Abstract: A neuron circuit including means for synaptic modification is described. The circuit emulates the electrical behaviors of the neuron membrane, dendrite, and synapse, using principles based on the actual biology. In one embodiment, the circuit is implemented as an analog very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit which utilizes CMOS integrated circuit technology. The analog VLSI circuit includes a synapse circuit having a circuit portion which models a mechanism for the modification of the synaptic conductance.

Abstract: A device for triggering the inspiratory phase of a ventilator having a three-way connector with an inspiratory conduit and an expiratory conduit, each communicating with the ventilator and with a patient communicating conduit. A valve arrangement associated with both the expiratory and inspiratory conduits are automatically operated by a patient attempting to breathe, such that the patient is only exposed to the air volume in the three-way connector and not to the greater air volume of the ventilator and its connected tubing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting the presence of a nonlinear characteristic of an autonomous (i.e., non-driven and time-invariant), dynamical system and for determining whether such nonlinear dynamical system is chaotic. First, a system is determined to be either nonlinear or linear. If the system is determined to be nonlinear, then noise of increasing intensity is incrementally added to a data set representing the analyzed system until the resulting test signal appears to be linear. If the noise limit of the resulting test signal is significantly greater than zero, then the system is determined to be chaotic and the amount of noise added to the data set provides an indication of the relative strength of the chaos. Alternatively, if the noise limit of the resulting test signal is approximately zero, then the system is determined to be nonlinear with periodic or quasi-periodic limit cycles.

Abstract: A high-frequency miniature pressure ventilator system including a variable volume pressure chamber arranged to surround a portion of the thoracic cavity of a body so as to isolate the portion of the body from atmospheric pressure. A pump assembly is operable for varying the pressure within the chamber so as to apply negative external pressure to the portion of the body during a negative cycle of operation. A valve assembly is operable for opening the chamber to a predetermined pressure during a positive cycle of operation in order to normalize a base pressure from which the pressure within said chamber is varied. In another embodiment there is provided a high-frequency pressure ventilator system including a variable volume pressure chamber arranged to surround the head of a body so as to isolate the head from atmospheric pressure. A pump assembly is operable for varying the pressure within the chamber so as to apply positive external pressure to the head during a positive cycle of operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a nonlinear characteristic in a data sequence is provided.

Abstract: Constraints placed on the structure of a conventional multi-layer network consequently enable learning rules to be simplified and the probability of reaching only local minima to be reduced. These constraints include neurons which are either inhibitory or excitatory. Also, for each neuron in the hidden layer, there is at most one synapse connecting it to a corresponding neuron in the output layer. The result is a tree-like structure which facilitates implementation of large scale electronic networks, and allows for parallel training of parts of the network. Additionally, each neuron in the hidden layer receives a reinforcement signal from its corresponding neuron in the output layer which is independent of the magnitude of synapses posterior to the hidden layer neuron. There may be multiple hidden layers, wherein each layer has a plurality of neurons, and wherein each neuron in an anterior layer connects to only one neuron in any posterior layer.