Patents by Inventor Dennis J. McFarland

Dennis J. McFarland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9545515
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Wolpaw, Gerwin Schalk, Aiko K. Thompson, Peter Brunner, Xiang Yang Chen, Dennis J. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20160067492
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. WOLPAW, Gerwin SCHALK, Aiko K. THOMPSON, Peter BRUNNER, Xiang Yang CHEN, Dennis J. McFARLAND
  • Patent number: 9138579
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Wolpaw, Gerwin Schalk, Aiko K. Thompson, Peter Brunner, Xiang Yang Chen, Dennis J. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20150025410
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. WOLPAW, Gerwin SCHALK, Aiko K. THOMPSON, Peter BRUNNER, Xiang Yang CHEN, Dennis J. McFARLAND
  • Patent number: 8862236
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Wolpaw, Gerwin Schalk, Aiko K. Thompson, Peter Brunner, Xiang Yang Chen, Dennis J. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20140039571
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for restoring or improving nervous system function of a subject. Provided is a method involving: (i) providing an operant conditioning protocol effective to produce targeted neural plasticity (TNP) in a primary targeted central nervous system (CNS) pathway of a subject; and (ii) administering the operant conditioning protocol to the subject to elicit TNP in the primary targeted CNS pathway and to elicit generalized neural plasticity (GNP) in one or more other CNS pathway. The elicitation of the GNP in the one or more other CNS pathway serves to restore or improve a nervous system function of the subject. Provided is a device comprising a nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component and a controller for operating the nerve stimulation-electromyographic recording component in accordance with an operant conditioning protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. WOLPAW, Gerwin SCHALK, Aiko K. THOMPSON, Peter BRUNNER, Xiang Yang CHEN, Dennis J. McFARLAND
  • Patent number: 5638826
    Abstract: The invention contemplates that brain waves, preferably mu rhythm waves of an individual, can control a cursor on a video monitor or other device in the environment. Such communication via mu rhythms is optimized both in real time, and by stored data. The mu rhythms are detected, filtered, and amplified, as an individual sits facing a video, or other display screen. The scalp of the individual has electrodes placed in approximately 64 locations, for monitoring the mu rhythms of the alpha band and/or other EEG rhythms. An ear lobe electrode provides a reference. The electrode signals are fed to a channel differential amplifier which amplifies the difference between the 64 channels and the reference electrode. The signals are digitized and spatially filtered. The resulting signals are submitted to a frequency analysis periodically. The powers n specific frequency bands of specific signals are the independent variables for equations used to control cursor movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Health Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Wolpaw, Dennis J. McFarland