Patents by Inventor Nicholas D. Schiff

Nicholas D. Schiff 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: 9215298
    Abstract: A method of maintaining an information rate of a Brain-computer interface (BCI) system, implanted in a patient's brain, by regulating arousal level in the patient's brain is disclosed. The method includes selecting a patient with the implanted BCI device configured to receive neuronal activity from one or more electrodes connected to the patient's brain and to establish a communication channel between the patient and an external device controlled by the patient. Accordingly, a rate of information passage through the communication channel from the BCI device is measured, and a region of the patient's brain involved in arousal regulation, is stimulated in response to said measuring, under conditions effective to adjust the rate of information passing from the BCI device through the communication channel. A computer medium for carrying out this method and a BCI Arousal Regulation system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Schiff
  • Publication number: 20140237073
    Abstract: A method of maintaining an information rate of a Brain-computer interface (BCI) system, implanted in a patient's brain, by regulating arousal level in the patient's brain is disclosed. The method includes selecting a patient with the implanted BCI device configured to receive neuronal activity from one or more electrodes connected to the patient's brain and to establish a communication channel between the patient and an external device controlled by the patient. Accordingly, a rate of information passage through the communication channel from the BCI device is measured, and a region of the patient's brain involved in arousal regulation, is stimulated in response to said measuring, under conditions effective to adjust the rate of information passing from the BCI device through the communication channel. A computer medium for carrying out this method and a BCI Arousal Regulation system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Cornell University
    Inventor: Nicholas D. SCHIFF
  • Patent number: 8694087
    Abstract: A method of maintaining an information rate of a Brain-computer interface (BCI) system, implanted in a patient's brain, by regulating arousal level in the patient's brain is disclosed. The method includes selecting a patient with the implanted BCI device configured to receive neuronal activity from one or more electrodes connected to the patient's brain and to establish a communication channel between the patient and an external device controlled by the patient. Accordingly, a rate of information passage through the communication channel from the BCI device is measured, and a region of the patient's brain involved in arousal regulation, is stimulated in response to said measuring, under conditions effective to adjust the rate of information passing from the BCI device through the communication channel. A computer medium for carrying out this method and a BCI Arousal Regulation system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Schiff
  • Patent number: 8150523
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Schiff, Keith Purpura, Steven Kalik
  • Publication number: 20110106206
    Abstract: A method of maintaining an information rate of a Brain-computer interface (BCI) system, implanted in a patient's brain, by regulating arousal level in the patient's brain is disclosed. The method includes selecting a patient with the implanted BCI device configured to receive neuronal activity from one or more electrodes connected to the patient's brain and to establish a communication channel between the patient and an external device controlled by the patient. Accordingly, a rate of information passage through the communication channel from the BCI device is measured, and a region of the patient's brain involved in arousal regulation, is stimulated in response to said measuring, under conditions effective to adjust the rate of information passing from the BCI device through the communication channel. A computer medium for carrying out this method and a BCI Arousal Regulation system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Schiff
  • Publication number: 20090319001
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: CORNELL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: Nicholas D. SCHIFF
  • Publication number: 20090216288
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. SCHIFF, Keith PURPURA, Steven KALIK
  • Patent number: 7539543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Schiff, Keith Purpura, Steven Kalik
  • Publication number: 20030097159
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Schiff, Keith Purpura, Steven Kalik
  • Patent number: 6539263
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for improving cognitive function or for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's subcortical structures involved in the generation and control of generalized efference copy signals. Internally generated movement of the patient is then detected and, in response to such internally generated movement, application of electrical stimulation is controlled. The method of the present invention has a number of benefits, including increasing flexibility in identifying targets for stimulation, improving the probability of successfully treating brain injury, and permitting patient biofeedback and self-regulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Schiff, Keith Purpura, Steven Kalik
  • Patent number: 5938688
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a method for treating a conscious. The method includes selecting a conscious patient having impaired cognitive function and applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei under conditions effective to relieve the patient's impaired cognitive function. A method for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions is also described. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to two or more subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei. The two or more subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei modulate separate cortical regions. Using the methods of the present invention, patients suffering from impaired cognitive function can have at least a portion of the function restored, thus improving their quality of life and reducing societal costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas D. Schiff