Brain-Related Chronic Pain Disorder Diagnosis and Assessment Method

A method for diagnosing and assessing a brain-related chronic pain disorder. The method includes assessing a subject\u27s brain function, deterrnining the probability that a subject is suffering from chronic pain as a result of an abnormal brain function condition by obtaining a quantitative assessment of the subject\u27s brain function, and making a statistical comparison between the subject\u27s quantitative brain function assessment and either a database of quantitative assessments of the brain functions of normal, healthy individuals, or a database of quantitative assessments of the brain functions of individuals known to have been suffering from chronic pain as a result of the abnormal brain function condition

Development and Implementation of Mechatronics Education at Kettering University

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Kettering University has completed development of a significant new component of education in mechatronics. The work began in the fall of 1997 as the principal part of an award for “Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement” by the Division of Undergraduate Education of the National Science Foundation. It has culminated with the successful implementation of two undergraduate courses in mechatronics, two mechatronics laboratories and a website to support the educational endeavors of the mechatronics students. As will be described in this paper, the first course and its laboratory exercises are designed specifically to provide the students with meaningful experiences in the applications of mechatronics design principles. The knowledge gained in this first course will be applied in the second course, where the fundamental focus is to provide a complete experience in the innovation, design and fabrication of a new mechatronic product. This is all done in a team environment. The long-term goal is to integrate business management students into the product development team to provide marketing support

Method and Apparatus for Treating Centralized Pain

A method for alleviating centralized pain in human subjects includes assessing the brain of a subject suffering from pain, diagnosing abnormal brain function associated with centralized pain, locating at least one area of abnormal brain function associated with the centralized pain, and alleviating the abnormal brain function by applying a cortical stimulation signal to tissues corresponding to the at least one area of abnormal brain function

Method and Apparatus for Diagnosing and Assessing Centralized Pain

Methods for central pain diagnosis and assessment, symptom severity prediction, and therapeutic intervention effect determination. The diagnosis and assessment method includes a statistical comparison between a subject\u27s quantitative brain function assessment and either a database of quantitative assessments of brain functions of healthy individuals, or a database of quantitative assessments of brain functions of individuals known to have been suffering from chronic pain as a result of the abnormal brain function condition. Diagnosis and assessment may be accomplished using a neuroimaging device to sense and generate images representing central nervous system function, using a sensory stimulation device to stimulate brain activities associated with central sensitivity, and using a computing device to command the sensory stimulation device and neuroimaging device to test for the presence of central pain

Method and Apparatus for Electrical Stimulation of Tissues Using Signals That Minimize the Effects of Tissue Impedance

A tissue stimulation system that generates an electrical tissue stimulation signal configured to reduce tissue impedance and increase depth of signal penetration. The use of leads is dynamically controlled and altered between conducting biopotential voltages, conducting electrical tissue stimulation signals, and grounding, in response to a computational analysis of biopotential data acquired from a region of tissue to be stimulated

Cutaneous Electrode Positioning

A device and method for positioning a cutaneous electrode for delivery of electrical stimulation to a subject\u27s head. A harness is worn on a subject\u27s head with a first band of the harness worn in a closed loop around the subject\u27s head and around a desired contact location on the subject\u27s head. A tensioning strap of the harness is worn across the desired contact location and connected at spaced-apart attachment locations of the strap to spaced-apart attachment locations of the harness such that an electrode disposed over the desired contact location on the subject\u27s head is held in place by the tensioning strap

Mechatronics Education at Kettering University: Development of Learning- Specific Hardware and Software

A series of learning-specific electronic circuit boards and associated software has been developed to support mechatronics education in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Kettering University. The boards are designed to interface to the Toshiba TLCS-900H Microprocessor Trainer and Evaluation Board. The purpose of these boards is to provide mechanical engineering students of mechatronics with robust hardware that readily permits interfacing of sensors and actuators to microcontrollers used in mechatronic applications. Further, the boards feature signal conditioning circuits for use in conjunction with sensors, and driver circuits for operating high-current actuating devices. Supporting software has been written to permit ready use of the features of the hardware with only a functional knowledge of electronics, thus helping mechanical engineering students realize the full potential of mechatronics applications in an introductory course. Additionally, a stand-alone microprocessor board with flash memory has been designed and fabricated to permit students move out of the development laboratory and readily embed the electronics portion of a mechatronics device into their projects

Method and Apparatus for Utilizing Amplitude-Modulated Pulse-Width Modulation Signals for Neurostimulation and Treatment of Neurological Disorders Using Electrical Stimulation

A computing device-controlled system is described for the generation of amplitude-modulated pulse-width modulation (AMPWM) signals for use in treating neurological dysfunction via cranial neurostimulation, where the AMPWM signal is specifically designed to minimize the electrical impedance of the tissues of the head. A low-frequency carrier signal is determined for the AMPWM signal by measuring EEG activity at a reference site or sites, generally corresponding with the location of suspected brain dysfunction. Carrier signal frequency is variably related to critical frequency components of the EEG power spectral density, determined from statistical analysis of amplitudes and variability, and dynamically changed as a function of time to prevent entrainment. The AMPWM signal is presented to a subject via a plurality of neurostimulation delivery modes for therapeutic use

Apparatus and Method for Remote Assessment and Therapy Management in Medical Devices via Interface Systems

A remote medical assessment and therapy management apparatus comprising a center user interface, a center computer coupleable with the center user interface. The center computer displays information via the center user interface for use in developing a therapeutic prescription and receives therapeutic control inputs from a user. A remote device includes a medical diagnostic instrument for acquiring biophysical data from a patient, a medical therapeutic instrument that provides a therapy to the patient, and a remote computer that receives diagnostic signals from the diagnostic instrument and transmits therapeutic control signals to the therapeutic instrument. A network interface is connected between the first center computer and the remote computer and transmits diagnostic signals from the remote computer to the center computer and control signals from the center computer to the therapeutic instrument via the remote computer

Brain-Related Chronic Pain Disorder Treatment Method and Apparatus

A method for treating brain-related chronic pain disorders in human subjects includes assessing the brain function of a subject suffering from chronic pain, diagnosing a chronic pain-related abnormal brain condition, and mitigating the abnormal brain activity by applying an electrical stimulation signal to tissues corresponding to at least one area of abnormal brain activity