Other

Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.

Brain Functions Laboratory, Inc.

Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.

Nippon Electric Co., Ltd.

Nec Corporation

Nipro Corporation

Milking Automation Technology Co., Ltd.

Toshimitsu Musha

Yuichi Yanai

Yuki Niwa

Kazuyoshi Muraoka

Shoji Takagi

Shu Ono

Eichi Kiuchi

Takeru Irabu

Yasuo Nakano

Matsuo Sekine

Takashi Asada

Takashi Sasaki

Yukio Kosugi

Hiroyuki Iwasaki

Yuri Watanabe

Toshihiko Hagisawa

Omi Terasaki

Yasuaki Teramachi

Kiyotaka Matsuki

Kenichi Harumi

Yohei Kobayashi

Seiji Horiuchi

Toshiyuki Kanou

Haruyasu Matsuzaki

Ryuji Maruyama

Naotake Nishizawa

It is intended to quantitatively evaluate deterioration in brain function associated with a disease such as dementia, with a high degree of accuracy by a simplified method using signals acquired from a few sensors arranged on the scalp. The present invention relates to a brain activity measurement device comprising: a signal acquisition part configured to acquire a signal from a brain of the subject, using three sensors attached to different locations on the surface of the head of a subject; a data extraction part configured to extract, from each of the three signals acquired from respective ones of the sensors, a deep-brain potential signal having a specific frequency band arising from an activity of a deep brain region, and acquire data from the extracted deep-brain potential signal with a sampling period; a correlation value calculation part configured to calculate a correlation value indicative of a correlative relationship among the deep-brain potential signals acquired from each respective sensors, based on a phase relationship among three pieces of time-series data each extracted from the respective sensors by the data extraction part; and an index value calculation part configured to analyze the deep-brain potential signals from the deep brain region, based on the calculated correlation value, to calculate an index value for determining a brain function.

Brain activity measurement device, program, and method

For measuring a brain local activity, a predetermined frequency bandwidth wider than a frequency bandwidth of alpha waves of scalp potentials is divided into a predetermined number of frequency banks each having a fixed frequency width, data of each divided frequency bank is divided into segments of a predetermined duration on a time axis, a Z-score of the subject is determined from a first mean value of normalized power variances determined for the segments and a second mean value of normalized power variances predetermined in the same manner as the first mean value for a predetermined normal person group and a standard deviation of the normalized power variances in the group, and a mean value of the Z-scores determined over all of the frequency banks is mapped on a brain surface for each sensor, whereby a template of a specified brain disorder and likelihood of a subject to a specified brain disorder are calculated.

Apparatus for measuring brain local activity

A proper frequency component of EEG is selected so that its scalp potential becomes smooth in a normal subject. When the brain function is impaired, non-uniformity of neuronal activity is detected in spatial as well as temporal fluctuations in the observed scalp potential of properly filtered EEG (usually the alpha component). The statistical parameters derived from dipolarity values of such a properly selected EEG component determine the state of the brain, in which whether the subject is normal or demented is judged in the early stage of dementia by comparing the obtained parameters with their threshold values. This invention presents a reliable, inexpensive, easy-to-handle and non-invasive method for sensitive screening of dementia and monitoring progress of dementia which also allows optimizing medication and treatment for dementia.

Method and apparatus for estimating degree of neuronal impairment in brain cortex

An apparatus and a method for automatically determining the present will of a human subject. The characteristic values of the subject are detected and output signals corresponding to the detected characteristic values are produced, amplified and digitized. A set of state variables for each selected frequency sub-band of a selected frequency band for each of the output signals is determined. Sets of reference weights and sets of reference biases for a neural network from sets of state reference variables corresponding to known wills are formed. Each of the sets of state variables, the sets of reference weights and the sets of reference biases are applied to the neural network to determine present will of the subject. The present will of the subject can be displayed or used to control an external device, such as a robot.

Method and apparatus for will determination and bio-signal control

An electrode and a method for measuring bio-electric waves are provided in which the electrode comprises a support member, a piece of absorbent fiber projecting from the support member and a non-corrosive lead coupled to the piece of absorbent fiber. Improved electrical contact between the electrode and the subject's skin is provided by allowing the piece of absorbent fiber to absorb an electrically conductive fluid.

Electrode

A twisting frame 1, and a method of twisting yarn 11 in which a twist is applied to the yarn by signals having a 1/f fluctuation to yield a yarn 11 in which the yarn count varies with a 1/f fluctuation. The first aspect is a twisting method that applies twist to a single yarn or a plural number of yarns, in which a twist is applied to the yarn or yarns by setting the twist count to correspond to the strengths of serial signals having a 1/f fluctuation.

Twisting method and twisting frame utilizing I/F fluctuations

An apparatus and method for automatically determining an individual's level of brain function is provided. EEG or MEG signals are collected amplified and digitized. The signals are then passed to a computer comprising a CPU, ROM and RAM, an input interface for collecting and filtering the scalp potential signals and an output interface for displaying the resulting information on a display device such as a printer or CRT. The computer determines the position of these signals in reference to the interpolated 3-D geometry of the subject's head. The dipolarity of a particular point is iteratively and empirically derived by comparing the values of these measured signals to a test signal and the error between the two is minimized. The procedure is repeated for the complete series of electrodes placed on the skull. The mean dipolarity of a subject is then determined for a given time frame. The subject's dipolarity is then compared against that of age matched subjects and scaled so that an estimation of the subjects degree of cognitive loss is determined.

Method and apparatus for measuring brain function

A weaving method that imparts a 1/f fluctuation to the weave pattern. Adjacent and different numbered groups of different yarns, for example black yarn and white yarns, are alternately arranged in contiguous reed dents. The sequential number which is associated with each group manifests a series of numbers which effect the 1/f fluctuation. Following separation of the warp yarns into two sets by raising and lowering of healds to form a shed and passage of weft yarns therethrough, a woven fabric with a stripped 1/f fluctuation in the warp direction is created.

Method for weaving patterns having different yarn types alternately

In the blending and spinning processes, 1/f fluctuation signals are imparted to the feed slivers or rovings, wherein the blending ratio of the blended slivers, blended rovings, or blended yarn varies with a correlation, specifically a correlation with a 1/f fluctuation.

1 F blended yarn spinning method and blended yarn spinning frame

A weaving method that imparts a correlation of a 1/f fluctuation to the texture pattern of a woven fabric by passing warp yarns through a plural number of healds in a specific numerical sequence. The healds are then manipulated to separate the warp yarns into two sets to form a shed therebetween through which a weft yarn is inserted. For one texture pattern, warp yarns are threaded in groups in numbers corresponding to the values of a numerical sequence with a 1/f fluctuation through one set of healds. For another texture pattern, warp yarns are threaded in groups through another set of healds so as to alternate with the first groups, thereby weaving a plural number of texture patterns into the woven goods, with the overall texture design having a 1/f fluctuation.

Heald threading method for grouping warp yarns in a 1/f fluctuation

A method for intermingling yarn, and an air intermingling machine 1 used therein, is provided that yields yarn with the comfortable feel of hand-spun yarn, on an industrial scale. In the air intermingling machine 1, intermingling is imparted to the yarn by signals having a 1/f fluctuation, wherein the degree of intermingling of the yarn vanes with a 1/f fluctuation provides a natural, comfortable feel.

Air intermingling method and air intermingling machine employing a 1/f

A spinning method and a spinning frame are provided that yields spun yarn, with the comfortable feel of a hand-spun yarn, on an industrial scale. In spinning frame 1, rovings 11 are drafted with signals derived from a numerical sequence of having a 1/f fluctuation or signals derived from a melody or other sound having a 1/f fluctuation to yield a spun yarn 13 in which the diameter varies with said 1/f fluctuation, thus providing a natural, comfortable feel.

Spinning method and spinning frame

An apparatus and a method for automatically determining the present somatic state of a human subject. The characteristic values of the subject (e.g., scalp potential, muscle potential, heart-rate, eye-movement and frequency of eye blinks, or any combination thereof) are detected and output signals corresponding to the detected characteristic values are produced, amplified and digitized. The Fourier transformation is performed on the output signals. A set of state variables for each selected frequency sub-band of a selected frequency band for each of the output signals is determined. Sets of reference weights and sets of reference biases for a neural network from sets of state reference variables corresponding to known somatic states are formed. Each of the sets of state variables, the sets of reference weights and the sets of reference biases are applied to the neural network to determine present somatic state of the subject. The present somatic state of the subject is displayed.

Method and apparatus for automatically determining somatic state

A weaving method for woven goods in which the warp yarns are disposed among reed dents of uniform spacing in a reed according to a sequence of numerical values having a 1/f fluctuation, thereby imparting a 1/f fluctuation to the arrangement of warp yarns.

Reeding method for 1/f fluctuation warp yarn distribution

A weaving method and reed where the method is practiced with the reed having spacings between dents of 1/f fluctuations resulting in a woven fabric which has a warp density of 1/f fluctuations. The spacings are established by winding yarn having a 1/f fluctuation around the dent support bars with the dents positioned between the coils of wrapped yarn.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Toshimitsu Musha