We recently learned, via a CNN Special report, that experimental procedures involving electrodes strategically implanted into the human brain could be the next door to be opened in the medical field for treating severe depression. During that same week, the US Patent and Trademark Office published an invention from Samsung that relates to a new implantable medical device (IMD) that not only will monitor a patience heart but also their brain's physiological and pathological states.
The Main Shortcoming of Today's Implantable Medical Devices
Samsung states that an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) may be implanted into a human body and may operate for a medical purpose. An IMD may monitor a state of primary organs such as the heart and may control the organs to function normally.
In addition, the IMD may provide physiological/pathological state information which may be required for medical practice in, for example, a consulting room, an emergency room, and heath care center. However, it may be difficult to control or change operation of the IMD because the IMD is implanted in a human body.
Samsung's Proposed Solution
Samsung has invented an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) that could be implanted in the body to monitor primary organs like the heart. The unique aspect of the invention is that the IMD is accompanied by an external user device that could be used to collect vitals, understand the patient's brainwave, pupil and motion states as well as physiological and pathological states. Such information could be accessed by an emergency a medical team or your doctor/specialist.
The IMD may further include a notice and alarm generator configured to generate a signal to notify the user that the recorded data is being accessed by an outside source. The IMD may further include an authenticating unit configured to authenticate whether the external device that communicates with the IMD is authorized to acquire the physiological/pathological state information.
About Samsung's Patent Figures: FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment showing a concept of controlling an implantable medical device based on user's intention; patent FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of an implantable medical device (IMD); FIG 7. Is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of an IMD implanted in a human body; FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a structure for controlling an IMD by recognizing a user's intention through the direct detection of the brain activity.
Our cover graphics cover Patent FIG. 5 illustrating that the implantable medical device may include a security engine, communication module, a code processor/pattern store in addition to a notice and alarm generator; FIG. 9A illustrates motion sensors that could be implanted in each finger of a patient's hand; and lastly, patent FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a structure for controlling an IMD by recognizing a user's intention through the direct detection of the brain activity.
Samsung's patent application was originally filed in Q4 2010 and published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on April 12, 2011. For those in the medical field wishing to explore this invention in greater detail could review Samsung's patent application 20120088983.
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Used to read such stories about Japan in my childhood. Good one Samsung.
Posted by: maverick | April 25, 2012 at 05:13 PM
Wow something tells me that they built the device as platform to launch other devices (mind control) would be very likley. If they could build it to compromise the feeling of pain before or after surgery would be extreamly awsome!
Posted by: Jason Wysuph | April 25, 2012 at 07:34 AM