Motor training with brain plasticity

1. A rehabilitation device, comprising:

a movement element capable of controlling at least one motion parameter of a portion of a patient;

a non-invasive brain monitor which generates a brain activity signal indicative of brain activity; and

circuitry of a controller including a memory having stored therein rehabilitation information and which inter-relates said brain activity signal and a mechanical movement signal, said mechanical movement signal derived by the controller and that is not based on the brain activity signal, to control said movement element as part of a rehabilitation process which utilizes said rehabilitation information and wherein said circuitry is adapted to change at least one motion parameter responsive to said brain activity signal.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said portion is a limb.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry controls at least one of the direction and location of a movement or a reach point.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry controls at least one of resistance to movement, speed and movement mode.

5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry measures at least one parameter of motion of said movement element.

6. A device according to claim 5 , wherein said circuitry measures at least one of force, movement vector and speed of said movement.

7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said rehabilitation information comprises a rehabilitation plan.

8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said rehabilitation information comprises a rehabilitation diagnosis.

9. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said rehabilitation information comprises at least one template of expected brain-motion relationship.

10. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to generate an expected motion based on said signal.

11. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to generate an expected brain activity based on movement of said movement element.

12. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to compare said signal to said rehabilitation information.

13. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to compare rehabilitation improvements of said patient to trends in said rehabilitation information.

14. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said change is within a time frame of said movement.

15. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to detect an intent to move of said patient and provide control of said movement element in response thereto.

16. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to detect a readiness to move and provide control of said movement element in response thereto.

17. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to change a signal processing of said signal responsive to a detection of movement or lack thereof.

18. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said brain monitor comprises an EEG monitor.

19. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said brain monitor comprises a blood flow measuring device.

20. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said brain monitor comprises an fMRI system.

21. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said movement element comprises a robotic manipulator.

22. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said movement element comprises a resistive movement element which resists motion in a controllable manner.

23. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said movement element is adapted to be capable of substantially unrestricted movement in 3D space over a volume of at least 30 cm in minimum dimension.

24. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said movement element is adapted to be selectively coupled and decoupled to at least one type of body portion.

25. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is adapted to provide cognitive rehabilitation to said patient.

26. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said circuitry comprises a memory which stores a rehabilitation progress of said patient.

27. A device according to claim 1 , comprising at least two movement elements which said circuitry is configured to identify as being associated with opposite limbs.

28. A device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one motion parameter is a rehabilitation parameter.

29. A method of rehabilitation, comprising:

controlling the motion of at least part of a patient as part of a rehabilitation process using a movement element;

measuring a first brain activity signal of said patient using a non-invasive first brain monitor, in association with said controlling;

deciding on a desired brain rehabilitation using circuitry of a controller including a memory having stored therein rehabilitation information and which inter-relates said brain activity signal and a mechanical movement signal, said mechanical movement signal derived by the controller and is not based on the brain activity signal, to control said movement element as part of a rehabilitation process which utilizes said rehabilitation information; and,

changing said motion using said circuitry based on said measuring the brain activity signal to affect said rehabilitation.

30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein said desired brain rehabilitation comprises cortical reorganization.

31. A method according to claim 29 , comprising diagnosing the patient based on said measuring.

32. A method according to claim 31 , wherein diagnosing comprises controlling said motion to achieve a plurality of desired motions for said diagnosis.

33. A method according to claim 31 , wherein diagnosing comprises generating at least an indication of brain plasticity for said patient.

34. A method according to claim 29 , comprising controlling said motion in response to said measuring.

35. A method according to claim 29 , comprising controlling said measuring in response to said motion.

36. A method according to claim 29 , comprising measuring the first brain activity of the patient during said motion.

37. A method according to claim 29 , comprising repeating said controlling and said measuring for a same motion at least 10 times.

38. A method according to claim 29 , comprising repeating said controlling and said measuring for at least 20 different motions in a same day of rehabilitation.

39. A method according to claim 29 , comprising comparing brain activity signal measurements for a healthy side and a paretic side.

40. A method according to claim 29 , comprising comparing movements for a healthy side and a paretic side.

41. A method according to claim 29 , comprising measuring said motion.

42. A method according to claim 29 , comprising measuring a quality of said motion.

43. A method according to claim 29 , comprising tracking a progress of said rehabilitation process of said patient based on said measurements.

44. A method according to claim 29 , comprising training a patient to control cortical activity using said controlling of motion as feedback.

45. A method of rehabilitation according to claim 29 , wherein the measuring is of a patient locally activating a brain region; and, wherein deciding and changing are applied to said brain region in synchrony to said activating.

46. A method according to claim 45 , wherein the rehabilitation process comprises physical rehabilitation which uses said brain region.

47. A method according to claim 45 , wherein the rehabilitation process comprises delivering a drug.

48. A method according to claim 45 , wherein the brain region is stimulated using an external means that directly stimulates brain tissue.

49. A method according to claim 45 , wherein said locally activating comprises forcing a patient to locally activate a region using a physical exercise.

50. A method according to claim 45 , wherein said locally activating comprises detecting local activation of said region.

51. A method of rehabilitation according to claim 29 , further comprising:

causing the generation of brain activity by at least guiding a patient to at least intend to carry out a known physical activity;

measuring a second brain activity signal using a second brain monitor of a different type from the first brain monitor;

determining a correspondence between results of said first and said second brain activity signals measured;

performing rehabilitation on said patient using said second monitor; and

assessing a brain activity of said patient during said performing utilizing a correspondence between said first and said second brain activity signals.

52. A method according to claim 51 , wherein said assessing comprises assuming a fixed relationship between said results.

53. A method according to claim 51 , wherein said generating brain activity comprises generating under computer control.

54. A method according to claim 51 , wherein said generating brain activity comprises repeating a same at least intent to carry out a known physical activity at least 10 times.

55. A method according to claim 51 , wherein measuring said second brain activity signal comprises electrical monitoring.

56. A method according to claim 51 , wherein measuring said second brain activity signal is significantly lower cost than measuring said first brain activity signal.

57. A method according to claim 51 , wherein measuring said first brain activity signal comprises fMRI.