Office Action 5: Non-Final Rejection (2025-02-11)
Rejection types: 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.3376.543
1\. (Currently amended) A method performed by an anesthetizing monitoring unit configured to generate an improved evoked electromyography response signal (XResponse), the method comprising:generating a single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) comprises a single pulse and is configured to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient,
outputting the generated single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) to stimulating electrodes on the patient using an output port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit,
receiving a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse) from receiving electrodes on the patient at an input port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit, having a duration (TResponse), in response to the transmitted stimuli signal (Sstimuii),
estimating a periodic noise waveform (SPeriodic), having the duration (TResponse), based on a noise signal (SNoise) by splitting the noise signal (SNoise) into temporal segments,wherein:the noise signal (SNoise) is caused by an electric power grid having a frequency;the temporal segments each have a periodic duration (TPeriodic) matching the frequency of the electric power grid; andSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.150.727 temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) )-are detected during a time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval (Tstimulus) of the single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) and not overlapping with the duration of the response signal (TResponse),generating the improved response signal SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.693 by subtracting the noise waveform from the response signal (SResponse) to reduce noise in the response signal (SResponse) caused by the electric power grid,storing the improved response signal SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.697 in a memory in the anesthetizing monitoring unit, andpresenting the improved response signal SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.697 on a display in the anesthetizing monitoring unit.

SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.376.543
2\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of estimating the periodic noise waveform further comprises:
splitting the noise signal (SNoise) into a number N of temporal segments (Si, S2, ..., SN),
generating a periodic noise template (STemplate) by aggregating the N temporal segments (Si, S2, ..., SN),
wherein the periodic noise waveform (SPeriodic), isestimated by subsequently repeating the periodic noise template (STemplate) N times.

3\. (Original) The method according to claim 2, wherein the periodic noise template (STemplate) is generated by averaging discrete samples over the N temporal segments (Si, S2, ..., SN).

4\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining an anesthetized patient state by determining a neuromuscular function value using properties of the improved response signal
5\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the anesthetized patient state is a selection of any of "insufficient anesthetic level", "low anesthetic level", "sufficient anesthetic level", "normal breathing function", "capable of sustaining breathing" or "in need of ventilator".SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.733
6\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 4, wherein the properties of the improved response signal (XResponse) include amplitude value/s(AResponse') and wherein the neuromuscular function value is determined by comparing a quota of amplitude value/s of the improved response signal (XResponse) and additional amplitude value/s to a set of predetermined amplitude value/s thresholds, wherein the additional amplitude values are selected from amplitude value/s of the stimuli signal (SstimuSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.157 and historical amplitude value/s of the improved response signal (XResponse).

7\. (Cancelled).SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.376.543

8\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 2, wherein the temporal segments (Si, S2, ..., SN) have a duration (TPeriodic) proportional to the noise signal (SNoise).

9\. (Original) The method according to claim 8, wherein the duration (TPeriodic) is selected using a strongest periodic noise component of the noise signal (SNoise).

10\. (Previously Presented) An anesthetizing monitoring unit configured to generating an improved evoked electromyography response signal (XResponse), the anesthetizing monitoring unit comprising:
an input port,
an output port, and
processing circuitry being configured to perform the method according to claim 1.

11\. (Previously Presented) An anesthetizing monitoring system configured to determine an anesthetized patient state, the anesthetizing monitoring unit comprising:
an anesthetizing monitoring unit comprising an input port and an output port,stimulating electrodes electrically coupled to the output port and being configured to receive a stimuli signal (Sstimuli) from the output port and deliver the stimuli signal (SstimuSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.157 to the anesthetized patient,SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.160.157
receiving electrodes electrically coupled to the input port and being configured to obtain an evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse), in response to the stimuli signal (Sstimu and a noise signal (SNoise), from the anesthetized patient, the anesthetizing monitoring unit being configured to perform the method according to claim 1.

12\. (Previously Presented) A computer program is provided comprising computer-executable instructions for causing an anesthetizing monitoring unit, when theSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.3376.543computer-executable instructions are executed on a processing unit comprised in the anesthetizing monitoring unit, to perform the method according claim 1.

13\. (Original) A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium having the computer program according to claim 12 embodied therein.

14\. (Original) A carrier comprising the computer program according to claim 12, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

15\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 6, wherein the threshold values are predetermined properties of historical improved response signals received at the anesthetizing monitoring unit prior to the response signal (SResponse) being received by the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the threshold values are stored in the memory of the anesthetizing monitoring unit.

16\. (Previously Presented) The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) are gathered by the anesthetizing monitoring unit within an adjacent time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval (Tstimulus) and the duration of the response signal (TResponse).

17\. (Canceled)

18\. (Canceled)

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection.  Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.  Applicant's submission filed on September 9, 2024 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed September 9, 2024 has been entered. Claims 1-6 and 8-16 remain pending in the application, and claims 7 and 17-18 were cancelled. Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome each and every 103 rejection previously set forth in the Final Office Action mailed July 17, 2024.
Claim Objections
Claim 2 and 8 are objected to because of the following informalities:
in claim 2, line 3: “the” should be inserted before “temporal segments”; and
in claim 8, line 2: “a duration” should be “their respective periodic duration”.  Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 5-6, 9-10, and 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 5 recites “the anesthetized patient state” in lines 1-2 in which there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.  Also, claim 5, lines 1-4 recite:
wherein the anesthetized patient state is a selection of any of insufficient anesthetic level, low anesthetic level, sufficient anesthetic level, normal breathing function, capable of sustaining breathing or in need of ventilator
It is not clear what relationship this recitation has with any of the recitations (of claim 1) that have come before it.  It appears that the recitation of claim 5 is wholly separate and distinct from all the recitations (of claim 1) that have come before it.
Claim 6 recites “value/s” in lines 2, 4, 5 (two occurrences), 6, and 7, but it is not clear if this recitation means there is a single value or a plurality of values.  Clarification is required.  Also, it is not clear if “the additional amplitude values” of claim 6, lines 5-6 is intended to mean that “additional amplitude value/s” of claim 6, lines 4-5 is intended to mean a plurality of values or not.  Clarification is required.
Claim 9 recites the duration (TPeriodic) is selected using a strongest periodic noise component of the noise signal (SNoise), which renders the claim indefinite. There is a plurality of durations (one for each temporal segment).  Are each of these durations based on a strongest periodic noise component of the noise signal or just one of them? This ambiguity renders claim 9 indefinite.
Claim 10 recites “processing circuitry being configured to perform the method according to claim 1” in line 6, which renders the claim indefinite.  Claim 1 recites a method that involves physical elements that cannot be performed by processing circuitry.  In particular, claim 1 recites
“generating a single stimuli signal (SStimuli) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the single stimuli signal (SStimuli) comprises a single pulse and is configured to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient,
outputting the generated single stimuli signal (SStimuli) to stimulating electrodes on the patient using an output port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit,
receiving a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse) from receiving electrodes on the patient at an input port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit…” in lines 4-11.
The features of the generation of the stimuli signal and the use of the electrodes are aspects that the processing circuitry of claim 10 cannot perform.  As such, the metes and bounds of the claim are not clear.
Claim 12 recites “A computer program is provided comprising computer-executable instructions for causing an anesthetizing monitoring unit, when the computer-executable instructions are executed on a processing unit comprised in the anesthetizing monitoring unit, to perform the method according claim 1” in lines 1-4, which renders the claim indefinite.  Claim 1 recites a method that involves physical elements that cannot be performed by processing unit.  In particular, claim 1 recites
“generating a single stimuli signal (Sstimuli) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the single stimuli signal (SStimuli) comprises a single pulse and is configured to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient,
outputting the generated single stimuli signal (SStimuli) to stimulating electrodes on the patient using an output port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit,
receiving a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse) from receiving electrodes on the patient at an input port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit…” in lines 4-11.
The features of the generation of the stimuli signal and the use of the electrodes are aspects that the processing unit of claim 12 cannot perform.  As such, the metes and bounds of the claim are not clear.
Claims 13-14 are rejected by virtue of its dependence from claim 12.
Claim 15 is rejected by virtue of its dependence from claim 6.
Claim 15 recites “the threshold values” in lines 1-2, but it is not clear if this recitation is the same as, related to, or different from “a set of predetermined amplitude value/s thresholds” of claim 1, lines 5.  If they are the same, consistent terminology should be used.  If they are different, their relationship should be made clear.  Also, if they are different, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 10 and 12-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
Claim 10 recites “processing circuitry being configured to perform the method according to claim 1” in line 6.  According to one interpretation, the recitation of claim 10 is not including the physical elements of claim 1 that cannot be performed by processing circuitry.  In particular, claim 1 recites
“generating a single stimuli signal (Sstimuli) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the single stimuli signal (SStimuli) comprises a single pulse and is configured to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient,
outputting the generated single stimuli signal (SStimuli) to stimulating electrodes on the patient using an output port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit,
receiving a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse) from receiving electrodes on the patient at an input port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit…” in lines 4-11
The features of the generation of the stimuli signal and the use of the electrodes are aspects that the processing circuitry of claim 10 cannot perform.  According to one interpretation, all the features of claim 1 are not incorporated into claim 10, which is improper.
Claim 12 recites “A computer program is provided comprising computer-executable instructions for causing an anesthetizing monitoring unit, when the computer-executable instructions are executed on a processing unit comprised in the anesthetizing monitoring unit, to perform the method according claim 1” in lines 1-4, which renders the claim indefinite.  Claim 1 recites a method that involves physical elements that cannot be performed by processing unit.  In particular, claim 1 recites
“generating a single stimuli signal (Sstimuli) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit, wherein the single stimuli signal (SStimuli) comprises a single pulse and is configured to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient,
outputting the generated single stimuli signal (SStimuli) to stimulating electrodes on the patient using an output port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit,
receiving a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse) from receiving electrodes on the patient at an input port of the anesthetizing monitoring unit…” in lines 4-11.
The features of the generation of the stimuli signal and the use of the electrodes are aspects that the processing unit of claim 12 cannot perform.  According to one interpretation, all the features of claim 1 are not incorporated into claim 12, which is improper.
Claims 13-14 are rejected by virtue of its dependence from claim 12.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4, 8, 11, and 16 are allowed though claims 2 and 8 are objected to.
Claims 5-6, 9-10, and 12-15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The amendments filed September 9, 2024 include amended claim limitations to independent claim 1. The amended claim limitations recite “the temporal segments each have a periodic duration (TPeriodic) matching the frequency of the electric power grid” in combination with the recitation of “the temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) are detected during a time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval (TStimulus) of the single stimuli signal (Sstimuli) and not overlapping with the duration of the response signal (TResponse)”. This is not taught by the Kurtz reference (US 20170245776) or the Bray reference (US 20180256097), as relied upon in the Final Office Action dated July 17, 2024, or any other reference found during a further prior art search.
Claims 2-6 and 8-16 contain allowable subject matter at least based on their dependence on claim 1.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: Remarks
Claims 1-6 and 8-18 are pending in this application. The various parts of the Office Action (and other matters, if any) are discussed below under appropriate headings.
Examiner Interview
Applicant thanks the Examiner for participating in the telephone interview on August 29, 2024. Applicant's Interview Summary is encompassed within the following remarks.
During the interview, proposed amendments to claim 1 were discussed. The Examiner agreed that the proposed amendments would overcome the current rejection. The claims have been amended herein based on the amendments discussed during the interview.
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
Claims 1-6 and 8-16 stand rejected as being unpatentable over U.S. 2017/0245776 ("Kurtz") in view of U.S. 2018/0256097 ("Bray").
Independent Claim 1
Amended claim 1 recites a method performed by an anesthetizing monitoring unit configured to generate an improved evoked electromyography response signal. Claim 1 "generat[es] a single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) using the anesthetizing monitoring unit ... to stimulate a motor nerve of a patient." Claim 1 also "receiv[es] a single evoked electromyography, EMG, response signal (SResponse)."
With exemplary reference to Figure 3 below, claim 1 "estimat[es] a periodic noise waveform (Speriodic) based on a noise signal (SNoise) by splitting the noise signal (SNoise) into temporal segments." The "noise signal (SNoise) is caused by an electric power grid having a frequency." Also, "the temporal segments each have a periodic duration (TPeriodic) matching the frequency of the electric power grid."
Docket No. BRNN16PUS
O1
Current a
ppl
ication
,
Fi
q
ure 3
:
TNoise
STemplate
With exemplary reference to Figure 2A and 2B below, the "temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) are detected during a time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval (Tstimuius) of the single stimuli signal (Sstimuii) and not overlapping with the duration of the response signal (TResponse)."
Current application
,
Fi
q
ure 2A and 2
B:
T
Twindow_endTsltunulea  Tstwureend
Claim 1 further includes "generating the improved response signal (SResponse) by subtracting the noise waveform from the response signal (SResponse) to reduce noise in the response signal (SResponse) caused by the electric power grid."
Analysis: Amended Claim 1 Rejection
The cited reference combination does not disclose -as set forth in amended claim 1-"
" estimating a periodic noise waveform (Speriodic)... based on a noise signal (SNoise)
by splitting the noise signal (SNoise) into temporal segments, wherein:
o the noise signal (SNoise) is caused by an electric power grid having a
frequency;
o the temporal segments each have a periodic duration (TPeriodic)
matching the frequency of the electric power grid; and
o the temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) are detected during a
time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval
(TStimulus) of the single stimuli signal (SStimuli) and not overlapping with
the duration of the response signal (TResponse)."
On page 4 of the Office Action the Examiner avers that Bray teaches the existence the independent claim i's "noise signal (Snoise) used during the estimating of the periodic noise waveform (Speriodic)."To support this conclusion, the Examiner points to paragraph [0057] of Bray, which teaches that these noise signals originate from "brief spontaneous contractions" "muscle fibers."
Claim 1's noise signal is a periodic noise represented by a periodic noise waveform that is caused by the electric power grid. (See, e.g., current application, paragraphs [0041] and [0064].) Conversely, Bray's "brief spontaneous contraction" produces, by definition, a brief spontaneous noise unrelated to the electric power grid.
Accordingly, claim 1 differs from Bray in that Bray avoids noise from muscle contractions, while claim 1 "reduce[s] noise in the response signal (SResponse) caused by the electric power grid." Claim 1 has been amended to clarify this distinction.
For at least the foregoing reasons, the cited reference combination does not disclose or render prima facie obvious the subject matter of amended claim 1 and the rejection
should be withdrawn. The remaining claims depend directly or indirectly from claim 1 and are not obvious over the applied references for at least the above reasons.
Conclusion

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Applicant’s representative Grant Steyer on March 13, 2025.
The application has been amended as follows:
in claim 1, line 11: “transmitted” was changed to “outputted”;
in claim 6, line 4: “the” was inserted before “one or more amplitude values”;
in claim 10, line 11: “the” was inserted before “stimulating electrodes”
in claim 10, line 14: “the” was inserted before “receiving electrodes”;
in claim 10, line 15: “transmitted” was changed to “outputted”;
in claim 11, line 2: “an anesthetized patient state” was changed to “a state of an anesthetized patient”;
in claim 12, line 2: “computer-executable instructions” was changed to “computer-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer medium”;
in claim 12, line 3: a comma was inserted after “a display”;
in claim 12, line 5: “to” was changed to “the anesthetizing monitoring unit performs the steps of”;
in claim 12, line 7: “generate” was changed to “generating”;
claims 13-14 were canceled;
in claim 12, line 9: “output” was changed to “outputting”;
in claim 12, line 9: “the” was inserted before “stimulating electrodes”
in claim 12, line 11: “receive” was changed to “receiving”;
in claim 12, line 12: “the” was inserted before “receiving electrodes”;
in claim 12, line 13: “transmitted” was changed to “outputted”;
in claim 12, line 14: “estimate” was changed to “estimating”;
in claim 12, line 25: “generate” was changed to “generating”;
in claim 12, line 28: “store” was changed to “storing”;
in claim 12, line 30: “present” was changed to “presenting”;
in claim 16, lines 3-4: “a stimuli signal interval” was changed to “the stimuli signal interval”.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The amendments filed on February 27, 2025 do not impact the allowability of the claims and the claims are allowable for the reasons provided in the Non-Final Office Action mailed on February 11, 2025.  Claims 10 and 12 are now independent claims, which include all of the limitations of claim 1 including “the temporal segments each have a periodic duration (TPeriodic) matching the frequency of the electric power grid” in combination with the recitation of “the temporal segments of the noise signal (SNoise) are detected during a time interval (TNoise) not overlapping with a stimuli signal interval (TStimulus) of the single stimuli signal (Sstimuli) and not overlapping with the duration of the response signal (TResponse)”, which were not found to be taught in any other reference found during a further prior art search.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20170245776A1: Claims:
We claim: 1. A method for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the method comprising: generating a plurality of stimuli; receiving a noisy signal related to an evoked response to the plurality of stimuli; divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; and output the final response. 2. A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the shrinking the statistic matrix comprises: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix. 3. A method for detection of claim 1, further comprising decomposing each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 1 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses. 4. A method for detection of claim 3, wherein the decomposing comprises: performing a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficients for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale. 5. A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic is covariance and the statistic matrix is a covariance matrix. 6. A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic matrix is an array of greater than two dimensions. 7. A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic is root mean square and the statistic matrix is a root mean square array of greater than two dimensions. 8. A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli is based on the plurality of responses being synchronized with the plurality of stimuli. 9. An apparatus for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the apparatus comprising: an input device configured to receive data related to a plurality of stimuli and a noisy signal related to the evoked response signal to the plurality of stimuli; and a processor configured to: receive the noisy signal from the input device and divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; and apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response representing the evoked response signal. 10. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein when shrinking the statistic matrix the processor is further configured to: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix. 11. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 9 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses. 12. An apparatus for detection of claim 11, wherein the processor, when decomposing each response, is further configure to: perform a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficient for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale. 13. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic is covariance and the statistic matrix is a covariance matrix. 14. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic matrix is an array of greater than two dimensions. 15. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic is root mean square and the statistic matrix is a root mean square array of greater than two dimensions. 16. An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli is based on the plurality of responses being synchronized with the plurality of stimuli. 17. A system for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the system comprising: a stimulus generator configured to generate a plurality of stimuli; a plurality of sensors configured to receive a noisy signal including an evoked response signal to the plurality of stimuli; an input device configured to receive data related to the plurality of stimuli and the noisy signal; a processor configured to: receive the noisy signal from the input device and divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; and apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response representing the evoked response signal; and an output device to output the final response received from the processor. 18. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein when shrinking the statistic matrix the processor is further configured to: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix. 19. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 17 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses. 20. A system for detection of claim 19, wherein the processor, when decomposing each response, is further configure to: perform a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficients for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale. 21. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the statistic is covariance and the statistic matrix is a covariance matrix. 22. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the statistic matrix is an array of greater than two dimensions 23. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the statistic is root mean square and the statistic matrix is a root mean square array of greater than two dimensions. 24. A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli is based on the plurality of responses being synchronized with the plurality of stimuli.
A method for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the method comprising: generating a plurality of stimuli; receiving a noisy signal related to an evoked response to the plurality of stimuli; divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; and output the final response.
A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the shrinking the statistic matrix comprises: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix.
A method for detection of claim 1, further comprising decomposing each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 1 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
A method for detection of claim 1, further comprising decomposing each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response;
of claim 1 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
A method for detection of claim 3, wherein the decomposing comprises: performing a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficients for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale.
A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic is covariance and the statistic matrix is a covariance matrix.
A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic matrix is an array of greater than two dimensions.
A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the statistic is root mean square and the statistic matrix is a root mean square array of greater than two dimensions.
A method for detection of claim 1, wherein the divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli is based on the plurality of responses being synchronized with the plurality of stimuli.
An apparatus for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the apparatus comprising: an input device configured to receive data related to a plurality of stimuli and a noisy signal related to the evoked response signal to the plurality of stimuli; and a processor configured to: receive the noisy signal from the input device and divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; and apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response representing the evoked response signal.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein when shrinking the statistic matrix the processor is further configured to: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 9 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response;
of claim 9 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
An apparatus for detection of claim 11, wherein the processor, when decomposing each response, is further configure to: perform a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficient for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic is covariance and the statistic matrix is a covariance matrix.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic matrix is an array of greater than two dimensions.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the statistic is root mean square and the statistic matrix is a root mean square array of greater than two dimensions.
An apparatus for detection of claim 9, wherein the divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli is based on the plurality of responses being synchronized with the plurality of stimuli.
A system for detection of an evoked response signal in noise, the system comprising: a stimulus generator configured to generate a plurality of stimuli; a plurality of sensors configured to receive a noisy signal including an evoked response signal to the plurality of stimuli; an input device configured to receive data related to the plurality of stimuli and the noisy signal; a processor configured to: receive the noisy signal from the input device and divide the noisy signal into a plurality of responses to the plurality of stimuli; estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; and apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response representing the evoked response signal; and an output device to output the final response received from the processor.
A system for detection of claim 17, wherein when shrinking the statistic matrix the processor is further configured to: calculate a correlation between combinations of responses; create a list of negatively correlated pairs; for each negatively correlated pair in the list: determine if one of the responses in the pair is in a shrinkage list, if so, remove the pair from the list of negatively correlated pairs, otherwise, add both responses of the pair to the shrinkage list; when the list of negatively correlated pairs is empty, set all non-diagonal elements of the statistic matrix corresponding to responses in the shrinkage list to 0 to provide a shrunk statistic matrix; and return the shrunk statistic matrix.
A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response; of claim 17 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to decompose each response into a plurality of sub-responses to create a plurality of sets of sub-responses and performing the: estimate a statistic matrix for the plurality of responses; shrink the statistic matrix; calculate weights based on an inverse of the shrunk statistic matrix; apply weights to the plurality of responses to construct a final response;
of claim 17 for each of the plurality of sets of sub-responses.
A system for detection of claim 19, wherein the processor, when decomposing each response, is further configure to: perform a multilevel discrete wavelet transform on individual responses in a loop for each scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform, selecting a scale of the multilevel discrete wavelet transform and, for the selected scale: set wavelet coefficients for non-selected scales to 0; and perform a multilevel inverse discrete wavelet transform to obtain a time domain sub-response for the selected scale; and return a plurality of sets of sub-responses, each set comprising sub-responses having the same scale.
A system for detection of claim 17, wherein the stati
[Truncated to input limit]