Methods and systems for providing stimuli to the brain
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-10328236-B2
Publication Date
2019-06-25
Expiration Date
2036-11-23
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Abstract
Visual and auditory stimuli are provided to a patient to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and/or to provide improved mental or physical performance. The visual and auditory stimuli are provided by a wearable headset or sleep mask that may be comfortably worn by a user, such as in bed to induce sleep. The wearable headset or sleep mask is operated by a personal computing device of the user, such as smartphone, having downloaded and active thereon a control application or app for the therapy. The wearable headset or sleep mask also concurrently provides tactile stimuli, and the tactile stimulus is provided from bone conduction transducers that concurrently provides the auditory stimuli.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to medical devices and methods that provide sensory stimuli, including visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli, to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and improve mental or physical performance. The stimuli are delivered via a wearable headset or sleep mask, operable by a personal computing device such as a smartphone running a control application. The system can provide coordinated left and right visual and auditory stimulus patterns, and tactile stimuli may be concurrently produced by bone conduction transducers that also provide the auditory stimuli.
The problem addressed by the invention arises from the limitations of prior methods and devices used to provide sensory stimulation for therapeutic purposes. Existing equipment is often bulky, expensive, inaccessible, and not sufficiently effective for widespread use, especially in practical circumstances like sleeping in a bedroom or airplane cabin. Pharmaceutical treatments for neurological disorders such as insomnia have questionable efficacy and potential undesirable side effects, motivating the need for improved sensory stimulation methods and systems that overcome these challenges.
The invention discloses sophisticated methods of delivering multisensory stimulation, including patterns that coordinate bilateral visual and auditory stimuli at brainwave-relevant frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma waves). The stimuli may be pulsed or alternated in specific sequences to induce desired neurophysiological responses. The wearable headset integrates multiple sources for left and right visual and auditory stimuli, optionally including tactile stimuli, with a controller that independently yet coordinately manages these stimulus patterns. Therapeutic regimens are user-selectable and may be adjusted based on user feedback via an external control device.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims covering methods and apparatuses for providing coordinated sensory stimulation using visual and auditory stimuli at specific alternating patterns and frequencies.
Alternating coordinated sensory stimulation
A method that alternates sensory stimulation between a first stimulation providing a left visual stimulus and right auditory stimulus, and a second stimulation providing a right visual stimulus and left auditory stimulus, wherein the auditory stimulus patterns include a sequence of three pulse frequencies in specified ranges.
Periodically providing full bilateral sensory stimulation
A method comprising periodically providing simultaneous left and right visual stimulus patterns and left and right auditory stimulus patterns.
Independent control of left and right stimuli by a wearable headset
An apparatus with a frame worn on the user's head, comprising left and right light sources, left and right auditory sources, and a controller programmed to generate inputs alternating between combinations of left visual with right auditory stimuli and right visual with left auditory stimuli with specified pulse frequencies in auditory stimuli.
The claims collectively cover methods and apparatus that provide coordinated, alternating visual and auditory stimulation patterns at specified pulse frequencies using wearable devices with independent, yet synchronized control of left and right sensory stimuli to treat neurological conditions or enhance performance.
Stated Advantages
Improved therapeutic benefits by concurrently providing two or more auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli that synergize to produce better results than individual stimuli alone.
Comfortable wearable design suitable for use in settings such as in bed to induce sleep or in other practical environments where traditional bulky equipment is unsuitable.
User-selectable therapeutic regimens operated via personal computing devices with potential for regimen optimization based on user feedback.
Enhanced brain stimulation through coordinated and alternating bilateral sensory patterns that encourage inter-hemispheric communication, potentially improving treatment efficacy for conditions like PTSD.
Documented Applications
Treatment of neurological disorders including insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), stroke-related brain injuries, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and balance disorders.
Performance enhancement including improving neuroplasticity, motor skills, coordination, reaction times, alertness, energy, working memory, mood, and feelings of wellbeing.
Inducing sleep or napping by providing stimuli that modulate brain wave activity corresponding to delta, theta, and alpha frequencies.
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