Methods and systems for modulating stimuli to the brain with biosensors
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-10799667-B2
Publication Date
2020-10-13
Expiration Date
2038-03-02
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
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 includes, or works in cooperation with, sensors that determine the state of the user and modify the operation of the headset for treating various disorders or contentions.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wearable headset or sleep mask that delivers coordinated visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli to a user for treating various neurological disorders or conditions and for enhancing mental or physical performance. The stimulation is modulated in real time based on biosensor feedback reflecting the user's physiological state, such as heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature, brain activity (EEG), or muscular activity (EMG). This responsive system adjusts stimulus parameters like intensity, frequency, and duration to optimize therapeutic effects.
The headset includes stimuli sources: left and right light sources for visual stimuli, and left and right vibration sources producing auditory and potentially tactile stimuli via bone conduction or other vibration means. Stimuli patterns involve synchronous or out-of-phase activation across sources, pulsed at frequencies aligned with brain wave ranges (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma). A controller receives biosensor data to detect states of relaxation, sleep stages, hemispheric brainwave imbalances, and modifies stimulation accordingly, for example, reducing stimuli during REM sleep or enhancing stimuli on the less active brain hemisphere.
The problem addressed by this invention arises from prior sensory stimulation methods being bulky, expensive, ineffective across broad populations, and inconvenient to use during activities like sleep or travel. Pharmacological treatments present challenges including expense, side effects, reliance on compliance, and questionable efficacy. There is a need for accessible, effective, real-time adaptive stimulation systems to improve therapy for neurological disorders and to assist in relaxation and performance enhancement.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims cover methods and devices for providing coordinated multi-modal stimuli to a user via a headset, with feedback-based modulation of the stimuli based on the user's physiological state, using biosensors and specific activation patterns of stimuli sources.
Coordinated multi-modal stimulation with phase modulation
The method uses a headset with left and right visual and vibration stimuli sources that are activated between high and low stimuli at stimulation frequencies, including alternating synchronized and out-of-phase activation patterns among the four stimuli sources.
Feedback-based modification of stimulation parameters
The stimulation frequency, temporal length, and intensity levels of stimuli are modified based on the state of the user determined from biosensor measurements such as heart rate, heart rate variability, temperature, motion, galvanic skin response, EEG, and EMG.
Use of specific biosensors to determine user state
The method employs one or more sensors including heart rate sensors, HRV sensors, temperature sensors, motion sensors, galvanic skin response sensors, accelerometers, EEG sensors, and EMG sensors to detect states like sleep, relaxation, arousal, REM sleep, and hemispheric brainwave imbalances.
Adaptive response to relaxation and hemispheric imbalance
The system reduces stimuli levels when relaxation or REM sleep is detected and increases stimuli to the less active hemisphere detected by EEG to address hemispheric brainwave imbalance.
Wearable device with integrated stimuli sources and sensors
A headset device incorporates four stimuli sources (left and right light and vibration sources), at least one sensor to obtain user measurements, and a processor programmed to activate stimuli with phase modulation and to modify activation according to the user’s measured state.
The claims protect a system and method that provide synchronized and phase-modulated multi-modal stimuli via a wearable headset, with real-time, sensor-driven adjustments to stimulation parameters to optimize therapeutic or enhancement outcomes based on the user’s physiological state.
Stated Advantages
Provides enhanced therapeutic and performance benefits by tailoring sensory stimulation in real time to an individual's physiological responses.
Improves convenience and user comfort by integrating multi-modal stimuli into a wearable headset or sleep mask suitable for use during sleep or other activities.
Offers a non-pharmaceutical alternative that may avoid side effects and compliance issues associated with medications.
Uses biosensor feedback to optimize treatment duration, intensity, and frequency, improving efficacy and customization.
Documented Applications
Treatment of neurological disorders including insomnia, PTSD, brain injuries (TBI, mTBI, stroke), depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and balance disorders.
Enhancement of cognitive and physical performance such as neuroplasticity, motor skills, coordination, reaction times, alertness, energy, working memory, mood, relaxation, sleep quality, and feelings of wellbeing.
Inducing and improving sleep including napping and adjusting circadian rhythms.
Pain management for chronic nerve pain and other chronic pain conditions.
Improvement of specific skills including marksmanship, fine motor skills for bomb disposal and surgery, driver performance under stress, and athletic performance.
Support for recovery from stroke, concussion, epilepsy seizure severity reduction, and PTSD symptom reduction.
Interested in licensing this patent?