Method and device for transdermally applying electrical stimulation to a region of the head having high impedance
Inventors
BELSON, Ron • Matza, Yaniv • Dar, Amit • Cohen, Amir
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11154710-B2
Publication Date
2021-10-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transdermally providing electrical current to a region of a user's head at high impedance conditions, while maintaining low voltage levels.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a transdermally applying electrical stimulation method in which at least two electrodes engage a surface of a scalp of a user and deliver a balanced pulse through the scalp. The balanced pulse includes a positive phase train of streaks of constant current positive phases separated by rest times, immediately followed by a negative phase train of streaks of constant current negative phases separated by rest times. Each positive phase and each negative phase is for providing a predetermined amount of charge to the head.
The method calculates a first time ratio t_rp between cumulative durations of rest times between positive phases and cumulative durations of the positive phases, and a second time ratio t_rn between cumulative durations of rest times between negative phases and cumulative durations of the negative phases, wherein, at least initially, each ratio is smaller than a predetermined threshold ratio. It monitors an amount of charge delivered by the positive phases and the negative phases, where the monitoring component includes the electrodes or at least one sensor external to the electrodes, and identifies an input indicative of a reduction of charge delivered by one or more of the positive and/or negative phases.
Upon identifying the reduction, the processing unit adapts at least one rest time in at least one of the positive phase train and the negative phase train, calculates first and second updated values of the first and second time ratios following the adapting, and repeats delivery and adaptation until the monitoring shows that the predetermined amount of charge has been provided by each of the positive and negative phases, or until at least one updated time ratio reaches the predetermined threshold ratio and a voltage of the balanced pulse reaches a predetermined voltage threshold. The described approach maintains balanced constant-current stimulation while adapting rest times based on monitored charge reduction signals.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes one independent claim (clm-00001). The independent claim centers on delivering a balanced constant-current pulse train and adaptively adjusting rest times based on monitoring an amount of delivered charge, using time ratios constrained by a predetermined threshold ratio and terminating based on charge sufficiency or reaching threshold conditions with a predetermined voltage threshold.
Balanced positive and negative constant-current phase trains with rest times
Delivering via engaged scalp electrodes a balanced pulse comprising a positive phase train including constant current positive phases separated by rest times, immediately followed by a negative phase train including constant current negative phases separated by rest times, each positive and negative phase providing a predetermined amount of charge to the head.
Time ratio calculation constrained by a predetermined threshold ratio
Calculating a first time ratio between cumulative rest-time duration between positive phases and cumulative duration of the positive phases, and a second time ratio between cumulative rest-time duration between negative phases and cumulative duration of the negative phases, wherein at least initially each of said first and second time ratios is smaller than a predetermined threshold ratio.
Monitoring delivered charge using electrodes or external sensor
Monitoring an amount of charge delivered by the positive phases and negative phases using a monitoring component that includes the electrodes or at least one sensor external to said at least two electrodes.
Identifying charge reduction and adapting rest times
Identifying, from an input received from the monitoring component, a reduction of charge delivered by one or more of the positive and negative phases, and upon identification of said reduction adapting at least one rest time in at least one of the positive phase train and the negative phase train.
Iterative repetition until charge sufficiency or threshold/voltage termination
Calculating first and second updated values for the time ratios following the adapting, repeating steps of delivering the balanced pulse and adapting the rest time until monitoring shows the predetermined amount of charge has been provided by each of the positive and negative phases, or until at least one updated time ratio reaches the predetermined threshold ratio and a voltage of the balanced pulse reaches a predetermined voltage threshold.
Across the independent claim, the core coverage is the closed-loop delivery of a balanced constant-current positive/negative pulse train with rest times, where monitored charge reduction triggers adaptive rest-time adjustments and iterative repetition continues until charge sufficiency is met or until time-ratio and voltage threshold conditions indicate an end state.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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