Non-pharmaceutical method of managing pain
Inventors
Assignees
Sana Health Inc • Sana Heath Inc
Publication Number
US-11400252-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-02
Expiration Date
2036-11-23
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Abstract
A method of managing pain provides sensory stimuli to a person. The sensor stimuli include visual and/or auditory stimuli which are pulsed at the rate of various types of brain waves. The method is applicable for treating nociceptive or neuropathic pain and/or for improving the person's tolerance for pain. Treatment is provided for approximately 15 minutes using a portable headset.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a non-pharmaceutical method of managing pain by administering a therapeutically effective amount of sensory stimuli to a person. These sensory stimuli include visual and/or auditory stimuli pulsed at frequencies corresponding to brain wave frequencies such as delta, theta, and alpha. The method may provide one or more simultaneous stimuli patterns that alternate between the left and right sides of the head, such as visual stimuli to one eye and auditory stimuli to the opposite ear, optionally cycling through multiple stimuli patterns over a treatment period of approximately 15 to 16 minutes.
The problem addressed by this invention arises from the limitations and risks associated with pharmacological pain management, especially opioids that are addictive and impair cognitive abilities, and NSAIDs that have other health risks. Existing non-pharmaceutical methods for pain relief often are not generally effective. This invention seeks to provide a safe, non-drug-based alternative approach that can be self-administered and useful across a broad range of pain types, without diminishing the patient's ability to function or perform.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims cover several inventive features centered on methods of managing pain using sensory stimuli, focusing on alternating visual and auditory patterns applied to opposite sides of the head, and specific frequency components.
Alternating cross-lateral visual and auditory stimulus patterns
The method administers sensory stimuli that alternate between providing a visual stimuli pattern to one eye and an auditory stimuli pattern to the opposite ear, and vice versa, to the person’s left and right sides of the head.
Use of specific brain wave frequency components in stimuli patterns
Sensory stimuli patterns include sinusoidal components with frequencies between 3.75 Hz and 4.25 Hz, between 1.25 Hz and 1.75 Hz, or between 0.25 Hz and 0.75 Hz, corresponding to delta, theta, and alpha brain wave frequencies, and these different stimuli patterns are sequentially administered.
Variations in stimuli pattern configurations and sequencing
The method includes alternating sensory stimuli in multiple configurations, such as pairing left visual stimuli with right auditory stimuli and right visual stimuli with left auditory stimuli, as well as other alternate combinations, and includes sequences with first, second, and third different stimuli patterns.
Administration of stimuli using a headset device
The method involves providing a headset to be worn by the person, which delivers the therapeutically effective sensory stimuli with alternating visual and auditory patterns as described.
The claims comprehensively cover methods of pain management that utilize alternating bilateral visual and auditory stimuli with specific brain wave frequency components, delivered via a headset, with variations in pattern sequencing and configurations to reduce pain perception and improve pain tolerance.
Stated Advantages
Provides a non-pharmaceutical pain management method as an alternative or adjunct to drug therapies, reducing risks associated with opioids and NSAIDs.
Enables safe, self-administered treatment usable across diverse types of nociceptive and neuropathic pain.
Does not impair cognitive abilities or diminish the person's ability to function or perform.
Demonstrated to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing subjective pain and increasing relaxation and heart rate variability in clinical testing.
Documented Applications
Treatment of nociceptive pain caused by fractures, severe injury, non-migraine headaches, dental pain, burns, post-surgery pain, osteoarthritis, and cancer pain.
Treatment of neuropathic pain including fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, post herpetic neuralgia, radiculopathy, phantom limb, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.
Managing symptoms of drug withdrawal (e.g., methadone withdrawal) to reduce pain and anxiety.
Anecdotal application to conditions including brain stem stroke, persistent vegetative state, migraine, trauma-induced headache, oncology pain, unstable angina, trigeminal neuralgia, tension headaches, whiplash, Crohn's disease, spinal cord injury, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, lupus, and Raynaud's syndrome.
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