Methods and systems for providing stimuli to the brain
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11679231-B2
Publication Date
2023-06-20
Expiration Date
2036-11-23
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
A method of providing sensory stimulation to a user is described. The method includes alternating sensory stimulation between a first sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a left visual stimulus pattern to a left eye and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of a head and a second sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a right visual stimulus pattern to a right eye and a left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head. The first sensory stimulation and the second sensory stimulation each include a first stimulus pattern having a first pulse frequency, a second stimulus pattern having a second pulse frequency less than the first pulse frequency, and a third stimulus pattern having a third pulse frequency less than the second pulse frequency. One of the first pulse frequency, the second pulse frequency, or the third pulse frequency is between approximately 3.75 Hz and 4.25 Hz.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to methods and systems for providing sensory stimulation to a user to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and/or provide performance enhancement. The stimulation includes alternating sensory input between a first stimulation, which simultaneously provides a left visual stimulus pattern to the left eye and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of the head, and a second stimulation, which simultaneously provides a right visual stimulus to the right eye and a left auditory stimulus to the left side of the head. Each stimulation pattern includes three stimulus patterns having pulse frequencies, with the first pulse frequency between approximately 3.75 Hz and 4.25 Hz in some embodiments, and in the claims between approximately 7.5 Hz and 8.5 Hz. The stimuli are coordinated between auditory, visual, and optionally tactile inputs.
The problem addressed is that existing sensory stimulation therapies for neurological disorders are often limited by bulky, expensive, and inaccessible equipment, and may only benefit subsets of populations. Pharmaceuticals used as alternatives have limitations including cost, dependency on patient compliance, prescription requirements, questionable efficacy, and undesirable side effects. The invention aims to provide improved devices and methods that overcome these limitations by delivering coordinated, alternating multisensory stimuli to improve treatment accessibility, efficacy, and applications.
The invention provides coordinated stimulus patterns delivered via a wearable headset configured with left and right light sources and auditory sources, optionally including tactile stimuli through bone conduction transducers or separate tactile sources. The stimulation patterns are delivered in alternating sequences between left visual/right auditory and right visual/left auditory combinations, each with multiple pulse frequencies and specific timing sequences. This arrangement forces communication between brain hemispheres, which can aid in treatment of conditions such as PTSD by wiring memories to both sides of the brain.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes multiple independent claims focusing on methods and apparatuses for providing coordinated, alternating sensory stimulation with specific pulse frequencies and patterns.
Alternating coordinated sensory stimulation with specific pulse frequencies
A method of providing sensory stimulation to a user by alternating between simultaneous left visual and right auditory stimuli and simultaneous right visual and left auditory stimuli, each including three stimulus patterns with pulse frequencies approximately between 7.5-8.5 Hz, 2.5-3.5 Hz, and 0.5-1.5 Hz.
Simultaneous bilateral sensory stimulation including periodic concurrent stimuli
Periodically providing sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing left and right visual stimuli and left and right auditory stimuli concurrently.
Use of speakers or bone conduction transducers for auditory stimuli
Generating left and right auditory stimulus patterns using either speakers or bone conduction transducers integrated into a headset.
Apparatus with a wearable frame and coordinated stimulus controllers
An apparatus comprising a head-worn frame, a controller configured to generate left and right light source inputs, and left and right auditory source inputs, with input signals alternating between left-light and right-auditory stimuli and right-light and left-auditory stimuli, each with pulse frequencies approximately between 7.5-8.5 Hz, 2.5-3.5 Hz, and 0.5-1.5 Hz.
Use of the sensory stimulation for treatment and performance enhancement
A method of treating neurological diseases or conditions or providing performance enhancement by providing alternating sensory stimulation following the described patterns and pulse frequencies.
The independent claims cover methods and an apparatus for delivering coordinated, alternating bilateral visual and auditory stimuli with defined pulse frequencies in wearable devices, for therapeutic and performance enhancement applications.
Stated Advantages
Provides improved accessibility compared to bulky and expensive existing equipment.
Potentially surpasses efficacy thresholds of prior sensory stimulation therapies.
Avoids issues associated with pharmaceuticals, such as side effects and patient compliance problems.
Forces bilateral brain communication, which can aid in treatment of PTSD and other neurological disorders.
Improves outcomes by concurrently providing multisensory (auditory, visual, tactile) stimuli.
Enables treatment or performance enhancement for a wide range of neurological conditions and cognitive or physical capabilities.
Documented Applications
Treatment of neurological disorders including insomnia, PTSD, brain injuries (such as TBI and strokes), depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and balance disorders.
Providing cognitive and physical performance enhancements such as improving neuroplasticity, motor skills, coordination, reaction times, alertness, energy, working memory, mood, and feelings of wellbeing.
Inducing sleep, including napping and circadian rhythm adjustment.
Treatment and management of chronic pain.
Improving reaction times and task performance in various professional and athletic contexts.
Interested in licensing this patent?