Methods and systems for providing stimuli to the brain
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12201781-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-21
Expiration Date
2036-11-23
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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. 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 medical devices and methods for providing sensory stimulation to a subject to treat various neurological disorders or conditions and/or to provide performance enhancement. The sensory stimuli may include auditory, visual, and tactile components, and the invention focuses on delivering these stimuli in coordinated patterns to the left and right sides of the user's head, typically through a wearable headset or sleep mask.
The problem being addressed is the suboptimal state of current sensory stimulation therapies, which are often bulky, expensive, inaccessible, and below a critical efficacy threshold for widespread use. Existing treatments like binaural beats or pharmaceuticals face challenges such as cost, patient compliance, side effects, and limited effectiveness across the general population. There is therefore a need for improved methods and systems that overcome these issues, providing effective, user-friendly, and versatile treatments for neurological disorders and performance enhancement.
Claims Coverage
The patent claims encompass three independent claims focusing on methods and apparatuses for providing sensory stimulation to a user and treating neurological conditions or enhancing performance.
Method of alternating sensory stimulation between contralateral visual and auditory patterns with specific pulse frequencies
The method involves alternating sensory stimulation between (1) simultaneously providing a left visual stimulus pattern to the left eye and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of the head, and (2) simultaneously providing a right visual stimulus pattern to the right eye and a left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head. Each sensory stimulation includes three stimulus patterns with pulse frequencies such that the first pulse frequency is between approximately 3.75 Hz and 4.25 Hz, the second is lower, and the third is lower still, specifically between approximately 1.25 Hz and 1.75 Hz, and 0.25 Hz and 0.75 Hz respectively.
Method including periodic concurrent bilateral sensory stimulation
The method further comprises periodically providing sensory stimulation that simultaneously delivers left and right visual stimulus patterns to the respective eyes and left and right auditory stimulus patterns to the respective sides of the head.
Apparatus comprising a headset with alternating contralateral light and auditory stimuli at specific pulse frequencies
The apparatus includes a frame worn on the head, left and right light sources, left and right auditory sources, and a controller programmed to alternate inputs between (1) simultaneously generating left light source input and right auditory source input, and (2) simultaneously generating right light source input and left auditory source input. Each input includes stimulus patterns with pulse frequencies as described above, with the first pulse frequency between approximately 3.75 Hz and 4.25 Hz, the second between approximately 1.25 Hz and 1.75 Hz, and the third between approximately 0.25 Hz and 0.75 Hz.
Method of treating neurological conditions or providing performance enhancement using alternating contralateral sensory stimuli
A method where a user wears a headset delivering alternating sensory stimulation as described in the first inventive feature, to treat neurological diseases or conditions or to provide performance enhancement.
The independent claims cover coordinated sensory stimulation methods and apparatuses using a headset delivering alternating contralateral visual and auditory stimuli with specified pulse frequencies between 0.25 Hz and 4.25 Hz, applied for therapeutic or performance enhancement purposes.
Stated Advantages
Improved therapeutic benefits through the concurrent provision of two or more of auditory, visual, and/or tactile stimuli compared to a single type of stimulus.
Ability to stimulate brain communication between left and right hemispheres by alternating outputs between left and right sides, which may aid in treating PTSD by wiring memories across both brain hemispheres to reduce flashbacks.
The invention provides a user-friendly, less bulky, and more accessible therapy system compared to conventional equipment or pharmaceuticals.
Documented Applications
Treatment of neurological disorders including insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild TBI (mTBI), brain injuries from oxygen deprivation such as strokes, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and balance disorders.
Performance enhancement applications that improve neuroplasticity, motor skills, coordination, reaction times, alertness, energy, working memory, mood, and feelings of wellbeing.
Inducing sleep or napping and adjusting circadian rhythms for various persons including crew members and patients.
Improving mental and physical task performance such as marksmanship, driving endurance, fine motor skills in bomb disposal and surgical procedures, motion sickness reduction, race car driving, and professional sports performance.
Reducing symptoms or improving recovery for pain management, epilepsy, stroke recovery, PTSD symptom relief including flashbacks and nightmares, and concussion recovery.
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