Devices configured to monitor biological parameters, and to provide treatment, at an Abreu brain thermal tunnel
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12295880-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices for therapeutic interaction with an Abreu brain thermal tunnel (ABTT) terminus. Such devices provide heat to or remove heat from the ABTT terminus, and may also provide heat to or remove heat from veins connected to the ABTT. Therapeutic devices for engaging with the ABTT terminus benefit from diagnostics obtained at the ABTT terminus, or from other locations on the body.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to non-invasive continuous thermal monitoring using the Abreu brain thermal tunnel (ABTT) to generate continuous thermal circadian profiles, referred to as thermal circadian signatures, without measurement gaps. The thermal circadian signatures provide a continuous core/brain temperature monitoring basis over a 24-hour cycle.
The invention addresses thermal circadian signatures for disease diagnosis by comparing a patient thermal circadian profile to baseline libraries of thermal circadian profiles. The disease diagnosis is described with exemplary emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, where time-shifted temperature minima/maxima and their correlation with lesion progression in the hippocampus and ABTT terminus are used for early detection and differentiation from other dementias.
The disclosure further includes therapeutic methods using localized thermal energy delivery via an ABTT target area/terminus. The disclosed therapeutic approach includes heating during daytime and cooling at night to normalize sleep/wake cycle-related thermal patterns, with explicit emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and other sleep disorders.
The document further provides embodiments of thermal sensing and thermal exchange devices, including patches, thermoelectric/resistive heaters, eyeglass/frame-like devices, clips, frames/goggles, sensors, controllers/processors, wireless transmitters with displays/alerts, and structural features such as convex contact surfaces and hood/air-pocket thermal augmentation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage centers on an ABTT-terminus heat/cold wearable device in eyeglass-frame form that performs thermal exchange with the superior palpebral vein. Three inventive features are identified across the independent claim set.
Eyeglass frame heat/cold support for ABTT terminus thermal exchange
A device configured to apply heat or cold to an Abreu brain thermal tunnel (ABTT) terminus, the device comprising a support structure configured as eyeglass frames.
Resistive heater for thermal exchange with superior palpebral vein
A resistive heater positioned on the support structure, positioned to heat a portion of the support structure that extends along the superior palpebral vein when worn by a user, and configured to provide thermal exchange with the superior palpebral vein when worn.
Upper eyelid region heater extension on both left and right sides
The resistive heater extends away from the ABTT terminus along an upper eyelid region and alongside the superior palpebral vein of the user when worn on both a left side and a right side, terminating before reaching the end of the superior palpebral vein on each side.
The core coverage is a wearable eyeglass-frame device that applies heat or cold at an ABTT terminus region by using a resistive heater thermally exchanging with a portion of the support structure extending along the superior palpebral vein, with heater extension defined for both left and right upper eyelid regions and termination before the vein ends.
Stated Advantages
Provides thermal exchange between the resistive heater and the superior palpebral vein when worn, configured to support heat or cold application at an ABTT terminus.
The heater extends along upper eyelid regions and alongside the superior palpebral vein on both left and right sides while terminating before the ends of the superior palpebral veins.
A hood creates air pockets around the superior palpebral vein to enhance the device’s thermal effect.
Documented Applications
Non-invasive continuous thermal monitoring to generate continuous thermal circadian profiles (thermal circadian signatures) without measurement gaps.
Disease diagnosis by comparing a patient thermal circadian profile to baseline libraries, with exemplary emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease for early detection and differentiation from other dementias.
Therapeutic methods using localized thermal energy delivery via an ABTT target area/terminus, including heating during daytime and cooling at night for sleep/wake normalization in Alzheimer’s disease and other sleep disorders.
Treatment/diagnosis contexts including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Treatment/diagnosis contexts including cancers, including modulation involving melatonin and the pineal gland.
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