Neuromodulatory methods for improving addiction using multi-dimensional feedback
Inventors
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Assignees
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West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
West Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
Publication Number
US-12453858-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods of improving addiction in a patient in need thereof are provided. Methods include using focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation and/or transcranial magnetic stimulation and multi-dimensional monitoring of the patient to determine whether the focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, and/or transcranial magnetic stimulation improves the patient's addiction. Based on this determination, the focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, and/or transcranial magnetic stimulation can be adjusted to improve the patient's addiction.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to improving addiction to an addictive behavior or an addictive chemical substance in a patient in need thereof. It addresses determining whether a patient’s addiction has improved after applying neural target neuromodulation signals.
The method obtains baseline values of a physiological, a cognitive, a psychosocial, and a behavioral parameter of the patient, and applies an initial focused ultrasound signal, an initial deep brain stimulation signal, or an initial transcranial magnetic stimulation signal to a neural target site of the patient. It then obtains subsequent measurements of resultant values of the same parameters during or after application and compares the resultant values to the baseline values to determine if the patient’s addiction has improved.
Upon a determination that the patient’s addiction has not improved, one or more subsequent focused ultrasound signals, deep brain stimulation signals, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signals are applied or adjusted to the neural target site. The framework also supports determining improvement using a machine learning model, where baseline values, resultant values, and deviation values are provided to the model and the deviation values are represented as a two-dimensional array of wavelet coefficients.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claims, covering improvement via iterative comparison-and-adjustment, notifying based on non-improvement, and monitoring addiction based on baseline-to-resultant comparisons. Across the independent claims, the coverage includes obtaining baseline values of physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral parameters; applying an initial focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signal to a neural target site; obtaining resultant measurements during or after stimulation; and comparing resultant values to baseline values.
Iterative neuromodulation guided by baseline versus resultant comparison
Obtaining baseline values of physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral parameters; applying an initial focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signal to a neural target site; obtaining resultant values during or after application; comparing resultant values to baseline values to determine whether addiction has improved; and applying or adjusting one or more subsequent signals upon non-improvement.
Notifying patient or third party upon non-improvement
Obtaining baseline values, applying an initial focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signal, obtaining resultant values, comparing resultant values to baseline values, applying or adjusting one or more subsequent signals upon non-improvement, and notifying the patient or third party upon the determination that addiction has not improved.
Monitoring addiction based on baseline versus resultant comparison
Obtaining baseline values, applying an initial focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signal, obtaining resultant values during or after application, obtaining a comparison of the resultant values to the baseline values, and monitoring the patient’s addiction based on the comparison.
Taken together, the independent claims define three related uses of neuromodulation signals to a neural target site combined with measurements of physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral parameters, where resultant values are compared to baseline values to determine improvement, trigger notification upon non-improvement, or monitor addiction based on the comparison.
Stated Advantages
Improving a patient’s addiction to an addictive behavior or addictive chemical substance.
Determining whether the patient’s addiction has improved using baseline versus resultant comparisons.
Notifying a patient or third party upon determination that the patient’s addiction has not improved.
Monitoring the patient’s addiction based on the comparison of resultant values to baseline values.
Documented Applications
Improving addiction to an addictive behavior or addictive chemical substance in a patient in need thereof by iterative application or adjustment of one or more subsequent focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signals based on comparison to baseline values.
Notifying a patient or third party about a patient’s addiction improvement status, including notifying upon determination that the patient’s addiction has not improved.
Monitoring addiction in a patient based on a comparison of resultant values to baseline values after applying an initial focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation, or transcranial magnetic stimulation signal.
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