Apparatus and method for changing critical brain activity using light and sound

• US 20020198577A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter D. Jaillet
• Original Assignee: Peter D. Jaillet
• Inventors: Jaillet, Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US10/234,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/16 Visual evoked potential [VEP]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

A monocular apparatus and method is disclosed for selectively stimulating cortical brain activity of a patient with hemispheric brain differences using light and/or sound includes exposing a patient to one or more lights (12) placed in close proximity to a patient'"'"'s eyes (20, 30) wherein the one or more of lights (12) selectively stimulate the non-dominant eye (30) connected to the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere. The present invention may be of particular use for a patient diagnosed with brain injury and/or a brain dysfunction, such as cognitive, seizure, mood, panic, dissociative, or learning disorder.

Claims

1. A monocular apparatus comprising:

a surface;

one or more lights disposed on the surface; and

a first microprocessor integrally housed in the apparatus and electrically connected to the lights;

wherein the apparatus is adapted to a second microprocessor.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a sound source for providing sound to one or both ears.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising one or more sound sources controlled by the first or second microprocessor.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first microprocessor is driven by a power source selected from the group consisting of a electrical power, self-generating power, magnetic power, battery power, solar power, and combinations, thereof.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second microprocessor is selected from the group consisting of computer, computer chip, optical machine, telescope, binocular, mounted viewing device, free-standing viewing device, booth, and combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second microprocessor and the first microprocessor are the same.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of monocular glass, binocular glasses, visor, eye patch, scarf, hat, helmet, headband, optical machine, telescope, binocular, mounted viewing device, free-standing viewing device, and combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light produced by the one or more lights is selected from the group consisting of white light, colored light, polarized light, and variations thereof.

10. An apparatus for treating a brain lobe dysfunction by selectively stimulating a non-dominant cerebral hemisphere of a patient comprising:

one or more lights positioned in close proximity to a patient'"'"'s eye;

a microcontroller electrically connected to and selectively controlling the lights; and

a power source electrically connected to the microcontroller that provides electricity to the one or more lights and the microcontroller.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a housing in which one or more lights, the microcontroller and power source are integrally housed.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 further comprising a sound source for providing sound to one or both ears wherein the sound source is controlled by the microcontroller.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the apparatus is selected from the group consisting of monocular, binocular, glasses, eye patch, scarf, visor, hat, helmet, headband, optical machine, telescope, binocular, mounted viewing device, free-standing viewing device, booth, computer, computer chip, and combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the light produced by the one or more lights is selected from the group consisting of white light, colored light, polarized light, and variations thereof.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of electrical power, self-generating, magnetic power, battery power, solar power, and combinations, thereof.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the microprocessor and the power source are the same.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of stimulating both eyes of a patient.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the light is selected from the group consisting of white light, colored light, polarized light, and combinations thereof.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the light is an LED.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of stimulating one or both ears with one or more sound sources.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the light and sound source are controlled by the one or more of the group consisting of microcontroller, computer, computer chip, power source, optical headset, optical machine, mounted viewing device, free-standing viewing device, and combinations thereof.

23. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the patient has been diagnosed with an injury to one or more lobes of the brain.

24. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the patient has been diagnosed with a disorder of one or more lobes of the brain.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of cognitive disorder, seizure disorder, mood disorder, panic disorder, dissociative disorder, learning disorder, and combinations thereof.

17. A method for selectively stimulating a non-dominant cerebral hemisphere of a patient comprising the step of:

selectively stimulating the non-dominant visual cortex and lateral geniculate nucleus of the patient using one or more lights positioned in close proximity to the patient'"'"'s eye.