Brain stimulation method and device

• US 20060030897A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barry Jason Worchel
• Original Assignee: Neurotone Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gilmer, James Ray, Buie, John R., Buie, John G., Worchel, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

The present invention provides for applying electric impulse trains to a patient. A ditherer generates a plurality of indicia, each of the plurality of indicia corresponding to an impulse train. The ditherer is further configured to vary the time period between generating the indicia corresponding to the plurality of impulse trains. There is also a plurality of outputs for each of the plurality of indicia. Each of the two impulse trains are substantially 180 degrees out of phase with one another.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying one or more electric impulse trains to a patient, comprising:

a generator, wherein the generator is configured to generate two or more sets of electric impulse trains, and wherein the generator is further configured to vary the time period between the generation within each set of the electric impulse trains, wherein the first set of the electric impulse trains is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the second set of the electric impulse trains; and

an output for each of two or more electrodes, the electrodes employable to convey voltages associated with each of the impulse trains to the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generator comprises a ditherer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a resonator circuit coupled to the ditherer.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a placebo switch coupled to the ditherer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feedback monitor coupled to the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the feedback monitor comprises functional magnetic resonance imaging.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power off timer configured to disable at least a portion of the waveform generator after a specified amount of time has passed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an impulse train comprises at least one positive voltage pulse and a corresponding number of negative voltage pulses.

9. An apparatus for applying one or more electric impulse trains to a patient, comprising:

a generator, wherein the generator is configured to generate two or more sets of electric impulse trains, wherein the generator is further configured to vary the time period between the generation within each set of the electric impulse trains; and

an output for at least one impulse corresponding to each of two or more electrodes, the electrodes employable to convey voltages associated with each of the impulse trains to the patient.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the generator is further configured to a select a maximum time period between impulse trains of the same set.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the generator is further configured to select minimum time period separating a plurality of impulse trains.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the generator further comprises a ditherer configured to increase the time period separating a plurality of impulse trains

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a ditherer is configured to decrease the time period separating a plurality of impulse trains

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an input of a first electrode coupled to a first driver, the first driver further coupled to the generator.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an input of a second electrode of coupled to a second driver, the first driver further coupled to the generator.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first impulse train and the second impulse train are out of phase with each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second impulse trains are substantially 180 degrees out of phase with each other.

18. A method for generating a variable signal employable for patient evaluation and care, comprising:

providing at least a first and second electrode;

generating an impulse train on at least the first electrode;

delaying a selected number of microseconds as a function of a dither period;

following the delay, determining if the first and the second electrodes have received impulse trains;

if both electrodes have not received impulse trains, generating an impulse train on the second electrode;

if both electrodes have received impulse trains, determining if the direction of the period associated separating both of the impulse trains is positive or negative;

if the direction of the period is positive, incrementing the period between a plurality of impulse trains; and

if the direction of the period is negative, decrementing the period between a plurality of impulse trains.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether the period is at either an upper limit or a lower limit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the period is at a limit, changing the direction of the dither.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein both sets of electrodes are coupled to the head of a patient.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein one electrode is coupled to the head of a patient and the second electrode is coupled elsewhere on the patient.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the second electrode is coupled between the shoulder blades of the patient.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring a heartbeat and correlating the heartbeat to the period between the plurality of impulse trains.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein monitoring a heartbeat further comprises monitoring heart rate variability.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining a response of a patient as a function of the period between the plurality of impulse trains.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the time period between impulse trains comprises a plurality of microseconds.