Method and system for modulating eating behavior by means of neuro-electrical coded signals

• US 20060206169A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor
• Granted Patent: US 8,725,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0546 Nasal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A method for modulating eating behavior comprising (i) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body, (ii) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body, and (ii) transmitting at least one of the confounding neuro-electrical signals to a subject to modulate the subject'"'"'s sense of taste or smell. In a preferred embodiment, both confounding neuro-electrical signals are transmitted to the subject to modulate the subject'"'"'s sense of taste and smell.

Claims

1. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to a subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modulation comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of taste.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modulation comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of taste.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said confounding neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to the subject.

8. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body; and

transmitting said simulated neuro-electrical signal to a subject.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said modulation comprises inducing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said neuro-electrical signal is transmitted manually to said subject.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of said simulated neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to said subject.

16. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to a subject.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said modulation comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said modulation comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of said confounding neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to said subject.

23. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body; and

transmitting said simulated neuro-electrical signal to a subject.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said modulation comprises inducing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said neuro-electrical signal is transmitted manually to said subject.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said a plurality of simulated neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to said subject.

31. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to said subject.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said modulation comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said modulation comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

35. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time; and

transmitting said simulated neuro-electrical signal to said subject.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said modulation comprises inducing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

40. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time; and

transmitting said confounding neuro-electrical signal to said subject.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said modulation comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said modulation comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

44. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time; and

transmitting said simulated neuro-electrical signal to said subject.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said modulation comprises inducing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein said simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.