Method and system for treatment of eating disorders by means of neuro-electrical coded signals

• US 20060235487A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Vik, Dennis P., Meyer, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/431,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity

Abstract

A method for treating eating disorders comprising the steps of generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal and at least one satiety or hunger signal that substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in a body and produces a gastrointestinal effect in the body, sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time, and transmitting the confounding gastrointestinal signal and a satiety or hunger signal to the subject if the food intake of the subject exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold level during the first period of time.

Claims

1. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted hunger signal, said inverted hunger signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body; and

transmitting said inverted hunger signal to said subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverted hunger signal has a substantial portion that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of a substantial portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals and manually.

6. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted hunger signal, said inverted hunger signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body; and

transmitting said inverted hunger signal and said satiety signal to the subject.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject at first predetermined time intervals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said satiety signal is transmitted to said subject at second predetermined time intervals.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said satiety signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said inverted hunger signal and said satiety signal are transmitted to said subject substantially simultaneously at said first predetermined time intervals.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said inverted hunger signal and said satiety signal are transmitted to said subject manually.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said inverted hunger signal and said satiety signal are transmitted to said subject manually and at said first predetermined time intervals.

14. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted hunger signal, said inverted hunger signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body, and

transmitting said inverted hunger signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal and said satiety signal to said subject.

15. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said satiety signal substantially corresponding to said neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one inverted hunger signal, said inverted hunger signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

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

transmitting said satiety signal and said inverted hunger signal to said subject.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said satiety signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said inverted hunger signal and said satiety signal are transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

19. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said satiety signal substantially corresponding to said neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one inverted hunger signal, said inverted hunger signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

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

transmitting said satiety signal and said inverted hunger signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal to said subject.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said inverted hunger signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said satiety signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said confounding gastrointestinal signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

23. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said satiety signal substantially corresponding to said neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

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

transmitting said satiety signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal to said subject.

24. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one satiety signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

transmitting said confounding gastrointestinal signal and said satiety signal to said subject.

25. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted satiety signal, said inverted satiety signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body; and

transmitting said inverted satiety signal to said subject.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said inverted satiety signal has a substantial portion that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of a substantial portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals and manually.

30. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted satiety signal, said inverted satiety signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one hunger signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

transmitting said inverted satiety signal and said hunger signal to said subject.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject at first predetermined time intervals.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said hunger signal is transmitted to said subject at second predetermined time intervals.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said hunger signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said inverted satiety signal and said hunger signal are transmitted to said subject substantially simultaneously at said first predetermined time intervals.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said inverted satiety signal and said hunger signal are transmitted to said subject manually.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein said inverted satiety signal and said hunger signal are transmitted to said subject manually and at said first predetermined time intervals.

38. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one inverted satiety signal, said inverted satiety signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one hunger signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body; and

transmitting said inverted satiety signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal and said hunger signal to said subject.

39. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one hunger signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said hunger signal substantially corresponding to the neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one inverted satiety signal, said inverted satiety signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

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

transmitting said hunger signal and said inverted satiety signal to said subject.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said hunger signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein said inverted satiety signal and said hunger signal are transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

43. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one hunger signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said hunger signal substantially corresponding to said neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one inverted satiety signal, said inverted satiety signal having at least a portion thereof that is substantially similar to a negative mirror image of at least a portion of at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

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

transmitting said hunger signal and said inverted satiety signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal to said subject.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said inverted satiety signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said hunger signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein said confounding gastrointestinal signal is transmitted to said subject when said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

47. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

capturing at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body;

generating at least one hunger signal based on said neuro-electrical signal, said hunger signal substantially corresponding to said neuro-electrical signal;

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body and induces a feeling of fullness in the body;

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

transmitting said hunger signal and said confounding gastrointestinal signal to said subject.

48. A method for treating eating disorders, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding gastrointestinal signal that is adapted to confound neuro-electrical signals that are generated in the body and induce a feeling of fullness;

generating at least one hunger signal that substantially corresponds to at least one neuro-electrical signal that is generated in a body and induces a sensation of hunger in the body; and

transmitting said confounding gastrointestinal signal and said hunger signal to said subject.