Systems and methods for altering brain and body functions and for treating conditions and diseases of the same

• US 20060241718A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Inventors: Tyler, Mitchell Eugene, Danilov, Yuri Petrovich, Bach-y-Rita, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/234,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20060241718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4005 for evaluating the sensory system A61B5/12, A61B5/4058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• 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 2210/0643 : Tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 : Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 : Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating diseases and conditions, as well as providing enhanced physical and mental health and performance through sensory substitution, sensory enhancement, and related effects.

Claims

1. A method for improving balance in a subject, comprising exposing a subject to sensory stimulation, wherein said sensory stimulation conveys information about said subject'"'"'s body position with respect to a gravitation plane and wherein said subject maintains stabilization of the head with respect to said gravitation plane in response to said sensory stimulation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said subject maintains stabilization of the head with respect to said gravitation plane in response to said sensory stimulation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensory stimulation comprises tactile stimulation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said tactile stimulation comprise electrotactile stimulation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said electrotactile stimulation is applied to the subject'"'"'s tongue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said electrotactile stimulation is applied to the sujbect'"'"'s tongue by a stimulator having one or more electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more electrodes provide said electrotactile stimulation in a pattern that corresponds to said information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensory stimulation comprises visual information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensory stimulation comprises audio information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said subject maintains stabilization of the head with respect to said gravitation plane for ten continuous minutes or more.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said information provided by a device having a processor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said processor receives data corresponding to said body position from a sensor of angular or linear motion, and wherein said processor converts said data into said information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said sensor of angular or linear motion comprises an accelerometer or gyroscope.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said exposing comprises providing said information to said subject while said subject undergoes a training program that permits said subject to correlate said information with said body position.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensory stimulation is provided to said subject under conditions that permit said subject to experience improved balance for a post-treatment period of time after said sensory simulation is stopped.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said post-treatment period of time is six hours.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said post-treatment period of time is one week.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said post-treatment period of time is one month.

19. A method of providing long-term improvement in a brain function, comprising:

providing electrotactile stimulation to a tongue of a subject for a period of 10 or more minutes.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said period is 15 or more minutes.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said period is 20 or more minutes.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said brain function comprises a vestibular function.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said vestibular function comprises balance.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said electrotactile stimulation conveys information about said subject'"'"'s body position.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said long-term improvement comprises six hours or more of improved brain function after said electrotactile stimulation is discontinued.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said long-term improvement comprises twenty-four hours or more of improved brain function after said electrotactile stimulation is discontinued.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said long-term improvement comprises one week or more of improved brain function after said electrotactile stimulation is discontinued.