Treatment of Consumption Disorders with Biostimulation

• US 20080221642A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Southern California
• Original Assignee: University of Southern California
• Inventors: Humayun, Mark, Caffey, Sean, Brennan, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,755,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/58
• 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 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

Nerves that carry taste sensations to the brain are stimulated in order to diminish (or, depending on the application, augment) the pleasure ordinarily associated with consumption behavior to be modified.

Claims

1. An apparatus for diminishing a user'"'"'s desire for oral gratification, the apparatus comprising:

(a) at least two spaced-apart electrodes for establishing an electric circuit across a portion of a user'"'"'s body, at least one of the electrodes being configured to contact a surface in the user'"'"'s oral cavity; and

(b) circuitry for generating an electrical stimulus across the electrodes, the stimulus eliciting a neural response that diminishes the user'"'"'s desire for oral gratification.

2. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein each electrode is constructed of a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, stainless steel, and platinum.

3. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulus comprises a time-varying electrical signal.

4. The stimulator of claim 3, wherein the signal is biphasic.

5. The stimulator of claim 3, wherein the signal comprises a constant frequency ranging from 10 Hz to 50 or a varying frequency.

6. The stimulator of claim 5, wherein the frequency varies over a period of about 4 seconds.

7. The stimulator of claim 3, wherein the signal comprises a varying pulse width ranging from 100 μ

sec to 1 msec.

8. The stimulator of claim 7, wherein the pulse width varies over a period of about 4 seconds.

9. The stimulator of claim 3, wherein the signal has a current amplitude ranging from 10 μ

A to 10 mA.

10. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are fabricated from a sterilizable biocompatible material.

11. The stimulator of claim 3, further comprising a monitoring module for monitoring effects of the signal and altering at least one signal characteristic in response to the monitored effects.

12. The stimulator of claim 11, further comprising a memory circuit for retaining data characterizing the altered signal.

13. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the monitoring module prevents generation of the electrical simulus until a resistance or impedance threshold across the electrodes is detected.

14. The stimulator of claim 1, further comprising a housing for supporting at least two electrodes on an external portion surface thereof, the external portion being configured for insertion into the user'"'"'s oral cavity.

15. The stimulator of claim 1, further comprising ancillary circuitry implementing at least one of an alarm clock, a calendar, an LCD, a camera, an address book, an MP3 player, and a voice note recorder.

16. A method of treating a consumption disorder, the method comprising applying an electrical stimulus to a surface in the user'"'"'s oral cavity to elicit a neural response that diminishes the user'"'"'s desire for oral gratification.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the surface is at least one of the hard palate, soft palate, or tongue.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical stimulus comprises a time-varying electrical signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the signal is biphasic.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the signal comprises a varying frequency ranging from 150 to 300 Hz.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the frequency varies over a period of about 4 seconds.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the signal comprises a varying pulse width ranging from 100 μ

sec to 1 msec.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the pulse width varies over a period of about 4 seconds.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the signal has a current amplitude ranging from 10 μ

A to 10 mA.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of adapting the signal to a user.