SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALTERING BRAIN AND BODY FUNCTIONS AND FOR TREATING CONDITIONS AND DISEASES OF THE SAME

• US 20090312817A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Inventors: Hogle, Richard, Tyler, Mitchell Eugene, Lederer, Scott
• Application Number:
  US11/925,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• 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 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• 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 5/4047 afferent nerves, i.e. nerves that relay impulses to the central nervous system
• 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 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• 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: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 : Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 : Control systems
• 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 1/36046 : of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 : Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• 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 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 : Head tracking input arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

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 sensory substitution device for providing visual information to a subject comprising:

a) a sensor;

b) a portable microcontroller;

c) a device configured for electrical stimulation; and

d) a mobile information gathering, processing, storing and distributing platform.

2. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said device is configured to provide video information captured by said sensor to a subject.

3. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a video camera.

4. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said portable microcontroller comprises means for controlling said sensor.

5. The sensory substitution device of claim 4, wherein said means for controlling said sensor controls a sensor function selected from the group consisting of zoom, contrast, focus and inversion.

6. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said sensor communicates with said mobile platform.

7. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said device configured for electrical stimulation comprises an array of electrodes.

8. The sensory substitution device of claim 7, wherein said array of electrodes are present on an intra-oral tongue display unit.

9. The sensory substitution device of claim 7, wherein said array of electrodes is configured to provide visual information to a subject via said subject'"'"'s tongue.

10. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply.

11. The sensory substitution device of claim 10, wherein said power supply comprises a battery pack.

12. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said sensor is utilized for infrared vision.

13. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said sensor is utilized for ultraviolet vision.

14. The sensory substitution device of claim 1, wherein said device creates a multidimensional electrical image on a subject'"'"'s tongue.

15. A method of providing visual information to a subject comprising:

a) providing;

1) a subject; and

2) a sensory substitution device, wherein said sensory substitution device comprises;

a) a sensor;

b) a portable microcontroller;

c) a device configured for electrical stimulation; and

d) a mobile information gathering, processing, storing and distributing platform; and

b) exposing said subject to said sensory substitution device under conditions such that said subject receives visual information from said sensory substitution device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said visual information is real-time information regarding said subject'"'"'s immediate surroundings.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said visual information is recorded information.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said subject is legally blind.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said subject is visually impaired.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said visual information is received from said device configured for electrical stimulation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said device configured for electrical stimulation is an array of electrodes.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said array of electrodes provide visual information to said subject via said subject'"'"'s tongue.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said visual information comprises information captured by said sensor that is processed by said mobile platform.

24. A method of providing visual information to a visually healthy subject desiring visual stimulation, comprising:

a) providing;

1) a subject; and

2) a sensory substitution device, wherein said sensory substitution device comprises;

a) a device configured for electrical stimulation; and

b) a mobile information gathering, processing, storing and distributing platform; and

b) exposing said subject to said sensory substitution device under conditions such that said subject receives visual information from said sensory substitution device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said subject desires visual stimulation associated with a video game.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said visual information is received from said device configured for electrical stimulation.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said device configured for electrical stimulation is an array of electrodes.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said array of electrodes provide visual information to said subject via said subject'"'"'s tongue.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said visual information comprises recorded information present within video game software.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said subject perceives visual information that is not viewed by said subject'"'"'s eyes.

31. A method of providing visual information to a subject, wherein said subject is legally blind, comprising:

a) providing;

1) a subject; and

2) a sensory substitution device, wherein said sensory substitution device comprises;

a) a sensor;

b) a portable microcontroller;

c) a device configured for electrical stimulation; and

d) a mobile information gathering, processing, storing and distributing platform; and

b) exposing said subject to said sensory substitution device under conditions such that said subject receives visual information from said sensory substitution device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said subject is able to visualize, using said system, images in space.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said subject is able to perform a coordination task selected from the group consisting of facial recognition, determine speed of a moving object, determine direction of movement of an object, and hitting a moving object.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said visual information is received from said device configured for electrical stimulation.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said device configured for electrical stimulation is an array of electrodes.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said array of electrodes provide visual information to said subject via said subject'"'"'s tongue.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said visual information comprises information captured by said sensor that is processed by said mobile platform.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said sensor is a video camera.