Devices for and Methods of Analyzing a Physiological Condition of a Physiological Subject Based on A Workload Related Property

• US 20100016677A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ComDyS Holding B.V.
• Original Assignee: ComDyS Holding B.V.
• Inventors: Doyle, Kevin, Oetringer, Eugen
• Application Number:
  US12/282,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016677A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery

Abstract

A method of influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising detecting a workload distribution/activity in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload distribution/activity being indicative of the physiological condition, and selectively modifying the workload distribution/activity in the brain of the physiological subject to thereby modify the physiological condition.

Claims

1. A device for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the device comprising

a detection unit adapted for detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

and

a modification unit adapted for selectively modifying the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject to thereby modify the physiological condition so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

2. The device of any one of claims 1, 14, and 21, adapted for influencing, as the physiological condition, at least one of the group consisting of a mental condition, a mental disorder, a mental disease, headache, migraine, mental fitness, aggressive behavior, violence behavior, crime behavior, obsessive behavior, Dyslexia, ADHD, an eye-focusing problem, concentration, memory, depression, fatigue, autism, Dyscalculation, whiplash, dizziness, drug addiction, gambling addiction, and a trauma.

5. The device of any one of claims 1, 14, and 21,

wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting at least one of the group consisting of a location, a shape, a size, a temporal property, and a number of the one or more capacity bottlenecks.

6. The device of any one of claims 1, 14, and 21,

wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting a functional coupling between portions of the brain of the physiological subject.

7. The device of claim 1,

wherein the modification unit is adapted for selectively modifying the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject by taking at least one measure of the group consisting of supplying a medication to the physiological subject, supplying a perceivable stimulus to the physiological subject, reducing the activity in one or more selected portions of the brain of the physiological subject, increasing the activity in one or more selected portions of the brain of the physiological subject, and temporarily disabling a sense of the physiological subject.

9. The device of claim 1,

wherein the modification unit is adapted for selectively modifying the workload related property to thereby balancing a workload distribution over different portions of the brain.

10. The device of claim 1,

comprising a database unit adapted for storing predetermined data indicative of the physiological conditions and/or of other physiological conditions of the physiological subject and/or of other physiological subjects, the database unit being accessible by the modification unit for using the data in determining the modification.

11. The device of claim 7,

wherein the database unit is adapted for storing, as the predetermined data, at least one of the group consisting of eye data, balance data, hearing data, and brain scan data.

12. The device of any one of claims 1, 14, and 21,

wherein the workload related property comprises at least one of the group consisting of a workload distribution and an activity.

13. The device of claim 1,

wherein the modification unit is adapted for selectively modifying the workload related property so as to promote wanted behavior and/or so as to suppress unwanted behavior.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

14. A method of influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

and

selectively modifying the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject to thereby modify the physiological condition so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

19. The device of claim 14,

wherein the modification unit is adapted for modifying the substance by taking at least one measure of the group consisting of supplying another substance, modifying a dosing of the substance and modifying a composition of the substance.

20. The device of claim 14,

wherein the substance delivery unit is adapted for supplying a medication to the physiological subject which is known for treating a physiological condition differing from the physiological condition to be influenced by the device.

15. A program element, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject; and

selectively modifying the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject to thereby modify the physiological condition so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

16. A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject; and

selectively modifying the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject to thereby modify the physiological condition so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

17. A device for developing a substance for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the device comprising

a substance delivery unit adapted for delivering the substance to the physiological subject;

a detection unit adapted for detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject in the presence and in the absence of the substance, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition in the presence and in the absence of the substance, wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject; and

a modification unit adapted for modifying the substance to be delivered to the physiological subject and adapted for causing the substance delivery unit to supply the modified substance to the physiological subject so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

18. (canceled)

21-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A method of developing a substance for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising

delivering the substance to the physiological subject;

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject in the presence and in the absence of the substance, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition in the presence and in the absence of the substance, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

accepting the delivered substance as an appropriate substance for influencing the physiological condition in case of detecting that the workload related property has been modified in the presence of the substance as compared to the workload related property in the absence of the substance in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

modifying the substance to be delivered to the physiological subject and supplying the modified substance to the physiological subject so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by the substance having one or more of the following effects;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

29. A substance for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject,

the substance having been developed by a developing method of claim 28.

30. (canceled)

31. A program element, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of manufacturing a substance for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

delivering the substance to the physiological subject;

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject in the presence and in the absence of the substance, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition in the presence and in the absence of the substance, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

accepting the delivered substance as an appropriate substance for influencing the physiological condition in case of detecting that the workload related property has been modified in the presence of the substance as compared to the workload related property in the absence of the substance in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

modifying the substance to be delivered to the physiological subject and supplying the modified substance to the physiological subject so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by the substance having one or more of the following effects;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

32. A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of manufacturing a substance for influencing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

delivering the substance to the physiological subject;

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject in the presence and in the absence of the substance, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition in the presence and in the absence of the substance, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

accepting the delivered substance as an appropriate substance for influencing the physiological condition in case of detecting that the workload related property has been modified in the presence of the substance as compared to the workload related property in the absence of the substance in accordance with a predetermined criteria; and

modifying the substance to be delivered to the physiological subject and supplying the modified substance to the physiological subject so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by the substance having one or more of the following effects;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

33. A device for characterizing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the device comprising

a detection unit adapted for detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detection unit is adapted for detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

an evaluation unit adapted for evaluating the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject; and

a proposal unit adapted to make a proposal for modifying the workload related property in a manner to suppress the workload related property classified as suspicious so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

34. The device of claim 33,

comprising an indication unit adapted for indicating, particularly for visualizing, one or more portions in the brain of the physiological subject in which a workload related property has been evaluated which is classified to be suspicious in accordance with a predefined criteria.

36. The device of claim 34,

comprising a stimulation unit adapted to stimulate a modification of the workload related property in a manner to suppress the workload related property classified as suspicious.

35. (canceled)

37-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method of characterizing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

evaluating the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject; and

making a proposal for modifying the workload related property in a manner to suppress the workload related property classified as suspicious so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

44. A program element, which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of characterizing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

evaluating the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject; and

making a proposal for modifying the workload related property in a manner to suppress the workload related property classified as suspicious so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.

45. A computer-readable medium, in which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, is adapted to control or carry out a method of characterizing a physiological condition of a physiological subject, the method comprising:

detecting a workload related property in a brain of the physiological subject, the workload related property being indicative of the physiological condition, wherein the detecting comprises detecting or localizing one or more capacity bottlenecks in the brain of the physiological subject;

evaluating the workload related property in the brain of the physiological subject; and

making a proposal for modifying the workload related property in a manner to suppress the workload related property classified as suspicious so that the one or more capacity bottlenecks are reduced by performing one or more of the following measures;

eliminating or decreasing too much strength of patterns of unwanted behavior or unwanted activity;

redirecting processing from special parts of the brain to other parts;

strengthening associations with patterns of wanted behavior or activity;

selectively modifying unwanted activity;

taking away problems that cause excessive processing needs.