SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NEURO-EEG SYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY

• US 20110112427A1
• Filed: 11/09/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wave Neuroscience, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neosync, Inc.
• Inventors: Jin, Yi, Phillips, James William
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4029 for evaluating the peripheral nervous systems A61B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/407 Evaluating the spinal cord A61B5/4896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/12 using variable magnetic fields obtained by mechanical movement

Abstract

Described are methods, devices, and systems for a novel, inexpensive, easy to use therapy for a number of disorders. Described are methods and devices to treat disorders that involves no medication. Methods and devices described herein use alternating magnetic fields to gently “tune” the brain and affect mood, focus, and cognition of subjects.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subject, comprising

(a) determining the intrinsic frequency (f) of the subject within the specified EEG band by

(1) obtaining EEG data of the subject'"'"'s brain;

(2) removing any DC component in the signal;

(3) performing a Fast Fourier Transformation the EEG data to determine a FFT curve X(f); and

(4) achieving a fitted Gaussian curve, A(f), of a local maximum of the FFT curve X(f) by;

(A) using the equation A(f)=Ge<sup>−

(f−

s)2/2d2)</sup>, wherein G is gain, d is standard deviation, and s is the mean frequency based on the specified EEG band, and

(B) determining a goodness of fit measure by optimizing using the following equation

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring EEG data of the subject after the applying step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the magnetic field applies the magnetic field to a diffuse area in a brain of the subject.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is generated by a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation device which generates the magnetic field using an electromagnetic coil.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a frequency of the magnetic field with the specified EEG band is from about 0.5 Hz to about 100 Hz.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field is generated by movement of at least one permanent magnet.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the strength of the at least one permanent magnet is from about 10 Gauss to about 4 Tesla.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field results from a first magnetic source and a second magnetic source, and wherein the first magnetic source and the second magnetic source are out of phase relative to each other.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the EEG band is the alpha band, and the mean frequency ranges from about 8 Hz to about 13 Hz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the DC component of the signal comprises filtering the EEG data with a 10^th order 3 Hz high-pass IIR filter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the DC component of the signal comprises filtering the EEG data twice with a 10^th order 3 Hz high-pass IIR filter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the EEG data comprises about 30 seconds worth of EEG data at about 256 samples per second.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gain is about ¼

of the peak value of a peak value of the Fast Fourier Transformation of the EEG data.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a second optimization is performed having a first gain of at least about 1.5 times the peak value of the Fast Fourier Transformation of the EEG data.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the intrinsic frequency and the fitted Gaussian curve is used to determine a Q factor of the intrinsic frequency within the specified EEG band of the subject.

16. A device comprising:

(a) at least one permanent magnet,

(b) a subunit coupled to the magnet, wherein the subunit enables movement of said at least one permanent magnet at a frequency between about 0.5 Hz and about 100 Hz, and

(c) logic that is operable to determine an intrinsic frequency (f) of a brain of a subject within a specified EEG band by;

(1) obtaining EEG data of the subject'"'"'s brain;

(2) removing any DC component in the signal;

(3) performing a Fast Fourier Transformation the EEG data to determine a FFT curve X(f); and

(4) achieving a fitted Gaussian curve, A(f), of a local maximum of the FFT curve X(f) by;

(A) using the equation A(f)=Ge<sup>−

(f−

s)2/2d2)</sup>, wherein G is gain, d is standard deviation, and s is the mean frequency based on the specified EEG band, and

(B) determining a goodness of fit measure by optimizing using the following equation

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device is operable to at least one of:

influence the intrinsic frequency of the brain of a subject within the specified EEG band;

influence a Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency;

influence a coherence of intrinsic frequencies among multiple sites in the brain of a subject within a specified EEG band; and

influence an EEG phase between two sites in the brain of a subject of a specified EEG frequency.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein a magnetic field is generated by movement of at least the permanent magnet.

19. A method comprising:

adjusting output of a magnetic field for influencing at least one of an intrinsic frequency of a specified EEG band of a subject toward a pre-selected intrinsic frequency of the specified EEG band and a Q-factor of an intrinsic frequency within a specified EEG band of a subject toward a pre-selected Q-factor and applying said magnetic field close to a head of the subject;

wherein at least one of the pre-selected intrinsic frequency and the pre-selected Q-factor is chosen in order to improve at least one of neuropathic pain in the subject, a neurological disorder in the subject, a symptom of brain damage, and brain dysfunction in the subject.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein the neuropathic pain comprises at least one of:

occipital neuralgia, neuritis, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuralgia, sciatic neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia;

wherein the neurological disorder comprises at least one of a brain neurological disorder, a spinal cord disorder, a peripheral nervous system disorder, a cranial nerve disorder, an autonomic nervous system disorder, a seizure disorder, a movement disorder, a sleep disorder, a headache, lower back pain, neck pain, other generalized neuropathic pain, delirium, dementia, dizziness, vertigo, stupor, coma, a head injury, a stroke, multiple sclerosis, a demylenating disease, an infection of the brain or spinal cord, a prion disease, and a complex regional pain syndrome;

wherein the brain damage comprises at least one of;

cerebral lobe damage including lower brain areas such as the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, and the brainstem;

frontal lobe damage, parietal lobe damage, temporal lobe damage, and occipital lobe damage; and

wherein the brain dysfunction comprises at least one of;

aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, agnosia, and amnesia.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising taking EEG measurements of the subject before the adjusting step or after the applying step, or both before the adjusting step and after the applying step.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining at least one of the subject'"'"'s intrinsic frequency of the specified EEG band and the subject'"'"'s Q-factor of an intrinsic frequency within a specified EEG band.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the applying of the magnetic field applies the magnetic field to a diffuse area in a brain of the subject.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the magnetic field is generated by movement of at least one permanent magnet.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the strength of the at least one permanent magnetic is from about 10 Gauss to about 4 Tesla.

26. A device comprising:

a means for adjusting output of a magnetic field for influencing at least one of;

an intrinsic frequency of a specified EEG band of a subject toward a pre-selected intrinsic frequency of the specified EEG band; and

a Q-factor of an intrinsic frequency within a specified EEG band of a subject toward a pre-selected Q-factor,

wherein the means for adjusting the output of the magnetic field is adapted to apply said magnetic field close to a head of the subject, and

wherein at least one of the pre-selected intrinsic frequency and the pre-selected Q-factor is chosen in order to improve at least one of;

neuropathic pain in the subject,

a neurological disorder in the subject,

a symptom of brain damage, and

brain dysfunction in the subject.

27. The device of claim 26,

wherein the neuropathic pain comprises at least one of occipital neuralgia, neuritis, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuralgia, sciatic neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia;

wherein the neurological disorder comprises at least one of a brain neurological disorder, a spinal cord disorder, a peripheral nervous system disorder, a cranial nerve disorder, an autonomic nervous system disorder, a seizure disorder, a movement disorder, a sleep disorder, a headache, lower back pain, neck pain, other generalized neuropathic pain, delirium, dementia, dizziness, vertigo, stupor, coma, a head injury, a stroke, multiple sclerosis, a demylenating disease, an infection of the brain or spinal cord, a prion disease, and a complex regional pain syndrome;

wherein the brain damage comprises at least one of;

cerebral lobe damage including lower brain areas such as the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, and the brainstem;

frontal lobe damage, parietal lobe damage, temporal lobe damage, and occipital lobe damage; and

wherein the brain dysfunction comprises at least one of;

aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, agnosia, and amnesia.

28. The device of claim 26, comprising at least one permanent magnet, wherein the strength of the at least one permanent magnetic is from about 10 Gauss to about 4 Tesla.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein movement of the at least one said magnet generates an alternating magnetic field.

30. The device of claim 26, comprising an electromagnetic coil.

31. The device of claim 26, further comprising logic that controls a output of the magnetic field to be any frequency between about 0.5 Hz and about 100 Hz in increments of about 0.1 Hz.

32. A method for predicting efficacy of magnetic therapy in a subject comprising:

providing EEG measurements for the subject;

determining a subject'"'"'s Q-factor in a specified EEG band;

comparing the subject'"'"'s Q-factor to a pre-selected Q-factor;

if the subject'"'"'s Q-factor is higher than the pre-selected Q-factor, providing a prediction that treatment with magnetic therapy that reduces the subject'"'"'s Q-factor will improve at least one of;

(a) an indication in the subject,

(b) a disorder in the subject,

(c) a symptom in the subject,

(d) a dysfunction in the subject, and

(e) a characteristic in the subject.

33. A method for predicting efficacy of magnetic therapy in a subject comprising:

providing EEG measurements for the subject;

determining a subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency in a specified EEG band;

comparing the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency to a pre-selected alpha-frequency;

if the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency is lower than the pre-selected alpha-frequency, providing a prediction that treatment with magnetic therapy that raises the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency will improve at least one of

(a) an indication in the subject,

(b) a disorder in the subject,

(c) a symptom in the subject,

(d) a dysfunction in the subject, and

(e) a characteristic in the subject.

34. A device for predicting efficacy of magnetic therapy in a subject comprising:

a receiving element that receives EEG measurements for the subject;

logic that determines a subject'"'"'s Q-factor in a specified EEG band;

logic that compares the subject'"'"'s Q-factor to a pre-selected Q-factor; and

logic that, if the subject'"'"'s Q-factor is higher than the pre-selected Q-factor, provides a prediction that treatment with magnetic therapy that reduces the subject'"'"'s Q-factor will improve at least one of

(a) an indication in the subject,

(b) a disorder in the subject,

(c) a symptom in the subject,

(d) a dysfunction in the subject, and

(e) a characteristic in the subject.

35. A device for predicting efficacy of magnetic therapy in a subject comprising:

a receiving element that receives EEG measurements for the subject;

logic that determines a subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency in a specified EEG band;

logic that compares the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency to a pre-selected alpha-frequency;

logic that, if the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency is lower than the pre-selected alpha-frequency, provides a prediction that treatment with magnetic therapy that raises the subject'"'"'s alpha-frequency will improve at least one of;

(a) an indication in the subject,

(b) a disorder in the subject,

(c) a symptom in the subject,

(d) a dysfunction in the subject, and

(e) a characteristic in the subject.