FREQUENCY SPECIFIC SENSORY STIMULATION

• US 20130267759A1
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wave Neuroscience, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Newport Brain Research Laboratory, Inc.
• Inventors: JIN, YI
• Granted Patent: US 10,342,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/9
• 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 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy

Abstract

One or more sensory, auditory and/or visual stimuli are presented to a subject at a specific frequency that is equal to, or a harmonic of, the intrinsic frequency of one or more of the subject'"'"'s biological signals. The purpose is to indirectly (through the eyes, ears, or touch) provide frequency coupling among different organs (e.g., heart, brain, breathing, and gastrointestinal movement) through rhythmic entrainment. The specific harmonic chosen is the one closest to the interested EEG frequency. The interested frequency is chosen based on the cognitive element or symptom that is targeted. Additionally, games and programs (audio, video, computer) can incorporate Pavlovian cues to facilitate placing the brain in an acceptable state. In one embodiment, the ticking sound of a repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) device is played to subconsciously remind the patient of the rTMS treatment and thereby produce a therapeutic effect. Additionally, physical stimulus such as tapping or low-level electrical stimulation at a predetermined rate will accomplish the same effect.

Claims

1. A method of treating a mental disorder in a patient in need thereof which comprises subjecting the patient to a sensory stimulation at a frequency, or an harmonic thereof, of a biological metric.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the biological metric is an EEG frequency, heart rate, respiratory rate, or gastrointestinal movement rate (rate of peristalsis) of the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sensory stimulation has a frequency that is an harmonic of the patient'"'"'s heartbeat or respiratory rate whichever is closer to a desired EEG frequency of the patient.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the desired EEG frequency is in the delta band (<

4 Hz), the theta band (4-8 Hz), the alpha band (8-13 Hz), the beta band (13-30 Hz), the gamma band (˜

40 Hz) or the Mu band (8-13 Hz) of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensory stimulation is delivered by sound, visual media or touch.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the sensory stimulation is a song, music, a movie, a video game, an audio file, flickering lights or a vibration.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the mental disorder is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, ADHD, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, coma, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, a sleep disorder, an eating disorder, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, or fibromyalgia.

7. A method of improving a physical condition in a patient in need thereof which comprises subjecting the patient to a sensory stimulation at a frequency, or an harmonic thereof, of a biological metric.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the biological metric is an EEG frequency, heart rate, respiratory rate, or gastrointestinal movement rate (rate of peristalsis) of the patient.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sensory stimulation has a frequency that is a harmonic or of the patient'"'"'s heartbeat or respiratory rate whichever is closer to a desired EEG frequency of the patient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the desired EEG frequency is in the delta band (<

4 Hz), the theta band (4-8 Hz), the alpha band (8-13 Hz), the beta band (13-30 Hz), the gamma band (˜

40 Hz) or the Mu band (8-13 Hz) of the patient.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensory stimulation is delivered by sound, visual media or touch.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the sensory stimulation is a song, music, a movie, a video game, movement of objects on a video screen, an audio file, flickering lights or a vibration.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the physical condition is concentration, sleep, alertness, memory, blood pressure, stress, libido, speech, motor function, physical performance, cognitive function, intelligence, height or weight.

15. An audio medium which comprises sounds at a frequency that is an harmonic of a biological metric.

16. The audio medium of claim 15 that is an audio tape, a digital audio file, a video tape, a video game or a computer file.

17. A device that produces a vibration or electrical stimulation at a frequency that is a harmonic of a biological metric.

18. The device of claim 17 which comprises a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a cell phone, a hand-held computer, or a handheld video control unit.

39. The improved video game of claim 17 wherein the ticking sound it produced at a frequency at which a patient received an rTMS treatment.

19. A visual medium which comprises visual stimulus at a frequency that is a harmonic of a biological metric.

20. The visual medium of claim 19 wherein the visual stimulus is flickering lights or movement of objects in the visual medium that flicker or move at a frequency of a biological metric or an harmonic thereof.

21. The visual medium of claim 20 which comprises a video game, a DVD, an analog or digital video signal, a computer file, a smart phone, a hand held device or a videotape.

22. A method of providing a conditional response in a patient who has received a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment with an rTMS device which comprises subjecting the patient to audio sounds substantially similar to the sounds or physical stimulus emitted or produced by the rTMS device whereby the patient receives therapeutic effects of the original rTMS treatment wherein said sounds and physical stimulus are delivered at a frequency that of the original rTMS treatment.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the audio sounds are provided with a analog or digital recording of a ticking sound generated by the rTMS device.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the audio sounds are generated as a part of a puzzle, game or task to be used or given by or to the patient.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the audio sounds are generated as a reward for achieving a goal in a video game.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the physical stimulus simulates the tapping sensation felt by the patient undergoing rTMS treatment.

27. An audio medium which comprises sounds substantially similar to the sounds emitted by an rTMS device wherein the audio medium can be set to a predetermined frequency.

28. The audio medium of claim 27 that is an audio tape, a digital audio file, a video tape, a video game or a computer file.

29. A device that simulates a sensation felt by a patient who has undergone an rTMS treatment wherein said simulation is delivered at a frequency of the patient'"'"'s original rTMS treatment.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the sensation is a tapping sensation felt by the patient who has undergone an rTMS treatment.

31. The device of claim 30 which comprises a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a cell phone, a hand-held computer, or a handheld video control unit.

32. The device of claim 29 wherein the sensation is an electrical stimulation felt by the patient who has undergone an rTMS treatment.

33. The device of claim 32 which comprises a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a cell phone, a hand-held computer, or a handheld video control unit.

34. The device of claim 29 that simulates a sound heard by the patient who has undergone an rTMS treatment.

35. The device of claim 34 that is an audio tape, a digital audio file, a video tape, a video game, a computer file, a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a cell phone, a hand-held computer, or a handheld video control unit.

36. The device of claim 31 wherein the tapping sensation is mimicked by vibration next to the skin of the patient.

37. The device of claim 31 wherein the tapping sensation is mimicked by low-level electrical impulses imparted by electrodes touching the skin of the patient.

38. In a video game that includes multiple levels of play based on the skill of a player playing said video game, the improvement which comprises programming said video game to simulate the ticking sound of an rTMS device after each level of play is mastered.