Method of Decreasing Sensory Latency

• US 20140012152A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NystAssist, LLC
• Original Assignee: NystAssist, LLC
• Inventors: Riddle, Raymond Terry, Gentry, John R., Wruble, Rachael Anne, Gentry, Betholyn F.
• Application Number:
  US13/720,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• 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 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/383 Somatosensory stimuli, e.g. electric stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4863 Measuring or inducing nystagmus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/02 Devices for locating such points
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 Exercisers for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Localized persistent tactile stimulation provides a decreased sensory latency in response to sensory stimulation leading to a mechanism of treating nystagmus and possibly dyslexia and autism by locating the tactile stimulation under guidance of multiple measurements of sensory latency.

Claims

1. A method of decreasing sensory latency comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a baseline reading of sensory evoked potential of a patient;

(b) applying at least one source of persistent tactile stimulation to the patient;

(c) obtaining a subsequent reading of sensory evoked potential of the patient to evaluate change in sensory latency; and

(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) after adjusting a location of the at least one source of persistent tactile stimulation to decrease the sensory latency.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reading of sensory evoked potential is visual evoked potential.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one source of persistent tactile stimulation is at least one bead attached to the patient'"'"'s skin to press against the skin.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each bead includes an overlying adhesive backing material adhering to the skin at a periphery of the material and holding the bead within a periphery of the material.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the overlying adhesive backed material holds multiple spaced apart beads.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the beads are metal beads of a diameter of at least one millimeter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the persistent tactile stimulation is provided in regions selected from a group of:

the patient'"'"'s face, an inside of the patient'"'"'s wrist, a front of the patient'"'"'s lower leg, and a region of the patient'"'"'s ears.

8. The method of claim 1 further including the step of obtaining a frequency domain transformation of the sensory evoked potential to compare spectral power in a low and relatively higher frequency band to deduce a degree of sensory latency.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the low frequency band is substantially 5 to 10 hertz and the relatively higher frequency band is substantially 16 to 20 hertz.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the low frequency band is substantially 5 to 10 hertz and the upper frequency band is substantially 16 to 20 hertz.

11. A method of treating nystagmus comprising the step of applying a persistent tactile stimulation to patient regions from the group consisting of the patient'"'"'s face, an inside of the patient'"'"'s wrist, a front of the patient'"'"'s lower leg, and a region of the patient'"'"'s ears over a multi-day period.

12. A kit for a treatment of nystagmus comprising:

a set of pressure providing beads include an overlying adhesive backing material adhering to skin at a periphery of the material and holding a bead toward a center of the material; and

an instruction brochure describing an assessment of nystagmus symptoms, potential location points of the pressure-providing beads, and an evaluation of those location points based on the assessment of nystagmus symptoms.