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

• US 20150290454A1
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Inventors: Tyler, Mitchell Eugene, Danilov, Yuri Petrovich, Bach-y-Rita, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,589,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• 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 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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 1/36082 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 : Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device

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

1-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A method of treating a patient with impaired motor control or function due to a nervous system impairment comprising providing electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue while the patient concurrently engages in a physical movement or exercise, wherein the patient'"'"'s ability to perform the physical movement or exercise is inhibited by the patient'"'"'s nervous system impairment.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue stimulates one or more of the cranial nerves within the patient.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more cranial nerves are selected from the group consisting of the glossopharyngeal nerve, the hypoglossal nerve, and the facial nerve.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the patient displays an improvement of motor control or function while providing electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue while the patient concurrently engages in a physical movement or exercise.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the improvement comprises the ability of the patient to control his or her vertical posture.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the improvement comprises the ability of the patient to control his or her body alignment.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the patient displays a rehabilitative improvement of motor control or function subsequent to ceasing providing electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue while the patient concurrently engages in a physical movement or exercise.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the rehabilitative improvement is selected from the group consisting of alleviation of dyskinesias, alleviation of dystonia, alleviation of tremor, alleviation of gait problems, and alleviation of slowness of movement.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the rehabilitative improvement comprises improved motor control and function associated with the patient'"'"'s gait.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the rehabilitative improvement comprises improved motor control and function associated with the patient'"'"'s balance.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the patient is a traumatic brain injury patient and the rehabilitative improvement is selected from the group consisting of improved motor control, improved posture, improved balance and improved clarity of speech.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the patient is selected from the group consisting of a patient with bilateral vestibular dysfunction, a patient with traumatic brain injury, a patient with stroke or cerebellar lesion, and a patient with Mal de Debarquement syndrome.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the electrotactile stimulation of the patient'"'"'s tongue and cranial nerves is perceived and interpreted by the brain of the patient and permits the patient'"'"'s brain to utilize brain tissue to accomplish tasks it had lost the ability to accomplish.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein a tongue display unit (TDU) is utilized to provide the electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the TDU comprises an array of electrodes that provide electrotactile stimulation.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the TDU displays pre-programmed patterns of electrotactile stimulation.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein the physical movement or exercise is a component of a physical therapy regimen.

42. The method of claim 25, wherein the physical movement or exercise comprises attempting to maintain a normal, upright posture in a sitting or standing position.

43. The method of claim 25, wherein the physical movement or exercise comprises attempting to maintain a normal, upright posture in a sitting position on an exercise ball.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein the physical movement or exercise comprises attempting to maintain a normal, upright posture in a standing position on a soft material.

45. The method of claim 25, wherein the physical movement or exercise comprises attempting to maintain a normal, upright posture in a standing position in a tandem Romberg stance.

46. The method of claim 25, wherein the patient is provided electrotactile stimulation while attempting to engage in a physical movement or exercise at a first, baseline level of activity, and subsequently while attempting to engage in the same or different physical movement or exercise at a more challenging level of activity.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing the patient electrotactile stimulation while the patient attempts to engage in the physical movement or exercise at the first, baseline level of activity subsequent to providing the patient electrotactile stimulation while attempting to engage in the same or different physical movement or exercise at a more challenging level of activity.

48. The method of claim 25, wherein providing electrotactile stimulation to the patient'"'"'s tongue while the patient concurrently engages in a physical movement or exercise, wherein the patient'"'"'s ability to perform the physical movement or exercise is inhibited by the patient'"'"'s nervous system impairment, occurs for at least 20 minutes a day for at least 5 consecutive days.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the patient extends their limits of physical conditioning and balance control over the course of the at least 5 consecutive days.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein the patient indicates an increased quality of life via a standardized test selected from the group consisting of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI).