Independent field photic stimulator

• US 5,709,645 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comptronic Devices Limited
• Original Assignee: Comptronic Devices Limited
• Inventors: Siever, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US08/593,871
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 128/731, 128/732, 128/745, 600/26, 600/27, 607/88-91
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/378 Visual stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

A photic stimulator for stimulating the central nervous system and the brain waves of a human subject having left and right eyes and left and right visual fields within each eye. The stimulator includes light assemblies providing pulsating light signals individually to the left and right visual fields of each of the left and right eyes of the subject and a control module for varying frequency and intensity of the light assemblies. The photic stimulator can stimulate the left and right visual fields of each eye independently of each other. This capability exploits the anatomical structure of the optic chiasm found within the human brain where stimuli of both eyes stimulates the side of the visual cortex opposite the side where the visual stimulation is seen in the visual field.

Claims

1. An apparatus for stimulating the central nervous system and the brain waves of a human subject having left and right eyes and left and right visual fields within each eye comprising:

light means providing pulsating light signals separately to (a) the right visual fields of the right and left eyes of the subject and (b) the left visual field of the right and left eyes of the subject; and

a control module for varying frequency and intensity of the light means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light means comprises an eye mask having means for securing said eye mask on the subject in a position covering the left and right eyes and having left and right eye pieces located respectively proximate the left and right eyes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a reflective layer covering the left and right eye pieces of the eye mask.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further including a translucent cover positioned over the light means, such that the light means are positioned between the reflective layer and said translucent cover.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light means includes a light assembly for each eye consisting of a first and second light source wherein the first light source excites the left visual field and the second light source excites the right visual field of each eye.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second light sources each include two pairs of lights each pair being vertically aligned within a respective visual field.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said control module includes means for simultaneous pulsating of the first light source of the light assemblies such that the left visual fields of each eye can be independently stimulated.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said control module includes means for simultaneous pulsating of the second light source of the light assemblies such that the right visual fields of each eye can be independently stimulated.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light sources are incandescent bulbs.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the eye mask includes blocking means positioned between the first light source and the second light source of the light assembly of each eye.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control module turns the light sources on and off rapidly.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control module turns the light sources on and off sinusodally.

14. A method of stimulating the central nervous system and the brain waves of a human subject having left and right eyes and left and right visual fields within each eye comprising:

providing pulsating light signals separately to (a) the right visual fields of the right and left eyes of the subject and (b) the left visual fields of the right and left eyes of the subject; and

varying frequency and intensity of the light signals.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a first frequency of approximately 8 to 12 Hz is applied to the right visual fields of each eye and a second frequency of approximately 12 to 16 Hz is applied to the left visual fields of each eye for treating attention deficient disorder.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a first frequency of approximately 10 to 14 Hz is applied to the right visual fields of each eye and a second frequency of approximately 16 to 20 Hz is applied to the left visual fields of each eye for treating attention deficient disorder.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a first frequency of approximately 12 to 16 Hz is applied to the right visual fields of each eye and a second frequency of approximately 21 to 26 Hz is applied to the left visual fields of each eye for treating attention deficient disorder.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a first frequency of approximately 10 Hz is applied to the right visual fields of each eye and a second frequency of approximately 25 Hz is applied to the left visual fields of each eye for reducing the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein a first frequency of 16 Hz is applied to the left visual fields of each eye and a second frequency of approximately 6 Hz is applied to the right visual fields of each eye for eliciting a dream state to encourage creative thought processes.