Method and apparatus for manipulating nervous systems

• US 5,782,874 A
• Filed: 01/24/1997
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hendricus G. Loos
• Original Assignee: Hendricus G. Loos
• Inventors: Loos, Hendricus G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/788,582
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/39, 607/45, 607/46, 607/62, 607/75, 607/115, 607/152, 600/26, 602/2, 128/897, 128/908
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

Apparatus and method for manipulating the nervous system of a subject through afferent nerves, modulated by externally applied weak fluctuating electric fields, tuned to certain frequencies such as to excite a resonance in certain neural circuits. Depending on the frequency chosen, excitation of such resonances causes relaxation, sleepiness, sexual excitement, or the slowing of certain cortical processes. The weak electric field for causing the excitation is applied to skin areas away from the head of the subject, such as to avoid substantial polarization current densities in the brain. By exploiting the resonance phenomenon, these physiological effects can be brought about by very weak electric fields produced by compact battery-operated devices with very low current assumption. The fringe field of doublet electrodes that form a parallel-plate condenser can serve as the required external electric field to be administered to the subject'"'"'s skin. Several such doublets can be combined such as to induce an electric field with short range, suitable for localized field administration. A passive doublet placed such as to face the doublet on either side causes a boost of the distant induced electric field, and allows the design of very compact devices. The method and apparatus can be used by the general public as an aid to relaxation, sleep, or arousal, and clinically for the control and perhaps the treatment of tremors and seizures, and disorders of the autonomic nervous system, such as panic attacks.

Claims

1. Electric field generator for manipulating the nervous system of a subject, which comprises:

generator means for generating a fluctuating voltage;

at least one doublet having two field electrodes such as to form a parallel-plate condensor;

distributor means, responsive to the fluctuating voltage, for charging said at least one doublet;

said at least one doublet to be positioned and oriented such as to render the subject entirely outside the parallel-plate condensor.

2. The electric field generator of claim 1, further including:

passive doublet having two field electrodes such as to form a parallel-plate condensor;

a conductor connecting last said two field electrodes;

the passive doublet being positioned outside first said parallel-plate condenser, such that one of last said two field electrodes is apposed to one of first said two field electrodes.

3. The electric field generator of claim 1, further including a dielectric placed between the two field electrodes.

4. The electric field generator of claim 1, further including casing means for containing the generator means, the distributor means, and said at least one doublet.

5. A method for manipulating the nervous system of a subject, comprising the steps of:

generating a fluctuating voltage;

constructing a doublet having two field electrodes such as to form a parallel-plate condensor;

applying the fluctuating voltage between said two field electrodes to induce an electric field; and

placing the doublet such as to expose the subject solely to the electric field outside the parallel-plate condenser.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of:

constructing another doublet having two field electrodes such as to form a parallel-plate condenser;

connecting last said two field electrodes to each other;

placing said another doublet outside first said parallel-plate condensor, such that one of last said two field electrodes is apposed to one of first said two field electrodes;

whereby the electric field polarizes said another doublet; and

whereby said another doublet induces an electric field which boosts first said electric field at large distances.

7. The method of claim 5, for exciting in the subject a sensory resonance, the sensory resonance having a resonance frequency, and wherein the fluctuating voltage has a frequency, the method further including the step of setting the voltage frequency to the resonance frequency.

8. Electrode for use in an electric field generator for manipulating the nervous system of a subject, comprising:

an input port;

at least one doublet having two field electrodes such as to form a parallel-plate condenser;

distributor means, connected to the input port, for charging said at least one doublet when the input port is energized;

said at least one doublet to be positioned and oriented such as to render the subject entirely outside the parallel-plate condensor.

9. The electrode of claim 8, further including a dielectric placed between the two field electrodes.