Method and apparatus for magnetic brain wave stimulation

• US 6,978,179 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barham W. Bruce, Deborah Anne Stokes, Glen Elliot Kotapish, Rodger H. Flagg
• Original Assignee: Barham W. Bruce, Deborah Anne Stokes, Glen Elliot Kotapish, Rodger H. Flagg
• Inventors: Kotapish, Glen Elliot, Barham, W. Bruce, Stokes, Deborah Anne, Flagg, Rodger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/372,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607 63- 71, 607/75, 600/544, 600/545, 434/236
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

The present invention relates to a streamlined magnetic brain wave stimulation apparatus, which receives electronic signals based upon pre-recorded brain wave patterns. The brain wave patterns actuate electromagnets placed on a user'"'"'s neck adjacent to the user'"'"'s brainstem, to create a plurality of magnetic pulses to influence a user'"'"'s brain centers to influence a desired mental state. Rhythmic electrical brain wave signals are recorded, identified, divided and repeated to create a streamlined brain wave signal to induce a desired mental state. The streamlined patterns are then recorded on a suitable memory means. When the memory means is actuated, the rhythmic electrical signals are sent to electromagnets located in proximity to the back of the user'"'"'s neck in proximity to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is immediately inferior to the cranial cavity to electromagnetically stimulate the brain stem, to influence a desired mental state. This produces a gentle magnetic stimulation, which is neither felt nor discerned by the user. The gentle magnetic stimulation passes through the brain stem to the brain centers to influence the desired mental state.

Claims

1. An apparatus to influence the mental state of a selected user, which comprises:

a) positioning at least one electrical sensor upon a user'"'"'s neck near the brain stem in proximity to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is immediately inferior to the cranial cavity;

b) recording the selected user'"'"'s brain wave signal from the at least one electrical sensor to a suitable memory means;

c) modifying said pre-recorded brain wave signal by identifying and selectively recording, deleting and repeating selected portions of the pre-recorded brain wave signal, to create a streamlined brain wave signal;

d) storing said streamlined brain wave signal for subsequent use by said selected user;

e) selectively actuating said streamlined brain wave signal, to produce an electrical signal for transmission to at least one electromagnet;

to produce a corresponding streamlined magnetic signal at right angles to said electrical signal; and

f) positioning said at least one electromagnet upon a removable neck apparatus positioned upon a selected user'"'"'s neck, near to the user'"'"'s brain stem in proximity to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is immediately inferior to the cranial cavity; and

g) selectively controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the streamlined brain wave signal to influence the desired mental state of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising recording a selected user'"'"'s brain wave signal within a selected frequency range of from 0.1 Hz to 45 Hz, and streamlining said brain wave signal to influence a desired mental state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is a ring type electromagnet with a ferrous core similar to the ring type electromagnets used in cellular telephones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the streamlined brain wave signal is transmitted from a remote location to a receiver located on the neck apparatus, and a corresponding electric signal is transferred from the receiver to at least one electromagnet located upon the neck apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the neck apparatus is adjustably secured about the user'"'"'s neck with a hook and loop type fabric to adjustably conform to the size of the user'"'"'s neck to ensure a comfortable fit about the user'"'"'s neck, during use.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-recorded brain wave signal of said user is identified, selected, deleted, and repeated, then recorded to create a streamlined sleep signal, and the streamlined sleep signal is transmitted to at least one electromagnet located on said neck apparatus positioned about the user'"'"'s neck, to influence the duration of said streamlined sleep state to at least one half the normal duration of the user'"'"'s sleep state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-recorded brain wave signal of said user is identified, selected, deleted, and repeated, then recorded to create a streamlined creative signal, and the streamlined creative signal is transmitted to at least one electromagnet located on said neck apparatus positioned about the user'"'"'s neck, to influence the duration of said streamlined creative state of a selected user for an extended duration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-recorded brain wave signal of said user is identified, selected, deleted, and repeated, then recorded to create a streamlined relaxing mental signal, and the streamlined relaxing mental signal is selectively transmitted to at least one electromagnet located on said neck apparatus positioned about the user'"'"'s neck, to influence the duration of said streamlined relaxing mental state of a selected user for an extended duration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pre-recorded brain wave signal of said user is identified, selected, deleted, and repeated, then recorded to create a streamlined stimulated mental signal, and the streamlined stimulated mental signal is transmitted to at least one electromagnet located on said neck apparatus positioned about the user'"'"'s neck, to influence the duration of said streamlined stimulated mental state of a selected user for an extended duration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the streamlined brain wave signal is one of:

an analog electrical signal, a digital electrical signal and a microwave signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the prerecorded streamlined brain wave signal is protectively coded to limit the use of the prerecorded streamlined brain wave signal for playback only by said selective user.

12. An apparatus to influence the mental state of a selected user, which comprises:

a) recording a selected user'"'"'s brain wave signal with at least one electric sensor positioned on a portion of a user'"'"'s neck in proximity to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is immediately inferior to the cranial cavity within a selected frequency range of from 0.1 Hz to 45 Hz, and storing said pre-recorded brain wave signal to a suitable memory means;

b) modifying said pre-recorded brain wave signal by identifying, and selectively deleting and repeating selected portions of the pre-recorded brain wave signal, and recording the modified brain wave signal to create a streamlined brain wave signal;

c) selectively actuating said streamlined brain wave signal, to produce an electrical signal for transmission to at least one electromagnet located on the neck apparatus, to produce a corresponding streamlined magnetic signal at right angles to said electrical signal; and

e) positioning said at least one electromagnet upon an adjustable and removable neck apparatus positioned upon a selected user'"'"'s neck, near the user'"'"'s skin in proximity to the user'"'"'s brain stem in proximity to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is inferior to the cranial cavity;

f) selectively controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the streamlined brain wave signal to influence the desired mental state of the user; and

protectively coding said streamlined brain wave signal to ensure use only by the intended user.

13. A method to influence the mental state of a selected user, which comprises:

a) positioning an electrical sensor on the user'"'"'s neck in proximity to the user'"'"'s brain stem;

b) pre-recording an electrical signal from the electrical sensor to a recording means;

c) modifying said pre-recorded brain wave signal by identifying and selectively recording, deleting and repeating selected portions of the pre-recorded brain wave signal to create a streamlined brain wave signal;

d) supporting at least one electromagnet upon a removable neck apparatus;

d) positioning the neck strap apparatus upon a selected user'"'"'s neck, thus positioning the electromagnet near the user'"'"'s skin in proximity to the user'"'"'s brain stem adjacent to the posterior aspect of the user'"'"'s superior cervical region, in an area that is inferior to the cranial cavity;

e) transmitting said streamlined brain wave signal as an electrical signal to said at least one electromagnet, to produce a corresponding streamlined magnetic signal at right angles to said electrical signal; and

f) controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the streamlined brain wave signal to influence the desired mental state of the selected user.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising selecting a portion of the electrical signal from the electrical sensor for recording within a frequency range of from 0.1 Hz to 45 Hz;

and streamlining the recorded signal prior to use.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising transmitting said streamlined brain wave signal from a remote storage means via transmission waves to a receiving means located on the neck strap apparatus, and sending an electronic signal from the receiving means to the at least one electromagnet located upon the neck apparatus.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising selecting said at least one electromagnet with a ferrous core as a ring type electromagnet similar to the ring type electromagnets used in cellular telephones.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising adjusting the size of the removable neck strap apparatus with a hook and loop type fabric to conform to the size of the selected user'"'"'s neck, to ensure a comfortable fit about the user'"'"'s neck during use.

18. The method of claim 13 comprising identifying, selecting, deleting, repeating and recording a specific user'"'"'s brain wave pattern to create a streamlined sleep signal, and transmitting said streamlined sleep signal to at least one electromagnet, and influencing the duration of said streamlined sleep state to at least one half the normal duration of the sleep state of said selected user.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising identifying, selecting, deleting, repeating and recording a specific user'"'"'s brain wave pattern to create a streamlined creative signal, and transmitting said streamlined creative signal to at least one electromagnet, to influence the creative state of said selected user for an extended duration.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising identifying, selecting, deleting, repeating and recording a specific user'"'"'s brain wave pattern to create a streamlined relaxing mental signal, and transmitting said streamlined relaxing mental signal to at least one electromagnet, to influence the relaxing mental state of said selected user for an extended duration.

21. The method of claim 13, comprising identifying, selecting, deleting, repeating and recording a specific user'"'"'s brain wave pattern to create a streamlined stimulated mental signal, and transmitting said stimulated mental signal to at least one electromagnet, to influence the stimulated mental state of said selected user for an extended duration.

22. The method of claim 13, comprising transmitting the streamlined brain wave signal as one of:

an analog electrical signal, a digital electrical signal and a microwave signal.

23. The method of claim 13, comprising pre-recording the streamlined brain wave signal for selective playback by the selected user, and protectively coding the prerecorded streamlined brain wave signal to limit the use of the pre-recorded streamlined brain wave signal for playback only by said selected user.