Method and system for modulating eating behavior by means of neuro-electrical coded signals

• US 8,467,869 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Ortiz & Lopez PLLC
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALTER MORSCHAUSER, ALYSSA MARGO
• Application Number:
  US13/547,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/58, 607/48, 607/134, 607/135, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0546 Nasal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A method for modulating eating behavior comprising (i) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of taste in the body, (ii) generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is adapted to modulate the sense of smell in the body, and (iii) transmitting at least one of the confounding neuro-electrical signals to a subject to modulate the subject'"'"'s sense of taste or smell. In a preferred embodiment, both confounding neuro-electrical signals are transmitted to the subject to modulate the subject'"'"'s sense of taste and smell.

Claims

1. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of taste in a body, said at least one neuro-electrical signal comprising an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time by implanting one or more sensing electrodes at an esophagus to detect a passage of food said subject swallows; and

transmitting said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal to said subject to modulate said eating behavior of said subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modulate comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said modulate comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

5. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of taste in a body, said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal comprising an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time by implanting one or more sensing electrodes at an esophagus to detect a passage of food said subject swallows; and

transmitting said simulated neuro-electrical signal to said subject to modulate said eating, behavior of said subject.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one modulation comprises inducing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

10. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of smell in a body, said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal comprising an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time by implanting one or more sensing electrodes at an esophagus to detect the passage of food said subject swallows; and

transmitting said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal to said subject to modulate an eating behavior of said subject.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said subject. comprises restricting the transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said modulate comprises substantially abating said transmission of afferent information to said subject'"'"'s brain that is generated in said subject'"'"'s body and associated with the sense of smell.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject exceeds a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.

14. A method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

generating at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of smell in a body, said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal comprising an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body;

sensing food intake in a subject over at least a first period of time by implanting one or more sensing electrodes at an esophagus to detect the passage of food said subject swallows; and

transmitting said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal to said subject to modulate an eating behavior of said subject.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said nodulation comprises inducing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said modulation comprises enhancing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject if said food intake of said subject falls below a predetermined threshold level during said first period of time.