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

• US 8,478,398 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• 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:
  US13/547,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/58, 607/134, 607/135, 607/48, 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

Method and systems 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 (ii) 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 system for modulating eating behavior, said system comprising:

a control module configured to generate at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of taste in a body, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal comprises an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body; and

a treatment member configured to transmit said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal to a subject, wherein said transmitting is accomplished by direct conduction through unbroken skin configured to communicate with a target zone.

2. The system 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 taste.

3. The system 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 taste.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of confounding neuro-electrical signals, including said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal, is transmitted to the subject.

8. A system for modulating eating behavior, said system comprising:

a control module configured to generate at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of taste in a body, wherein said neuro-electrical signal comprises an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body; and

a treatment member configured to transmit said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal to a subject, wherein said transmitting is accomplished by direct conduction through unbroken skin configured to communicate with a target zone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said modulate comprises inducing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said modulate comprises enhancing said sense of taste in said subject'"'"'s body.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one neuro-electrical signal is transmitted manually to said subject.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein a plurality of simulated neuro-electrical signals, including said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal, is transmitted to said subject.

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

17. A system for modulating eating behavior, said system comprising:

a control module configured to generate at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal that is configured to modulate a sense of smell in a body and which comprises an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system in said body; and

a treatment member configured to transmit said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal to a subject, wherein said transmitting is accomplished by direct conduction through unbroken skin configured to communicate with a target zone.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said modulate inducing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said modulate comprises enhancing said sense of smell in said subject'"'"'s body.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted manually to said subject.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein a plurality of simulated neuro-electrical signals including said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject.