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

• US 8,725,246 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALTER MORSCHAUSER, ALYSSA MARGO
• Application Number:
  US11/430,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,927 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48, 607/58, 607/45, 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 (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 method for modulating eating behavior, comprising the steps of:

recording a neuro-electrical signal from a body;

processing said neuro-electrical signal to generate at least one confounding neuro-electrical signal 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

transmitting 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 to modulate said sense of taste in said body and modulate eating behavior thereof.

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

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

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said at least one confounding neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to the subject.

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

recording a neuro-electrical signal from a body;

processing said neuro-electrical signal to generate at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal to modulate a sense of taste in a body,

wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal comprises an electrical waveform signal that mimics a naturally occurring electrical signal in a nervous system of a body; and

transmitting 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 to module said sense of taste in a body and modulate eating behavior thereof.

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

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject at predetermined time intervals.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject.

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

11. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said simulated neuro-electrical signals is transmitted to said subject.

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

recording a neuro-electrical signal from a body,

processing said neuro-electrical signal 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

transmitting 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 to module said sense of smell in said body and modulate eating behavior thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal substantially corresponds to a neuro-electrical signal that is generated in the body.

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

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted manually to said subject.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject manually and at predetermined time intervals.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein a plurality of simulated neuro-electrical signals including said at least one simulated neuro-electrical signal is transmitted to said subject.