Dysgeusia-inducing neurostimulation for modifying consumption of a selected nutrient type
First Claim
1. A method for selectively modifying a person'"'"'s consumption of a selected nutrient type comprising:
- detecting, using a nutrient specific consumption sensor, when a person consumes a selected nutrient type, wherein said detection is done by analyzing the chemical composition of food, saliva, and/or chyme in the person'"'"'s oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum; and
inducing temporary dysgeusia based on the detection of the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type, wherein said temporary dysgeusia is induced by an application of electromagnetic energy to an afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system, wherein said afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system conveys signals for at least a portion of an afferent nerve pathway from the person'"'"'s taste receptors to the person'"'"'s brain, wherein said application of electromagnetic energy creates an unpleasant virtual or phantom taste, and wherein said unpleasant virtual or phantom taste modifies the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention uses dysgeusia-inducing neurostimulation to selectively modify a person'"'"'s consumption of a selected type of nutrient or food. This invention includes a nutrient-specific consumption sensor that detects when a person consumes a particular type of nutrient or food and a Dysgeusia-Inducing Neurostimulation Device (DIND) that temporarily modifies a person'"'"'s sense of taste when the person consumes that nutrient or food. This invention can make unhealthy food taste less appealing and make healthy food taste more appealing. Such selective taste modification can improve a person'"'"'s nutritional quality and help them to manage their weight.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for selectively modifying a person'"'"'s consumption of a selected nutrient type comprising:
-
detecting, using a nutrient specific consumption sensor, when a person consumes a selected nutrient type, wherein said detection is done by analyzing the chemical composition of food, saliva, and/or chyme in the person'"'"'s oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum; and inducing temporary dysgeusia based on the detection of the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type, wherein said temporary dysgeusia is induced by an application of electromagnetic energy to an afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system, wherein said afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system conveys signals for at least a portion of an afferent nerve pathway from the person'"'"'s taste receptors to the person'"'"'s brain, wherein said application of electromagnetic energy creates an unpleasant virtual or phantom taste, and wherein said unpleasant virtual or phantom taste modifies the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device for selectively modifying a person'"'"'s consumption of a selected nutrient type comprising:
-
a nutrient-specific consumption sensor configured to detect when a person consumes a selected nutrient type, wherein said sensor analyzes the chemical composition of food, saliva, and/or chyme in the person'"'"'s oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum, wherein said nutrient-specific consumption sensor is configured to obtain information concerning the composition of food, saliva, and/or chyme in the person'"'"'s oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum from electromagnetic energy received from an afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system; and a Dysgeusia-Inducing Neurostimulation Device (DIND) wherein said neurostimulation device is configured to be implanted within the person'"'"'s body, wherein said neurostimulation device is configured to induce temporary dysgeusia based on the sensor detecting the person'"'"'s consumption of the selected nutrient type, wherein said temporary dysgeusia is induced by an application of electromagnetic energy to an afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system, wherein said afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system conveys signals for at least a portion of an afferent nerve pathway from the person'"'"'s taste receptors to the person'"'"'s brain, and wherein said temporary dysgeusia modifies the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type.
-
-
11. A device for selectively modifying a person'"'"'s consumption of a selected nutrient type comprising:
-
a nutrient-specific consumption sensor configured to detect when a person consumes a selected nutrient type, wherein said sensor analyzes the chemical composition of food, saliva, and/or chyme in the person'"'"'s oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum; and a Dysgeusia-Inducing Neurostimulation Device (DIND) wherein said neurostimulation device is configured to be implanted within the person'"'"'s body, wherein said neurostimulation device is configured to induce temporary dysgeusia based on the sensor detecting the person'"'"'s consumption of the selected nutrient type, wherein said temporary dysgeusia is induced by an application of electromagnetic energy to an afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system, wherein said afferent member of the person'"'"'s peripheral nervous system conveys signals for at least a portion of an afferent nerve pathway from the person'"'"'s taste receptors to the person'"'"'s brain, wherein the application of electromagnetic energy creates an unpleasant virtual or phantom taste, and wherein said unpleasant virtual or phantom taste modifies the person'"'"'s consumption of said selected nutrient type. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification