Systems and methods for modulating the electrical activity of a brain using neuro-EEG synchronization therapy

• US 8,465,408 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wave Neuroscience, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neosync, Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, James William, Jin, Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US12/850,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9, 600/13, 600/14, 600/544, 600/545
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

Described are methods, devices, and systems for a novel, inexpensive, easy to use therapy for treatment of coma, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, cognitive performance, and/or amblyopia. Described are methods and devices to treat coma, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, cognitive performance, and/or amblyopia that involves no medication. Methods and devices described herein use alternating magnetic fields to gently “tune” the brain and affect symptoms of coma, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, cognitive performance, and/or amblyopia.

Claims

1. A method of treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease, treating coma, treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treating amblyopia, and/or enhancing cognitive performance, in a subject, comprising:

(a) adjusting a setting of a magnetic field such that the magnetic field is configured to do one or more of the following;

move an intrinsic frequency of a specified EEG band of the subject toward a target intrinsic frequency of the specified EEG band using the magnetic field,

move a Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency toward a target Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency using the magnetic field,

move a coherence value of intrinsic frequencies among multiple sites in a brain of the subject within a specified EEG band toward a target coherence value using the magnetic field wherein if the coherence value is higher than the target coherence value, applying at least two asynchronous magnetic fields close to the head of the subject, and wherein if the coherence value is lower than the target coherence value, applying at least one synchronized magnetic field close to the head of the subject; and

move an EEG phase between two sites in the brain of a subject of a specified EEG frequency toward a target EEG phase of the specified EEG frequency using the magnetic field wherein the magnetic field comprises one or more magnetic field generators that are of the same frequency and are in-phase with each other, of the same frequency and out of phase with each other, or a combination thereof; and

(b) applying said magnetic field close to the head of the subject.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of measuring EEG data of the subject after the applying step.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting frequency of said magnetic field based on the EEG data of the subject; and

repeating the applying step with an adjusted frequency.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the applying of the magnetic field applies the magnetic field to a diffuse area of the brain of the subject.

6. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnetic field is generated by movement of at least one permanent magnet.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the strength of the at least one permanent magnet is from about 10 Gauss to about 4 Tesla.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the distance between the at least one permanent magnet and the subject is from about 1/32 in to about 12 in.

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of applying the magnetic field is for about 5 minutes to about two hours.

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising repeating the applying step after an interval about 6 hours to about 14 days.

11. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

(a) locating a first electrode operable to detect electrical brain activity on the subject in at least one of an area of low electrical resistivity on the subject, and an area with substantially no electrical impulse interference on the subject;

(b) locating a second electrode operable to detect a reference signal on the subject; and

(c) determining the intrinsic frequency from the electrical brain activity detected by the first electrode and the reference signal detected by the second electrode.

2. A method of treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease, treating coma, treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treating amblyopia, and/or enhancing cognitive performance in a subject, comprising moving at least one of:

an intrinsic frequency of a brain of the subject within a specified EEG band toward a pre-selected intrinsic frequency within the same specified EEG band and a Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency toward a target Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency, by applying a magnetic field close to a head of the subject, wherein the magnetic field comprises at least one of(a) a single target frequency within the specified EEG band;

(b) a plurality of frequencies within the specified EEG band; and

(c) the intrinsic frequency of the brain of the subject within the specified EEG band.

12. A device for use in treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease, treating coma, treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treating amblyopia, and/or enhancing cognitive performance in a subject, comprising:

a means for applying a magnetic field to a head of a subject;

whereby the means for applying the magnetic field comprises;

a first processor that controls the application of the magnetic field and

wherein the first processor or a second processor moves at least one of;

(a) an intrinsic frequency of a brain of the subject in a specified EEG band to a target intrinsic frequency within the specified EEG band using the magnetic field;

(b) a Q-factor of an intrinsic frequency of the brain of the subject within a specified EEG band to a target Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency using the magnetic field;

(c) a coherence value of intrinsic frequencies among multiple sites in the brain of the subject within a specified EEG band using the magnetic field wherein if the coherence value is higher than a pre-selected coherence value, applying at least two asynchronous magnetic fields close to the head of the subject, and wherein if the coherence value is lower than the pre-selected coherence value, applying at least one synchronized magnetic field close to the head of the subject; and

(d) an EEG phase between two sites in the brain of the subject of a specified EEG frequency using the magnetic field wherein the magnetic field comprises a first magnetic field that is in-phase with a second magnetic field or a first magnetic field that is out of phase with a second magnetic field.

13. The device of claim 12, comprising at least one permanent magnet.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the magnetic field is generated by movement of at least one permanent magnet.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the movement of the at least one said magnet is at a frequency between about 0.5 Hz and about 100 Hz.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said movement comprises at least one of rotational motion, linear motion, and swing motion.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said movement generates an alternating magnetic field.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising logic that controls the EEG frequency to be between about 0.5 Hz and about 100 Hz in increments of about 0.1 Hz.

19. The device of claim 12, further comprising logic that automatically changes the EEG frequency in response to EEG readings of the subject during treatment.

20. The device of claim 12, further comprising logic that calculates information from EEG data collected from the subject within a specified EEG band, wherein said information comprises at least one of items listed below:

(a) the intrinsic frequency;

(b) the Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency;

(c) the coherence value of intrinsic frequencies;

(d) the EEG phase; and

(e) any combination thereof.

21. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

(a) a first electrode operable to detect electrical brain activity; and

(b) a second electrode operable to detect a reference signal;

wherein the first electrode is adapted to be located on the subject in at least one of;

an area of low electrical resistivity on the subject, and an area with substantially no electrical impulse interference on the subject, and wherein the second electrode is adapted to be located on the subject.

22. A device for treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease, treating coma, treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treating amblyopia, and/or enhancing cognitive performance in a subject, comprising:

a magnetic field generator configured to apply a magnetic field close to a head of the subject, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises

a first processor that controls the application of the magnetic field and

wherein the first processor or a second processor moves

an intrinsic frequency of a specified EEG band of the subject within the specified EEG

band toward a target intrinsic frequency in the specified EEG band using the magnetic field,

a Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency towards a target Q-factor of the intrinsic frequency using the magnetic field,

a coherence value of intrinsic frequencies among multiple sites in a brain of the subject within a specified EEG band toward a target coherence value using the magnetic field wherein if the coherence value is higher than the target coherence value, applying at least two asynchronous magnetic fields close to the head of the subject, and wherein if the coherence value is lower than the target coherence value, applying at least one synchronized magnetic field close to the head of the subject; and

an EEG phase between two sites in the brain of the subject of a specified EEG frequency toward a target EEG phase of the specified EEG frequency using the magnetic field wherein the magnetic field comprises one or more magnetic field generators that are of the same frequency and are in-phase with each other, of the same frequency and out of phase with each other, or

a combination thereof.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the magnetic field comprises at least one of(a) a single target frequency within the specified EEG band;

(b) a plurality of frequencies within the specified EEG band; and

(c) the intrinsic frequency of the brain of the subject within the specified EEG band.