Methods for user control of neurostimulation to modify a cognitive state

• US 9,399,126 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thync Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thync Global, Inc.
• Inventors: Thakur, Anil, Egnal, Jason, Pal, Sumon K., Charlesworth, Jonathan, Goldwasser, Isy, Wetmore, Daniel Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US14/634,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

Methods for allowing a user to control a neuromodulator to modify a cognitive state being experienced by the user. The user may select a waveform ensemble from a hand-held user device having an interface, and the user may adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the user device while the waveform ensemble is being applied. Also described are methods of managing communication between the hand-held user device (such as a smartphone or the like) and a wearable neurostimulator. Methods of displaying and visually tracking and controlling the applied waveform ensemble are also described herein.

Claims

1. A method of modifying a user'"'"'s cognitive state using a neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head, the method comprising:

allowing the user to select a waveform ensemble from a plurality of waveform ensembles on a user device, wherein the waveform ensemble comprises multiple sequentially arranged sets of waveform parameters, wherein each set specifies a current intensity, a frequency, and a duty cycle, and wherein the plurality of waveform ensembles includes different waveform ensembles;

transmitting an identifier or set of parameters corresponding to the waveform ensemble to the neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head for application of the waveform ensemble by the neurostimulator;

displaying on the user device, a representation of a perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble over a duration of application of the waveform ensemble and a display of a user-adjusted perceived intensity relative to the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble; and

allowing the user to adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the user device during application of the waveform ensemble.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the user to select comprises allowing the user to select from a subset of waveform ensembles that are configured to evoke a type of cognitive state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving in the user device, a signal from the neurostimulator indicating that an electrode has been attached to the neurostimulator.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a representation of a maximum perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble to be delivered by the neurostimulator on the user device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to rank or score a waveform ensemble in the plurality of waveform ensembles and storing, transmitting, or storing and transmitting the user rank or score.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to download a new waveform ensemble to the user device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a rank or score for the waveform ensemble.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period, and wherein the interrupt signal is configured to evoke a phosphene.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal is configured to transiently decrease and then increase or transiently increase and then decrease the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to confirm the position of the neurostimulator, an electrode coupled to the neurostimulator, or the neurostimulator and an electrode by displaying in approximate real-time, images from a camera on the user device so that the user may view an image of the user'"'"'s head.

12. A method of modifying a user'"'"'s cognitive state using a neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of waveform ensembles to a user with a hand-held user device, wherein the plurality of waveform ensembles includes different waveform ensembles and wherein at least some of the waveform ensembles comprise multiple sequentially arranged sets of waveform parameters wherein each set specifies a current intensity, a frequency, and a duty cycle;

allowing the user to select a waveform ensemble from the plurality of waveform ensembles on the hand-held user device;

transmitting an identifier or set of parameters corresponding to the waveform ensemble to the neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head;

applying the waveform ensemble from the neurostimulator to modify the user'"'"'s cognitive state;

displaying on the user device, a representation of a perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble over a duration of application of the waveform ensemble and a display of a user-adjusted perceived intensity relative to the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble; and

allowing the user to adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the hand-held user device during application of the waveform ensemble.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein allowing the user to select comprises allowing the user to select from a subset of waveform ensembles that are configured to evoke a type of cognitive state.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving in the user device, a signal from a neurostimulator indicating that an electrode has been attached to the neurostimulator.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a representation of a maximum perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble to be applied by the neurostimulator on the hand-held user device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to rank or score a waveform ensemble in the plurality of waveform ensembles and storing, transmitting, or storing and transmitting the user rank or score.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to download a new waveform ensemble to the user device.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a rank or score for the waveform ensemble.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period, and wherein the interrupt signal is configured to evoke a phosphene.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting the plurality of waveform ensembles comprises indicating ranking or scoring information for individual waveform ensembles in the plurality of waveform ensembles based on ranks or scores made by other users or by the user.

22. A method of modifying a user'"'"'s cognitive state using a neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head, the method comprising:

allowing the user to select a waveform ensemble from a plurality of waveform ensembles on a user device, wherein the plurality of waveform ensembles includes different waveform ensembles and wherein a waveform ensemble comprises multiple sequentially arranged sets of waveform parameters wherein each set specifies a current intensity, a frequency, and a duty cycle;

transmitting an identifier or set of parameters corresponding to the waveform ensemble to the neurostimulator worn on the user'"'"'s head for application of the waveform ensemble; and

displaying on the user device, a representation of a perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble to be delivered by the neurostimulator over a duration of application of the waveform ensemble;

allowing the user to adjust the applied perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble as the waveform ensemble is applied to the user by the neurostimulator; and

displaying, on the representation of the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble, a representation of the user-adjusted perceived intensity relative to the perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein allowing the user to select comprises allowing the user to select from a subset of waveform ensembles that are configured to evoke a type of cognitive state.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving in the user device, a signal from a neurostimulator indicating that an electrode has been attached to the neurostimulator.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to rank or score a waveform ensemble in the plurality of waveform ensembles and storing, transmitting, or storing and transmitting the user rank or score.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to download a new waveform ensemble to the user device.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising allowing the user to trigger, from the user device, transmission of an interrupt signal to the neurostimulator during the application of the waveform ensemble, wherein the interrupt signal temporarily modifies the application of the waveform ensemble for a predefined timer period, and wherein the interrupt signal is configured to evoke a phosphene.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein displaying the representation of a the perceived intensity comprises displaying a representation of a maximum perceived intensity of the entire waveform ensemble to be delivered by the neurostimulator.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein allowing the user to adjust the applied perceived intensity of the waveform ensemble comprises presenting a control on a display of the user device to adjust the applied perceived intensity.