Device and Method for Conditioned Desynchronizing Non-Invasive Stimulation

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a non-invasive device and method for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders by delivering specially timed sensory stimuli. The system uses at least two types of stimuli: (1) 'specific' stimuli that can suppress abnormal synchronous neuronal activity and (2) 'non-specific' stimuli (e.g., visual, acoustic, tactile, vibratory, or thermal) that do not directly affect pathological activity but are used to condition the nervous system. The process involves an initial 'learning phase' where both stimuli are paired to condition the patient's nervous system, followed by a stimulation phase where the non-specific stimuli alone can likely maintain the therapeutic effect, increasing comfort and compliance for patients.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Treatment of Parkinson's disease to reduce tremor and abnormal muscle activity.
• Managing movement disorders such as dystonia, essential tremor, and spasticity.
• Alleviating symptoms of neurological conditions like epilepsy and migraine.
• Treatment of psychiatric conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, and addiction.
• Supporting rehabilitation in post-stroke patients with motor or functional impairments.
• Therapy for chronic pain, fibromyalgia, or neuralgias.
• Adjunctive treatment for sleep disorders, burnout syndrome, or ADHD.
• Reducing tinnitus or cluster headaches.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Non-invasive approach avoids surgical risks and complications associated with implanted stimulators.
• Increases patient comfort and willingness to adhere to therapy by enabling use of less obtrusive devices after initial conditioning.
• Enables multi-modal stimulation (visual, auditory, tactile, vibratory, thermal), which can be tailored to individual patient preferences and needs.
• Flexible control: Intelligent switching between modes based on patient symptoms or feedback, maximizing therapeutic efficacy.
• Personalized therapy: Can adjust stimulation parameters in real-time based on feedback or sensor data.
• Reduces the need for prolonged or uncomfortable specific stimulation (such as intensive light or audio therapy), improving daily life integration of the treatment.
• Potentially broad applicability across a variety of neurological and psychiatric diseases with abnormal neuronal synchrony.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) with a non-invasive first stimulation unit (11) for generating first stimuli (21) which, when administered to a patient, suppress a pathologically synchronous activity of neurons in the brain and/or spinal cord of the patient, with a non-invasive second stimulation unit (12) for generating optical and/or acoustic and/or tactile and/or vibratory and/or thermal second stimuli (22), and with a control unit (10) for controlling the first and second stimulation units (11, 12), wherein the generation of the first and second stimuli (21, 22) takes place optionally in a first or a second operating mode, and the control unit (10) controls the first and second stimulation units (11, 12) in such a way that, in the first operating mode, the generation of at least 60% of the second stimuli (22) is coupled in time to the generation of the first stimuli (21) and, in the second operating mode, the generation of at least 60% of the second stimuli (22) takes place without the generation of the first stimuli (21).