Device and Method for Calibration of Non-Invasive Mechanical Tactile and/or Thermal Neurostimulation

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This invention describes a non-invasive medical device and method for calibrating mechanical (tactile/vibrational) and/or thermal neurostimulation applied to a patient's body surface. The system automatically locates optimal areas on the skin to deliver periodic, targeted stimuli that interrupt pathological synchronous neural activity (such as seen in neurological disorders). The device uses sensors to monitor neural responses in real-time, guiding automatic adjustment of stimulation parameters for improved therapeutic impact and minimal side effects.

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

• Treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and epilepsy using mechanical or thermal skin stimulation.
• Therapy for chronic pain syndromes, migraines, and neuropathic pain by desynchronizing abnormal neural activity.
• Enhancement of rehabilitation in patients after stroke by targeted neurostimulation.
• Enabling self-administered, non-invasive neurostimulation therapies at home for various movement disorders and psychiatric conditions.
• Monitoring and adjusting neurostimulation parameters in real-time during therapy to maximize effect and minimize side effects.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Non-invasive and safer compared to implanted stimulation devices, reducing risk and recovery time.
• Automatic, data-driven calibration improves effectiveness and consistency of therapy by targeting optimal stimulus locations.
• Reduces side effects and discomfort by using lower stimulus intensities and precisely targeting neural circuits.
• Provides faster, more tolerable calibrations, making therapy easier and more comfortable for patients, including those with chronic pain.
• Allows for personalized, adaptive therapy tailored to individual patient anatomy and responses.
• Scalable for a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions characterized by abnormal neural synchrony.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device for stimulating neurons, comprising a non-invasive stimulation unit for applying mechanically tactile and/or thermal stimuli to the body surface of a patient. The stimuli stimulate neurons with a pathologically synchronous and oscillatory neural activity. The device also comprises a measuring unit for recording measurement signals, which describe a neural activity of the stimulated neurons, and a control and analyzing unit for controlling the stimulation unit and analyzing the measurement signals. The control and analyzing unit is designed to actuate the stimulation unit such that the stimulation unit abrades at least one part of the body surface of the patient along a path and thereby periodically applies stimuli, to select at least two regions on the patient's body surface along the path where the phase synchronization between the periodic application of the stimuli and the neural activity of the stimulated neurons have a respective local maximum using the measurement signals recorded in reaction to the periodic application of the stimuli, and to actuate the stimulation unit such that the stimulation unit applies stimuli in a delayed manner in the at least two selected regions, said stimuli causing the phase of the neural activity of the stimulated neurons to be reset.