Transcranial stimulation device and method based on electrophysiological testing

Abstract

The present method and system provides for the clinical application of neurostimulation and / or neuromodulation to a patient. The method and system includes receipt and acquisition of patient data, processing of that data relative to one or more known data sets, and determination of a good-fit trigger specific treatment protocol. The method and system provides for application of the protocol to the patient, including delivery of neuromodulation and biofeedback. Based thereon, the method and system re-iterates the goodness of fit determination for further treatment to the patient.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 458,673, filed on Aug. 13, 2014 which is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 742,066 filed Jan. 15, 2013, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,838,247, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 543,204 filed Jul. 6, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,380,316, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 979,419 filed on Dec. 28, 2010, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,239,030, which is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 292,791 filed Jan. 6, 2010.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent dis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The disclosed technology further includes user input and feedback functionality within a clinic or operational settings, whereby user measurements are collected, compared to one or more data sets and adjustments are made to the stimulation output. The data input can include measurement input, as well as clinician input recognizing various patient symptoms, as well as patient information such as medication information and general patient information. Based on the data collection, algorithms provide for adjustment of the stimulation, further measurements and further calculations of the changes to the patient from the adjustments. Therefore, the active utilization of the stimulation with additional data allows for application of the stimulation in a controlled environment for improving the efficacy of the stimulation.

Problems solved by technology

Traumatic brain injuries can result in physical and / or emotional dysfunction.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are similar to those of a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and the two are difficult to differentiate using current assessment methodologies such as symptom assessments and questionnaires.

A common cause of such injuries arises from exposure to percussive force from explosive devices.

Up to 15% of persons suffering even a mild brain injury, or concussion, will suffer from persistent symptoms for more than a year, which significantly negatively affect their ability to work and function in daily life.

There are approximately 1.5 million diagnosed brain injuries in the U.S. annually, and it is estimated that another 2 million TBIs occur but are not properly diagnosed.

Current assessment methods are either prohibitively expensive or do not diagnose the root cause of the suffering.

Each neuron, support cell and neural connection is extremely delicate, and the neural connections are tiny (approximately 1 micrometer).

High false negative findings may lead to patients being undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Unfortunately current imaging methods still lack the resolution and sensitivity to determine functional brain capacity.

Rating scales and other neuropsychological and functional examination methods have long been used to elucidate these functional questions, but they too are fraught with false negative results and limited specificity.

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