Regional Brain Thermal Stimulation for Neurological Disorders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for neurological and sleep disorders, such as insomnia and depression, are either expensive, have side effects, or require invasive methods, and existing brain cooling technologies are not effective for non-invasive, regional thermal stimulation.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive regional brain thermal stimulation method and apparatus that applies localized cooling or warming to the scalp to alter cerebral metabolism, specifically targeting regions like the prefrontal cortex to treat disorders by reducing brain metabolism and improving sleep quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If non-invasive regional brain thermal stimulation is applied, then treatment safety and patient comfort are improved, but the precision and effectiveness of brain metabolism modulation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal stimulation to specific regional areas of the brain (prefrontal cortex, temporal lobes, parietal lobes) rather than uniform whole-brain treatment. The device includes region-specific applicators that can be positioned to target particular brain areas, allowing localized metabolism modulation while maintaining non-invasive safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The brain is divided into distinct regions (prefrontal, temporal, parietal lobes) that can be treated independently. The device system includes multiple applicators or a multi-zone applicator that can selectively apply thermal stimulation to different brain regions based on the specific neurological disorder being treated.
2Reliability
If regional brain cooling is applied to treat neurological disorders, then cognitive arousal is reduced and sleep quality improves, but the complexity of temperature control and monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the thermal state of the brain tissue and provide feedback to the control system. This closed-loop control ensures that the cooling remains within therapeutic ranges, automatically adjusting power delivery to maintain target temperatures and prevent over-cooling or under-cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal stimulation parameters (temperature, duration, intensity) are dynamically adjusted based on real-time monitoring of patient response, brain temperature feedback, and treatment progression. The device can transition between different cooling phases and intensity levels during a single treatment session.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively reduces cognitive arousal, accelerates core body temperature drops, and increases sleep quantity and quality, providing a safer and more targeted treatment for neurological disorders compared to existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The device is applied to a patient's head and alters the temperature of a cortical surface inside of the skull
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for treating neurological and/or neuropsychiatric disorders are by application of thermal energy to the patient's forehead region, for example, by maintaining a target temperature or temperature range to the forehead of a patient for a time period. In particular, described herein are regional brain cooling mechanisms to treat neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and autism.