US4646744A
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Method and treatment with transcranially applied electrical signals
Assignee: ZION FOUNDATION A GREAT BRITIAN CORP
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Filing: 1984-06-29
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2004-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of applying an electrical signal transcranially includes the steps of generating a series of signal trains and applying the signal trains across the head of a subject, wherein each of the trains comprises a number of pulses and is separated from other trains by off periods, during which the signal is not applied. The signal trains are of such short duration that substantially no nerves within the subject's brain that receive the signal trains are demyelinized. In certain embodiments, the signal trains and the off periods are of irregular duration such that the activation of nerves of the brain by a signal is of a substantially continuous rate as the application of the signal train proceeds. The invention also includes particular characteristics of signals used to treat respective afflictions, including drug addictions and habituations, appetite disturbances, stress, insomnia, and pain.
Inventors
- 👤 Ifor D. Capel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of treating a subject with an electrical signal transcranially comprising a first step of generating a first signal train comprising a plurality of pulses and applying said train across a subject's head, a second step of terminating the applying of said first signal train, a third step of applying no signal across said subject's head for a duration of a first off period, a fourth step of generating a successive signal train comprising a plurality of pulses and applying said trains across said subject's head, a fifth step of terminating the applying of said successive signal train, a sixth step of varying the duration of the applying of said successive train in respect to a duration of the applying of a preceding train, a seventh step of applying no signal across said subject's head for a duration of a successive off period, an eighth step of varying the duration of said successive off period in respect to a duration of a preceding off period, and a ninth step of repeating said fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth steps such that an activation of nerves of said brain by said signal, comprising a series of trains and off periods the durations of which are varied in accordance with said sixth and eighth steps, is at a substantially continuous rate as the application of said trains and off periods proceeds.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of treating a subject with an electrical signal transcranially comprising a first step of generating a first signal train comprising a plurality of pulses and applying said train across a subject's head, a second step of terminating the applying of said first signal train, a third step of applying no signal across said subject's head for a duration of a first off period, a fourth step of generating a successive signal train comprising a plurality of pulses and applying said trains across said subject's head, a fifth step of terminating the applying of said successive signal train, a sixth step of varying the duration of the applying of said successive train in respect to a duration of the applying of a preceding train, a seventh step of applying no signal across said subject's head for a duration of a successive off period, an eighth step of varying the duration of said successive off period in respect to a duration of a preceding off period, and a ninth step of repeating said fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth steps such that an activation of nerves of said brain by said signal, comprising a series of trains and off periods the durations of which are varied in accordance with said sixth and eighth steps, is at a substantially continuous rate as the application of said trains and off periods proceeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of at least about 100 Hz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of substituting said signal with a signal having a frequency of at most about 35 Hz. when said subject experiences an adverse reaction to said method.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of at most about 35 Hz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of substituting said signal with a signal having a frequency of at least about 100 Hz. when said subject experiences an adverse reaction to said method.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inhibiting the production of neurotransmitter in the brain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of stimulating the production of neurotransmitter in the brain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 100 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to drugs that are received by opiate receptors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.22 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to drugs that are received by opiate receptors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 10 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to drugs that are received by opiate receptors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 1.5 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to drugs that are received by opiate receptors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 25 to 35 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to barbiturates or barbiturate-like sedatives.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.1 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to barbiturates or barbiturate-like sedatives.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 10 Hz. and a pulse width of about 1.5 milliseconds and is used to encourage sleep in a treatment for an habituation to barbiturates or barbiturate-like sedatives.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 200 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to benzodiazeapines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.5 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to benzodiazeapines.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 30 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to cocaine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.1 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to cocaine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 200 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to amphetamines.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.5 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to amphetamines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 200 Hz. and a pulse width of about 1.5 milliseconds and is used to encourage sleep in a treatment for an addiction to amphetamines.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 5 to about 10 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to nicotine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.1 or 0.22 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to nicotine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 10 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to alcohol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.1 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an addiction to alcohol.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 30 Hz. and a pulse width of about 1.5 milliseconds and is used to encourage sleep in a treatment for an addiction to alcohol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 200 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to hallucinogenic drugs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.5 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of an habituation to hallucinogenic drugs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 200 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of pain.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 1.5 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of pain.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a frequency of about 10 Hz. and said method is used in the treatment of pain.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a pulse width of about 0.22 milliseconds and said method is used in the treatment of pain.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of standardizing said subject prior to said applying step, said standardization step comprising the steps of clinically administering a dosage of a drug to which said subject is addicted or habituated, or a drug that is functionally equivalent to said drug to which said subject is addicted or habituated, to said subject and applying said signal after effects of said drug or said functionally equivalent drug have subsided and before said subject experiences withdrawal symptoms.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said signal has a rectangular wave form.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating said signal in a rectangular wave form comprising a spike that occurs at the onset of positive segments of the pulses of said signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage of said applied signal is about 1 volt.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring characteristics of said signal on an oscilloscope.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the duration of said trains and said off periods by an arithmetic progression.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the pulses applied across said subject's head have an equal amount of positive and negative segments such that there is a zero net voltage applied across said subject's head.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of off periods between pulse trains in between 5 and 10 seconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3946745A
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US4315503A
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US4305402A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |