Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING OR BROADCAST ACTUAL NEURO
ELECTRICAL CODED SIGNALS FOR MEDICAL TREATl~IENT
Related Application
Tlus is a continuation-in-part of Application Serial No. 10/000,005 filed on
November
20, 2001, , entitled "Method to Record, Store and Broadcast Specific Brainwave
Forms to
Modulate Body Organ Functioning." This application also claims the benefit of
application
Serial No. 601503,908, filed on September 18, 2003, entitled "Device and
Method For
Conducting or Broadcasting Actual Neruo-Coded Signals for Medical Treatment."
Background of the Invention
This invention relates to neuro-coded electrical signals and a method for
recording and
interpreting sig~lals from the brain.
The brain is one of the last great frontiers in the bio-medical sciences. The
m~raveling
of its mysterious complexities as related to medical diagnosis and treatment
is a quest as great
as inventing technology and gathering resources to travel to the moon. Brain
signals direct the
harmony of the human body much like a conductor controls and directs his
orchestra. The brain
senses, computes and decides before it sends electrical instructions to the
body it lives in. The
brain is a magnificent information processor that not only controls the body
it lives in, but
communicates with other brains residing in other bodies. Such interrelation to
another brain
can alter the electrochemical function in both brains.
Life no other creatt~e, maanl~ind over the centuries has slowly observed his
own health
status and devised treatments to heal diseases and injuries. Because
historically man has
preserved this medical lrnowledge in boobs it served as the basis of early
university scientific
training. The last two centuries of education and research in bio-medicine
have laid down a
detailed understanding about the human anatomy and the relative function of
its components,
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all of which serve as a platform for today's medical treatments.
Modern scientists have expanded into specialties that never existed before.
Today,
scientists study the genetic makeup of huma~.is and are heading toward
predicting and tinkeriilg
with genes to forestall future ailments. Then there are studies on a cellular
level that have
determined the microscopic workings of many of the ubiquitous chemical and
electrical
processes that link and regulate life processes.
Although scientists and physicians can treat every organ in the body with
surgery or
medications, it is only in the last half century that we have come to grips
with electrical
treatment of organ systems. Examples of this development are the cardiac
defibrillator and
pacemaker or electrical brain stimulator for Parkinson's. Meticulous
anatomical studies,
animal experiments and recording the consequences of human brain injuries and
diseases have
served as the base information to understand how the brain works.
There has also been dynamic cellular and molecular biology work performed in
university laboratories over the past 20 years that is still ongoing. This has
opened up
bio-functional details that were previously unknown. In addition, recent
publication of
marvelous texts on neuroanatomy and physiology have illuminated the physical
relationship to
actual function of the nervous system.
This fovmtain of knowledge now~makes it possible to open up a new technology
for
electrical modulation of organ function. Such knowledge opens new electrical
treatment
modalities for life threatening emergencies and caxdiac, respiratory and
digestive conditions,
unaccessible before. This new technology makes it possible to detect the neuro-
electrical
coded signals being generated by the brain and to ascertain what the signal is
for. Tlus
invention provides a way to evolve the known and unknown waveforms into
electroiuc devices
which can broadcast such signals onto selected nervous system components as
medical
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treatments.
It is not commonly understood how brain electrical signals modulate functions
of the
body as a whole, but there is an understanding to a limited degree of how
organs are modulated.
The brain controls critical functions of all human and animal body organ
systems in a
coordinated way to keep the body alive and hence to keep alive the brain
itself. The brain wants
to live and go on into the future, so it fme tunes and modulates the
cardiovascular, respiratory
and digestive systems among others, to integrate the needs of all. Maintaining
optimum
performance is more difficult as the body and brain age due to cellular
degradation. But if
critical orga~l functions can be reset i11 a non or minimally invasive way,
both quality aazd
life-extension may benefit.
The brain controls, via the autonomic nervous network, the vegetative
fiulctions of the
major organs. These organs represent the minimal requirement to support life.
These are the
organs that must function even if the brain is in coma, and the owner unable
to think or do
anything, if life is to continue. Major organ function must always be
maintained at a certain
minimal level for maintaining organism life, otherwise death is certain. Such
control is done
via a nervous system that consists of two main divisions: a) the central
nervous system (brain)
in concert with the spinal cord, and b) the peripheral system consisting of
cranial and spinal
nerves plus ganglia.
~1t11111 the central nervous system is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
which
carries all efferent impulses except for the motor innervation of skeletal
muscles. The ANS is
mainly outside voluntary control and regulates the heart beat and smooth
muscle contraction of
many organs including digestive and respiratory. Also, the ANS controls
exocrine and some
endocrine organs along with certain metabolic activity. In addition, there is
activity from
parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation which oppose each other to attain
a balance of
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tissue and organ function. The nervous system is constructed of nerve cells
called new-ons
which have supporting cells called glia. Neurons are electrically excitable
and provide a
method whereby instructions are earned from the brain to modulate critical
functions.
The neL~ron Yeas a protrusion called an axon that can be as short as a few
millimeters or
longer than a meter. The axon provides and uses nerve fibers to carry
electrical signals that end
at a synapse. A synapse is at the end of an axon. It faces another synapse
from a neighboring
axon across a gap. To cross such a gap the electrical signal from the brain
must engage W
specialized chemical or electrical transduction reactions to allow the
crossing of the electrical
signal to the next axon or to a nerve plexus or ganglion located on an actual
organ. Neurons
have a body (or soma) and are the morphological and functioning uaut that
sends signals along
their axons until such signals instl-uct the organ it reaches. Operative
neuron u~~its that ca~.~y
sig~ials from the brain a_re classified as "efferent" nerves. "Afferent"
nerves are those that carry
sensor or status infomnation to the brain. The brain computes and generates
those electrical
signals that are required as a result of the incoming data (afferent signals)
it has collected. Such
afferent signals received by the brain provide sophisticated organ and overall
body operational
status. Such information spans the entire body from within and also
environmental status
detected from areas immediately outside of the body proper and at some
distance.
Outside data reaching the brain-may relate to temperature change or a
dangerous
situation like approaching strangers or even potential mating possibilities.
Such outside
afferent sensory data is provided by eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. In
addition, there is
proprioception providing sensation in the musculoskeletal system, i.e., deep
sensations. Other
afferent-type nerve sensors called nociceptors detect noxious stimuli and
pain. Nociceptors
alert the brain to nasty things that axe deemed undesirable and require some
immediate action
within the brain. This range of information arriving at the brain is processed
for action. The
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efferent nerves provide quick adjustment on performance for the various organ
systems or even
instruct the skeletal-motor neurons to nin, wall, hide, help or physically
approach for more
sensory information.
The invention describes specific newo-electrical coded signals and a method to
precisely acquire the key operative neuro-electrical coded signals from
selected axons,
nerveplexus or ganglion connections of the autonomic nervous system. Such
neuro-electrical
coded signal data is stored and categorized as to the actual purpose of such
signals. This is
much like the ongoing effort to identify and categorize human genes. ~nce the
purpose of
individual neuro-electrical coded signals have been determined, they will be
installed in a
specific application microprocessor for electrical broadcast or conduction
into the nervous
system, in order to treat or correct selected medical conditions.
Summary of the Invention
The invention provides a method for modulating body organ functioning.
According to
the method, neuro-electrical coded signals that are generated and carned in a
body axe collected
from the body. Such collected neuro-electrical coded signals are then
electrically stored. Then,
one or more of the collected neuro-electrical coded signals can be transmitted
to a body organ
to stimulate or regulate organ function.
The collected neuro-electrical coded signals are transformed into a readable
format for
a processor. The transformation of the collected neuro-electrical coded
signals into a readable
format includes transforming analog signals into a digital form. The collected
neuro-electrical
coded signals are stored and cataloged according to the function performed by
the
neuro-electrical coded signals in the body. A digital to analog converter is
used to convert the
cataloged neuro-electrical coded signals to an analog form, and the converted
neuro-electrical
coded signals are then applied to a body organ to. regulate for medical
treatment purposes.
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The invention fiuther provides an apparatus for modulating body organ
functioiung.
The apparatus includes a source of collected neuro-electrical coded signals
that are indicative
of body organ functioni~lg, means for transmitting collected neuro-electrical
coded signals to a
body organ, and means for applying the transmitted neuro-electrical coded
signals to the body
organ to stimulate or adjust organ function.
The transmitting means may include a digital to analog converter. The sotuce
of
collected neuro-electrical coded signals comprises a computer which has the
collected
neuro-electrical coded signals stored in digital format. The computer includes
separate storage
areas for collected neuro-electrical coded signals of different categories.
The apparatus further includes means for collecting neuro-electrical coded
signals from
a body and cataloging and transmitting such collected neuro-electrical coded
signals to the
source. The collecting means may be comprised of a sensor placed on the body.
A recorder is
provided to record the sensed neuro-electrical coded signals in analog form.
An analog to
digital converter is connected to the recorder for converting the neuro-
electrical coded signals
before being sent to a scientific computer. Additionally, the apparatus
includes a digital to
analog converter for converting the collected neuro-electrical coded signals
for retransmission
to a body for medical treatment purposes.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention is described in greater detail in the following description of
examples
embodying the best mode of the invention, talcen in conjmction with the
drawing figures, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one form of apparatus for practicing the
method
according to the invention;
FIG 2 is a flow chart of the software program when the neuro-electrical coded
sig~lal
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enters the computer;
FTG. 3 is a flow chart of the software program when the operator retrieves and
broadcasts the nemo-electrical' coded signal from within the computer;
FTGS. 4A - 4H are schematics of representative neuro-electrical coded signals,
embodied in the invention, carned by neurons after generation in the medulla
oblongata or from
sensory neurons going to the medulla oblongata; and
FIGS. SA - SH are schematics of alternative neuro-electrical coded signal, as
described
in the invention, that affect the nervous system.
Description of Examples Embodying the Best Mode of the Invention
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
invention,
references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It
will, nevertheless,
be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such
alterations and fiu-ther modifications in the illustrated device, and such
further applications of
the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplated as would
normally occur to
the one spilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Human and other mammals, and even lower creatures of all types, generate
electrical
wave-forms from theix respective brains that modulate key aspects of
vegetative systems. Such
neuro-electrical coded signals are of si-milar general linear analog format in
appearance,
regardless of species. Parallel lines of signals also can be transmitted
simultaneously by the
medulla oblongata to help form the signaling neuro-electrical coded signals.
I~ey orgm
systems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and others decode these
signals and
modulate or fine-W ne themselves in response to those instructions. The
autonomic nervous
system (ANS) operates similarly in all species, but not exactly similar. The
parallel carriers of
autonomic signals may work as the lines on a sheet of music record notes of
different
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characteristic, pause or speed at different levels. The autonomic nervous
system operates
without willful or conscious control and generally control vegetative state
essential body organ
systems.
This invention focuses on the electrical signals transported by the vagus
accessory and
hypoglossal nerve bundles, including afferent fibers. The vagus nerve is a
wandering nerve
(Vagus meaazs wandering) that winds throughout the body after it emerges from
the medulla
oblongata located in the hind brain. The hypoglossal and accessory nerves also
emerge from
the medulla oblongata and are interlaced with the vagus to harmoniously
accomplish basic life
support. The signals travel on the surface of the vagus nerve but below its
insulating myelin
sheath.
The electrical output of selected afferent and efferent nerves can be made
accessible via
tungsten, copper, platinum, silver, gold or other metal wires, or voltage
clamps or patch
electrodes and even seismic sensors, along with other detection methods. The
particular
apparatus for detecting this output is not part of the present invention.
Afferent and efferent
nerves travel in the same nerve bundles or can be routed separately. To gain
direct
measurement of the neuro-electrical coded signals, it may initially require
shaving away the
insulating fasciculus and myelin sheath. Seismic, ultrasonic, receiving
antennas, direct
conduction and other methods may be used to capture the coded brain signals as
they relate to
body organ performance. Such signals are then stored and replicated for
electrical return to the
appropriate place for medical treatment concerned with modulating organ
function.
Shin usually has a 1000 to 30,000 ohm resistance while the interior of the
body is quite
conductive. All coded signals operate at less than 1 volt, naturally. Applied
voltage may be, up
to 20 volts according to the invention to allow for voltage loss during the
transmission or
conduction of the r equired coded signals. Current should always be less than
2 amps output for
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the invention. Direct conduction into the nerves via electrodes connected
directly t0 Sllch
nerves will likely have outputs of less than 3 volts and current of less than
one-tenth of an amp.
Up to 10 or more channels may be used simultaneously to exert medical
treatment on an organ,
gland, muscle or nerve to aid a patient in moving or performing tasks suitable
to his or her
well-being as medical treatment.
The invention comprises a method for recording, storing, and broadcasting
specific
neuro-electrical coded signals to modulate human and animal body organ
functioning. One
form of the method for recording, storing, and broadcasting neuro-electrical
coded signals, as
shown in Fig. 1, is comprised of at least one sensor in the form of a
treatment member 10, an
analog recorder 12, an analog to digital converter 14, a computer 16, and a
digital to analog
converter 18. The treatment member 10 rnay be attached to a nerve 20 in the
human or aiumal
body, and senses the neuro-electrical coded signals from the nerve 20. In one
embodiment, the
treatment member 10 may be may be an electrode comprised of copper wire,
platinum wire,
gold wire, silver wire, tungsten wire, or any wire suitable for conduction of
the perceptible
electrical signals transported by the nerve 20. In an alternate embodiment,
the treatment
member 10 may be rod-shaped, an antenna, or any other shape suitable for
broadcasting and
sensing the.neuro-electrical coded signals. The treatment member 10 may also
be coated with
Mylar, Teflon, or any other coating suitable to resist corrosion.
The neuro-electrical coded signal is recorded by an analog recorder 12 because
the
nerve 20 only transmits electric signals in analog form. Once the neuro-
electrical coded signals
are recorded they axe sent from the analog recorder 12 to the analog to
digital converter 14. The
converter 14, in a conventional fashion, transforms the neuro-electrical coded
signals from the
analog format into a digital format, which is more suitable for computer
processing. The
converter 14 then transmits the converted neuro-electrical coded signals to a
computer 16
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where the neuro-electrical coded signal is processed, stored, adjusted, and/or
broadcast, as
desired. The computer 16 is capable of processing signals at speeds of up to
10 million bytes
of information per second.
Selected signals that have been digitized may be transferred to an application
specific
processor or a linear analog device to be utilized to prepare and broadcast
signals recognized by
the brain or a selected organ as a modulating treatment. When the operator
directs the computer
16 to retrieve and broadcast the neuro-electrical coded signal bacl~ into the
body, the
neuro-electrical coded signal is transmitted from the computer 16 through a
digital to analog
converter 18. Otltpllt speed to send treatment signals can be measured ilz
milliseconds to
microseconds. In a conventional fasluon, the neuro-electrical coded signal is
converted bacl~
into analog form because the body only transmits and uses coded electrical
signals in analog
format. If the coded nel~ro-electrical coded signals were transmitted into the
body in a digital
form, the body would not recognize the transmission.
The computer 16 contains software which is capable of identifying the fimction
associated with particular neuro-electrical coded signals. Many types of
software can be
developed by those spilled in the art to perform the functions of the
invention, and particular
software is, not part of the present invention. As shown in the flow chart in
Fig. 2, after
beginning at step 22, at step 24 the computer 16 receives a digital neuro-
electrical coded signal
from the analog to digital converter 14. After the neuro-electrical coded
signal is received, the
software reads the neuro-electrical coded signal and at step 26 identifies the
function of the
particular neuro-electrical coded signal. Once the software identifies the
function associated
with the particular neuro-electrical coded signal, at step 28 the neuro-
electrical coded sig~.zal is
directed to a particularized storage area. For example, if the neuro-
electrical coded signal is
used for digestive functions it may be stored in a separate area from neuro-
electrical coded
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signals used for respiratory fLUZCtions.
Later, when it is decided to use the stored digital form of the neuro-
electrical coded
sig~lal, as shown i11 the flow chart in Fig. 3, the cycle is begun at 30, and
the nemo-electrical
coded signal is retrieved fiom the storage area, as shown at step 3~, having
been previously
stored at step 28 (Fig. 2). If it is determined that the neuro-electrical
coded signals needs to be
adjusted in order to perform a particular function, the software adjusts the
neuro-electrical
coded signals as required, ire step 34. However, if it is decided that the
neuro-electrical coded
signal does not need to be adjusted, step 34 is bypassed and step 36 is
performed whereby the
neuro-electrical coded signal is broadcast to the specified body organ, after
conversion to
analog form. The brain often males modifications to the neuro-electrical coded
signals iz1 order
to fme tune the function the brain requires or needs a particular organ to
perform, and such is
also performed by the present invention.
Representative neuro-electrical coded signals that neurons carry after
generation in the
medulla oblongata are shown in Fig. 4. Such neuro-electrical coded signals
have a central
linear carrier which is analog. The signal is of a direct current nature and
has many coded
modulations that provide directions or instructions to the receptor organ or
system receiving it.
Other representative neuro-electrical coded signals for signals that can
affect the nervous
system are shown in Fig. 5. The neuro-electrical coded signals can provide
instnictions as they
leave the vaglis or other nerve. and arrive at organs of the body. Such
signals axe similar to the
modulating instnictions broadcast from the medulla oblongata.
hl one embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcasting by the
treatment
member 10 is accomplished by direct conduction or transmission through
unbrolen skin in a
selected appropriate zone on the necl, head, limb(s), spine, or thorax, or
abdomen. Such zone
will approximate a position close to the nerve or nerve plexus onto which the
signal is to be
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imposed. The treatment member 10 is brought into contact.with the skin in a
selected target
area that allows for the transport of the signal to the target nerve(s).
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcasting the
neuro-electrical coded signal is accomplished by direct conduction via
attaclnnent of axz
electrode to the receiving nerve or nerve plexus. This requires a surgical
intervention as
required to physically attach the electrode to the selected target nerve.
Direct implantation on
the nervous system of the selected endocrine and exocrine glands may be
performed in order to
transmit signals to control all or some glandular function. Such implantation
can be
presynaptic or post synaptic and rnay be attached to ganglion or nerve plexus
associated with
the desired secretion fiuzction.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcasting may be
non-invasive. The non-invasive applications may be accomplished by transposing
the
new-o-electrical coded signal into a seismic, micro-phonic, or photonic form
where it is sent
into a region of the head, neck, limb(s), spine, or thorax in a mariner that
allows the appropriate
"nerve" to receive and to obey the coded instn~ctions of such seismic, micro-
phonic or photonic
signal. The treatment member 10 is pressed against the unbroken shin surface
using an
electrode conductive gel or paste medium to aid conductivity.
In yet another embodiment, one or more treatment members 10 may be coils and
used
to create a magnetic field effect on a nerve, which may be used to transmit
selected
neuro-electrical coded signals to an organ, gland, muscle or to a specific
nerve or nerve plexus.
The treatment member 10 may be placed on or near the slan proximal to the
selected nerves)
or as an implantable technique.
In both the invasive and non-invasive procedures, the treatment member 10, in
addition
to broadcasting neuro-electrical coded signals, also operates as a sensor
providing feedback for
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manual or automatic adjustment of the neuro-electrical coded signals.
Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described
i1i
connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention. However, it must
be understood
that these particular products, and their method of manufacture, do not limit
but merely
illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation
within the terms of the
appended claims.
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