SYSTEM FOR LOCALLY ACTIVATING THE HUMAN EYE AND THE BRAIN IN ORDER TO TRAIN VISUAL PERFORMANCE, IN PARTICULAR IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE VISUAL CORTEX AND REORGANIZED NEURAL NETWORKS IN THE HUMAN BRAIN IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN RESIDUAL VISION

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for locally activating the nervous system in the human eye and in the brain by means of a non-invasive pulse treatment in order to strengthen residual vision in cases of existing visual field defects, consisting of an applicator for guiding a flow of current to the eye and/or brain and to excite the circulation and activate nerve cells, in particular nerve cells of the visual system and retinal ganglion cells, a pulse generator for generating electric stimulation signals, and a data processing and control unit for providing patient-specific stimulation signal sequences, wherein the applicator has at least two electrodes which can be brought into contact with the head of the subject. Replaceable stimulation electrodes are fixed to the applicator such that the electrodes rest to the right and to the left of the eye in the region of the temple of the patient's head. The applicator additionally has at least one assembly for non-invasively determining the circulation of the skin and the brain and for determining the oxygen saturation in order to improve the stimulation effect in this regard when using the system.

Claims

1. A system for locally activating the human eye and the brain in order to train visual performance, in particular for activating nerve cells in the human eye and brain by means of a non-invasive pulse treatment, in particular alternating current pulse treatment (tASC), in order to strengthen residual vision in cases of visual field defects, consisting of an applicator for guiding a flow of current to the eye and/or brain and to excite the circulation and activate nerve cells, in particular retinal ganglion cells, a pulse generator for generating electric stimulation signals, and a data processing and control unit for providing patient-specific stimulation signal sequences, wherein the applicator has at least two electrodes which can be brought into contact with the head of the subject, characterized in that in particular replaceable stimulation electrodes are fixed to the applicator such that they are in contact to or rest against the right and the left of the eye in the region of the temple of the patient's head.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator is individually adaptable to the head shape of the patient and for this purpose, adjusting means are formed with respect to being fixed to the patient's forehead and rear head regions.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator is formed as a ring-shaped or crown-shaped structure that can be mounted on the head, wherein a nasal bridge support and/or an ear support and/or a rear head support and a receptacle for electronic components and for weight compensation in the rear head region are provided.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimulation electrodes are formed as dry pad electrodes or wet pad electrodes.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that on the applicator, fixing points for attaching, in particular for clipping on further electrodes are provided enabling alternating current application also in the region below the patient's eyes.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that on or in the applicator, an interface for wired or wireless data transmission is formed.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that sound generating means, in particular formed as earphones or headphones are provided on the applicator, so as to guide the patient by information during the alternating current treatment and/or to relax him acoustically.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that for self-sufficient operation, the applicator comprises both the alternating current pulse generator, and the data processing and control unit together with the current supply, wherein the treatment process and/or the stimulation signal sequence is/are realizable by a computer program product.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that on or in the applicator, a moisture reservoir is provided for wetting the electrodes.

10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator and/or holders for receiving the electrodes consist of a deformable plastic material.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the holders and/or the stimulation electrodes consist of a conductive plastic material.

12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that a bag for receiving replacement electrodes is present on the applicator.

13. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator is formed to be combinable for combination with an EEG electrode cap known as such.

14. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the electronic components have a current supply, in particular a battery or an accumulator.

15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that a unit is formed for determining the contact resistance between the stimulation electrodes and the patient's skin surface in order to shut off the pulse generator in case of abnormal resistances that are in particular too high.

16. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator has at least one assembly for non-invasively determining the circulation of the skin and the brain and for determining the oxygen saturation, in particular on the basis of fNIR spectroscopy, wherein the NIR emitter and the at least one associated NIR detector may be positioned at a position spaced from the stimulation electrodes on the patient's head and separately from the stimulation electrodes, and the NIR spectroscopy data is detected in breaks or at the end of stimulation signal sequences so as to determine the temporal duration of a persisting improved blood circulation and/or oxygen saturation so that consequently an updated operating of the data processing and control unit may be realized.

17. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the stimulation electrodes corresponds to an F7-F8 arrangement according to the nomenclature of the EEG 10-20 system.

18. A system for locally activating the human eye and the brain for improving visual performance, in particular for activating nerve cells in the human eye and brain by means of a non-invasive alternating current pulse treatment, consisting of an applicator for guiding a flow of current to the eye and brain and to excite the circulation and activate nerve cells, a pulse generator for generating electric stimulation signals, and a data processing and control unit for providing test person-specific stimulation signal sequences, wherein the applicator has at least two electrodes which can be brought into contact with the head of the subject and the stimulation electrodes are fixed such that they are in contact to or rest against the right and the left of the eye in the region of the temple of the patient's head, wherein the application prior to, during and/or after the employment of persons performing activities under complicated gravitational or environmental conditions, is carried out to such persons such as in particular pilots, astronauts, deep-sea divers and the like.

19. The applicator according to claim 2, characterized in that the application prior to, during and/or after the employment of persons performing activities under complicated gravitational or environmental conditions, is carried out to such persons such as in particular pilots, astronauts, deep-sea divers and the like.

20. The applicator according to claim 19, characterized in that it is an integral part of a special equipment to be worn at the head or protecting the head, in particular of a helmet of a pilot, astronaut or deep-sea diver.

Description

[0064] Shown are in:

[0065] FIG. 1 an exemplary applicator in a front view mounted on the head of a person; and

[0066] FIG. 2 the applicator in a back view with a view to the person's rear head.

[0067] The applicator 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a base body 2 of an at least partially elastic material and is individually adaptable to the head shape of the suggested person 3.

[0068] The base body 2 is realized as a ring-shaped or crown-shaped structure that can be mounted on the person's 3 head, wherein a nasal bridge support 4 is present comprising an adjustment option for adapting to anatomical conditions.

[0069] Furthermore, the base body 2 is in connection with ear supports 5 for the person's 3 left and right ear 6.

[0070] In the rear head region, the base body 2 is provided with a receptacle for electronic components.

[0071] This may be a memory unit 7, on the one hand, which comprises stimulation programs. Further preferred, a pulse generator may be accommodated or mounted in this rear head region for generating electric stimulation signals, together with a control unit for providing patient-specific stimulation signal sequences.

[0072] Via an interface 8 formed as an USB port, for example, data transmission but also charging of secondary cells 9 may be performed for the purpose of supplying the necessary electric or electronic components with current.

[0073] Such a secondary cell 9 may be, for example, a replaceable lithium battery which is accommodated in a respective recess in the base body 2.

[0074] Stimulation electrodes 10 are attached on the base body 2 to be replaceable and are arranged such as to lie or rest to the right and the left of the eye in the region of the temple of the suggested head of the patient.

[0075] In the front region of the base body 2, an adjustment device 12 is present which may be provided with a labeling field 11 so as to create a space for a company logo, handling instructions or else for attaching a user name or a user identification.

[0076] Sensors 13 may be mounted to or embedded into the base body 2 for non-invasively determining the circulation of the skin and the brain and for determining the oxygen saturation. These sensors are spaced apart from the stimulation electrodes 10.