# US 10,596,378 B2 · Method for treatment of depression using synaptic pathway training > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,596,378 B2 - Document ID: US10596378B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/787,526 - Filed: 2017-10-18 - Published: 2018-04-19 - Granted: 2020-03-24 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-18 - Applicants: Joseph Rustick - Inventors: Joseph Rustick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10596378B2 ## CPC - A61M 21/00: Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis - A61N 1/36082: {Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease} - A61N 1/0456: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]} - A61N 1/36025: {for treating a mental or cerebral condition} - A61N 1/36034: {specified by the stimulation parameters} - A61N 1/36178: {Burst or pulse train parameters} - A61N 1/36185: {Selection of the electrode configuration} - A61K 31/135: having aromatic rings {, e.g. ketamine, nortriptyline (methadone A61K31/137)} - A61K 31/451: having a carbocyclic group directly attached to the heterocyclic ring, e.g. glutethimide, meperidine, loperamide, phencyclidine, piminodine - A61K 31/48: Ergoline derivatives, e.g. lysergic acid, ergotamine - A61M 21/02: for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021) - A61M 2021/0022: {by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations} - A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense} - A61M 2021/0044: {by the sight sense} - A61M 2021/0055: {with electric or electro-magnetic fields} - A61M 2021/0072: {with application of electrical currents} - A61M 2021/0077: {with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus} - A61M 2210/0693: Brain, cerebrum - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract Disclosed are methods of treating depression, mania, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various other neurologic conditions using synaptic pathway training. Methods of synaptic pathway training include, generally, achieving a favorable treatment result by activating a synaptic pathway using a pharmacologic agent, such as treating refractory symptoms of depression with ketamine, following by potentiation of the favorable result by repeatedly stimulating the activated pathway. Stimulation of a synaptic pathway may be achieved by intrinsic means, such as performance of cognitive exercised, or extrinsic means, such as by delivery of a sensory stimulus to the patient, placing a potential voltage difference across the brain or a brain region, or by placing the brain or a brain region in a magnetic field. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating a neurologic condition by synaptic pathway training comprising the steps of: activating a synaptic pathway with a pharmacologic agent in an amount in the range of from about 0.5 to about 1 mg/kg; and stimulating the activated synaptic pathway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent comprises an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent is a muscarinic receptor antagonist which comprises scopolamine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent is a member selected from the group of pharmacologic agents consisting of ketamine, Namenda, dextromethorphan, amantadine, dextropropoxyphene, and ketobemidone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent is a serotonin receptor antagonist which comprises psilocybin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent is phencyclidine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacologic agent is lysergic acid diethylamide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the neurologic condition is depression. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the neurologic condition is bipolar disorder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the neurologic condition is post-traumatic stress disorder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein stimulating the synaptic pathway comprises performance of a cognitive training exercise. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulating step comprises exposure of a person to a sensory stimulus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulating step comprises applying a magnetic field to a region of a brain. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulating step comprises applying a potential voltage difference to a region of a brain. ### Claim 15 A method of enhancing treatment of a neurologic condition comprising the steps of: treating the condition with a pharmacologic agent to alter a synaptic pathway; and repeatedly stimulating the altered synaptic pathway with a neural stimulating means, wherein the pharmacological agent is not delivered during the stimulating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the stimulating of the altered synaptic pathway comprises performance of a cognitive training exercise. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the stimulating of the altered synaptic pathway comprises providing an external source of stimulation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the external source is a magnetic field, a potential voltage difference, or an auditory stimulus. ### Claim 19 A method of treating a neurologic condition by synaptic pathway training comprising the steps of: activating a synaptic pathway by administering at least one dose of ketamine, in an amount in the range of from about 0.5 mg/kg to about 1.0 mg/kg; and stimulating the activated synaptic pathway by performing a cognitive training exercise for at least thirty (30) minutes daily. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the neurologic condition is depression, mania, or post-traumatic stress disorder.