# US 2010/0168503 A1 · Vibrational delta and theta brain wave induction apparatus and method for the stimulation of sleep > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168503 A1 - Document ID: US20100168503A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/723,363 - Filed: 2010-03-12 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-08 - Inventors: Gerard V. Sunnen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168503A1 ## 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 - 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 2021/0011: {in a subliminal way, i.e. below the threshold of sensation} - 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 2021/0066: {with heating or cooling} - A61M 2021/0072: {with application of electrical currents} - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - 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)} ## Abstract An apparatus and method for generating sleep-inducing stimuli, including a programmable controller operable for generating a sleep-inducing rhythm; and a transducer unit containing at least one transducer connected to the controller for receiving the sleep-inducing rhythm and generating and applying the sleep-inducing stimuli to a user in accordance with the rhythm. The stimuli may be in the form of vibration, warmth, light, sound, and/or electrical current. The stimuli are adapted to induce alpha, theta, and/or delta brain waves to induce sleep. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for generating sleep-inducing stimuli, comprising in combination: a programmable controller operable for generating a sleep-inducing rhythm; and a transducer unit containing at least one transducer connected to said controller for receiving said sleep-inducing rhythm and generating and applying said sleep-inducing stimuli to a user in accordance with said rhythm; wherein said transducer comprises an electrical current generator disposed for transmitting said sleep-inducing rhythm to said user; wherein said electrical current generator in said transducer unit extends to a surface thereof for applying an electrical current to the body of said user in accordance with said rhythm; wherein said transducer unit has a conductive carbon silicone surface for contacting said user. ### Claim 2 An apparatus for generating stimuli for prompting the production of slow brain waves and thereby inducing sleep, comprising in combination: a programmable controller operable for prompting the production of slow brain waves by setting and generating a sleep-inducing rhythm; and a transducer unit containing at least one motor unit connected to said controller for receiving said rhythm and generating and applying at least one of horizontal, vertical, circular and smooth repetitive 3-dimensional vibrations as said stimuli to prompt the production of slow brain waves of a user in accordance with said rhythm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said transducer unit is generally flat so as to be usable under the body of a user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said transducer unit further comprises one or more of: a localized light display, a multicolored light display, a spatially distributed light display, a sound generator, and an electrical current generator; disposed in said transducer unit for transmitting said rhythm to said user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said transducer unit comprises an electrical current generator disposed for transmitting said rhythm to said user; wherein said electrical current generator in said transducer unit extends to a surface thereof for applying an electrical current to the body of said user in accordance with said rhythm; wherein said current is approximately 1 to 100 mA. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said current is generated in the form of pulse bursts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said controller is programmable for generating a constant rhythm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said rhythm has a frequency range of approximately 0.5 to 8 Hz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said rhythm has a frequency range of approximately 8 to 250 Hz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said controller is programmable for generating a varying rhythm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said motor unit generates at least two of said horizontal, vertical, circular, and smooth repetitive 3-dimensional vibrational stimuli. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said motor unit generates pressure in a range of 1 g/cm2 to 1 kg/cm2. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said motor unit generates horizontal movement of 1 mm to 15 mm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said motor unit generates vertical movement of 0.5 to 20 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said transducer unit further comprises a heater for applying a temperature of approximately 34° C. to 47° C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transducer unit further has irregular surface features having a depth of up to about 5 mm and a separation of about 1 mm to 1 cm. ### Claim 17 A method of prompting the production of slow brain waves and thereby inducing sleep in a user, comprising the steps of: juxtaposing a transducer unit with said user; using a programmable controller to program a sleep-inducing rhythm; supplying said rhythm from said controller to a motor unit in said transducer unit and thereby generating and applying at least one of horizontal, vertical, circular, and smooth repetitive 3-dimensional vibration as stimuli to prompt the production of slow brain waves of said user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said stimuli comprise electrical current; wherein said electrical current is approximately 1 to 100 mA. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, comprising the step of generating said current in the form of pulses. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising the step of generating a constant rhythm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said rhythm has a frequency range of approximately 0.5 to 8 Hz. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein said rhythm has a frequency range of approximately 8 to 250 Hz. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising the step of generating a varying rhythm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said stimuli further comprise one or more of: localized light, multicolored light, spatially distributed light, sound, and electrical current. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said motor unit generates at least two of horizontal, vertical, circular, and smooth repetitive 3-dimensional vibrational stimuli. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said motor unit generates pressure in a range of 1 g/cm2 to 1 kg/cm2. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said motor unit generates horizontal movement of 1 mm to 15 mm. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein said motor unit generates vertical movement of 0.5 to 20 mm. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said transducer unit further comprises a heater for applying a temperature of approximately 34° C. to 47° C. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the transducer unit further has irregular surface features having a depth of up to about 5 mm and a separation of about 1 mm to 1 cm.