Noninvasive, regional brain thermal stimulation for inducing relaxation
AssigneesUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Ebb Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorsEric A. NOFZINGER, Jeffrey J. SCHIRM
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Abstract
Methods, systems and devices for reducing anxiety, including increasing relaxation and/or calm. In some variations these methods may include reducing anxiety, increase relaxation and/or calm by non-invasive temperature regulation of the frontal cortex prior to and/or during sleep. The subject may have an anxiety disorder, or may not have a diagnosed anxiety disorder.
Claims19
A method of reducing anxiety in an awake subject, the method comprising:
- positioning an applicator comprising a thermal transfer region in communication with the subject's skin on the subject's forehead;
- and applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to the subject forehead.
A method of inducing relaxation in an awake subject, the method comprising:
- attaching an applicator comprising one or more thermoelectric coolers (TECs) to a subject's forehead;
- applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling from the applicator to a region of the subject's head at between 10° C. and 25° C. to selectively reduce metabolism in one or more of the awake subject's:
- frontal cortex, prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex.
A method of reducing anxiety, inducing relaxation, or reducing stress in an awake and ambulatory subject, the method comprising:
- attaching an applicator comprising to a subject's forehead;
- applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling from the applicator to a region of the subject's head at between 10° C. and 25° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.