Neurostimulation method to induce relaxation or sleep
The present invention relates to a method for inducing relaxation or sleep comprising the steps of: placing electrodes in contact with the forehead skin in the supraorbital region; generating an electrical signal with a signal generator and applying said signal to the electrodes so as to produce external, i.e. non invasive, neurostimulation of the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve.
1. Method for inducing relaxation or sleep comprising the steps of:
placing electrodes in contact with the forehead skin in the supraorbital region;
generating an electrical signal with a signal generator and applying said signal to the electrodes so as to produce external non invasive, neurostimulation of the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve.
2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the signal generator generates rectangular biphasic impulses having a impulse width between 10 and 500 μs, an impulse frequency between 1 and 150 Hz and an intensity between 1 and 25 mA, said intensity being progressively increased with a slope lower than 40 μA/sec.
3. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the impulse width is about 250 μs.
4. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the impulse frequency is about 120 Hz.
5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said method is carried out by use of two contact electrodes supported by an elongated symmetrical element, each electrode being in contact with a self-adhesive conductive gel substantially covering the face of the support intended to be applied to the skin.
6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein the electrode support has a shape and size selected so as to allow the excitation of the afferent paths of the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves of the upper branch of the trigeminal nerve.