IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,290,640
Granted Patent B2
US 12,290,640 · App. 16/660,691 · Granted May 6, 2025

Noninvasive, regional brain thermal stimulation for inducing relaxation

Inventors: Eric A. Nofzinger (Allison Park, PA); Jeffrey J. Schirm (Monroeville, PA)
Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
A61M21/02A61F7/0085A61F7/10A61H9/0007A61H9/0078A61M19/00A61M21/00A61B2017/00132A61F2007/0002A61F2007/0007A61F2007/0054A61F2007/0056A61F7/007A61F2007/0075A61F2007/0093A61F2007/0095A61F2007/0096A61F2007/0226A61H2201/0103A61H2201/0161A61H2201/0188A61H2201/0192A61H2201/0207A61H2201/0214A61H2201/0242A61H2201/025A61H2201/0257A61H2201/10A61H2201/102A61H2201/1604A61H2201/165A61H2201/1654A61H2201/5035A61H2201/5048A61H2201/5058A61H2201/5082A61H2201/5084A61H2201/5092A61H2205/024A61H2205/025A61H2230/04A61H2230/06A61H2230/10A61H2230/207A61H2230/60A61M2021/0066A61M2021/0083A61M2205/3606A61M2205/3626A61M2205/3673A61M2209/088A61M2210/06A61M2210/0693A61N1/0456A61N5/0618
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,290,640
App. No.
16/660,691
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (19)

1. 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's forehead.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the noninvasive, regional brain cooling to the subject's forehead comprises selectively reducing metabolism in one or more of the awake subject's: frontal cortex, prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method of reducing anxiety comprises inducing relaxation in the subject.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is ambulatory while applying the noninvasive, regional brain cooling.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the non-invasive, regional brain cooling comprises passing cooled fluid through the applicator so that the thermal transfer region in communication with the subject's skin is cooled to a first temperature between 10° C. and 25° C.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising maintaining the first temperature for a first time period extending at least 15 minutes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the noninvasive, regional brain cooling to the subject's head comprises applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head for one hour or longer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the noninvasive, regional brain cooling to the subject's head comprises pumping a thermal transfer fluid rhythmically, thereby delivering massaging pressure to a region of the subject's head.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head comprises applying cooling from one or more thermoelectric devices configured to cool the region of the subject's head.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head applying from an applicator worn and the subject's head that is configured to extend over an orbital area over the subject's eyes.

11. 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.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the subject is ambulatory while applying the noninvasive, regional brain cooling.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning a thermal transfer region of the applicator in communication with the subject's skin without covering the subject's eyes.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning a thermal transfer region of the applicator in communication with the subject's skin while covering the subject's eyes.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying non-invasive, regional brain cooling comprises passing cooled fluid through an applicator so that a thermal transfer region in communication with the subject's skin is cooled to between 10° C. and 25° C.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising maintaining the temperature between 10° C. and 25° C. for a first time period extending at least 15 minutes.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head comprises applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head for one hour or longer.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying noninvasive, regional brain cooling to a region of the subject's head comprises pumping a thermal transfer fluid rhythmically, thereby delivering massaging pressure to the region of the subject's head.

19. A method of reducing anxiety, inducing relaxation, or reducing stress in an awake and ambulatory subject, the method comprising: attaching an applicator 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.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2022
From: EBB THERAPEUTICS, LLC
To: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Reel/Frame 061716/0893 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2021
From: NOFZINGER, ERIC A.
To: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Reel/Frame 057269/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: NOFZINGER, ERIC ALLAN; SCHIRM, JEFFREY J.
To: EBB THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056073/0449 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: EBB THERAPEUTICS, INC.; SECOND EBB MERGER SUB, LLC
To: EBB THERAPEUTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 056073/0492 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation In Part 16386145 · Apr 16, 2019
Continuation In Part 15921528 · Mar 14, 2018
Continuation In Part 15597057 · May 16, 2017
Continuation In Part 14749590 · Jun 24, 2015
Continuation In Part 14435515
Continuation 13868015 · Apr 22, 2013
Continuation 13019477 · Feb 2, 2011
Continuation In Part 12288417 · Oct 20, 2008
Continuation In Part 11788694 · Apr 20, 2007
Provisional Application 61859161 · Jul 26, 2013
Provisional Application 61727054 · Nov 15, 2012
Provisional Application 61300768 · Feb 2, 2010
Provisional Application 60793680 · Apr 20, 2006
Related Publication 20200046936A1 · Feb 13, 2020
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