FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods of modulating brain activity with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) wherein the rTMS is administered with variable pulse intervals for a time sufficient to modulate said brain activity wherein an improvement in a physiological condition or a clinical condition is achieved. The variable pulse interval settings are derived from a patient's EEG signal that has been extracted from analysis with a wavelet transform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and rTMS have been used to treat many psychological and medical disorders such as major depressive disorder, Parkinson's disease, PTSD, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, pain management and others. Recently, Jin and Phillips, in US Patent Publication 2009/0082690, have disclosed a treatment protocol using rTMS where the output of the magnetic field is adjusted based on a patient's EEG intrinsic frequencies in an attempt to alter the patient's intrinsic EEG frequencies. U.S. Pat. No. 9,308,385 uses a different approach to administer rTMS by using a frequency based on a biological metric or an harmonic of a biological metric.

rTMS is delivered by an apparatus that is comprised of magnetic coils that provide pulsed magnetic fields. The frequencies and intensity can be varied if desired. Prior to the present invention rTMS treatments have consisted of the delivery of a single frequency at a set intensity. The present invention provides a novel rTMS delivery system that delivers rTMS with variable pulse intervals with multiple frequencies and variable output intensities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the brain activity of a mammal is modulated by subjecting the mammal to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with variable pulse intervals determined by individual EEG characteristics for a time sufficient to modulate said brain activity wherein an improvement in a physiological condition or a clinical condition is achieved. In one embodiment, the variable pulse intervals are determined by subjecting the mammal to an EEG to create an EEG data set and analyzing the EEG data set with a wavelet transform algorithm. The wavelet transform algorithm identifies a unique EEG signal pattern for the mammal/patient. The EEG signal pattern is then used to generate a sequence of TTL (transistor-transistor logic) or other triggering pulses to program the rTMS apparatus to provide variable pulse intervals and variable intensities. Brain activity to be modulated can be any one or more desired frequency bandwidth(s) and includes the brain frequency bandwidth of 3-7 Hz, the brain frequency bandwidth of 8-13 Hz, the brain frequency bandwidth of 15-20 Hz, and the brain frequency bandwidth of 35-45 Hz and any sub-bandwidth group within those ranges. If a frequency bandwidth between 8-13 Hz is targeted to treat a patient, the actual bandwidth used to treat that patient can be narrowed within that bandwidth range depending on the variation of patient's EEG oscillation intervals, such as, for example, 105 ms-110 ms, ie a frequency bandwidth between 9.1-9.5 Hz. Success in the modulation is achieved when the targeted frequency bandwidth has an increase in amplitude or relative power density in addition to improvement in symptoms associated with the clinical and physiological conditions being treated.

Physiological conditions and medical conditions that can be improved by modulating the brain activity according to the present invention are any conditions where abnormal brain activity contributes to a specific condition. Improvements are seen when the amplitude of the desired or targeted brain wave bands acquire an increase in amplitude or relative power density. Conditions that are treated include but are not limited to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), memory impairment, depression, pain, addiction, Obsessive Compulsive disorders (OCD), anxiety, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, libido dysfunction, motor function abnormalities, small height in young children, stress, obesity, sleep disorders, eating disorders, concentration/focus abnormalities, speech abnormalities, intelligence deficits, cognition abnormalities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD), schizophrenia, coma, bipolar disorders, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, chronic Lyme disease, Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, gout, diabetes, arthritis, trauma rehab, athletic performance, cognitive improvement, and stroke.

Of particular interest in practicing the present invention, a patient is subjected to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with variable pulse intervals for a time sufficient to modulate a brain activity in the patient where an improvement in a physiological condition or a clinical condition is achieved. The patient is subjected to an EEG to create an EEG data set. The EEG data set is analyzed with a wavelet transform. The extracted signal by wavelet transform analysis is then used to program the variable pulse intervals (frequencies and amplitudes) into the rTMS apparatus. The wavelet transform algorithm extracts a unique EEG signal and variable pulse interval profile that results in the desired improvements in the physiological or medical condition that is being treated.

