Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/316—Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
  • A61B5/369—Electroencephalography [EEG]
  • A61B5/375—Electroencephalography [EEG] using biofeedback
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/316—Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
  • A61B5/369—Electroencephalography [EEG]
  • A61B5/372—Analysis of electroencephalograms
  • A61B5/374—Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/48—Other medical applications
  • A61B5/486—Biofeedback
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/74—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means
  • A61B5/7405—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means using sound
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/74—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means
  • A61B5/742—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means using visual displays
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/74—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means
  • A61B5/742—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means using visual displays
  • A61B5/7445—Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/74—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means
  • A61B5/7455—Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient; User input means characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
  • A61B5/024—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
  • A61B5/02405—Determining heart rate variability
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow
  • A61B5/024—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
  • A61B5/02416—Measuring pulse rate or heart rate using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor
  • A61B5/251—Means for maintaining electrode contact with the body
  • A61B5/256—Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
  • A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor
  • A61B5/279—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses
  • A61B5/291—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses for electroencephalography [EEG]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
  • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
  • A61B5/6802—Sensor mounted on worn items
  • A61B5/6803—Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles

Definitions

• the present invention relates to methods for physiological group brainwave synchronization.
• the invention pertains to using electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiogram (EKG) and other biological sensors for measuring and altering the electrical activity of the brains of multiple individuals in coordination at the same time.
• EEG electroencephalography
• EKG electrocardiogram
• This technique can be used to modulate or improve overall group states including engagement, affinity, empathy, social closeness, flow, creativity, brainstorming, communication, reconciliation, and trauma release.
• Electroencephalogram EEG
• the level of phase synchronization is a scale from 0 to 1 or 0% to 100%.
• Neurostimulation is one form of biostimulation which involves the purposeful modulation of nervous system activity.
• One such method of neurostimulation known as Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses modulating near-infrared light to stimulate the nervous system.
• Photobiomodulation is a form of infrared light therapy.
• Infrared light therapy can have positive effects on the skin, metabolic processes, the nervous system and immune system. It has been shown to increase collagen production for healthier skin.
• Photobiomodulation techniques can stimulate the mitochondria in cells through the transfer of energy. Inside mitochondria, cytochrome oxidase has the ability to absorb red and near infrared light and convert it into energy - adenosine triphosphate (ADT). Transcranial photobiomodulation systems often transmit light at a wavelength between 633 and 810 nanometers with 810 nm being an ideal wavelength due to its ability to penetrate further into biological tissue.
• ADT energy - adenosine triphosphate
• transcranial photobiomodulation is a neurotechnology technique used to modulate or alter an individual’s brain activity creating a perceptible change in mental state which can be seen through changes in the electrical activity of the brain.
• Brainwave states can be defined as the collective electrical activity of a brain over a period of time; which can then be classified into a mental state such as tired, focused, stressed, creative, etc.
• the inventors are not aware of any other published methods for creating states of group brainwave synchronization through biofeedback or biostimulation. Furthermore, the inventors are not aware of publications suggesting that group brainwave synchronization can be achieved through biofeedback or biostimulation. Accordingly, the inventors provide the current invention as a novel method for influencing brain signals across a group of individuals in order to increase group brainwave synchronization. Using this method on a group of individuals results in improved group states including engagement, affinity, empathy, social closeness, flow, creativity, brainstorming, communication, reconciliation, and trauma release.
• the present invention relates to methods for physiological group brainwave synchronization, wherein each individual in the group has their biological signals measured in real-time using biometric sensors including 1 or more Electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors. Said biological signals are processed to determine the level of phase synchronization with the group and individuals in the group are rewarded or stimulated using biofeedback techniques including audio and visual stimulus. The biofeedback loop continues shifting the phase of individuals' brainwaves toward a common phase synchronization. Heart synchronization is also achievable using the methods and apparatus of the present invention and embodiments are provided accordingly.
• the present invention utilizes EEG recorded from locations including at Fz, Cz, and Pz according to the international 10-20 placement system. In other embodiments additional or alternative EEG electrode placements may be utilized.
• the present invention can be used for group brain synchronization of brainwave bands including delta, theta, alpha, alpha-theta, low beta, mid meta, high beta, and gamma waves.
• This method may be applied to induce group flow states that would be performance enhancing for teams; this includes both physical and mental performance.
• Another application of this method is to enhance emotional opening and reflective group states.
• this method can be used to improve creative brainstorming for teams.
• the inventive method relies on reading biosignals which change due to changes in the body’s electric field and are amplified and converted into a digital signal and sent to a computer, phone, wearable, server and/or other device through wired or wireless connection such as Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, or internet where is may be processed, stored, displayed, and/or interpreted.
• timing of biological signals is an important factor in the present invention. Therefore the present method benefits if the timing of said biological signals is synchronized to the master device accounting for delays in electronics and transmission including wireless signal transmission. Further, the total time from reading a biological signal to the time a reward stimulus is received should be less than 500ms. In a local embodiment, all participants in the group are in the same general physical area. With relatively low transmission delays the system may directly provide the feedback level to each individual’s feedback device.
• FIG. 1 shows a wearable headset and connected mobile device and computer system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 illustrates 3 signals with varying amplitude and similar frequencies where signal A and B share the same phase and signal C is out of phase with signal A and B.
• the terms such as “person”, and “user”, and “wearer”, and “patient ” , and “human”, and “individual” and “subject” are used interchangeably to refer to a person using the invention.
• “Treatment” or “stimulation” or “therapy” or “training” or “session” as used herein covers the use of the invention by one or more persons to obtain benefits or intended results in the person/user/wearer/patient/human/individual, aimed at synchronization of biological signals.
• the present invention provides EEG and PPG sensors in a head mounted device 1 and 8 with headphones 2 and 6 illustrated in FIG. 1.
• the headphones of the present invention combine EEG (electroencephalography) sensors 3, 4 and 5 for EEG measurement and phoplethysmography (PPG) sensor 12 for heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement in a wearable head mounted device with headphones.
• a PPG sensor 12 is incorporated inside an over-ear headphone design which reduces ambient noise allowing for increased accuracy.
• the present invention provides a wearable head mounted headphone set 1 and 8 with embedded biometric sensors that collect physiological signals from the user.
• the device includes Bluetooth (wireless) audio and data transmission 13 which may be used to connect the device 1 and 2 to control unit which may be a smartphone or mobile device 9, with graphic touchscreen display 10, and said control unit 9 has wireless wi-fi connection with remotely located master control unit which may be a computer 11.
• the device 1 and 8 may also include a rechargeable battery, speakers, microphone.
• the device 1 and 8 may further include a detachable wire 7 allowing multiple devices to be connected together.
• the present invention includes one or more Photobiomodulation (PBM) LEDs 14 embedded in the head mounted device 1 and 8.
• PBM Photobiomodulation
• control unit and wearable device may be combined into a single wearable device.
• said graphic touchscreen display on the control unit may be a virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), or mixed reality (MR) display.
• VR virtual reality
• AR augmented reality
• MR mixed reality
• the present invention may be applied to groups of 2 or more people wherein each person in the group wears said head mounted device with biometric sensors.
• each member of the group also utilizes a mobile device which controls their wearable devices and collects the biometric signal data through a wireless connection.
• the control units may be wired to the wearable device.
• the host When beginning a group synchronization session one member of the group will be designated as the host.
• the host will use their control unit to initiate the group session and will invite other participants to join the group. All participants will connect their control units to their wearable devices by establishing a wireless connection.
• the present invention requires sensor timing synchronization that is accurate enough to support phase synchronization calculations across participants, devices, and sensors. This accuracy requirement is subject to the frequencies that are selected for synchronization. For example, a 10 Hz signal has a period of 100 milliseconds. Taking two 10 Hz sine waves that are perfectly in phase and shifting one by 50 milliseconds results in the two waves being completely out of phase. A timing accuracy of plus or minus 5 milliseconds could result in the signals being out of phase by 10 milliseconds, and result in up to 15% loss of accuracy when calculating phase synchronization. Therefore the present invention includes techniques for synchronizing the timing across participants, devices, and sensors that is accurate to within 1 millisecond.
• the host control unit will send a command to the host device wherein upon receiving the command, the host device marks the time as time zero. Furthermore the host device when transmiting biological signal data to the host control unit includes timestamp relative to time zero.
• the present invention may indicate to the host that the device has established time zero by displaying a message on the control unit and with an indicator light on the device itself.
• a device that has time zero may be plugged into a device without time zero. Any device with time zero will periodically transmit data indicating the duration of time since time zero. A device without time zero will listen for the data transmission in order to mark time zero.
• data synchronization could be established using wireless communication including but not limited to infrared communication, near-field communication, WiFi, or bluetooth. Wherein each communication method could utilize one or more techniques in order to establish common timing across sensors and wearable devices.
• each control unit After each device has established the same time zero, the devices begin transmitting biological signal data to their respective control units including a timestamp relative to time zero.
• said biological signal data includes EEG signal data from one or more locations on each person’ s brain.
• this signal data is processed by each control unit.
• Signal processing may include various techniques known to those skilled in the art, including noise filters (i.e. lowpass, highpass, etc.) and analysis techniques (i.e. Fourier transform, Wavelet analysis, etc.).
• Each control unit further filters the signals into narrowband signals for each combination target of sensor locations and synchronization frequencies. For example, if the group is attempting to synchronize 10 Hz at PZ, a 1 Hz wide signal centered at 10 Hz may be used for the narrowband signal.
• Each control unit then calculates the phase angles of each narrowband signal. Next each control unit transmits processed data including the signal phase angles and the duration of time since time zero.
• each control unit may relay the raw or partially processed signal data to a master control unit.
• the master control unit may be located near the group or it may be a remotely located server. In this embodiment the master control unit may execute some or all of the signal processing. In another embodiment, one of the participant’s control unit, may serve as the master control unit for the group.
• the present invention Upon receiving the signal data including phase angles from each control unit the master control unit m the present invention shall determine a target phase timing for the group. Various calculations may be used to determine the target phase, with some methods being suited to smaller group sizes and other methods working for larger groups.
• the master control unit determines the target phase for 1 or more target brainwave frequency for the group, and said target phase is adapted over time to optimize the overall level of synchronization wherein:
• the initial target phase is derived from the median phase of the entire group.
• the master control unit selects a predetermined percent of the individuals in the group that are closest to the target phase and re-calculates the target phase using this subgroup, a minimum group size may be used.
• the master control unit periodically calculates a new target phase for the group attempting to maximize phase synchronization of the group. a. The master control unit calculates the phase width from step 2; where phase width is the maximum level of phase synchronization for an individual in the subgroup compared to the target phase. The master control unit may utilize a minimum and maximum phase width. b. Next the master control unit adapts the target phase overtime, by shifting the target phase in order to maximize the number of individuals within the phase width. c. Periodically, the master control unit may return to step 2.
• the target phase relative to time zero is returned to each control unit.
• changes to the target phase may be limited to a maximum rate of change.
• the timing of re-calculating the target phase may be predetermined, configured by the group, or adjusted over time by the master control unit.
• the master control unit uses a mean or median calculation to determine the target phase of the group.
• the master control unit may use additional signal metrics when determining which individuals are included in the target phase calculation.
• individuals in the group are only included in the target phase calculation if they reach a minimum average amplitude level for the target frequency.
• each individual control unit utilizes a predetermined target phase relative to time zero.
• the master control unit is not required and control units are not required to communicate with one another.
• one or more individuals in the group may be classified by the system as high priority. These participants may be selected for any reason. Some possible examples of a high priority participant include a leader, teacher, mentor, or an expert. In one version of this embodiment the high priority individual(s) are used to set the target phase. In another version of this embodiment the high priority individual(s) are given higher weighting when calculating the target phase.
• all individuals in the group receive a weighting based on one or more biometric indicators including: heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR), heart coherence, EEG band power, EEG band amplitude, EEG band phase synchronization. Wherein the target phase calculation is weighted according to each individual’s weighting.
• HRV heart rate variability
• HR heart rate
• HR heart rate
• HR heart coherence
• EEG band power EEG band amplitude
• EEG band phase synchronization e.g., EEG band phase synchronization
• control units and wearable devices of the present invention utilize the target phase for the group and biofeedback techniques in order to influence individuals in the group to shift the phase of their biometric signals toward the target phase.
• a control unit may calculate the percentage of phase synchronization an individual has with the target phase and provide audio, visual or other stimuli as rewards.
• the control unit may also provide biofeedback to individuals based on 1 or more of the follow calculations:
• An individual s overall frequency power or amplitude based on the targeted frequency or frequencies.
• the entire group s level of phase synchronization for 1 or more target brainwave frequencies.
• the level of phase synchronization for a subset of the group made up of individuals within a given percentage of the target phase 1 or more target brainwave frequency.
• An individual s level of phase synchronization for 1 or more target brainwave frequency compared to the target phase of the group.
• HRV heart rate variability
• HRV heart coherence
• individual brain synchronization individual brain synchronization
• breathing rate breathing rate
• participant may be in physically disparate locations, and rely on a central server as the master control unit device.
• additional data timing synchronization methods must be utilized.
• known methods such as Network Time Synchronization (NTP) can provide or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) can be used to address latency between the master control unit and the distributed control units of the group.
• NTP Network Time Synchronization
• PTP Precision Time Protocol
• the master control unit can then establish a real-world time as time zero.
• Control units still need to be synchronized to the wearable devices and sensors.
• control units may be directly connected via a wire to the wearable device.
• the control unit may temporarily plug into the wearable device to transmit the duration of time since time zero.
• the control unit and device may implement a wireless time synchronization protocol.
• the method includes techniques for biostimulation or neurostimulation.
• Said stimulation techniques may include electrical stimulation, ultrasound, pulse electric magnetic field (PEMF) or light stimulation (Photobiomodulation).
• PMF pulse electric magnetic field
• Photobiomodulation Photobiomodulation
• the wearable device includes one or more Photobiomodulation (PBM) LEDs.
• PBM Photobiomodulation
• the device may utilize photobiomodulation to provide additional energy to each individual’s brains.
• Photobiomodulation techniques may be applied prior to a group synchronization session, during the session, or after the session.
• heart biometric signals may be used to induce group synchrony through biofeedback, HRV training and breathing techniques.
• the control unit processes said biological signal data including determining the phase of the heart rate for individuals within the group.
• This embodiment may be implemented using the remote timing synchronization techniques of the present invention.
• Prior art attempts have been made to synchronize group heart rate signals. These prior art attempts rely on a single device connecting all sensors, and all participants remaining in the same physical location - i.e., not situated in remote locations from each other.
• the present invention allows for multiple devices, and for participants to be remotely located, or to move to remote locations during or prior to starting a group synchronization feedback session.
• the present method may utilize a single device which incorporates all sensors, signal processing, and feedback techniques.
• each individual in the group has a device which includes sensors and feedback mechanisms, wherein each device transmits sensor data to a master device where the group signals are processed and results returned to the individual devices.
• the master device is a remote server, and the individuals wearing their own devices may be in different physical locations from the master server.

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• 2022
  • 2022-05-06 CA CA3219093A patent/CA3219093A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-05-06 US US18/559,319 patent/US20240225517A1/en active Pending
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  • 2022-05-06 CN CN202280048058.6A patent/CN117956947A/zh active Pending
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