Next: Wearable neurotechnologies to improve sleep and circadian rhythm regulation
Under Contract with US Army Research Office, Brain State Technologies Makes Wearable Devices for Sleep Enhancement (Sleep Review):
“Brain State Technologies LLC has produced prototypes of a wearable neurotechnology device designed to support improved sleep and circadian rhythm regulation. The prototypes were produced under a competitively awarded contract from the United States Army Research Office that also included researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and sleep medicine consultants from the Harvard Medical School and the University of Virginia School of Medicine…
The company has filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent Office for innovations to configure its existing technology into a wearable form-factor with advanced brain monitoring and software analysis functionality…
The contract to produce wearable technology for sleep and circadian rhythm regulation was awarded to Brain State under the US Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Program. The SBIR/STTR Program was created by Congress in 1977 to leverage the role of small businesses in creating innovative technologies. According to the SBIR/STTR Program website, to date the awards have resulted in 70,000 issued patents, close to 700 public companies, and approximately $41 billion in venture capital funding.”
Award: Technology to Regulate Circadian Rhythm for Health and Performance (STTR)
- Abstract: We propose a wearable, dual-use neurotechnology device. The Personal Brainwave Headband, driven by tablet or smartphone, is designed for noninvasive closed-loop acoustic stimulation, to permit improved circadian regulation. It will measure brain electrical activity from scalp overlying four key sectors of cortex, perform high-resolution spectral analysis of the signals, and use software algorithms to translate dominant brain frequencies into audible tones of changing pitch and timing. Resonance between brainwaves and audible tones facilitates self-optimization, manifesting as greater left-right hemispheric symmetry and more optimized ratios of energy between low and high frequencies of brain electrical activity. The net result of brain self-optimization will be more restful sleep. Preliminary data demonstrate efficacy of the approach when using external amplifiers and a laptop computer configuration, to support symptom reduction in insomnia, PTSD, TBI, and other conditions. The device will also have functionality for regular use in a monitor-only mode to enable identification of brain states associated with vulnerability (BSAV“s). BSAV“s (to be studied in Phase II) are those brain activity patterns (combinations of asymmetry and suboptimal ratios of energy between low and high frequencies) that are associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing emotional disturbance, or demonstrating compromised performance or maladaptive behavior.
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