US-12616424-B2 - Anatomical manipulation device

US12616424B2US 12616424 B2US12616424 B2US 12616424B2US-12616424-B2

Abstract

An anatomical manipulation device having a plurality of actuators configured around an anatomical interface. The device includes a controller, an interactive communication interface and at least one feedback sensor to measure physiological responses. The interactive communication interface receives input from the user. The controller coordinates the operation of the actuators based on the measurements received from the feedback sensor and input from the interactive communication interface. Each actuator includes one or more of: a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) probe, an electrical muscle stimulator, a low-frequency pulse generator, a sound wave generator and a micro-vibrator.

Inventors

MATTHEW H. SON
Jung Hoon Son
CHANG-OH CHU
HYEONBEOM CHU

Assignees

MATTHEW H. SON
Jung Hoon Son
CHANG-OH CHU
HYEONBEOM CHU

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20250217

Claims (17)

1 . An anatomical manipulation device comprising: a plurality of actuators configured to be positioned around an anatomical interface of a neck; at least one feedback sensor to measure one or more physiological responses related to a cerebrospinal fluid flow; an interactive communication interface to receive input from a user; a controller to coordinate operation of said plurality of actuators based on measurements received from said at least one feedback sensor and said input from the interactive communication interface to enhance a cerebrospinal fluid circulation and a cerebrospinal fluid drainage a thermal pad configured to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow by stimulating blood and cerebrospinal fluid along a lymphatic vessel and a lymph node to prevent accumulation of beta amyloid and tau proteins in user's brain and body; and a piezoelectric transducer, enclosed within the thermal pad, to reduce noise coupling, enhance resolution and enable gel-free acoustic coupling to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow; and wherein the piezoelectric transducer transmits bounced-back feedback waves to the controller for monitoring cerebrospinal fluid flow patterns.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of actuators comprises one or more of: a first high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) probe configured to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow by targeting cervical lymph nodes and a second HIFU probe configured to monitor the cerebrospinal fluid flow by monitoring blood flow at configurable intervals set by the controller; an electrical muscle stimulator configured to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow by providing a targeted muscle activation, the operation of the electrical muscle stimulator being coordinated by the controller to adjust intensity based on the measurements from said at least one feedback sensor, synchronize with other therapeutic stimulators and prevent muscle fatigue through adaptive timing; a low-frequency pulse generator operating in a pulse frequency range of 1-50 Hz configured to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow; and a micro-vibrator configured to be positioned to target anatomical areas affecting cerebrospinal fluid pathways, cranial, cervical, and upper back fluid drainage and circulation to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow; and wherein said plurality of actuators is configured to be arranged in a pattern around the anatomical interface to enable a sequential activation from posterior to anterior positions to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the controller coordinates the operation of said plurality of actuators by one of the following: sequentially activating said plurality of actuators one at a time, in a synchronized intensity modulation, or in a wave activation sequence.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to coordinate activation sequences of said plurality of actuators to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow, to modify therapeutic parameters based on the measurements from said at least one feedback sensor, to store effective activation patterns for future use, and to modify a timing between activation of said plurality of actuators to optimize the cerebrospinal fluid flow.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to analyze deviations from baseline measurements related to the cerebrospinal fluid flow and to coordinate activation of a set of said plurality of actuators in one of the stored effective patterns to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the interactive communication interface provides a real-time visualization of a therapeutic activity, a spatial tracking to monitor a therapeutic output and a gesture control to enable a user to adjust therapeutic parameters.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one feedback sensor further comprises one of the following: an electromyographic (EMG) electrode to monitor muscle tension affecting the cerebrospinal fluid flow, an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor to monitor brain activity changes related to the cerebrospinal fluid circulation, a heart rate sensor to track cardiovascular responses affecting cerebrospinal fluid dynamics; and a Doppler sensor to monitor and diagnose ultrasound blood flow quantification in a head and neck region affecting the cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of actuators comprises: a first high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) probe configured to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow by targeting cervical lymph nodes and a second HIFU probe configured to monitor the cerebrospinal fluid flow by monitoring blood flow at configurable intervals set by the controller; a micro-vibrator configured to be positioned to target anatomical areas affecting cerebrospinal fluid pathways, cranial, cervical, and upper back fluid drainage and circulation to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow; and wherein the controller is configured to operate the micro-vibrator to target the Atlanto-occipital joint, to automatically adjust based on the measurements, to coordinate timing with HIFU therapy, and for a therapeutic purpose, to maintain vibration within a frequency range of 0.75-7.5 MHz.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the micro-vibrator to improve venous drainage from a user's head and neck and configured to reduce a cerebrospinal fluid pressure by improving venous return from the user's brain.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the micro-vibrator to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow by providing a soft tissue mobilization to relaxes the user's upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles in a head and neck region, thereby reducing a venous obstruction in the user's neck which facilitates the cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein, based on the measurements from said at least one feedback sensor, the controller is configured to trigger at least one of the following: predefined actuator combination responses to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow, adaptive pattern modifications, intensity adjustments across multiple actuators and modification to activation timing and sequence of said plurality of actuators.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of actuators are activated in one of the following programmed patterns to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow: a drainage enhancement sequence, a circulation improvement combination, a pressure relief pattern, and a tissue mobilization sequence.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller analyzes therapy effectiveness for enhancing the cerebrospinal fluid flow through at least one of the following: comparison of pre-measurements and post-measurements of cerebrospinal fluid flow indicators, trend analysis across sessions, identification of optimal therapeutic parameters for a cerebrospinal fluid enhancement and patient-specific response patterns.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises preset manipulation protocols optimized for a predetermined medical condition affecting the cerebrospinal fluid circulation to enhance the cerebrospinal fluid flow; and adaptive lesson plans to customize therapy based on user feedback.
15 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the following feedback devices configured to monitor cerebrospinal fluid flow indicators: a wearable device, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer, a virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headset.
16 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply; and wherein the controller manages power of the power supply by at least one of the following: adjusting monitoring frequency based on power availability; prioritizing therapeutic functions over data collection; optimizing sampling rates for battery life; and enabling enhanced monitoring when an external power source is utilized.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the power supply is at least one of a rechargeable battery and an external power source.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/644,520 filed May 9, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The claimed invention relates generally to anatomical manipulation device, more specifically, to a programmable device for application of focused manipulation techniques around scalp, head and neck regions of a user. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The growth of the 65 and over US population from 2020 to 2023 is striking: up 9.4% to approximately 59.2 million nationally. There are currently roughly 62 million adults ages 65 and older living in the U.S., accounting for 18% of the population. By 2054, it is estimated that 84 million adults ages 65 and older will make up 23% of the population. As the elderly population increases rapidly, various diseases related to this demographic are emerging as significant socioeconomic issues. Among these, age-related cognitive decline is very common and has multiple contributing factors. Around 40% of dementia risk is attributable to modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Recently, sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), have been considered among these factors. OSA is common, particularly after the age of 65 years, when it has an estimated prevalence of at least 20%. Insufficient or poor-quality sleep affects the immune system, weight management, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, cognition, work productivity, psychological well-being, and public safety. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to intermittent hypoxemia and changes in sleep macro- and microarchitecture. Intermittent hypoxemia probably causes systemic and brain responses that include metabolic disturbances/diabetes, oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension, blood-brain barrier dysfunctions, and brain edema. These responses, combined with the altered sleep macro- and micro-architecture, may lead to small-vessel disease, microinfarcts, strokes, reduced neurogenesis, reduced synaptic plasticity, decreased cognitive functioning, changes in brain white and gray matter, changes in cerebral networks, and abnormal levels of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, which can all be involved in abnormal cognitive decline and dementia. Recent findings also indicate that sleep participates in the production and clearance of brain metabolic products including those involved in dementia pathogenesis. AD is an age-dependent disease marked by the accumulation of specific proteins, neurofibrillary tangles, and amyloid B peptide, in the brain. These proteins are proposed to be cleared by the waste clearance system, thus reduced movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the periarterial spaces to the brain parenchyma via aquaporin-4 (AQP4) could facilitate protein accumulation in the brain. Research on brain fluids also indicates that OSA might impair the CSF's flow, reducing the brain's ability to maintain homeostasis and exacerbate neurovascular issues, further affecting sleep quality and health outcomes. Neurons help flush waste out of brain during sleep. Reversely, recent research highlights the role of CSF dynamics in sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The CSF and glymphatic systems, which manage fluid and waste clearance in the brain, are closely linked to sleep quality. During sleep, especially deep sleep, cerebrospinal fluid helps flush out toxins like amyloid B. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain enters and weaves through intricate cellular webs, collecting toxic waste as it travels. Upon exiting the brain, contaminated fluid must pass through a barrier before spilling into the lymphatic vessels in the dura mater—the outer tissue layer enveloping the brain underneath the skull. The production of cerebrospinal fluid by the choroid plexuses is believed to be relatively constant; however, the cerebrospinal fluid secretion varies over the duration of a day with an average production of 650 ml and maximal production after midnight. By enhancing CSF dynamics—whether through physical therapy targeting the cervical spine, improving venous return, or addressing issues like intracranial pressure—there could be a reduction in brainstem compression. This would likely aid in reducing apnea episodes during sleep and improving overall respiratory patterns during rest. One of the essential functions of the CSF system is the maintenance of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. As the central nervous system consists of highly active metabolic regions, waste products need to be cleared. The most recently proposed mechanism for waste clearance is the highly debated glymphatic system. The glymphatic system is a fluid conduit defined as an astrocyte-mediated fluid exchange of CSF and insulin sensitivity factor (ISF) in the brain. Within the glymphatic system, CSF is thought to be driven from the subarachnoid space