Systems and methods of transcutaneous vibration to effect an epigenetic outcome

Abstract

Systems and methods disclosed herein relate to causing an epigenetic change in a user. The methods include measuring an epigenetic marker in the user, wherein the epigenetic marker is at least one of a regulation of a protein or a gene; or a methylation, acetylation, or phosphorylation status of at least one of a gene, histone, or portion of DNA. The methods further include subjecting a user to a first transcutaneous vibratory output selected to assist the user in achieving a target state, the first transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a first perceived pitch, a first perceived beat, and a perceived intensity, and repeating the measurement of the epigenetic marker to identify a change in an aspect of the epigenetic marker as a result of subjecting the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of causing an epigenetic change in a user, comprising:
 measuring an epigenetic marker in the user, wherein the epigenetic marker is at least one of a regulation of a protein or a gene; or a methylation, acetylation, or phosphorylation status of at least one of a gene, histone, or portion of DNA;   subjecting a user to a first transcutaneous vibratory output selected to assist the user in achieving a target state, the first transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a first perceived pitch, a first perceived beat, and a perceived intensity; and   repeating the measurement of the epigenetic marker to identify a change in an aspect of the epigenetic marker as a result of subjecting the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, if the repeated measurement does not reveal an epigenetic change, subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the desired target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target state is at least one of calm, focus, flow, presence of being, asleep, wakeful, relaxed, aroused, or euphoric. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein subjecting the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output is repeated multiple times before the measurement is repeated. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, sensing a physiological parameter of the user to determine whether the user has achieved the target state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , if the user has not achieved the target state, before repeating the measurement, at least one of continuing to subject the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output, or subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving a user input from the user to determine whether the user has achieved the target state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , if the user has not achieved the target state, before repeating the measurement, at least one of continuing to subject the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output, or subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, multiplicatively combining a sine wave-shaped envelope generated using the first perceived beat with a wave pattern generated using the first perceived pitch to produce the first transcutaneous vibratory output. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein multiplicatively combining is in accordance with the relationship:
   [sin(2.0*π*freq_perceived_pitch* t )]*[sin(π*freq_perceived_beat* t )].
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transcutaneous vibratory output is generated in part by a first oscillation at a first frequency, and a second oscillation at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency by less than 10 Hz. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transcutaneous vibratory output is selected based on the current state of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the current state of the user is based on the measured epigenetic marker. 
     
     
         14 . A method of causing an epigenetic change in a user, comprising:
 measuring one or more stress indicators in a communication by the user;   subjecting a user to a first transcutaneous vibratory output selected to assist the user in achieving a target state, the first transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a first perceived pitch, a first perceived beat, and a perceived intensity; and   repeating the measurement of the stress indicator to identify an epigenetic change as a result of subjecting the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stress indicator is a presence, an absence, or a frequency of one or more positive words. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stress indicator is a presence, an absence, or a frequency of one or more negative words. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stress indicator is at least one of a vocal tone, a pitch, or a vocal rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stress indicator is a time to reach the target state after continued use. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stress indicator is a dwell time in the target state after continued use. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, if the repeated measurement does not reveal an epigenetic change, subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the desired target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the target state is at least one of calm, focus, flow, presence of being, asleep, wakeful, relaxed, aroused, or euphoric. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein subjecting the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output is repeated multiple times before the measurement is repeated. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, sensing a physiological parameter of the user to determine whether the user has achieved the target state. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , if the user has not achieved the target state, before repeating the measurement, at least one of continuing to subject the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output, or subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, receiving a user input from the user to determine whether the user has achieved the target state. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , if the user has not achieved the target state, before repeating the measurement, at least one of continuing to subject the user to the first transcutaneous vibratory output, or subjecting the user to a second transcutaneous vibratory output to assist the user in achieving the target state, the second transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second perceived intensity. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, multiplicatively combining a sine wave-shaped envelope generated using the first perceived beat with a wave pattern generated using the first perceived pitch to produce the first transcutaneous vibratory output. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein multiplicatively combining is in accordance with the relationship:
   [sin(2.0*π*freq_perceived_pitch* t )]*[sin(π*freq_perceived_beat* t )].
   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first transcutaneous vibratory output is generated in part by a first oscillation at a first frequency, and a second oscillation at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency by less than 10 Hz. 
     
     
         30 . A kit, comprising:
 a stimulation device configured to emit a transcutaneous vibratory output to a user to assist the user in achieving a target state, the transcutaneous vibratory output comprising a first perceived pitch, a first perceived beat, and a perceived intensity;   the stimulation device comprising a physiological sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user to determine whether the user has achieved the target state;   a user interface of the stimulation device configured to output an indication that the user has achieved the target state based on the physiological parameter; and   a biological sample collection device, wherein the user is prompted, through the user interface, to provide a biological sample for epigenetic change testing to at least one of determine that the user has achieved the target state or provide the recommended next course of action.