Ocular impedance-based system for brain health monitoring

Abstract

Methods and systems monitor and assess brain bioimpedance through the use of an ocular window that assesses dynamic changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). That ocular window is implemented through an ocular bioimpedance device that, in a non-invasive manner, measures numerous different brain health indicators using the hioimpedance measurements collected through the regions around the eyes. The ocular bioimpedance device may be goggles with localized measurement electrodes that include cathodes and anodes.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a brain condition of a subject, the method comprising:
 applying, to an ocular region of the subject via one or more electrodes, a brain-condition affecting treatment to the subject, the brain-condition affecting treatment including supplying an electrical signal in the form of at least one of a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or a transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).   
     
     
         11 . The method of treatment of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 measuring an ocular-brain region bioimpedance of the subject over a treatment time of the brain-condition affecting treatment; and   assessing an efficacy of the brain-condition affecting treatment based on changes in the ocular-brain region bioimpedance over the treatment time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of treatment of  claim 11 , wherein
 measuring the ocular-brain region bioimpedance of the subject over the treatment time of the brain-condition affecting treatment comprises:   providing a measurement electrical signal to an ocular region of the subject through one or more electrodes placed on an outer surface of the subject at the ocular region of the subject;   detecting the measurement electrical signal over a conduction path of the subject, that conduction path including the ocular region and at least a portion of a brain region; and   determining the ocular-brain region bioimpedance from the detected measurement electrical signal.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein assessing the efficacy of the brain-condition affecting treatment based on changes in the ocular-brain region bioimpedance over the treatment time comprises:
 determining a brain health indicator from the bioimpedance information, wherein the brain health indicator indicates at least one of changes (i) in cerebral blood volume (CBV), (ii) cerebral autoregulation (CAR), (iii) intracranial pressure (ICP), (iv) cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), (v) a perfusion reactivity index (PRx), (vi) cerebral blood flow (CBF), (vii) blood pressure, and (viii) ventilation; and   assessing the brain health indicator to determine if the brain health indicator has an acceptable brain health indicator value or an unacceptable brain health indicator value.   
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The method of treatment of  claim 10 , wherein the brain-condition affecting treatment further comprises:
 providing photonic stimulation to the brain through the ocular region for at least one of providing a therapy to the subject or obtaining diagnostic information on the subject.   
     
     
         22 . The method of treatment of  claim 21 , wherein the providing the photonic stimulation for providing the therapy to the subject includes:
 providing at least one of red light, blue light, or infrared light to the ocular region of the subject.   
     
     
         23 . The method of treatment of  claim 21 , wherein the providing the photonic stimulation for obtaining the diagnostic information includes:
 determining a brain health indicator based on changes in an ocular-brain region bioimpedance of the subject due to the providing the photonic stimulation.   
     
     
         24 . The method of treatment of  claim 21 , wherein the providing the photonic stimulation occurs during the supplying the electrical signal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of treatment of  claim 21 , wherein the providing the photonic stimulation does not overlap with the supplying the electrical signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of treatment of  claim 10 , wherein the brain-condition affecting treatment further comprises:
 providing acoustic stimulation to the subject for at least one of providing a therapy to the subject or obtaining diagnostic information on the subject.   
     
     
         27 . The method of treatment of  claim 26 , wherein the providing the acoustic stimulation to the subject for providing the therapy includes:
 detecting retinal artery pulsations; and   applying an acoustic signal to the ocular region of the subject until the retinal artery pulsations disappear.   
     
     
         28 . The method of treatment of  claim 26 , wherein the providing the acoustic stimulation to the subject for obtaining diagnostic information includes:
 determining a brain health indicator based on changes in an ocular-brain region bioimpedance of the subject due to the providing the acoustic stimulation.   
     
     
         29 . The method of treatment of  claim 26 , wherein the providing the acoustic stimulation includes providing the acoustic stimulation at the ocular region. 
     
     
         30 . The method of treatment of  claim 26 , wherein the providing the acoustic stimulation includes providing the acoustic stimulation at a region on the subject other than the ocular region.