Systems for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10071016-B2
Application number	US-201414471369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2005
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder. A device vibrotactilely stimulates a substitute site for the affected area thereby recovering the motor control of the affected area. The stimulation provided by the device is volitionally controlled by the patient.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for inducing swallowing, the system comprising:
a device configured to be fitted over a throat area of a subject, the device including a vibrotactile stimulator having a vibrating rate between about 20 Hz and about 1,000 Hz;
a button configured to be volitionally operated by the subject; and
a controller in communication with the vibrotactile stimulator and in communication with the button, wherein the controller is configured to send a stimulation signal to the vibrotactile stimulator to apply a stimulation upon volitional operation of the button by the subject, the stimulation configured to induce swallowing,
wherein the controller is configured to set the stimulation for a duration between two to six seconds.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator includes one vibrator motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator includes a plurality of vibrator motors.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator includes an eccentrically loaded mass.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a weight of the eccentrically loaded mass is changed to increase or decrease an amplitude of the stimulation.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator includes a gearbox.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a movement sensor.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device includes a physiological sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wired communication with the vibrotactile stimulator.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the vibrotactile stimulator.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wired communication with the button.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the button.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the button.

14. The system of claim 1 , further including a light indicative of a position of the button.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator has a vibrating rate between about 30 Hz and about 60 Hz.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator has a vibrating rate between about 30 Hz and about 50 Hz.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to operate the vibrotactile stimulator for a duration between about 2 seconds and about 6 seconds upon receiving the stimulation signal.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control box configured to allow selection of at least one of vibrotactile stimulator rate and duration.

19. A system for inducing swallowing, the system comprising:
a device configured to be fitted over a throat area of a subject, the device including a vibrotactile stimulator having a vibrating rate between about 20 Hz and about 1,000 Hz;
a button configured to be volitionally operated by the subject; and
a controller in communication with the vibrotactile stimulator and in communication with the button, wherein the controller is configured to send a stimulation signal to the vibrotactile stimulator to apply a stimulation upon volitional operation of the button by the subject, the stimulation configured to induce swallowing,
wherein the device is configured to operate the vibrotactile stimulator for a duration between about 2 seconds and about 6 seconds upon receiving the stimulation signal.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is in wired communication with the vibrotactile stimulator.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with the vibrotactile stimulator.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the vibrotactile stimulator has a vibrating rate between about 30 Hz and about 60 Hz.

23. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a control box configured to allow selection of at least one of vibrotactile stimulator rate and duration.

Assignees

• Us Health

Inventors

• Ludlow Christy Leslie
• Poletto Christopher
• Humbert Ianessa A

Classifications

• A61H39/00 Primary

  Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture (chiropodists' instruments A61B17/54; {for radiation therapy A61N5/0619}) · CPC title

• A61H39/06

  Devices for heating or cooling such points within cell-life limits (cauterisers, moxaburners, cryogenic apparatus A61B18/06; heating or cooling appliances for medical treatment of general areas of the human body A61F7/00) · CPC title

• A61H2201/16

  Physical interface with patient · CPC title

• A61N1/36025

  for treating a mental or cerebral condition · CPC title

• A61H39/002

  Using electric currents (electrotherapy A61N1/32) · CPC title