Nerve stimulation system, subsystem, headset, and earpiece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11364380-B2
Application number	US-201715673087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2017
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a headset and an earpiece which includes two or more ear-contacting elements, for example an ear canal insert, and a concha insert. Ear-contacting elements may be mounted onto an earpiece housing have projecting mounting structures, which provide mechanical and electrical connection between ear-contacting elements and housing through various materials and configurations. In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation system includes a neural stimulation subsystem including neural stimulation device control circuitry for use in combination with a personal computing device to control a neural stimulation device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A electrical stimulation earpiece, comprising:
a housing;
a first mounting structure extending outwardly from the housing, the first mounting structure having an outer surface;
a first ear-contacting element mounted on the first mounting structure, the first ear-contacting element formed from a resilient material and including
a recess configured to receive the first mounting structure; and
at least one first electrode surface adapted to form an electrical contact with a skin surface of at least a portion of an ear of a subject;

a second mounting structure extending outwardly from the housing, the second mounting structure having an outer surface;
a second ear-contacting element mounted on the second mounting structure, the second ear-contacting element formed from a resilient material and including
a recess configured to receive the second mounting structure; and
at least one second electrode surface adapted to form an electrical contact with a skin surface of at least a portion of an ear of a subject;

a first electrical connector for connecting the at least one first electrode surface to a first electrical current source; and
at least one second electrical connector for connecting the at least one second electrode surface to a second electrical current source.

2. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first ear-contacting element is an ear canal insert.

3. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 2 , wherein the first mounting structure includes a through hole for delivery of sound from a speaker located in the housing.

4. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 2 , wherein the second ear-contacting element is a concha insert.

5. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 2 , wherein the second earcontacting element includes a cavum insert or a cymba insert.

6. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 1 , including an extension carrying at least one additional neural stimulator.

7. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 6 , wherein the extension includes an adjustable linkage that provides for positioning of the at least one additional neural stimulator.

8. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting structure includes at least one projection extending outwardly from the outer surface to mechanically engage the first ear-contacting element.

9. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 8 , wherein the at least one projection includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to electrically contact a conductive portion of the first ear-contacting element in electrical communication with the at least one first electrode surface.

10. The electrical stimulation earpiece of claim 1 , wherein the first ear-contacting element and the second ear-contacting element are spaced from the housing.

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Goodall Eleanor V
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Leuthardt Eric C
• Malamud Mark A
• Malaska Stephen L
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Ramsey Tim F
• Scheid Brittany
• Sharadin Katherine E
• Sweeney Elizabeth A
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• A61H2201/5058

  Sensors or detectors · CPC title

• A61N1/36025

  for treating a mental or cerebral condition · CPC title

• A63F13/424

  involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition · CPC title

• A61H2230/105

  used as a control parameter for the apparatus · CPC title

• A61H2201/165

  Wearable interfaces · CPC title