Device, System and Method for Facilitating Breathing Via Simulation of Limb Movement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016158097-A1
Application number	US-201414906684-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device, system and method for increasing air intake by a subject is described. The device includes a vibration motor and a control unit for controlling vibrational motion output by the vibration motor. The methods include positioning the vibration motor on one or more limbs of a subject, and stimulating nerves in the limbs via the generated vibrational motion, whereby the stimulated nerve signals the brain to increase breathing rate or air intake by the subject. Accordingly, the device of the present invention activates nerve fibers that carry kinesthetic cues from the limbs in a pattern that simulates normal limb motion, and thus triggers inherent reflexes that increase ventilation in response to such motion.

First claim

1 . A method for increasing air intake by a subject, comprising:
positioning at least one vibrator on at least one limb of a subject; and stimulating a nerve in the at least one limb via vibrational motion delivered by the at least one vibrator, whereby the stimulated nerve interacts with the subject's brain to increase air intake by the subject.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one limb is the subject's leg.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one limb is the subject's arm.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the stimulated nerve is the ulnar nerve.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vibrator is controlled by a control unit.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the control unit is programmable.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the control unit is programmable via a computing device wired or wirelessly connected to the control unit.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the control unit controls the at least one vibrator wirelessly.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is sleeping.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein stimulating the nerve comprises delivery of pulses via the at least one vibrator, where the pulses are delivered at a rate of about 20-70 pulses per minute.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the delivery of pulses is repeated.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a condition selected from the group consisting of hypoventilation, obstructive sleep apnea, heart failure, central sleep apnea, apnea of prematurity, apnea of infancy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and stroke.

13 . A method of treating hypoventilation in a subject, comprising stimulating a nerve in at least one limb of the subject via vibrational motion, wherein the stimulated nerve elicits a brain response which enhances breathing effort by the subject.

14 . A system for enhancing the breathing of a subject, comprising:
at least one vibration motor; a control unit communicatively connected to the at least one vibration motor; and a means for securing the at least one vibration motor to at least one limb of a subject; wherein the control unit initiates a signal to the at least one vibration motor to generate vibrational motion to the at least one limb of the subject, such that the vibrational motion stimulates a nerve in the at least one limb to elicit an enhanced breathing effort by the subject.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the control unit is programmable.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the control unit controls the vibration motor wirelessly.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one vibration motor is programmed to vary inputs from the group selected from the pulse rate, pulse duration, interpulse duration, burst duration, interburst duration, and pulse amplitude.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one vibration motor is programmed to pulse in a variable-amplitude sequence.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one vibration motor is between 2-15 mm in diameter.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the means for securing the at least one vibration motor to at least one limb of a subject comprises embedding the at least one vibration motor in a material attached to the subject's limb.

21 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the means for securing the at least one vibration motor to at least one limb of a subject comprises positioning the vibration motor against the skin surface of the subject's limb and covering the vibration motor with a material attached to the subject's limb.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Harper Ronald M
• Woo Mary Ann
• Shaboyan Sergey
• Macey Paul

Classifications

• A61M16/0051

  with alarm devices · CPC title

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title

• A61H2201/164

  Feet or leg, e.g. pedal · CPC title

• A61H2201/5038

  freely programmable by the user · CPC title

• A61H2201/5002

  Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient · CPC title