Systems and methods for providing and coordinating vagus nerve stimulation with audio therapy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069488-A1
Application number	US-201916567116-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Sep 11, 2019
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user is provided. The method includes the step of prompting, via a first audio cue emitted by an earpiece worn by a user, the user to inhale at a first point in time. The method may further include the step of prompting, via a second audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a second point in time. The method may further include the step of stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with a first electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the second point in time. The first electrical signal may be applied to a concha of an ear of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to an ear canal of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to a tragus of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user, comprising the steps of:
prompting, via a first audio cue emitted by an earpiece worn by a user, the user to inhale at a first point in time; prompting, via a second audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a second point in time; and stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with a first electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the second point in time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
prompting, via a third audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to inhale at a third point in time; prompting, via a fourth audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a fourth point in time; and stimulating the vagus nerve of the user with a second electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the fourth point in time.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a time period between the third and fourth points in time is greater than a time period between the first and second points in time.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first audio cue is an inhalation recording and the second audio cue is an exhalation recording.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of measuring, via a sensor, a biometric property of the user.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second point in time is adjusted according to the biometric property.

7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
prompting, via a fifth audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to inhale at a fifth point in time; prompting, via a sixth audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a sixth point in time; and stimulating the vagus nerve of the user with a third electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the sixth point in time.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a time period between the fifth and sixth points in time is greater than the time period between the third and fourth points in time, and wherein a time period between the third and fourth points in time is greater than a time period between the first and second points in time.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of inputting, by the user via a user interface, one or more personal characteristics.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of adjusting a time period between the first point in time and the second point in time according to the one or more personal characteristics.

11 . A system for providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user, comprising:
an earpiece comprising an audio transducer and a first electrode, the earpiece configured to:
form a first electrical contact between the electrode and an ear canal, tragus, or concha of a first ear of a user;
emit a first audio cue from the audio transducer at a first point in time, wherein the first audio cue prompts the user to inhale;
emit a second audio cue from the audio transducer at a second point in time, wherein the second audio cue prompts the user to exhale; and
deliver a vagus nerve stimulation signal to the user via the first electrode at the second point in time; and
a second electrode configured to form a second electrical contact with the user.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the earpiece further comprises the second electrode.

13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure a biometric property of the user.

14 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a user interface configured for the user to input one or more personal characteristics.

15 . A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user, comprising the steps of:
delivering, via an earpiece worn by a user, audio content to a user; and stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with one or more electrical signals generated by the earpiece in coordination with the delivery of the audio content.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the audio content comprises guided breathing instructions prompting the user to adjust their respiration rate.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the guided breathing instructions comprise audio cues to prompt the user to adjust their respiration rate, and wherein the step of stimulating the vagus nerve of the user further comprises stimulating the vagus nerve of the user in coordination with the audio cues.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of measuring, via a sensor, a biometric property of the user.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of adjusting the audio content based on the biometric property.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the audio content comprises audio cues to prompt the user to adjust their respiration rate, and wherein playback timing of the audio cues is adjusted based on the biometric property.

Assignees

• Bose Corp

Inventors

• Trotter John
• Kremer Kathleen
• Mankodi Harsh Anilkant

Classifications

• A61N1/36036

  of the outer, middle or inner ear · CPC title

• A61N1/0472 Primary

  Structure-related aspects · CPC title

• A61N1/3603 Primary

  Control systems · CPC title

• A61N1/36031

  using physiological parameters for adjustment · CPC title

• A61N1/36082

  Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease · CPC title