Ear stimulation with neural feedback sensing
First Claim
1. A neural stimulation system comprising:
- a neural signal sensor adapted to sense a neural signal from a subject, the neural signal indicative of a physiological status of the subject, wherein the neural signal sensor is an electroencephalographic signal sensor or an electrooculographic signal sensor;
at least one neural stimulator adapted to produce a stimulus responsive to the sensed neural signal, the stimulus configured to activate at least one sensory nerve fiber innervating at least a portion of a pinna of the subject, the portion of the pinna including at least one of a cymba concha and a cavum concha, the at least one neural stimulator including at least one of a neural stimulator configured for placement on the cymba concha and a neural stimulator configured for placement on the cavum concha; and
a securing member configured to secure the at least one neural stimulator to the at least one of the cymba concha and the cavum concha.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and related methods for delivering a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. The stimulation device may be used to deliver a stimulus that modulates activity of sensory nerve fiber innervating the pinna. Stimulation may be delivered in response to a sensed neural signal indicative of a physiological status of the subject, and/or in response to sensed environmental parameters. Stimulation may be delivered in combination with other stimuli or experiences. In an aspect, a stimulator communicates with and/or is controlled by a personal computing device.
141 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A neural stimulation system comprising:
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a neural signal sensor adapted to sense a neural signal from a subject, the neural signal indicative of a physiological status of the subject, wherein the neural signal sensor is an electroencephalographic signal sensor or an electrooculographic signal sensor; at least one neural stimulator adapted to produce a stimulus responsive to the sensed neural signal, the stimulus configured to activate at least one sensory nerve fiber innervating at least a portion of a pinna of the subject, the portion of the pinna including at least one of a cymba concha and a cavum concha, the at least one neural stimulator including at least one of a neural stimulator configured for placement on the cymba concha and a neural stimulator configured for placement on the cavum concha; and a securing member configured to secure the at least one neural stimulator to the at least one of the cymba concha and the cavum concha. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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sensing with a neural signal sensor a neural signal indicative of a physiological status of a subject, the neural signal sensor located in or on a portion of a body of the subject, wherein the neural signal is an electroencephalographic signal or an electrooculographic signal; determining with signal analysis circuitry at least one parameter of the sensed neural signal; and delivering a neural stimulus with a neural stimulation device worn on a pinna of the subject responsive to the sensed neural signal, wherein the neural stimulation device includes at least one of neural stimulator located on a cymba concha and a neural stimulator located on a cavum concha of the subject, wherein the neural stimulus is configured to modulate an activity of at least one sensory nerve fiber innervating at least a portion of the pinna of the subject including at least one of the cymba concha and the cavum concha. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A neural stimulation system comprising:
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a wearable neural stimulation device including a neural stimulator configured to activate at least one sensory nerve fiber innervating at least a portion of a pinna of a subject using a stimulus; a securing member configured to secure the neural stimulator to the pinna; first control circuitry incorporated into the wearable neural stimulation device for controlling operation of the neural stimulator; and first communication circuitry incorporated into the wearable neural stimulation device and operatively connected to the control circuitry, the first communication circuitry configured for at least one of sending a signal to and receiving a signal from a personal computing device; and the personal computing device, wherein the personal computing device includes a user interface for at least one of presenting information to and receiving information from a user; second control circuitry operatively connected to the user interface;
second communication circuitry configured for at least one of sending a signal to and receiving a signal from the first communication circuitry; andinstructions that when executed on the personal computing device cause the personal computing device to perform at least one of sending a signal to and receiving a signal from the wearable neural stimulation device via the second communication circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification