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

• US 10,071,016 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Ludlow, Christy Leslie, Poletto, Christopher, Humbert, Ianessa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Quang D
• Application Number:
  US14/471,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20150164737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2039/005 by means of electromagnetic waves, e.g. I.R., U.V. rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/12 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/16 Physical interface with patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/00 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 Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/007 Stimulation by mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/06 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 Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

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.

Claims

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.