Systems, devices, components and methods for triggering or inducing resonance or high amplitude oscillations in a cardiovascular system of a patient

• US 10,098,810 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Muench, Steven G. Dean
• Original Assignee: Frederick Muench, Steven G. Dean
• Inventors: Muench, Frederick, Dean, Steven G
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sul, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US14/198,312
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0107 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1619 Thorax
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/045 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/065 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/425 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/605 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/655 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems, devices, components, and methods for providing external therapeutic vibration stimulation to a patient are disclosed and described. Therapeutic vibration stimulation is provided to at least one location on or adjacent to a patient'"'"'s skin (such as through clothing or a layer disposed next to the patient'"'"'s skin), and is configured to trigger or induce resonance or high amplitude oscillations in a cardiovascular system of the patient. Inducing such resonance can aid in training autonomic reflexes and improve their functioning.

Claims

1. A method of providing vibration stimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:

determining, using a vibration device that includes a hardware processor and a vibration signal generator, an approximated resonance frequency corresponding to one of a plurality of resonance frequencies including one or more of heart rate, blood pressure, vascular tone, and stroke volume of a cardiovascular system associated with the patient;

determining, using the hardware processor, parameters for at least one vibration stimulation signal based on the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system associated with the patient, wherein the parameters include a first time period associated with a first type of vibration stimulation signal and a second time period associated with a second type of vibration stimulation signal and wherein a third period that is equivalent to a combination of the first time period and the second time period and that is also equivalent to the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system of the patient; and

vibrationally inducing, via mechanical vibration that is external to the patient, the approximated resonance frequency in the cardiovascular system associated with the patient by repetitively delivering, by the vibration signal generator, a vibration stimulation signal having the determined parameters to at least one location on or adjacent to the patient'"'"'s skin;

wherein the vibration stimulation signal includes the first type of the vibration stimulation signal being successively delivered to the patient over the first time period and a second type of the vibration stimulation signal being delivered to the patient over the second time period, the second time period being interposed between instances of the first time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period is adjacent to the second time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third time period ranges between about 1 second and about 60 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an amplitude of the vibration stimulation signal is approximately constant over at least major portions of the first time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the vibration stimulation signal varies over the first time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 2 seconds.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 15 seconds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 2 seconds.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 15 seconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the induced resonance or high amplitude oscillations aid in treating the patient for a stress-related disorder, depression or hypertension.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the induced resonance or high amplitude oscillations aid in treating the patient for an autonomic dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system associated with the patient is determined based on a height and a gender of the patient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system associated with the patient is less than about 0.125 Hz.

14. A method of providing vibration stimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:

determining, using a vibration device that includes a hardware processor and a vibration signal generator, an approximated resonance frequency corresponding to one of a plurality of resonance frequencies including one or more of heart rate, blood pressure, vascular tone, and stroke volume of a cardiovascular system associated with the patient;

determining, using the hardware processor, parameters for at least one vibration stimulation signal based on the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system associated with the patient, wherein the parameters include a first time period associated with a first vibration mode of vibration stimulation signal and a second time period associated with a second vibrational mode of vibration stimulation signal, and wherein a third period that is equivalent to a combination of the first time period and the second time period and that is also equivalent to the approximated resonance frequency of the cardiovascular system of the patient; and

vibrationally inducing, via mechanical vibration that is external to the patient, the approximated resonance frequency in the cardiovascular system associated with the patient by repetitively delivering, by the vibration signal generator, a vibration stimulation signal having the determined parameters to at least one location on or adjacent to the patient'"'"'s skin;

wherein the vibration stimulation signal includes a first vibration signal of first vibration mode being delivered to the patient for a first time period, and a second vibration signal of the second vibration mode being delivered to the patient for a second time period, the second time period being interposed between instances of the first time period, the first vibration signal being different from the second vibration signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds seconds and about 2 seconds.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 15 seconds.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second time period ranges between about 100 milliseconds and about 2 seconds.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second time period ranges between about 200 milliseconds and about 15 seconds.