Method for external ear canal pressure regulation to alleviate disorder symptoms

• US 10,251,790 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nocira, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nocira, LLC
• Inventors: George, David, Sullivan, David Brice, Buckler, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Victoria J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US14/292,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20150000678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/08 internal, e.g. earplugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/085 including an inner channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/12 External mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0013 for adjusting fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 21/00 Massage devices for cavities of the body , e.g. nose, ears and anus for the genitals A61H19/00; Vibration or percussion related aspects A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0007 Pulsating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets

Abstract

A method for external ear canal pressure regulation to alleviate one or more symptoms associated with a disorder or treat one or more disorders, the method including providing a fluid transfer device which generates a fluid flow of a fluid through an earplug, the earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; sealably engaging the earplug of the fluid transfer device with the external ear canal wall as the barrier between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure; and operating the fluid transfer device to generate the fluid flow of the fluid through the earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between the external ear canal pressure and the ambient pressure effective to alleviate a disorder symptom or treat a disorder.

Claims

1. A method for treatment of a headache syndrome, comprising:

providing a gas transfer device which generates a gas flow of a gas through an earplug, said earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage anexternal ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; and

treating a subject having said headache syndrome by;

sealably engaging said earplug with said external ear canal wall; and

operating said gas transfer device to generate said gas flow of said gas through said earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure;

operating said gas transfer device to change the external ear canal pressure differential between a positive external ear canal pressure differential and a negative external ear canal pressure differential, while the earplug is sealably engaged with the external ear canal wall;

wherein said changing external ear canal pressure differential is effective to treat said headache syndrome.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said gas comprises air.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said change comprises oscillating said external ear canal pressure differential between said positive external ear canal pressure differential and said negative external ear canal pressure differential.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving a tympanic membrane in response to achieving said external ear canal pressure differential between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said headache syndrome comprises a migraine headache.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating said gas transfer device to oscillate a pressure amplitude to generate a pressure wave having a pressure wave frequency.

14. The method of claim 2, further comprising moving a tympanic membrane in response to achieving said external ear canal pressure differentials between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure.

7. A method for treatment of a headache syndrome, comprising:

providing a fluid transfer device which generates a fluid flow of a fluid through an earplug, said earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; and

treating a subject having said headache syndrome by;

sealably engaging said earplug with said external ear canal wall;

operating said fluid transfer device to generate said fluid flow of said fluid through said earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure;

operating said fluid transfer device to change the external ear canal pressure differential between a positive external ear canal pressure differential and a negative external ear canal pressure differential, while the earplug is sealably engaged with the external ear canal wall; and

wherein said changing external ear canal pressure differential is effective to treat said headache syndrome.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said change comprises oscillating between said positive external ear canal pressure differential and said negative external ear canal pressure differential.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising moving a tympanic membrane in response to achieving said external ear canal pressure differential between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said headache syndrome comprises a migraine headache.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising operating said fluid transfer device to oscillate a pressure amplitude to generate a pressure wave having a pressure wave frequency.

12. A method for alleviating pain resulting from a headache syndrome, comprising:

providing a fluid transfer device which generates a fluid flow of a fluid through an earplug, said earplug having an earplug external surface configured to sealably engage an external ear canal wall as a barrier between an external ear canal pressure and an ambient pressure; and

treating a subject having said headache syndrome by;

sealably engaging said earplug with said external ear canal wall; and

operating said fluid transfer device to generate said fluid flow of said fluid through said earplug to achieve an external ear canal pressure differential between said external ear canal pressure and said ambient pressure;

operating said fluid transfer device to change the external ear canal pressure differential between a positive external ear canal pressure differential and a negative external ear canal pressure differential, while the earplug is sealably engaged with the external ear canal wall; and

wherein said changing external ear canal pressure differential is effective to alleviate said pain.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said change comprises oscillating between said positive external ear canal pressure differential and said negative external ear canal pressure differential.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising modulating a temperature of the ear.