Portable device for treating Meniere's disease and similar conditions

• US 10,271,992 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daiichi Medical Co., Ltd. (Qol Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Daiichi Medical Co., Ltd. (Qol Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis, LaToya M
• Application Number:
  US14/786,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20160067099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 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: 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 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/07 having air pumping means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears

Abstract

A portable device for noninvasively treating Meniere'"'"'s disease and similar conditions by introducing pressure pulses into an ear canal to vibrate auditory ossicles through a tympanic membrane. The device includes a pump unit for generating the pressure pulses, wherein the pump unit includes a Voice Coil Motor and a diaphragm pump that is driven by the Voice Coil Motor; an earpiece for transmitting the pressure pulses to a tympanic membrane; a controller for controlling the pump unit; and an alarm lamp. When the device detects no pressure pulses being generated even when the pump unit is operated, the alarm lamp is lit and an error message is displayed on the indicator, and when the device detects the earpiece being disconnected from the ear of the user, the microcomputer stops counting the time elapsed and the alarm lamp is lit and an error message is displayed on the indicator.

Claims

1. A portable device for noninvasively treating Meniere'"'"'s disease and similar conditions by introducing pressure pulses into an ear canal to vibrate auditory ossicles through a tympanic membrane, the device comprising:

a pump unit for generating the pressure pulses, wherein the pump unit comprises a Voice Coil Motor and a diaphragm pump that is driven by the Voice Coil Motor;

an earpiece for transmitting the pressure pulses to a tympanic membrane;

a controller for controlling the pump unit;

a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure of the pressure pulses;

a circuit for sensing a voltage on a power-supply;

a valve for exposing compressed air in a chamber for compressing air where the pressure pulses are generated to an atmospheric pressure;

an alarm lamp;

an indicator; and

a microcomputer that counts time elapsed from start of operation,

wherein a period, a pressure, a width, and a frequency of the pressure pulses are adjustable, wherein respective widths of a positive and a negative pressure pulse are separately set,

wherein pressure pulses that are suitable for the treatment of Meniere'"'"'s disease are generated,

wherein the device has the functions of detecting the earpiece being disconnected from the ear of a user, detecting when pressure pulses exceed a preset pressure, detecting no pressure reset in the chamber for compressing air to the atmospheric pressure when the valve is opened to the atmospheric pressure, detecting no earpiece being connected to the pump unit, detecting no pressure pulses being generated when the pump unit is operated, and detecting a voltage sensed by the circuit being below a rated voltage,

wherein when the device detects no pressure pulses being generated when the pump unit is operated, the alarm lamp is lit and an error message is displayed on the indicator, and

wherein when the device detects the earpiece being disconnected from the ear of the user, the microcomputer stops counting the time elapsed and the alarm lamp is lit and an error message is displayed on the indicator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an operation mode of the device is selected from two modes:

a first mode, in which a user can change any of the period, the pressure, the width, and the frequency of the pressure pulses, and a second mode, in which the user cannot change any of them.