Neuro-Electric-Therapy Headset
First Claim
1. A self-administrable and self-locating neuro-electric-therapy headset for automatically applying tissue interface circuits for delivering treatment signals to a preselected contact area in the conch of each ear of a human subject, comprising:
- an electronics housing carrying a waveform source device having an impedance detecting function;
right and left earpiece housings each connected to said electronics housing and carried in suitable positions for application, respectively, to the right and left ears of a human subject;
said right and left earpiece housings further comprising a right and a left elongated protrusion, each extending to a respective free end wall, respectively from said right and left earpiece housings, and each carrying a tissue interface circuit on said free end wall, wherein said tissue interface circuits are in communication with said waveform source device for communicating impedance and receiving treatment signals, and said elongated protrusions are suitably arranged for applying the respective tissue interface circuits against the conch of a human ear when the headset is applied to a human subject, over a preselected contact area juxtaposed to the lower edge of the ear canal opening and extending rearward there from in the conch of the ear;
wherein said tissue interface circuit comprises an array of electrodes carried in association with said free end wall of each earpiece housing, sized to typically contact at least about one-quarter the height of the conch of a human ear, and arranged to achieve electrical communication with said preselected contact areas in the conch of the right and left ears of a human subject when said respective protrusions are inserted therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained, portable headset carries a waveform source device and tissue interface circuits in a self-locating position for delivering treatment signals to a preselected area in the conch of the ear of a human subject. An electronics housing carries a waveform source device in communication with right and left tissue interface circuits, carried respectively in right and left earpiece housings. The headset carries each earpiece housing at a rearward and downward angle so that a protruding trunk enters the conch of the outer ear and contacts the conch generally below and rearwardly of the ear canal. An audio speaker delivers associated tones during treatment. An end wall of the trunk carries an array of electrodes contacts the preselected area in the conch of the ear.
126 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A self-administrable and self-locating neuro-electric-therapy headset for automatically applying tissue interface circuits for delivering treatment signals to a preselected contact area in the conch of each ear of a human subject, comprising:
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an electronics housing carrying a waveform source device having an impedance detecting function;
right and left earpiece housings each connected to said electronics housing and carried in suitable positions for application, respectively, to the right and left ears of a human subject;
said right and left earpiece housings further comprising a right and a left elongated protrusion, each extending to a respective free end wall, respectively from said right and left earpiece housings, and each carrying a tissue interface circuit on said free end wall, wherein said tissue interface circuits are in communication with said waveform source device for communicating impedance and receiving treatment signals, and said elongated protrusions are suitably arranged for applying the respective tissue interface circuits against the conch of a human ear when the headset is applied to a human subject, over a preselected contact area juxtaposed to the lower edge of the ear canal opening and extending rearward there from in the conch of the ear;
wherein said tissue interface circuit comprises an array of electrodes carried in association with said free end wall of each earpiece housing, sized to typically contact at least about one-quarter the height of the conch of a human ear, and arranged to achieve electrical communication with said preselected contact areas in the conch of the right and left ears of a human subject when said respective protrusions are inserted therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating a human subject in need of such treatment for one or more disorders selected from chronic headache, migraine headache, hormonally induced migraine (PMS), narcotics withdrawal symptoms, smoking withdrawal symptoms, or any combination thereof, comprising:
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providing a self-contained, portable headset carrying a selectively activated waveform source device with simultaneous impedance measuring means, carrying right and left tissue interface circuits responsive to said source device, and carrying an audio output means responsive to said impedance measuring means, wherein each of said right and left tissue interface circuits is configured with an ear-entering portion comprising an array of electrodes suitably sized and shaped for contacting the conch of a human ear at a preselected contact area near the lower edge of the ear canal opening and extending rearwardly there from;
applying said right and left tissue interface circuits respectively to right and left ears of a human subject, in a position such that said tissue interface circuit is in electrical communication with said preselected contact area;
activating said source device to provide waveform signals effective for treatment of said one or more disorders to both of said tissue interface circuits while simultaneously measuring impedance at the tissue interface circuits;
delivering effective waveform treatment over an effective time period for treating said condition to said preselected contact area in the conch of each ear of the human subject in need thereof, while simultaneously generating and delivering an audio output signal responsive to measured impedance at the tissue interface circuits for enabling the human subject to adjust the position of the headset for electrical communication with said preselected contact area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification