Systems and methods for altering vestibular biology

• US 20050240253A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wicab, Inc.
• Inventors: Tyler, Mitchell Eugene, Danilov, Yuri Petrovich, Bach-y-Rita, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/033,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4005 for evaluating the sensory system A61B5/12, A61B5/4058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• 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 9/08 Devices or methods enabling eye-patients to replace direct visual perception by another kind of perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 : Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0643 : Tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 : Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 : Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating diseases and conditions, as well as providing enhanced physical and mental health and performance through sensory substitution, sensory enhancement, and related effects. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for altering vestibular biology to, among other things, treat diseases and conditions or enhance performance related to vestibular functions.

Claims

1-77. -77. (canceled)

78. A method for treating a subject, comprising:

exposing a subject'"'"'s tongue to a pattern of electrotactile stimulation provided by a stimulator array placed in contact with the tongue under conditions such that said subject experiences enhanced balance, wherein said pattern of electrotactile stimulation conveys information about said subject'"'"'s body position with respect to a gravitational plane.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said stimulator array comprises three or more electrodes positioned at known locations on said stimulator array.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein a processor that is in electronic communication with said stimulator array provides said pattern of electrotactile stimulation.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein said processor receives data corresponding to said body position from a sensor of angular or linear motion, and wherein said processor converts said data into said pattern.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein said sensor of angular or linear motion comprises an accelerometer or gyroscope.

83. The method of claim 78, wherein said exposing comprises providing said pattern of electrotactile stimulation to said subject while said subject undergoes a training program that permits said subject to correlate said pattern of electrotactile stimulation with said body position with respect to the gravitational plane.

84. The method of claim 78, wherein said pattern of electrotactile stimulation is provided to said subject under conditions that permit said subject to experience said enhanced balance for a post-treatment period of time after said electrotactile simulation is stopped.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said post-treatment period of time is six hours.

86. The method of claim 84, wherein said post-treatment period of time is one week.

87. The method of claim 78, wherein said post-treatment period of time is one month.

88. A system for treating a subject, comprising:

a) a sensor that collects information related to body position with respect to a gravitational plane;

b) an electrotactile stimulator array configured to transmit a pattern of electrotactile stimulation to a subject'"'"'s tongue; and

c) a processor configured to;

i) receive information from said sensor related to a subject'"'"'s body position with respect to a gravitational plane;

ii) convert said information into said pattern; and

iii) transmit said pattern to said electrotactile stimulator to allow said electrotactile stimulator array to transmit said pattern of electrotactile stimulation to said subject'"'"'s tongue.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein said sensor comprises a sensor of angular or linear motion.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said sensor of angular or linear motion comprises an accelerometer or gyroscope.

91. The system of claim 88, wherein said stimulator array comprises three or more electrodes positioned at known locations on said stimulator array.

92. The system of claim 88, wherein said stimulator array is contained in a mount configured to removably reside in the subject'"'"'s mouth.

93. The system of claim 88, wherein said processor is enclosed in a portable housing.

94. The system of claim 88, wherein said processor is attached to said stimulator array by a cable.

95. The system of claim 88, wherein said processor is configured to transmit said pattern to said stimulator array via wireless transmission.

96. The system of claim 88, wherein said processor is further configured to run training software that permits said subject to correlate said pattern of electrotactile information with said body position.

97. A method for treating a subject suffering from vestibular dysfunction, comprising:

a) providing the system of claim 88, and b) exposing a subject'"'"'s tongue to said pattern of electrotactile stimulation.

98. A method for maintaining balance, comprising:

a) measuring a subject'"'"'s body position with a sensor that collects information related to body position with respect to a gravitational plane;

b) displaying a visual object to said subject based on said body position by generating a said visual object from data collected by said sensor;

c) providing a visual reference point to said subject; and

d) having said subject maintain a position of said visual object with said visual reference point over a period of time under conditions such that said position corresponds to a balanced body position.