DEVICE FOR APPLYING A TRANSCUTANEOUS STIMULUS OR FOR TRANSCUTANEOUS MEASURING OF A PARAMETER

• US 20080249594A1
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerbomed GmbH (tVNS Technologies GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Cerbomed GmbH (tVNS Technologies GmbH)
• Inventors: Dietrich, Stefan, Freitag, Timo
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/115
• 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 2201/1645 contoured to fit the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for transcutaneous application of a stimulus or for transcutaneous measurement of a parameter on or from the skin surface of a vertebrate, in particular a human. The invention provides, in order to make the nerve stimulation in particular efficient, ergonomically favourable and easily manipulable for the patient, that the apparatus is designed so that it can be accommodated completely in the pinna (external ear) of the vertebrate.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transcutaneous application of a stimulus or for transcutaneous measurement of a parameter on or from the skin surface of a vertebrate, wherein the apparatus is designed so that it can be accommodated completely in a pinna of the vertebrate.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has at least in sections a C-shaped configuration.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus has exclusively a C-shaped configuration.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a housing out of which two curved, preferably wire-shaped sections extend.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two curved, preferably wire-shaped sections have at their ends a spherical element.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spherical elements are designed as metal spheres.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing includes a unit for generating an electrical stimulus, and the two curved, wire-shaped sections each have in their end region an electrode for applying the stimulus to the skin surface.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the housing and the two curved sections are designed and disposable in such a way that the electrodes come to rest in the region of or near the tragus.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the two curved sections are designed and disposable in such a way that they come to rest on the skin surface above the vagus nerve.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing comprises a unit for measuring a physiological, a pathophysiological or a physical parameter, and the two curved sections are designed as resilient holders.

11. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing and/or the curved sections consist of deformable material.

12. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the housing consists of a combination of two materials.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rechargeable battery is disposed in the apparatus.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has an earphone.