Vestibular Stimulation System and Method

• US 20080275513A1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lattner, Stefanie, Mechlenburg, Douglas M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear

Abstract

An apparatus and method in which the portions of the labyrinth associated with the labyrinthine sense and/or the nerves associated therewith are stimulated to perform at least one of the following functions: augment or control a patient'"'"'s respiratory function, open the patient'"'"'s airway, induce sleep, and/or counteract vertigo. In one embodiment, the vestibular stimulating system of the present invention includes 1) a stimulation element that performs the actual stimulation of the tissue, 2) a sensor to detect a physiological condition of the patient, and 3) a power/control unit that receives the signals provided by the sensor and causes stimulation energy to be provided to the stimulation element at an appropriate timing, level, pattern, and/or frequency to achieve the desired function. However, the present invention also contemplates eliminating the sensor in favor of applying a predetermined pattern of stimulation to the patient.

Claims

1. A vestibular stimulation system comprising:

a power supply;

a stimulation element operatively coupled to the power supply and adapted to provide a stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of a patient; and

a control unit operatively coupled to at least one of the power supply and the stimulation element so as to control an application of the stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient so as to counteract vertigo or dizziness by masking out signals from the vestibular system of such a patient.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation element is one of:

an electrode, a mechanism that generates a mechanical motion as the stimulation energy, a sonic emitter, an ultrasonic emitter, a magnetic field generator, a thermal generating element, a chemical injector, an rf emitter and an infrared emitter.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation element is a surface electrode adapted to be disposed on a surface of such a patient'"'"'s skull behind such a patient'"'"'s ear.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a characteristic of the stimulation energy applied to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient, including at least one of an amplitude, a waveform shape, a frequency, and a duration of the stimulation energy.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating element includes a first stimulating electrode disposed proximate to a vestibular system of a patient, and a second stimulating electrode disposed on a surface of such patient, and wherein the control unit applies a single polarity waveform or an alternating polarity waveform between the first and the second electrodes to induce the rocking sensation.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the first stimulating electrode is disposed proximate to a left vestibular system and the second stimulating electrode is disposed proximate to a right vestibular system of a patient.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit terminates the application of the stimulation energy responsive to at least one of (1) an elapse of a predetermined period of time and (2) an occurrence of a predetermined event.

8. A vestibular stimulation method comprising:

providing a stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of a patient; and

controlling an application of the stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient so as to counteract vertigo or dizziness by masking out signals from the vestibular system of such a patient.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein providing the stimulation energy includes locating a stimulation element proximate to a vestibular system of a patient.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein providing the stimulation energy includes locating a first stimulating electrode proximate to a left vestibular system of a patient, and locating a second stimulating electrode disposed proximate to a right vestibular system of a patient, and wherein the controlling the application of stimulation energy includes providing a single polarity waveform or an alternating polarity waveform between the first and the second electrodes to induce the rocking sensation.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein controlling the application of stimulation energy includes termination the application of the stimulation energy responsive to at least one of (1) an elapse of a predetermined period of time and (2) an occurrence of a predetermined event.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein controlling the application of stimulation energy includes controlling a characteristic of the stimulation energy applied to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient, including at least one of an amplitude, a waveform shape, a frequency, and a duration of the stimulation energy applied to a patient.

13. A vestibular stimulation system comprising:

a power supply;

a stimulation element operatively coupled to the power supply and adapted to provide a stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of a patient; and

a control unit operatively coupled to at least one of the power supply and the stimulation element so as to control an application of the stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient so as to control respiration of such a patient.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the control unit is adapted to control respiration by (a) inducing a deep sigh, (b) triggering an inspiratory phase of such a the patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, (c) pacing respiration of such a patient, (d) control a pattern of respiration of such a patient, or (e) any combination of (a), (b), (c), and (d).

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the control unit causes the stimulation element to deliver the stimulation energy according to a predetermined pattern.

16. A system according to claim 13, further comprising a sensor adapted to detect a physiological characteristic of such a patient and to output a signal indicative thereof to the control unit, and wherein the control unit controls the application of stimulation energy to such a patient based on the output of the sensor.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the stimulation element is one of:

an electrode, a mechanism that generates a mechanical motion as the stimulation energy, a sonic emitter, an ultrasonic emitter, a magnetic field generator, a thermal generating element, a chemical injector, an rf emitter and an infrared emitter.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the stimulation element is a surface electrode adapted to be disposed on a surface of such a patient'"'"'s skull behind such a patient'"'"'s ear.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the control unit controls a characteristic of the stimulation energy applied to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient, including at least one of an amplitude, a waveform shape, a frequency, and a duration of the stimulation energy.

20. A vestibular stimulation method comprising:

providing a stimulation energy to at least a portion of a vestibular system of a patient; and

controlling the application of the stimulation energy to such a patient so as to control respiration of such a patient.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein controlling the application of the stimulation energy includes (a) inducing a deep sigh, (b) triggering an inspiratory phase of such a the patient'"'"'s respiratory cycle, (c) pacing respiration of such a patient, (d) control a pattern of respiration of such a patient, or (e) any combination of (a), (b), (c), and (d).

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein providing stimulation energy includes:

locating a stimulating electrode proximate to a vestibular system of a patient; and

providing electrical energy to the stimulating electrode from a power source.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein controlling the application of the stimulation energy includes providing the stimulation energy according to a predetermined pattern.

24. A method according to claim 20, further comprising detecting a physiological characteristic of such a patient, and wherein controlling the application of the stimulation energy is done based on an output of the detecting step.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein controlling the application of the stimulation energy also includes controlling a characteristic of the stimulation energy applied to at least a portion of a vestibular system of such a patient, including controlling at least one of an amplitude, a waveform shape, a frequency, and a duration of the stimulation energy applied to such a patient.