Vestibular Stimulation System

• US 20090082831A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cessna, Michael, Paul, Zachary D., Vangura, Al, Kirby, Todd, Broadley, William H., Wells, Kevin, Giovannelli, Benjamin A., Colbaugh, Michael E., Lattner, Stefanie
• Granted Patent: US 10,076,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• 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 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 controlled by body position or posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration

Abstract

A vestibular stimulation system and method that includes a housing, a power supply disposed in the housing, an electrode assembly adapted to be coupled to the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the power supply. The controller controls the delivery of energy from the power supply to the electrode assembly. An input element is also disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The input element is manually manipulated to control the operation of the vestibular stimulation system. A display disposed on an exterior surface of the housing provides visual information regarding the operation of the vestibular stimulation system. A mounting assembly is coupled to the housing to mount the housing on such a user.

Claims

1. A vestibular stimulation system, comprising:

a housing;

a power supply disposed in the housing;

an electrode assembly adapted to be coupled to the housing;

a controller disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the power supply, wherein the controller controls delivery of energy from the power supply to the electrode assembly;

an input element disposed on an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the input element is manually manipulated to control the operation of the vestibular stimulation system;

a display disposed on an exterior surface of the housing, wherein the display is adapted to provide visual information regarding the operation of the vestibular stimulation system, and

a mounting assembly coupled to the housing to mount the housing on such a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly comprises:

an electrical lead having a first end adapted to be coupled to the housing; and

an electrode operatively coupled to the electrical lead.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly comprises:

(a) an armband adapted to mount the housing on such a user'"'"'s arm;

(b) a head mounting assembly adapted to mount the housing on a head of a user;

(c) a garment worn by such a user;

or

(d) any combination of the armband, the head mounting assembly, and the garment.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor adapted to monitor a physiological parameter of such a user, and wherein the controller controls the delivery of the energy to the user based, at least in part, on an output of the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control adapted to communicate with the controller;

a removable data storage element adapted to store data to be provided to the controller, received from the controller, or both provided to and received from the controller;

a speaker operatively coupled to the electrical lead, the electrode, or the controller and adapted to be placed on or in an ear of such a user;

a timer, wherein the controller controls the delivery of energy to the user based on an output of the timer or

any combination of the remote control, the data storage element, the speaker, and the timer.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a volume to weight ratio that is not greater than approximately 0.2388 cm³/g.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fail-safe assembly operatively coupled to the controller to control the delivery of energy to the electrode assembly.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensing assembly adapted to monitor a position of such a user;

a motion sensing assembly;

a location monitoring assembly;

or

any combination of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, and the location monitoring assembly, wherein the controller controls the delivery of energy to the user based on an output of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, the location monitoring assembly, or any combination of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, and the location monitoring assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control is adapted to determine whether such a user is deemed awake, wherein the controller controls the delivery of energy to the user based on whether such a user is deemed awake.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to change a parameter associated with the stimulation therapy over time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the parameter is a frequency, shape, amplitude, power, phase, or any combination thereof.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the delivery of energy from the power supply to the electrical lead application such that stimulation energy provided to a vestibular system of a user is of a character that it promotes sleep and/or relaxation or waking in such a user.

13. A method of providing vestibular stimulation to a user, comprising:

(a) providing a vestibular stimulation system comprising;

(1) a housing,

(2) a power supply disposed in the housing,

(3) a controller disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the power supply, wherein the controller controls delivery of energy from the power supply to the electrode assembly,

(4) an input element disposed on an exterior surface of the housing, and

(5) a display disposed on an exterior surface of the housing,

(b) coupling an electrode assembly to the housing;

(c) mounting the housing on such a user using a mounting assembly coupled to the housing;

(d) delivering stimulation energy to a user by providing energy from the power supply to the electrode assembly;

(e) controlling the operation of the vestibular stimulation system by manually manipulating the input element; and

(f) providing visual information regarding the operation of the vestibular stimulation system using the display.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein delivering stimulation energy includes providing energy from a battery, an inductive field receiving element, or both disposed in the housing.

15. The method of claim 13, mounting the housing on such a user includes mounting the housing on:

(a) an armband adapted to mount the housing on such a user'"'"'s arm;

(b) a head mounting assembly adapted to mount the housing on a head of a user;

(c) a garment worn by such a user;

or

(d) any combination of the armband, the head mounting assembly, and the garment.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(a) monitoring a physiological parameter of such a user and controlling the delivery of the energy to the user based, at least in part, on the monitoring a physiological parameter;

(b) providing a remote control, and controlling the operation of the vestibular stimulation system using the remote control;

(c) providing a removable data storage element, and storing data to be provided to the controller, received from the controller, or both provided to and received from the controller on the storage element;

or

(d) any combination of steps (a), (b), and (c).

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a pressure support therapy, a sound therapy, an aroma therapy, a circadian rhythm therapy, or any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a position sensing assembly adapted to monitor a position of such a user, a motion sensing assembly, a location monitoring assembly, or any combination of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, and the location monitoring assembly; and

controlling the delivery of energy to the user based on an output of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, the location monitoring assembly, or any combination of the position sensing assembly, the motion sensing assembly, and the location monitoring assembly.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising

providing a timer;

and

controlling the delivery of energy to the user based on an output of the timer.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether such a user is deemed awake; and

controlling the delivery of energy to the user based on whether such a user is deemed awake.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising changing a parameter associated with the stimulation therapy over time.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the parameter is a frequency, shape, amplitude, power, phase, or any combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the delivery of energy from the power supply to the electrical lead application such that stimulation energy provided to a vestibular system of a user is of a character that it promotes sleep and/or relaxation or waking in such a user.