DEVICES FOR VESTIBULAR OR CRANIAL NERVE STIMULATION

• US 20100198282A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scion Neurostim Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scion Neurostim, LLC
• Inventors: Rogers, Lesco L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0296 Intervals of heating alternated with intervals of cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02

Abstract

A nerve tissue stimulator configured for contacting to or insertion in the body of a subject to stimulate a tissue therein, said probe comprising: (a) a support configured for contacting to or positioning adjacent a tissue of said subject; (b) at least one thermoelectric device (TED) on said support and positioned for thermally stimulating said nerve tissue.

Claims

1. A nerve tissue stimulator configured for contacting to or insertion in the body of a subject to stimulate a tissue therein, said probe comprising:

(a) a support configured for contacting to or positioning adjacent a tissue of said subject;

(b) at least one thermoelectric device (TED) on said support and positioned for thermally stimulating said nerve tissue.

2. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices positioned on said support for stimulating said tissue.

3. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another on said support at a density of at least 5 per square centimeter up to 400 per square centimeter.

4. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another in a linear array.

5. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another in a two-dimensional array.

6. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are thermally coupled to one another.

7. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, each of said thermoelectric devices having an first side and a second side, said first side thermally coupled to a heat transfer structure and said second side positioned for thermally stimulating said tissue so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and said tissue.

8. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, wherein said stimulator is a probe having a distal end portion and an elongate body portion.

9. The tissue stimulator of claim 8, wherein at least one of said thermoelectric devices is located at said probe or catheter distal end portion, and wherein said elongate body portion is optionally insulated.

10. The tissue stimulator of claim 9, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned along said elongate body portion.

11. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein said stimulator is a cochlear stimulator configured to be inserted into the cochlea of a subject with said thermoelectric devices positioned to stimulate ganglion cell in the basal region of the cochlea.

12. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode on said probe for electrically stimulating said tissue.

13. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device comprises a thin film thermoelectric transducer.

14. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of thermal stimulation conductive lines, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically coupled to at least one separate thermal stimulation conductive line.

15. The tissue stimulator of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of electrical stimulation conductive lines, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically coupled to at least one separate thermal stimulation conductive line.

16. The tissue stimulator of claim 15, said plurality of separate conductive lines bundled together in a single lead, said lead having a terminal connector configured for connection to a controller.

17. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, wherein said stimulator comprises a pair of stimulators connected to a head piece, said head piece configured for positioning said pair of stimulators in both ears of a subject, with one stimulator in each ear.

18. The tissue stimulator of claim 17, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and extending into said head piece.

19. The tissue stimulator of claim 17, wherein said head piece comprises a flexible or adjustable, over-the-head or behind-the-head, band.

20. The tissue stimulator of claim 17, wherein said head piece comprises a flexible or adjustable under-the-chin connecting piece.

21. A system comprising:

(a) a tissue stimulator of claim 1; and

(b) a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device, wherein the controller is configured to sense a first value of an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, to generate a first electrical control signal to pump heat through the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, to sense a second value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device wherein the first and second values of the electrical characteristic are different, and to generate a second electrical control signal to pump heat through the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the second electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the first and second electrical control signals are different.

22. A temperature control system according to claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to sense the first and second electrical characteristics by sensing electrical signals generated by the thermoelectric device responsive to first and second heat gradients across the thermoelectric device.

23. A temperature control system according to claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first electrical control signal so that heat is pumped through the thermoelectric device in a first direction, and to generate the second electrical control signal so that heat is pumped through the thermoelectric device in a second direction opposite the first direction.

24. A temperature control system according to claim 23 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first electrical control signal so that a first electrical current flows through the thermoelectric device in a first direction, and to generate the second electrical control signal so that a second electrical current flows through the thermoelectric device in a second direction opposite the first direction.

25. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device for adjusting said at least one thermoelectric device.

26. The tissue stimulator of claim 25, further comprising a subject or patient parameter sensor operatively associated with said controller, and with said controller configured so that said thermoelectric device is responsive to the detection of a subject or patient parameter.

27. The tissue stimulator of claim 26, wherein said subject or patient parameter sensor is selected from the group consisting of position sensors, motion detectors, blood pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, blood gas level sensors, electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors, electrooculogram (EOG) sensors, electronystagmography sensors, breath-rate sensors, nystagmus sensors, galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors, tympanic membrane temperature sensors, brain temperature sensors, and tissue temperature sensors.

28. The tissue stimulator of claim 27, wherein said patient parameter sensor is a position sensor;

and wherein controller is configured to selectively adjust said thermoelectric device when a predetermined patient position is detected.

29. The tissue stimulator of claim 27, wherein said patient parameter sensor is a local tissue temperature sensor, and wherein said controller is configured to selectively adjust said thermoelectric device when a predetermined local tissue temperature is detected.

30. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, further comprising:

a heat sink operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device; and

a temperature sensor operatively associated with both said heat sink and said controller;

said controller configured to selectively activate or inactivate said at least one thermoelectric device when a predetermined temperature for said heat sink is detected.

31. The tissue stimulator of claim 1, further comprising a current steering controller operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device (TED).

32. The tissue stimulator of claim 28, wherein said current steering controller comprises a pulse generator responsive to programming signals for generating stimulation currents;

a system responsive to the programming signals for selectively applying the stimulation currents to one or more TEDs; and

a current steering unit responsive to directional signals configured for steering the stimulation currents from at least one first TED to at least one second TED.

33. A tissue stimulator configured for contacting to or insertion in the body of a subject to stimulate a tissue therein, said probe comprising:

(a) a support configured for contacting to or positioning adjacent a tissue of said subject;

(b) at least one thermoelectric device (TED) on said support and positioned for thermally stimulating said tissue;

wherein said support is configured as an ear insert so dimensioned as to be insertable into the ear canal of a wearer.

34. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices positioned on said support for stimulating said tissue.

35. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another on said support at a density of at least 5 per square centimeter up to 400 per square centimeter.

36. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another in a linear array.

37. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned adjacent one another in a two-dimensional array.

38. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are thermally coupled to one another.

39. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, each of said thermoelectric devices having an first side and a second side, said first side thermally coupled to a heat transfer structure and said second side positioned for thermally stimulating said tissue so that the thermoelectric device is thermally coupled between the heat transfer structure and said tissue.

40. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, wherein said stimulator is a probe having a distal end portion and an elongate body portion.

41. The tissue stimulator of claim 40, wherein at least one of said thermoelectric devices is located at said probe or catheter distal end portion, and wherein said elongate body portion is optionally insulated.

42. The tissue stimulator of claim 41, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are positioned along said elongate body portion.

43. The stimulator of claim 34, wherein said stimulator is a cochlear stimulator configured to be inserted into the cochlea of a subject with said thermoelectric devices positioned to stimulate ganglion cell in the basal region of the cochlea.

44. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, further comprising at least one electrode on said probe for electrically stimulating said tissue.

45. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device comprises a thin film thermoelectric transducer.

46. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of thermal stimulation conductive lines, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically coupled to at least one separate thermal stimulation conductive line.

47. The tissue stimulator of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of electrical stimulation conductive lines, each of said plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically coupled to at least one separate thermal stimulation conductive line.

48. The tissue stimulator of claim 47, said plurality of separate conductive lines bundled together in a single lead, said lead having a terminal connector configured for connection to a controller.

49. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, wherein said stimulator comprises a pair of stimulators connected to a head piece, said head piece configured for positioning said pair of stimulators in both ears of a subject, with one stimulator in each ear.

50. The tissue stimulator of claim 49, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and extending into said head piece.

51. The tissue stimulator of claim 49, wherein said head piece comprises a flexible or adjustable, over-the-head or behind-the-head, band.

52. The tissue stimulator of claim 49, wherein said head piece comprises a flexible or adjustable under-the-chin connecting piece.

53. A system comprising:

(a) a tissue stimulator of claim 33; and

(b) a controller electrically coupled to the thermoelectric device, wherein the controller is configured to sense a first value of an electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, to generate a first electrical control signal to pump heat through the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the first value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, to sense a second value of the electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device wherein the first and second values of the electrical characteristic are different, and to generate a second electrical control signal to pump heat through the thermoelectric device in response to sensing the second electrical characteristic of the thermoelectric device, wherein the first and second electrical control signals are different.

54. A temperature control system according to claim 53 wherein the controller is configured to sense the first and second electrical characteristics by sensing electrical signals generated by the thermoelectric device responsive to first and second heat gradients across the thermoelectric device.

55. A temperature control system according to claim 53 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first electrical control signal so that heat is pumped through the thermoelectric device in a first direction, and to generate the second electrical control signal so that heat is pumped through the thermoelectric device in a second direction opposite the first direction.

56. A temperature control system according to claim 53 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first electrical control signal so that a first electrical current flows through the thermoelectric device in a first direction, and to generate the second electrical control signal so that a second electrical current flows through the thermoelectric device in a second direction opposite the first direction.

57. The tissue stimulator of claim 56, further comprising a controller operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device for adjusting said at least one thermoelectric device.

58. The tissue stimulator of claim 56, further comprising a subject or patient parameter sensor operatively associated with said controller, and with said controller configured so that said thermoelectric device is responsive to the detection of a subject or patient parameter.

59. The tissue stimulator of claim 58, wherein said subject or patient parameter sensor is selected from the group consisting of position sensors, motion detectors, blood pressure sensors, heart rate sensors, blood gas level sensors, electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors, electrooculogram (EOG) sensors, electronystagmography sensors, breath-rate sensors, nystagmus sensors, galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors, tympanic membrane temperature sensors, brain temperature sensors, and tissue temperature sensors.

60. The tissue stimulator of claim 59, wherein said patient parameter sensor is a position sensor;

and wherein controller is configured to selectively adjust said thermoelectric device when a predetermined patient position is detected.

61. The tissue stimulator of claim 59, wherein said patient parameter sensor is a local tissue temperature sensor, and wherein said controller is configured to selectively adjust said thermoelectric device when a predetermined local tissue temperature is detected.

62. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, further comprising:

a heat sink operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device; and

a temperature sensor operatively associated with both said heat sink and said controller;

said controller configured to selectively activate or inactivate said at least one thermoelectric device when a predetermined temperature for said heat sink is detected.

63. The tissue stimulator of claim 33, further comprising a current steering controller operatively associated with said at least one thermoelectric device (TED).

64. The tissue stimulator of claim 63, wherein said current steering controller comprises a pulse generator responsive to programming signals for generating stimulation currents;

a system responsive to the programming signals for selectively applying the stimulation currents to one or more TEDs; and

a current steering unit responsive to directional signals configured for steering the stimulation currents from at least one first TED to at least one second TED.