SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DELIVERING VESTIBULAR STIMULATION CUSTOMIZABLE TO INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTS

• US 20130090704A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Puszka, Agathe Melanie, Kolen, Alexander Franciscus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,132,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear

Abstract

The vestibular system of a subject is stimulated in accordance with a therapy regime that dictates one or more parameters of the stimulation. The system is configured such that at a single site, one or more parameters of the stimulation varies for different locations at the site. This may enhance the customizability and/or effectiveness of the stimulation.

Claims

1. A system configured to stimulate the vestibular system of a subject, the system comprising:

a first set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, and wherein the subject contact surfaces are configured to be installed on the skin of the subject at or near a first ear of the subject in electrical contact with the skin of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the first set of contact surfaces impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear; and

a processor configured to execute one or more modules, the one or more modules comprising;

a power control module configured to control the distribution of electrical stimulation to the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces individually such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual subject contact surfaces vary between different subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation comprise one or more of amplitude, frequency of modulation, phase of modulation, polarity, pulse width of modulation, pulse pause of modulation, pulse train of modulation, or pulse shape of modulation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more modules further comprise a therapy module configured to provide a therapy regime to the power control module that dictates distribution of electrical stimulation to the set of subject contact surfaces in a coordinated manner to have a therapeutic impact on the vestibular system.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, wherein the subject contact surfaces are configured to be installed on the skin of the subject at or near a second ear of the subject in electrical contact with the skin of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the second set of contact surfaces impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the second ear, and wherein the power control module is further configured to control the distribution of electrical stimulation to the subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces individually such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces vary between different subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to generate an output signal conveying information related to the communication of electrical stimulation between at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject and the skin of the subject or related to the impact on the vestibular system of electrical stimulation distributed into the skin of the subject through the first set of subject contact surfaces, and wherein the one or more modules are configured to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to at least one subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces relative to at least one other subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces based on the output signal generated by the sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of the subject contact surfaces.

7. A method of stimulating the vestibular system of a subject, the method comprising:

contacting the skin of the subject through a first set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, and wherein the subject contact surfaces contact the skin of the subject at or near a first ear of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the first set of contact surfaces impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear; and

distributing electrical stimulation to the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces individually such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual subject contact surfaces vary between different subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation comprise one or more of amplitude, frequency of modulation, phase of modulation, polarity, pulse width of modulation, pulse pause of modulation, pulse train of modulation, or pulse shape of modulation.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein distributing electrical stimulation to the first set of subject contact surfaces is performed in accordance with a therapy regime that dictates distribution of electrical stimulation to the set of subject contact surfaces in a coordinated manner to have a therapeutic impact on the vestibular system.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

contacting the skin of the subject through a second set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, wherein the subject contact surfaces contact the skin of the subject at or near a second ear of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the second set of contact surfaces impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the second ear; and

distributing electrical stimulation to the subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces individually such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces vary between different subject contact surfaces in the second set of subject contact surfaces.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

monitoring one or both of the communication of electrical stimulation between at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject and the skin of the subject and/or the impact on the vestibular system of electrical stimulation distributed into the skin of the subject through the first set of subject contact surfaces; and

adjusting one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to at least one subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces relative to at least one other subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces based on the communication of electrical stimulation between at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject and the skin of the subject and/or the impact on the vestibular system of electrical stimulation distributed into the skin of the subject through the first set of subject contact surfaces.

12. A system configured to stimulate the vestibular system of a subject, the system comprising:

first means for contacting the skin of the subject, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the first means for contacting contacts the skin of the subject at locations that are spatially distinct from each other and are at or near a first ear of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the locations contacted by the first means for contacting impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear; and

means for distributing electrical stimulation to individual ones of the locations on the skin of the subject contacted by the first means for contacting such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual locations vary between different locations.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation comprise one or more of amplitude, frequency of modulation, phase of modulation, polarity, pulse width of modulation, pulse pause of modulation, pulse train of modulation, or pulse shape of modulation.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein distributing electrical stimulation to the locations on the skin of the subject contacted by the first means for contacting is performed in accordance with a therapy regime that dictates distribution of electrical stimulation to the locations in a coordinated manner to have a therapeutic impact on the vestibular system.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

second means for contacting the skin of the subject, wherein the second means for contacting contact the skin of the subject at locations that are spatially distinct from each other and are at or near a second ear of the subject such that distribution of electrical stimulation to the locations on the skin of the subject contacted by the second means for contacting impacts the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the second ear; and

means for distributing electrical stimulation to the locations contacted by the second means for contacting such that at a given moment in time one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to the individual locations contacted by the second means for contacting vary between different locations.

16. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for monitoring one or both of the communication of electrical stimulation between the first means for contacting and at least one location on the skin of the subject and/or the impact on the vestibular system of electrical stimulation distributed into the skin of the subject through the first means for contacting; and

means for adjusting one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation distributed to at location on the skin of the subject contacted by the first means for contacting relative to at least one other location on the skin of the subject contacted by the first means for contacting based on the communication of electrical stimulation between the first means for contacting and at least one location on the skin of the subject and/or the impact on the vestibular system of electrical stimulation distributed into the skin of the subject through the first contacting means.