ALS TREATMENT

• US 20130158451A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chordate Medical AB (Chordate Medical Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: Chordate Medical AB (Chordate Medical Holding AB)
• Inventors: JUTO, Fredrik, JUTO, Jan-Erik, HOLM, William, KRONESTEDT, Viktor
• Granted Patent: US 9,486,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00

Abstract

A method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a human subject is provided. A first vibration stimulation member is introduced into a posterior part of a first nasal cavity of the human subject. By means of the first vibration stimulation member, vibrations are imparted to the posterior part of the first nasal cavity at frequency in a range of from 60 to 70 Hz. A second vibration simulation member is arranged between the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle on a first side of the neck of the human subject; and by means of said second vibration stimulation member, vibrations are imparted to the first side of the neck at a frequency in a range of from 30 to 50 Hz.

Claims

1. A method for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in a human subject comprising the steps of:

introducing a first vibration stimulation member into a posterior part of a first nasal cavity of the human subject;

by means of the first vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to the posterior part of the first nasal cavity at frequency in a range of from 60 to 70 Hz;

arranging a second vibration simulation member between the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle on a first side of the neck of the human subject; and

by means of said second vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to the first side of the neck at a frequency in a range of from 30 to 50 Hz.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of imparting vibrations by means of the first stimulation member is conducted prior to said step of imparting vibrations by means of the second stimulation member.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of imparting vibrations by means of the first stimulation member is conducted concurrently with said step of imparting vibrations by means of the second stimulation member.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said arranging further comprises the step of applying a collar around said second vibration stimulation member and around said neck of the human subject.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a time averaged pressure within the first vibration stimulation member during the imparting of vibrations by means of the first vibration stimulation member is in the range of from 90 to 105 mbar.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a time averaged pressure within the second vibration stimulation member during the imparting of vibrations by means of the second vibration stimulation member is in the range of from 40 to 60 mbar.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of introducing further comprises the step of anchoring the first vibration stimulation member to the head of the human subject by means of at least one of a headband, a facial mask, a pair of glasses, and a helmet.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second vibration stimulation member has a diameter in the range of from approximately 50 to approximately 100 mm.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said introducing comprises the steps of:

introducing the first vibration stimulation member into the nasal cavity in an essentially non-expanded state; and

expanding the first vibration stimulation member within the nasal cavity such that it abuts nasal cavity tissue.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

introducing the first vibration stimulation member into a second nasal cavity; and

by means of said first vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to a posterior part of a second nasal cavity at frequency in the range of from 60 to 70 Hz.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

arranging the second vibration stimulation member between the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle on a second side of the neck of the human subject;

by means of said second vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to the second side of the neck at a frequency in the range of from 30 to 50 Hz.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a duration of said imparting of vibrations to the nasal cavity and/or the neck is in the range of 10 to 20 minutes.

13. A method for treatment of ALS in a human subject comprising, by means of a vibration stimulation member, the steps of:

imparting vibrations to a nasal cavity of the human subject if the human subject shows symptoms of muscle weakness affecting a leg;

imparting vibrations to a location on the neck of the human subject if the human subject shows symptoms of having difficulty in speaking or in swallowing; and

/or

imparting vibrations to an upper arm of the human subject if the human subject suffers from muscle weakness affecting an arm.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the vibrations are imparted to the nasal cavity, said method further comprising the steps of:

introducing an essentially non-expanded first vibration stimulation member into the nasal cavity of the human subject;

expanding the first vibration stimulation member within the nasal cavity such that the first vibration stimulation member abuts tissue in a posterior part of the nasal cavity; and

by means of said first vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to the posterior part of the nasal cavity at a frequency in the range of from 60 to 70 Hz.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the vibrations are imparted to the neck, said method further comprising the steps of:

arranging a second vibration stimulation member on a position of the neck of the human subject between the trapezius muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle; and

by means of said second vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to said position of the neck at a frequency in the range of from 30 to 50 Hz.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein a time average pressure within the first vibration stimulation member during the imparting of vibrations is in the range of from 90 to 105 mbar.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first vibration stimulation member is expandable and has a lateral extension in the range of from approximately 50 to approximately 100 mm.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein a time averaged pressure within the second vibration stimulation member during the imparting of vibrations is in the range of from 40 to 60 mbar.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein vibrations are imparted to the upper arm, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a third vibration stimulation member in the form of a cuff;

arranging the third vibration stimulation member around the upper arm of the human subject; and

by means of said third vibration stimulation member, imparting vibrations to said upper arm at a frequency in the range of from 30 to 50 Hz.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein a time average pressure within the third vibration stimulation member during the imparting of vibrations is in the range of from 20 to 50 mbar.