NERVE STIMULATION SYSTEM AND RELATED CONTROLLER
First Claim
1. A nerve stimulation earpiece, comprising:
- an ear canal insert adapted to fit into an ear canal of a human subject, the ear canal insert includingat least one first electrode configured to electrically contact skin within the ear canal of the subject;
a concha insert adapted to fit within a concha of the subject, the concha insert includinga base portion configured to fit within a cavum of the concha of the subject;
a wing portion configured to fit within a cymba of the concha of the subject; and
at least one second electrode configured to electrically contact at least a portion of the concha of the subject;
at least one first electrical connector for connecting the at least one first electrode on the ear canal insert to a first electrical current source; and
at least one second electrical connector for connecting the at least one second electrode on the concha insert to a second electrical current source.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an embodiment, a nerve stimulation earpiece includes an ear canal insert, and a concha insert. The canal insert fits into an ear canal of a subject. The canal insert includes a first electrode configured to electrically contact skin within the ear canal of the subject. The concha insert fits within a concha of the subject. The concha insert includes a base portion that fits within the cavum of the concha of the subject, a wing portion that fits within the cymba of the concha of the subject, and at least one second electrode configured to electrically contact at least a portion of the concha. The earpiece includes a first electrical connector for connecting the first electrode on the canal insert to a first electrical current source, and a second electrical connector for connecting the second electrode on the concha insert to a second electrical current source.
50 Citations
115 Claims
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1. A nerve stimulation earpiece, comprising:
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an ear canal insert adapted to fit into an ear canal of a human subject, the ear canal insert including at least one first electrode configured to electrically contact skin within the ear canal of the subject; a concha insert adapted to fit within a concha of the subject, the concha insert including a base portion configured to fit within a cavum of the concha of the subject; a wing portion configured to fit within a cymba of the concha of the subject; and at least one second electrode configured to electrically contact at least a portion of the concha of the subject; at least one first electrical connector for connecting the at least one first electrode on the ear canal insert to a first electrical current source; and at least one second electrical connector for connecting the at least one second electrode on the concha insert to a second electrical current source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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6. (canceled)
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26. (canceled)
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27. (canceled)
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29. (canceled)
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30. (canceled)
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31. (canceled)
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43-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. An ear stimulation device controller, comprising:
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a first analog output connector adapted to connect a first current signal to a first electrode of an ear canal insert of an ear stimulation device; a second analog output connector adapted to connect a second current signal to a second electrode of a concha insert of the ear stimulation device; a wireless microcontroller configured to control wireless communication between the ear stimulation device controller and a personal computing device to receive one or more stimulation parameters from the personal computing device; a digital stimulus signal generator configured to generate a digital stimulus signal based at least in part on the one or more stimulation parameters received from the personal computing device; a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital stimulus signal to an analog voltage waveform; a current driver operably connected to the digital-to-analog converter and adapted generate a controlled current stimulus waveform responsive to the analog voltage waveform, wherein the controlled current stimulus waveform is provided to the ear stimulation device via at least the first analog output connector and the second analog output connector; and a power source operably connected to at least one of the wireless microcontroller, the digital stimulus signal generator, the digital-to-analog converter, and the current driver.
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52-113. -113. (canceled)
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114. A nerve stimulation system comprising:
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a nerve stimulation earpiece including an ear canal insert adapted to fit into an ear canal of a human subject, the ear canal insert including; at least one first electrode configured to electrically contact skin within the ear canal of the subject; a concha insert adapted to fit within a concha of the subject, the concha insert including a base portion configured to fit within a cavum of the concha of the subject; a wing portion configured to fit within a cymba of the concha of the subject; and at least one second electrode configured to electrically contact at least a portion of the concha of the subject; at least one first electrical connector for connecting the at least one first electrode on the ear canal insert to a first electrical current source; and at least one second electrical connector for connecting the at least one second electrode on the concha insert to a second electrical current source; and an ear stimulation device controller including a first analog output connector adapted to connect a first current signal to the at least one first electrode of the nerve stimulation earpiece; a second analog output connector adapted to connect a second current signal to the at least one second electrode of the nerve stimulation earpiece; a wireless microcontroller configured to control wireless communication between the ear stimulation device controller and a personal computing device to receive one or more stimulation parameters from the personal computing device; a digital stimulus signal generator configured to generate a digital stimulus signal based at least in part on the one or more stimulation parameters received from the personal computing device; a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital stimulus signal to an analog voltage waveform; a current driver operably connected to the digital-to-analog converter and adapted generate a controlled current stimulus waveform responsive to the analog voltage waveform, wherein the controlled current stimulus waveform is provided to the ear stimulation device via at least the first analog output connector and the second analog output connector; and a power source operably connected to at least one of the wireless microcontroller, the digital stimulus signal generator, the digital-to-analog converter, and the current driver.
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115-120. -120. (canceled)
Specification