EXTRANASAL STIMULATION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20180161579A1
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oculeve Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Oculeve Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: FRANKE, Manfred, LIU, Chao, ACKERMANN, Douglas Michael, SENCHYNA, Diane Michelle, LOUDIN, James Donald
• Application Number:
  US15/829,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0204 of power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/00 Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes eye inspection using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/10; devices for treatment of the eyes A61F9/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; optical systems in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/101 for examining the tear film
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1495 Calibrating or testing of in-vivo probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/10 Eye inspection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 : characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 : Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 : Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/02 : Goggles breathing masks A62B18/00; swimming goggles A63B33/002; diving masks B63C11/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/04 : Eye-masks ; Devices to be worn on the face, not intended for looking through; Eye-pads for sunbathing eye-bandages A61F13/12; protective face-masks A41D13/11; protectors for shampooing A45D
• 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 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 : External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 : of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 : Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 : Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 : Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

A stimulation system for treating a condition (e.g., dry eye, Meibomian gland disease) of a subject includes a stimulator configured to deliver a stimulus to external facial tissue of the subject, at least one sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the subject, and a control system in communication with the sensor and configured to adjust the stimulus at least partially based on the detected subject characteristic. In some variations, the control system may be configured to adjust the stimulus at least partially based on a detected environmental condition. The stimulator may be configured to activate a nerve of the subject, thereby increasing tear production. The stimulation system may, for example, include a device configured to be worn by a subject such as eyeglasses or a mask, or held by a subject such as handheld stimulator device.

Claims

1. A system for treating a condition of a subject, comprising:

a stimulator configured to deliver a stimulus to external facial tissue of the subject such that the stimulus activates a nerve of the subject, thereby increasing tear production;

at least one sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the subject; and

a control system in communication with the sensor and configured to adjust the stimulus at least partially based on the detected characteristic of the subject.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulus comprises electrical stimulation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulus comprises ultrasound stimulation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an image sensor configured to image an ocular region of the subject.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electromyography sensor configured to detect facial muscle contractions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more symptoms of dry eye.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is configured to detect at least one of blink rate, blink duration, and blink strength.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is configured to detect eye redness.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is configured to detect tear meniscus height.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is configured to measure temperature of an ocular region of the subject.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect an indication of successful stimulation for tear production.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor configured to detect an environmental condition, wherein the control system is further configured to adjust the stimulus at least partially based on the detected environmental condition.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is configured to measure ambient light.

14. A stimulation method for treating a condition of a subject, comprising:

delivering a stimulus to external facial tissue of the subject such that the stimulus activates a nerve of the subject, thereby increasing tear production; and

adjusting the stimulus at least partially based on a detected characteristic of the subject.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the stimulus comprises electrical stimulation.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the stimulus comprises ultrasound stimulation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein further comprises adjusting the stimulus in response to input of the subject.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the characteristic of the subject comprises one or more symptoms of dry eye.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the characteristic of the subject comprises an indication of successful stimulation for tear production.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the stimulus at least partially based on a detected environmental condition.

21-39. -39. (canceled)