Adaptive stimulator for relief of symptoms of neurological disorders

• US 6,704,603 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Gesotti, Phil E.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/659,351
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/46, 607/62, 607/48, 607/49, 607/58, 128/905, 600/595, 600/546
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

An adaptive stimulator that aids in the relief of the symptoms of neurological disorders is provided. The adaptive stimulator is adapted to selectively provide stimulation in response to a control unit. The stimulator includes at least one stimulation electrode coupled to an output of the control unit. The at least one stimulation electrode is adapted to provide stimulation to an area of the body of a living subject. The adaptive stimulator includes at least one sensor coupled to the control unit and adapted to be disposed external to the body. The at least one sensor is adapted to respond to physical stimulus and provide input to the control unit.

Claims

1. A method of cueing an individual exhibiting one or more symptom'"'"'s of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more input signals from at least one sensor, wherein the input signals are based on physical stimulus;

generating one or more sensory cues when the one or more input signals meet a desired criteria indicating impaired voluntary movements;

wherein generating one or more sensory cues includes transmitting stimulation signals to one or more stimulators; and

wherein the stimulators comprise aural stimulators, visual stimulators and tactile stimulators.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more symptoms of Parkinson'"'"'s disease comprise tremor, rigidity, akinesia, bradykinesia and drooping head.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring one or more input signals from at least one sensor comprises monitoring one or more input signals from at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor comprises inclination sensors, acceleration sensors, and pressure sensors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor and one of the one or more stimulators form a single integrated device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating one or more sensory cues comprises generating one or more sensory cues wherein the one or more sensory cues include tactile cues, aural cues, and visual cues.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the one or more sensory cues when the input signals indicate the impaired voluntary movement is not broken.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the one or more sensory cues comprises modifying one or more of the voltage, frequency, pulse width, amplitude, and waveform of the stimulation signals.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein modifying the one or more sensory cues includes altering the cadence of the one or more sensory cues.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising producing sequenced stimulation patterns.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein generating one or more sensory cues comprises synthesizing two or more of frequency, amplitude, pulse width, waveform shape and duration of stimulation.

11. An adaptive stimulator for cueing an individual exhibiting one or more symptom'"'"'s of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, comprising:

means for receiving input signals from one or more sensors, wherein the input signals are based on human body functions;

means for determining impaired voluntary movement based on the input signals;

means for generating one or more sensory cues, when impaired voluntary movement is determined;

wherein the one or more sensory cues include tactile cues, aural cues, and visual cues;

means for selectively transmitting stimulation signals to produce the one or more sensory cues;

means for controlling the means for selectively transmitting stimulation signals and the sensory cues; and

means for selectively adjusting the one or more sensory cues when the impaired voluntary movement is not broken.

12. The stimulator of claim 11, further comprising:

means for monitoring stimulation signal voltage and current and modifying the stimulation signal voltage and current to prevent exposure of the individual to uncomfortable stimulation levels.

13. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the means for generating one or more sensory cues comprises means for generating one or more sensory cues that simulate the cadence of unimpaired voluntary movements.

14. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the impaired voluntary movement comprises one or more of tremor, rigidity, akinesia, bradykinesia and drooping head.

15. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the human body functions include tactility, movement and placement.

16. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the means for selectively adjusting the one or more sensory cues comprises means for altering the cadence of the one or more sensory cues.

17. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the means for selectively adjusting the one or more sensory cues comprises means for adjusting the perceived intensity of the one or more sensory cues.

18. The stimulator of claim 11, further comprising means for storing information about the input signals and the stimulation signals.

19. The stimulator of claim 18, wherein the means for storing information comprises a means for storing information about the input signals including the number and type of sensory cues.

20. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein the means for generating tactile cues comprises means for generating tactile cues using one or more of cutaneous electrical stimulation and sonic stimulation.

21. The stimulator of claim 20, wherein the means for selectively adjusting the one or more sensory cues includes a means for adjusting voltage and current of the tactile cues.

22. The stimulator of claim 20, further comprising means for preventing exposure of the individual to uncomfortable stimulation levels by monitoring the voltage and current of the tactile cues and feeding the information back to a control unit for further processing.

23. The stimulator of claim 11, further comprising means for producing sequenced stimulation patterns.