Systems and methods for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a vibrotactile stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, wherein the vibrotactile stimulator comprises;
a vibrational transducer;
a manual stimulation module configured to manually engage the vibrational transducer;
an automatic stimulation module configured to automatically engage the vibrational transducer;
a manual counter configured to determine the number of times the manual stimulation module is engaged; and
an automatic counter configured to determine the number of times the automatic stimulation module is engaged;
a connector configured to attach the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck; and
a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator and configured to selectively engage the manual stimulation module or the automatic stimulation module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and methods for treating a subject with dysphagia or other neurological disease, neurological disorder, neurological injury, neurological impairment or neurodegenerative disease that affects voluntary motor control of the hyoid, pharynx, larynx, or oropharyngeal area is disclosed. A device of the invention generally comprises a vibrotactile stimulator for applying at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck; a connector for attaching the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck, and a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator to selectively engage a manual stimulation module and/or automatic stimulation module. Stimulation of an outside surface of the throat area of a subject by a device of the invention stimulates a swallowing reflex in the subject.
59 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a vibrotactile stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, wherein the vibrotactile stimulator comprises; a vibrational transducer; a manual stimulation module configured to manually engage the vibrational transducer; an automatic stimulation module configured to automatically engage the vibrational transducer; a manual counter configured to determine the number of times the manual stimulation module is engaged; and an automatic counter configured to determine the number of times the automatic stimulation module is engaged; a connector configured to attach the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck; and a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator and configured to selectively engage the manual stimulation module or the automatic stimulation module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for inducing a swallowing reflex in a subject to prevent drooling and/or aspiration of the subject'"'"'s own secretions, comprising:
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applying the device to the outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck substantially over the subject'"'"'s larynx, the device comprising; a vibrotactile stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, wherein the vibrotactile stimulator comprises; a vibrational transducer; a manual stimulation module configured to manually engage vibrational transducer; an automatic stimulation module configured to automatically engage the vibrational transducer; a manual counter configured to determine the number of times the manual stimulation module is engaged; and an automatic counter configured to determine the number of times the automatic stimulation module is engaged; a connector configured to attach the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck; and a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator and configured to selectively engage the manual stimulation module or the automatic stimulation module; and configuring an automatic timer to activate the vibrotactile stimulator about once every 3 minutes to about once every 30 minutes for a duration of about 10 ms to about 20 during which pulsed stimulation is produced at vibrations of about 1 Hz to 300 Hz lasting about 200 ms to about 10 s to induce the swallowing reflex, wherein activating the vibrotactile stimulator includes pulsing the vibrotactile stimulator at a particular rate and for a particular interval to produce the vibrations and applying pressure at about 1 psi to about 14 psi to the subject'"'"'s neck during an onset period. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for identifying a subject at risk of aspiration from their own secretions, comprising:
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applying a device to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck substantially over the subject'"'"'s larynx, the device comprising; a vibrotactile stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, wherein the vibrotactile stimulator comprises; a vibrational transducer; a manual stimulation module configured to manually ngaage the vibrational transducer; an automatic stimulation module configured to automatically engage the vibrational transducer; a manual counter configured to determine the number of times the manual stimulation module is engaged; and an automatic counter configured to determine the number of times the automatic stimulation module is engaged; a connector configured to attach the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck; a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator and configured to selectively engage the manual stimulation module or the automatic stimulation module; and an actuator, wherein the subject activated the device with the actuator to induce swallowing; downloading data from the vibrotactile stimulator after a period of use of the device by the subject; and analyzing the data to determine if the subject is at risk of aspiration from their own secretions. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for monitoring subject compliance with a training or therapy regime, comprising:
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applying a device to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck substantially over the subject'"'"'s larynx, the device comprising; a vibrotactile stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject'"'"'s neck, wherein the vibrotactile stimulator comprises; a vibrational transducer; a manual stimulation module configured to manually engage the vibrational transducer; an automatic stimulation module configured to automatically engage the vibrational transducer; a manual counter configured to determine the number of times the manual stimulation module is engaged; and an automatic counter configured to determine the number of times the automatic stimulation module is engaged; a connector configured to attach the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject'"'"'s neck; a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator and configured to selectively engage the manual stimulation module or the automatic stimulation module; and an actuator, wherein the subject activated the device with the actuator to induce swallowing; downloading data from the vibrotactile stimulator after a period of use of the device by the subject; and analyzing the data to determine the subject'"'"'s compliance with the training or therapy regime. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification