Methods for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area
First Claim
1. A method for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder, the method comprising vibrotactile stimulating a substitute site for said area thereby recovering the motor control of said affected area, wherein said stimulating of said substitute site is volitionally controlled by said patient, wherein said affected area is the area of the body responsible for swallowing, wherein said area responsible for swallowing is the oropharyngeal area and said substitute site is the area of the throat over the larynx, wherein said patient volitionally controls said stimulating by activating a vibrotactile stimulator attached on the throat over the larynx of said patient, wherein said recovered motor control is volitional swallowing, wherein vibrotactile stimulating the substitute site includes rotating a vibrator motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices and systems for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder. A device vibrotactilely stimulates a substitute site for the affected area thereby recovering the motor control of the affected area. The stimulation provided by the device is volitionally controlled by the patient.
53 Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A method for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder, the method comprising vibrotactile stimulating a substitute site for said area thereby recovering the motor control of said affected area, wherein said stimulating of said substitute site is volitionally controlled by said patient, wherein said affected area is the area of the body responsible for swallowing, wherein said area responsible for swallowing is the oropharyngeal area and said substitute site is the area of the throat over the larynx, wherein said patient volitionally controls said stimulating by activating a vibrotactile stimulator attached on the throat over the larynx of said patient, wherein said recovered motor control is volitional swallowing, wherein vibrotactile stimulating the substitute site includes rotating a vibrator motor.
- 13. A method for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder, the method comprising vibrotactile stimulating a substitute site for said area thereby recovering the motor control of said affected area, wherein said stimulating of said substitute site is volitionally controlled by said patient, wherein said affected area is the area of the body responsible for swallowing, wherein said area responsible for swallowing is the oropharyngeal area and said substitute site is the area of the throat over the larynx, wherein said patient volitionally controls said stimulating by activating a vibrotactile stimulator attached on the throat over the larynx of said patient immediately before a volitional attempt to swallow, wherein said recovered motor control is volitional swallowing, wherein vibrotactile stimulating the substitute site includes rotating a vibrator motor.
- 28. A method for recovering motor control of an area in the body of a patient affected by a neurological disorder, the method comprising vibrotactile stimulating a substitute site for said area thereby recovering the motor control of said affected area, wherein said stimulating of said substitute site is volitionally controlled by said patient, wherein said affected area is the area of the body responsible for swallowing, wherein said area responsible for swallowing is the oropharyngeal area and said substitute site is the mucosa in the upper airway, wherein said patient volitionally controls said stimulating by activating a vibrotactile stimulator attached on the throat over the larynx of said patient, wherein said recovered motor control is volitional swallowing, wherein vibrotactile stimulating the substitute site includes rotating a vibrator motor.
Specification