Devices and methods for vestibular and/or cranial nerve stimulation

• US 8,603,152 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scion Neurostim Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scion Neurostim, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Lanty L., Rogers, Lesco L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US12/970,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20110313499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 697/96, 697/104, 697/108, 697/109
• US Class Current: 607/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0005 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities

Abstract

An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject includes (a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, the earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, the internal cavity having an inner surface; and (b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to the earpiece internal cavity inner surface.

Claims

1. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface; and

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device comprises a thin film thermoelectric device.

2. The stimulator of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink positioned in said earpiece internal cavity, wherein said heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device.

3. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein said heat sink comprises aluminum and has a weight between about 30 grams and about 70 grams.

4. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein said earpiece is thermally coupled to a first side of the at least one thermoelectric device and said heat sink is thermally coupled to a second side of the at least one thermoelectric device.

5. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein said heat sink comprises an inner portion extending into said earpiece and having a generally planar surface, said earpiece internal surface having a corresponding cooperating planar surface, said at least one thermoelectric device being mounted between said heat sink planar surface and said cooperating portion of said earpiece inner surface.

6. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein said heat sink comprises an inner portion received in said earpiece internal cavity, and wherein a shape of said inner portion substantially corresponds to a shape of said internal cavity.

7. The stimulator of claim 6, wherein said heat sink comprises an outer portion positioned outside of said earpiece internal cavity.

8. The stimulator of claim 7, wherein the heat sink outer portion comprises a plurality of fins.

9. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein said earpiece is formed from a rigid, thermally-conductive material.

10. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein said earpiece comprises aluminum.

11. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein said earpiece weighs about 9 grams or less.

12. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein said earpiece weighs about 4 grams or less.

13. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices.

14. The stimulator of claim 13, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices are thermally coupled to one another.

15. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein said earpiece is conical in shape.

16. The stimulator of claim 15, wherein said earpiece comprises a circular cone.

17. The stimulator of claim 15, wherein said earpiece comprises a conical apex of the conical shape that has been blunted to form a dome-shaped point.

18. The stimulator of claim 1, further comprising a head piece, wherein said head piece is configured for positioning the earpiece in the ear canal of the subject.

19. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface; and

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface

(c) a heat sink positioned in said earpiece internal cavity, wherein said heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and wherein said heat sink comprises a side portion that generally conforms to a corresponding side portion of said inner surface of said internal cavity, said at least one thermoelectric device being mounted between said side portion of said heat sink and said side portion of said inner surface of said internal cavity.

20. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface; and

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface, wherein said earpiece comprises;

a generally cylindrical base having opposite first and second ends, the base defining a longitudinal centerline; and

an extended portion extending from the second end of the cylindrical base, wherein said dome-shaped point is offset from the longitudinal centerline.

21. The stimulator of claim 20, wherein the cross-sectional area of the extended portion decreases as a function of distance away from said base.

22. The stimulator of claim 21, wherein the extended portion tapers unevenly from said cylindrical base to said dome-shaped point.

23. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canals of a subject, comprising:

(a) a first earpiece configured to be insertable into the right ear canal of the subject, said first earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(b) a second earpiece configured to be insertable into the left ear canal of the subject, said second earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(c) at least one thermoelectric device comprising a thin film thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity;

(d) at least one thermoelectric device comprising a thin film thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said second earpiece internal cavity; and

(e) a headpiece configured to position said first earpiece in the right ear canal of the subject and to position said second earpiece in the left ear canal of the subject.

24. The stimulator of claim 23, wherein said headpiece comprises a flexible or adjustable, band.

25. The stimulator of claim 23, further comprising:

a first heat sink positioned in said first earpiece internal cavity, wherein said first heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity; and

a second heat sink positioned in said second earpiece internal cavity, wherein said second heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity.

26. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canals of a subject, comprising:

(a) a first earpiece configured to be insertable into the right ear canal of the subject, said first earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(b) a second earpiece configured to be insertable into the left ear canal of the subject, said second earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(c) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity;

(d) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said second earpiece internal cavity; and

(e) a headpiece configured to position said first earpiece in the right ear canal of the subject and to position said second earpiece in the left ear canal of the subject,

(f) a first heat sink positioned in said first earpiece internal cavity, wherein said first heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity; and

(g) a second heat sink positioned in said second earpiece internal cavity, wherein said second heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece internal cavity;

wherein said first heat sink comprises an inner portion extending into said first earpiece and having a generally planar surface, said first earpiece internal surface having a corresponding cooperating planar surface, said at least one thermoelectric device being mounted between said first heat sink planar surface and said cooperating portion of said first earpiece inner surface; and

said second heat sink comprises an inner portion extending into said first earpiece and having a generally planar surface, said second earpiece internal surface having a corresponding cooperating planar surface, said at least one thermoelectric device being mounted between said second heat sink planar surface and said cooperating portion of said second earpiece inner surface.

27. A method for delivering caloric stimulation to a subject, the method comprising:

positioning at least a portion of an in-ear stimulator in an ear canal of the subject, said in-ear stimulator comprising;

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface; and

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface;

delivering a time-varying thermal waveform to said at least one thermoelectric device such that said thermoelectric device effects corresponding temperature changes to said earpiece to deliver caloric stimulation to the subject.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said stimulator further comprises a heat sink positioned in said earpiece internal cavity, wherein said heat sink is thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said heat sink comprises an inner portion extending into said earpiece and having a generally planar surface, said earpiece internal surface having a corresponding cooperating planar surface, said at least one thermoelectric device being mounted between said heat sink planar surface and said cooperating portion of said earpiece inner surface.

30. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface; and

(c) a heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject.

31. The stimulator of claim 30, further comprising a controller configured to deliver a time-varying thermal waveform to said at least one thermoelectric device such that said thermoelectric device effects corresponding temperature changes to said earpiece to deliver caloric stimulation to the subject.

32. An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:

(a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, said earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, said internal cavity having an inner surface;

(b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece internal cavity inner surface; and

(c) a controller configured to deliver a time-varying thermal waveform to said at least one thermoelectric device such that said thermoelectric device effects corresponding temperature changes to said earpiece to deliver caloric stimulation to the subject.