Systems and methods for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area

• US 8,808,207 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
• Original Assignee: United States Department Of Health And Human Services
• Inventors: Ludlow, Christy Leslie, Morgan, Newlin, Dold, George, Lowell, Soren, Dietrich-Burns, Katie
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Quang D
• Application Number:
  US13/777,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 601/48, 601/49, 601/69, 601/70, 601/71, 601/78, 601/79, 601/84, 601/87, 601/DIG.15
• US Class Current: 601/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2039/005 by means of electromagnetic waves, e.g. I.R., U.V. rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/04 neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/00 Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture chiropodists' instruments A61B17/54; for radiation therapy A61N5/0619
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/007 Stimulation by mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/06 Devices for heating or cooling such points within cell-life limits cauterisers, moxaburners, cryogenic apparatus A61B18/06; heating or cooling appliances for medical treatment of general areas of the human body A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

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.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a neck of a subject;

a switch configured to selectively engage between

a manual mode in which the stimulator is configured to apply the at least one stimulus upon volitional activation by the subject, and

an automatic mode in which the stimulator is configured to apply the at least one stimulus at an interval; and

a first counter configured to determine either

a number of applications of the at least one stimulus in the manual mode, or

a number of applications of the at least one stimulus in the automatic mode.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second counter configured to determine either the number of applications of the at least one stimulus in the manual mode, or the number of applications of the at least one stimulus in the automatic mode, the configuration of the second counter opposite the configuration of the first counter.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus comprises a vibrational stimulus, a pressure stimulus, an auditory stimulus, a temperature stimulus, a visual stimulus, an olfactory stimulus, a gustatory stimulus, or a combination thereof.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus comprises vibratory stimulus.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the vibratory stimulus is at a vibrational frequency between about 1 Hz and about 100 Hz.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the vibratory stimulus is at a vibrational frequency between about 5 Hz and about 70 Hz.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the vibratory stimulus is at a vibrational frequency between about 30 Hz and about 60 Hz.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one stimulus comprises pressure stimulus applied to the outside surface of the neck of the subject.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the stimulator is configured to apply pressure of about 1 psi to about 14 psi to the neck of the subject.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a duration of the at least one stimulus is between about 2 seconds and about 6 seconds.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the interval is between about 3 minutes and about 30 minutes.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus is configured to induce a swallowing reflex of the subject.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one stimulus is configured to initiate speech of the subject.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a physiological sensor.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the physiological sensor is selected from the group consisting of movement sensors, temperature sensors, skin color sensors, hematocrit sensors, oxygenation sensors, and blood pressure sensors.