Non-invasive neuromodulation (NINM) for rehabilitation of brain function
First Claim
1. A method for non-invasively assisting neurorehabilitation in a patient comprising:
- engaging the patient in a physical movement wherein the patient'"'"'s ability to perform the physical movement is hindered by impairment of the patient'"'"'s nervous system; and
providing intraoral cutaneous stimulation of at least one of the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve or the patient'"'"'s facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a patient suffering from neural impairment, stimulation is provided to sensory surfaces of the face and/or neck, or more generally to areas of the body that stimulate the trigeminal nerve, while performing an activity intended to stimulate a brain function to be rehabilitated. The simulation may then be continued after the performance of the activity has ceased. It has been found that the patient'"'"'s performance of the activity is then improved after stimulation has ceased. Moreover, it tends to improve to a greater extent, and/or for a longer time, when the post-activity stimulation is applied, as compared to when postactivity stimulation is not applied.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for non-invasively assisting neurorehabilitation in a patient comprising:
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engaging the patient in a physical movement wherein the patient'"'"'s ability to perform the physical movement is hindered by impairment of the patient'"'"'s nervous system; and providing intraoral cutaneous stimulation of at least one of the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve or the patient'"'"'s facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for providing non-invasive neurorehabilitation therapy to a patient, the method comprising:
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(a) engaging the patient in a physical movement at a first intensity for a first time interval; (b) applying intraoral cutaneous stimulation to the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve and facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth during the first time interval; (c) engaging the patient in a physical movement at a second intensity for a second time interval; (d) applying intraoral cutaneous stimulation to the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve and facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth during the second time interval; (e) engaging the patient in a physical movement at a third intensity for a third time interval; (f) applying intraoral cutaneous stimulation to the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve and facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth during the third time interval; (g) engaging the patient in a physical movement at a fourth intensity for a fourth time interval; and (h) applying intraoral cutaneous stimulation to the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve and facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth during the fourth time interval. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for non-invasively assisting neurorehabilitation in a patient comprising:
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engaging the patient in a physical movement wherein the patient'"'"'s ability to perform the physical movement is hindered by impairment of the patient'"'"'s nervous system; and providing intraoral cutaneous stimulation of the patient'"'"'s trigeminal nerve and the patient'"'"'s facial nerve via one or more stimulators situated within the patient'"'"'s mouth.
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Specification