System and method of delivering vestibular stimulation customizable to individual subjects
First Claim
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1. A system configured to stimulate the vestibular system of a subject and affect balance of the subject, the system comprising:
- a first set of subject contact surfaces including at least three subject contact surfaces, wherein;
the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, and wherein the subject contact surfaces are configured to be installed on the skin of the subject at or near a first ear of the subject in electrical contact with the skin of the subject such that delivery of electrical stimulation to the first set of contact surfaces provides the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear, the electrical stimulation being characterized by one or more sets of electrical settings; and
wherein at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces is configured to generate output signals conveying information related to impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; and
a processor configured via computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to;
determine a balance parameter of the subject based on the output signals generated by the at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the balance parameter indicates the impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject;
control the delivery of the electrical stimulation to individual ones of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces such that at a given moment in time a first electrical stimulation is being delivered to a first subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the first electrical stimulation having a first set of electrical settings, and such that a second electrical stimulation is being delivered to a second subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the second electrical stimulation having a second set of electrical settings; and
adjust at least one of the first set of electrical settings of the first electrical stimulation, based on the balance parameter, without impacting the second set of electrical settings.
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Abstract
The vestibular system of a subject is stimulated in accordance with a therapy regime that dictates one or more parameters of the stimulation. The system is configured such that at a single site, one or more parameters of the stimulation varies for different locations at the site. This may enhance the customizability and/or effectiveness of the stimulation.
20 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system configured to stimulate the vestibular system of a subject and affect balance of the subject, the system comprising:
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a first set of subject contact surfaces including at least three subject contact surfaces, wherein; the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, and wherein the subject contact surfaces are configured to be installed on the skin of the subject at or near a first ear of the subject in electrical contact with the skin of the subject such that delivery of electrical stimulation to the first set of contact surfaces provides the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear, the electrical stimulation being characterized by one or more sets of electrical settings; and wherein at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces is configured to generate output signals conveying information related to impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; and a processor configured via computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to; determine a balance parameter of the subject based on the output signals generated by the at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the balance parameter indicates the impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; control the delivery of the electrical stimulation to individual ones of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces such that at a given moment in time a first electrical stimulation is being delivered to a first subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the first electrical stimulation having a first set of electrical settings, and such that a second electrical stimulation is being delivered to a second subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the second electrical stimulation having a second set of electrical settings; and adjust at least one of the first set of electrical settings of the first electrical stimulation, based on the balance parameter, without impacting the second set of electrical settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of stimulating the vestibular system of a subject and affecting balance of the subject, the method comprising:
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contacting the skin of the subject through a first set of subject contact surfaces including at least three subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces are spatially distinct from each other, and wherein the subject contact surfaces contact the skin of the subject at or near a first ear of the subject such that delivery of electrical stimulation to the first set of contact surfaces provides the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear, the electrical stimulation being characterized by one or more sets of electrical settings; generating, by at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces, output signals conveying information related to impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; determining a balance parameter of the subject based on the output signals generated by the at least one of the subject contact surfaces in the first set of subject contact surfaces, wherein the balance parameter indicates the impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; delivering a first electrical stimulation to a first subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the first electrical stimulation having a first set of electrical settings; delivering a second electrical stimulation to a second subject contact surface in the first set of subject contact surfaces, the second electrical stimulation having a second set of electrical settings; and adjusting at least one of the first set of electrical settings of the first electrical stimulation, based on the balance parameter, without impacting the second set of electrical settings. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system configured to stimulate the vestibular system of a subject and affect balance of the subject, the system comprising:
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first means for contacting the skin of the subject including at least three subject contact surfaces, wherein the subject contact surfaces in the first means contacts the skin of the subject at locations that are spatially distinct from each other and are at or near a first ear of the subject such that delivery of electrical stimulation to the locations contacted by the first means provides the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the subject on the same side of the subject as the first ear, the electrical stimulation being characterized by one or more sets of electrical settings; means for generating output signals conveying information related to impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; means for determining a balance parameter of the subject based on the output signals generated by the means for generating, wherein the balance parameter indicates the impact of the electrical stimulation on the balance of the subject; and means for delivering electrical stimulation to individual ones of the locations on the skin of the subject contacted by the first means such that at a given moment in time a first electrical stimulation is being delivered to a first subject contact surface, the first electrical stimulation having a first set of electrical settings, and such that a second electrical stimulation is being delivered to a second subject contact surface, the second electrical stimulation having a second set of electrical settings, wherein the means for delivering electrical stimulation is configured to adjust at least one of the first set of electrical settings of the first electrical stimulation, based on the balance parameter, without impacting the second set of electrical settings. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification