Enhanced therapeutic stimulus system and methods of use
First Claim
1. A system for stimulating a central pattern generator and a trigeminal nerve in a brain of a human subject, such stimulation influencing brain response or brain development including repair of the brain, control of respiration, control of a non-nutritive suck pattern, mastication, and combinations thereof, the system comprising:
- an orofacial stimulator appliance that, when actuated in response to a signal, generates a mechanical transfer of energy in at least one burst as an impulse sufficient to be recognized as a tactile stimulus by the subject'"'"'s central pattern generator;
a pneumatic pulse generator that includes a PID controller and a pneumatic pulse generator, wherein the PID controller is an analog or real-time controller and where the pneumatic pulse generator includes a linear motor further comprising a position feedback sensor and a pressure feedback sensor;
wherein each burst comprises at least two square wave pulses of the same amplitude with the pulse period increasing with each successive pulse to form a decelerating pulse train sequence; and
,wherein the square wave pulses range in frequency between 1.5 Hz and 5 Hz and are contacted with the subject for at least two minutes each day, at least twice a day for a minimum of five successive days.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a therapeutic system and methods of using the therapeutic system. In particular, the present invention relates to systems having hardware, software, and appliance components for assessing and entraining a neuromuscular pattern or behavior in a patient. The methods include configuring the hardware and software systems to receive data from an orofacial stimulation appliance and to generate a precise therapeutic pulse profile that is actuated as a tactile stimulus. In one embodiment, the system and methods also include collecting data using the orofacial stimulation appliance and delivering the tactile stimulus via the orofacial stimulation appliance to entrain an organized neuromuscular pattern or behavior.
19 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for stimulating a central pattern generator and a trigeminal nerve in a brain of a human subject, such stimulation influencing brain response or brain development including repair of the brain, control of respiration, control of a non-nutritive suck pattern, mastication, and combinations thereof, the system comprising:
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an orofacial stimulator appliance that, when actuated in response to a signal, generates a mechanical transfer of energy in at least one burst as an impulse sufficient to be recognized as a tactile stimulus by the subject'"'"'s central pattern generator; a pneumatic pulse generator that includes a PID controller and a pneumatic pulse generator, wherein the PID controller is an analog or real-time controller and where the pneumatic pulse generator includes a linear motor further comprising a position feedback sensor and a pressure feedback sensor; wherein each burst comprises at least two square wave pulses of the same amplitude with the pulse period increasing with each successive pulse to form a decelerating pulse train sequence; and
,wherein the square wave pulses range in frequency between 1.5 Hz and 5 Hz and are contacted with the subject for at least two minutes each day, at least twice a day for a minimum of five successive days. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for stimulating a central pattern generator and a trigeminal nerve in a brain of a human subject, such stimulation influencing brain response or brain development including repair of the brain, control of respiration, control of a non-nutritive suck pattern, mastication, and combinations thereof, the system comprising:
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a control system for generating a pressure pulse signal at a pneumatic pulse generator assembly; the pneumatic pulse generator assembly comprising; a linear motor mechanically engaged to a piston of a pneumatic piston and cylinder, wherein the linear motor exerts force on the piston; the pneumatic piston and cylinder to provide a pneumatic pressure pulse to the pliable pacifier through a pneumatic airline in response to the force applied to the piston; and
,at least one feedback sensor to provide position feedback data and pressure feedback data of the piston motor; an orofacial stimulator appliance comprising; the pacifier in fluid engagement with a receiver tube, the receiver tube in fluid communication with the pneumatic airline to provide the pneumatic pressure pulse from the pneumatic piston and cylinder to the pacifier surface; and
,a removable receiver tube insert received in the receiver tube to limit a total volume of air in receiver tube; wherein pressure pulse is a burst comprising at least two square wave pulses of the same amplitude with the pulse period increasing with each successive pulse to form a decelerating pulse train sequence; and
,wherein the square wave pulses range in frequency between 1.5 Hz and 5 Hz and are contacted with the subject for at least two minutes each day, at least twice a day for a minimum of five successive days. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification