Modulating function of neural structures near the ear
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- one or more electrically-conductive elements;
a positioning ear piece insertable into an ear canal of a subject;
an energy-regulating housing adapted to contain the one or more electrically-conductive elements, the energy regulating housing adapted to electrically insulate the one or more electrically-conductive elements and dissipate heat, the energy-regulating housing comprising;
a first surface configured to face a subject and rest against an external ear of the subject and comprise materials having lower thermal conductivity than other surfaces of the housing,a second surface configured to enclose the positioning ear piece and comprising heat resistant materials,and a third surface configured to face away from the subject and comprising materials having a higher thermal conductivity than the first surface,wherein the first, second, and third surfaces are electrically insulating;
a stimulus generator in electrical communication with the one or more electrically-conductive elements and configured to deliver stimulus energy to the one or more electrically-conductive elements in a manner that allows the one or more electrically-conductive elements to generate an electromagnetic field to stimulate a portion of a neural system of the subject; and
a power source in communication with the stimulus generator for providing stimulus energy to the stimulus generator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Stimulation of the facial nerve system (e.g., electrically, electromagnetically, etc.) in ischemic stroke patients will cause dilation of occluded arteries and dilation of surrounding arteries, allowing for blood flow to circumvent the obstruction and reach previously-deprived tissue. The device approaches the facial nerve and its branches in the vicinity of the ear. In use, the device can be inserted into the ear canal and/or placed in proximity to the ear in order to stimulate the facial nerve system non-invasively (e.g., using an electromagnetic field). The device can be used in the emergency treatment of acute stroke or chronically variations for long-term maintenance of blood flow to the brain and stroke prevention. Additional embodiments of the device may be adapted for use on different regions of the body.
115 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more electrically-conductive elements; a positioning ear piece insertable into an ear canal of a subject; an energy-regulating housing adapted to contain the one or more electrically-conductive elements, the energy regulating housing adapted to electrically insulate the one or more electrically-conductive elements and dissipate heat, the energy-regulating housing comprising; a first surface configured to face a subject and rest against an external ear of the subject and comprise materials having lower thermal conductivity than other surfaces of the housing, a second surface configured to enclose the positioning ear piece and comprising heat resistant materials, and a third surface configured to face away from the subject and comprising materials having a higher thermal conductivity than the first surface, wherein the first, second, and third surfaces are electrically insulating; a stimulus generator in electrical communication with the one or more electrically-conductive elements and configured to deliver stimulus energy to the one or more electrically-conductive elements in a manner that allows the one or more electrically-conductive elements to generate an electromagnetic field to stimulate a portion of a neural system of the subject; and a power source in communication with the stimulus generator for providing stimulus energy to the stimulus generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more coiled electrically-conductive elements; an energy-regulating housing adapted to contain the one or more coiled electrically-conductive elements, the energy regulating housing adapted to electrically insulate the one or more coiled electrically-conductive elements and dissipate heat; an ear plug projecting from the energy regulating housing and configured to enter an ear canal of a mammalian subject to position the energy-regulating housing containing the one or more coiled electrically-conductive elements such that a plane of the one or more coiled elements is orthogonal to an axis of the ear canal, the one or more coiled elements configured to be oriented toward the ear canal to provide a stimulating electromagnetic field to the ear canal, wherein; the ear plug encloses a ferromagnetic material configured to shape, amplify, or focus, within the ear canal, the stimulating electromagnetic field generated by the one or more coiled elements, a length of the ferromagnetic material is configured to be axially aligned with the axis of the ear canal, the length of the ferromagnetic material depending inversely on a radius of the one or more coiled elements and the length of the ferromagnetic material being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the one or more coiled elements, a stimulus generator in electrical communication with the one or more electrically-conductive elements and configured to deliver stimulus energy to the one or more electrically-conductive elements in a manner that allows the one or more coiled electrically-conductive elements to generate the stimulating electromagnetic field to stimulate a portion of a neural system of a subject; and a power source in communication with the stimulus generator for providing stimulus energy to the stimulus generator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification