Apparatus and methods for titrating caloric vestibular stimulation
First Claim
1. A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, comprising:
- (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering a first thermal stimulus;
(b) an input unit for receiving a user input indicating efficacy of said first thermal stimulus, and(c) a controller operatively associated with said earpiece and said input unit for;
(i) controlling said earpiece to provide said first thermal stimulus, and(ii) receiving a signal corresponding to the user input and generating a control signal to control the earpiece and delivering a subsequent thermal stimulus different from said first thermal stimulus,wherein the vestibular stimulation is sufficient to induce nystagmus such that the nystagmus is substantially present over a period of at least five minutes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering a first thermal stimulus; (b) an input unit for receiving a user input indicating efficacy of said first thermal stimulus, and (c) a controller operatively associated with said earpiece and said input unit for: (i) controlling said earpiece to provide said first thermal stimulus, and (ii) receiving a signal corresponding to the user input and generating a control signal to control the earpiece and delivering a subsequent thermal stimulus different from said first thermal stimulus. In some embodiments, each thermal stimulus is an actively controlled time varying waveform stimulus.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, comprising:
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(a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering a first thermal stimulus; (b) an input unit for receiving a user input indicating efficacy of said first thermal stimulus, and (c) a controller operatively associated with said earpiece and said input unit for; (i) controlling said earpiece to provide said first thermal stimulus, and (ii) receiving a signal corresponding to the user input and generating a control signal to control the earpiece and delivering a subsequent thermal stimulus different from said first thermal stimulus, wherein the vestibular stimulation is sufficient to induce nystagmus such that the nystagmus is substantially present over a period of at least five minutes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of titrating caloric vestibular stimulation, comprising:
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(a) selecting a first thermal stimulus for a caloric vestibular stimulator; (b) selecting a subsequent thermal stimulus for the caloric vestibular stimulator different from the previously selected stimulus pattern, wherein said subsequent thermal stimulus is selected based on the efficacy of the first or previous thermal stimulus, wherein the vestibular stimulation is sufficient to induce nystagmus such that the nystagmus is substantially present over a period of at least five minutes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of treating a subject in need thereof, comprising:
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(a) administering said subject a first thermal stimulus with a caloric vestibular stimulator; (b) assessing or observing efficacy of the selected stimulus pattern; and
then(c) administering said subject a subsequent thermal stimulus with the caloric vestibular stimulator, said subsequent thermal stimulus different from the previously selected stimulus pattern, wherein the first and subsequent thermal stimulus is configured to induce vestibular stimulation that is sufficient to induce nystagmus such that the nystagmus is substantially present over a period of at least five minutes. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification