Controlling ear stimulation in response to a status of a subject

• US 10,293,158 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aurenar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Equality, LLC
• Inventors: Goodall, Eleanor V., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Kitzan, Melanie K., Leuthardt, Eric C., Malamud, Mark A., Malaska, Stephen L., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Scheid, Brittany, Sharadin, Katherine E., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US15/996,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20190001128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00044 Sensing electrocardiography, i.e. ECG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0188 Illumination related features
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/02 heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 : Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/00 : Measuring physical parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/045 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/065 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/105 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/305 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus A61H2230/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/405 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/605 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/655 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 : using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 : Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 : Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 : of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 : User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 : involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 : Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 : acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 : Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, in response to determination of electrical contact of an electrode in a stimulator earpiece with an ear of a user of the personal computing device, are described. If the electrode is not in good electrical contact with the ear of the user, delivery of the stimulus is prevented and the user is notified of the status of the electrode. In various aspects, the user is instructed to reposition the earpiece or replace, clean, moisten, or apply gel to at least a portion of the electrode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, comprising:

receiving at least one first signal at a personal computing device used by a subject, wherein the at least one first signal is indicative of at least one of delivery of a pharmaceutical to the subject, delivery of a nutraceutical to the subject, an event in a game played by the subject, a user input to a game by the subject, a user input provided to a virtual reality system by the subject, an event experienced by the subject in a virtual reality system, a user input to the computing device by the subject indicative of a mental or emotional state of the subject, a user input to a computing device by the subject in response to a query or prompt, genome information of the subject, or microbiome information of the subject;

determining a neural stimulus control signal based at least in part on the at least one first signal with stimulation control circuitry in the personal computing device, the neural stimulus control signal configured to control delivery by an external neural stimulator of a neural stimulus configured to stimulate at least one nerve innervating a pinna of the subject;

outputting the neural stimulus control signal from the personal computing device to an ear stimulation device including the external neural stimulator carried on the pinna of the subject;

determining a secondary stimulus control signal adapted to control delivery of a secondary stimulus to the subject; and

delivering the secondary stimulus control signal to a secondary stimulator to control delivery of the secondary stimulus to the subject, wherein the secondary stimulus includes at least one of music, an auditory stimulus, a video, a virtual reality experience, a game experience, a virtual therapy experience, or an interactive activity delivered via the personal computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first signal is indicative of at least one of delivery of a pharmaceutical to the subject or delivery of a nutraceutical to the subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first signal is indicative of at least one of a user input to a game by the subject, a user input provided to a virtual reality system by the subject, a user input to the computing device by the subject indicative of a mental or emotional state of the subject, or a user input to a computing device by the subject in response to a query or prompt.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving at least one second signal at the personal computing device, wherein the at least one second signal is indicative of at least one of delivery of a pharmaceutical to the subject or delivery of a nutraceutical to the subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the at least one first signal at the personal computing device includes receiving a user input from the subject via an ecological momentary assessment module.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the neural stimulus control signal includes determining at least one of amplitude, frequency, waveform, pattern, or duration of the neural stimulus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the neural stimulus control signal includes selecting a stimulation pattern stored in a memory of the personal computing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal computing device includes a phone, watch, wearable device, tablet computer, laptop computer, or desktop computer.

9. The method of claim 1, including receiving, at handshake circuitry on the personal computing device, a handshake signal from ear stimulation device control circuitry associated with the ear stimulation device.

10. The method of claim 1, including receiving, at handshake circuitry on the personal computing device, a handshake signal from ear stimulation device control circuitry associated with the ear stimulation device.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing

one or more instructions for receiving at least one first signal at a personal computing device used by a subject, wherein the at least one first signal is indicative of at least one of delivery of a pharmaceutical to the subject, delivery of a nutraceutical to the subject, an event in a game played by the subject, a user input to a game by the subject, a user input provided to a virtual reality system by the subject, an event experienced by the subject in a virtual reality system, a user input to the computing device by the subject indicative of a mental or emotional state of the subject, a user input to a computing device by the subject in response to a query or prompt, genome information of the subject, or microbiome information of the subject;

one or more instructions for determining a neural stimulus control signal based at least in part on the at least one first signal with stimulation control circuitry in the personal computing device, the neural stimulus control signal configured to control delivery by an external neural stimulator of a neural stimulus configured to stimulate at least one nerve innervating a pinna of the subject;

one or more instructions for outputting the neural stimulus control signal from the personal computing device to an ear stimulation device including the external neural stimulator carried on the pinna of the subject;

one or more instructions for determining a secondary stimulus control signal adapted to control delivery of a secondary stimulus to the subject; and

one or more instructions for delivering the secondary stimulus control signal to a secondary stimulator to control delivery of the secondary stimulus to the subject, wherein the secondary stimulus includes at least one of music, an auditory stimulus, a video, a virtual reality experience, a game experience, a virtual therapy experience, or an interactive activity delivered via the personal computing device.

12. An ear stimulation device control system, comprising:

a personal computing device configured to control delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating an ear of a subject using the personal computing device, via an ear stimulation device including an external neural stimulator carried on a pinna of the subject, the personal computing device including

at least one signal input configured to receive at least one first signal indicative of at least one of delivery of a pharmaceutical to the subject, delivery of a nutraceutical to the subject, an event in a game played by the subject, a user input to a game by the subject, a user input provided to a virtual reality system by the subject, an event experienced by the subject in a virtual reality system, a user input to the computing device by the subject indicative of a mental or emotional state of the subject, a user input to a computing device by the subject in response to a query or prompt, genome information of the subject, or microbiome information of the subject;

control signal determination circuitry configured to determine a neural stimulus control signal based at least in part on the at least one first signal;

neural control signal output circuitry for outputting the neural stimulus control signal to the ear stimulation device;

secondary stimulus determination circuitry configured to determine, based at least in part on the at least one first signal, a secondary stimulus control signal adapted to control delivery of a secondary stimulus to the subject, wherein the secondary stimulus includes at least one of music, an auditory stimulus, a video, a virtual reality experience, a game experience, a virtual therapy experience, or an interactive activity delivered via the personal computing device signal; and

secondary stimulus control signal output circuitry configured for deliver the secondary control signal to a secondary stimulator.

13. The ear stimulation device control system of claim 12, wherein the neural control signal output circuitry is configured to output the neural stimulus control signal via a secure connection.

14. The ear stimulation device control system of claim 13, wherein the neural control signal output circuitry is configured to output an encrypted signal.