Method and system for modulating neural activity

A neural modulation method comprising:

• receiving at an activity signal input structure of a neural modulation system an activity signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of the subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure from a sensor operatively connected to the activity signal input structure;
• and
• distinguishing, with signal processing circuitry of the neural modulation system, a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from the activity signal received at the activity signal input structure;
• and
• generating, with the signal processing portion of the neural modulation system, an ultrasonic stimulus control signal for driving production of an ultrasonic stimulus by an ultrasonic stimulus source, the ultrasonic stimulus configured to reversibly modulate neural activity in at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the first activity state;
• and
• generating, with the signal processing portion of the neural modulation system, a secondary stimulus control signal for driving production by a secondary stimulus source of a secondary stimulus adapted to modulate neural activity.

A neural modulation system, comprising:

• a package configured to be secured to a portion of a body of a subject adjacent a skin surface in the vicinity of a peripheral neural structure;
• a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of the subject;
• a first stimulus source adapted to produce a first stimulus sufficient to reversibly modulate neural activity in at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure;
• a second stimulus source adapted to produce a second stimulus sufficient to reversibly modulate neural activity in the at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure;
• and
• a signal processing portion within the package, the signal processing portion including circuitry configured to:
• distinguish a first activity state of the subject from a second activity state of the subject based on the signal received at the signal input structure;
• generate a first stimulus control signal for driving production of the first stimulus by the first stimulus source in a cyclical application pattern in response to at least one of the first activity state and the second activity state;
• and
• generate a second stimulus control signal for driving production of the second stimulus by the second stimulus source in a cyclical application pattern in response to at least one of the second activity state and the second activity state;
• wherein at least one of the first stimulus source and the second stimulus source includes an ultrasonic stimulus source, and
• wherein at least one of a first stimulus control signal and the second stimulus control signal is configured to drive production of a blocking signal for blocking conduction in the at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure.