Systems, devices, and methods for treating vestibular conditions
AssigneeOtolith Sound Inc.
InventorsSamuel Owen, Robert True
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described herein that provide a vibratory device that can apply a vibratory signal to a portion of a head of a user such that the vibratory signal can be conducted via bone to a vestibular system of the user and cause a portion of the vestibular system to move in a manner equivalent to that of a therapeutically effective vibratory signal applied to an area overlaying a mastoid bone of the user. The vibratory device can be associated with frequencies less than 200 Hz. The vibratory device can be effective at treating a physiological condition associated with the vestibular system.
Claims25
A method, comprising:
- applying, via a vibratory device positioned over an area of a head of a user, one or more vibratory signals to the area of the head of the user such that a portion of the one or more vibratory signals are conducted via a temporal bone to a vestibular system of the user, the one or more vibratory signals having a frequency between 30 and 80 Hz and a force level greater than 87 dB re 1 dyne and less than or equal to 101 dB re 1 dyne,
- the applying the one or more vibratory signals to the area of the head of the user causing movement of a portion of the vestibular system that treats a physiological condition associated with the vestibular system.
A method, comprising:
- generating, via a signal generator of a vibratory device, an electrical signal having a signal frequency;
- delivering the electrical signal to a set of coils of the vibratory device such that the set of coils generates an alternating magnetic field;
- causing, via the alternating magnetic field, a vibratory element of the vibratory device to vibrate and generate one or more mechanical vibratory signals;
- and
- transferring, via a housing of the vibratory device in contact with an area of a head of a user, the one or more mechanical vibratory signals to the area such that at least a portion of the one or more mechanical vibratory signals are conducted via a temporal bone to one or more of an otolith organ or semicircular canal of a vestibular system of the user and causes movement of the one or more of the otolith organ or the semicircular canal that treats a physiological condition associated with the vestibular system,
- the one or more mechanical vibratory signals having a frequency between 30 and 80 Hz and a force level greater than 87 dB re 1 dyne and less than or equal to 101 dB re 1 dyne.
A method, comprising:
- generating an electrical signal using a signal generator;
- energizing a vibratory device using the electrical signal such that the vibratory device generates one or more mechanical vibratory signals;
- contacting a portion of the vibratory device with an area of a head of a user to apply the one or more mechanical vibratory signals to the area such that at least a portion of the one or more mechanical vibratory signals are conducted via a temporal bone to one or more of an otolith organ or semicircular canal of a vestibular system of the user and causes movement of a portion of the one or more of the otolith organ or the semicircular canal that treats a physiological condition associated with the vestibular system, the one or more mechanical vibratory signals having a frequency between 30 and 80 Hz and a force level greater than 87 dB re 1 dyne and less than or equal to 101 dB re 1 dyne;
- monitoring, while applying the one or more mechanical vibratory signals to the area of the head of the user and using a set of sensors, a state of the vibratory device or the user;
- and
- adjusting a property of the electrical signal based on the monitoring to change at least one of the frequency or the force level of the mechanical vibratory signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.