Nerve stimulation system, subsystem, headset, and earpiece

An ear electrode contact, comprising:

• a resilient, substantially hollow dome-shaped structure having a base region and an apical region opposite the base region;
• a substantially tubular element within the dome-shaped structure, attached at a first end to the apical region of the dome-shaped structure, and having an opening at a second end adapted to receive a mounting structure of a electrical stimulation earpiece housing so that the dome-shaped structure is mountable on the mounting structure;
• at least one electrode surface on an exterior surface of the dome-shaped structure;
• and
• at least one contact region within the recess, the contact region adapted to form an electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact region on the mounting structure.

A neural stimulation headset comprising:

• first and second earpieces, each earpiece adapted to fit into a respective first or second ear of a subject;
• at least one neural stimulator located on at least one of the first and second earpieces;
• and
• a neckband securing member including
• first and second arcs, each arc connected to a respective earpiece of the first and second earpieces and adapted to fit over and behind a respective first or second ear of the subject;
• a connecting portion connected at a first end to the first arc and at a second end to the second arc and adapted to fit behind the head of the subject;
• and
• electrical circuitry within the neckband securing member, the electrical circuitry including communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with a system component located separately from the headset.

A electrical stimulation earpiece, comprising:

• a housing;
• at least one mounting structure extending outwardly from the housing and configured to fit within a recess in a resilient ear-contacting element to mount the ear-contacting element on the mounting structure, the mounting structure including
• an outer surface;
• a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the outer surface and adapted to mechanically engage the ear-contacting element;
• and
• an electrically conductive surface on at least a portion of the plurality of projections, the electrically conductive surface adapted to electrically contact a contact region within the recess of the ear-contacting element;
• and
• an electrical conductor for providing electrical communication between the electrically conductive surface and an electrical connection site within the housing.

A neural stimulation subsystem comprising:

• communication circuitry adapted for communication with a personal computing device;
• neural stimulation device control circuitry housed within the housing and configured to produce a neural stimulus control signal responsive to at least one stimulation parameter received from application software on the personal computing device via the communication circuitry;
• a drive signal interface configured to output the neural stimulus control signal to a neural stimulation device to drive delivery of a neural stimulus by the neural stimulation device;
• a housing, wherein the communication circuitry, neural stimulation device control circuitry, and the drive signal interface are located in the housing;
• and
• a releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the housing to a device case adapted to contain the personal computing device.