# US 2019/0167508 A1 · Pneumatic somatosensory stimulation device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167508 A1 - Document ID: US20190167508A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/273,236 - Filed: 2019-02-12 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-14 - Assignees: Epic Medical Concepts & Innovations, Inc. - Applicants: Epic Medical Concepts & Innovations, Inc. - Inventors: Aaron J. Dirks; James R. Lucas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167508A1 ## CPC - A61H 9/0057: {Suction (suction kneading A61H7/008)} - A61B 5/0053: {by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging} - A61B 5/4005: {for evaluating the sensory system (A61B5/12, A61B5/4058 take precedence)} - A61H 9/0007: {Pulsating} - A61H 9/0071: {by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets} - A61B 5/442: {Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment} - A61B 2018/0088: {Vibration} - A61H 2201/5002: Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient - A61H 2201/5071: Pressure sensors - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A device for providing tactile stimulation of a subject via a pulse of compressible fluid, typically for medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The device preferably includes a high pressure fluid source and a low pressure fluid source. A pressure valve selectively connects the pressure sources to an outlet conduit. The outlet conduit includes an applicator for directing pulses against the skin of a subject. The pulses may be applied via one applicator or a plurality of applicators, and may be applied in one pattern or several patterns at various application sites. A method of providing tactile stimulation is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for providing tactile stimulation via a pulse of compressible fluid, said tactile stimulation device comprising: high and low-pressure fluid sources, said low-pressure fluid source supplying fluid at a pressure above ambient pressure and said high-pressure fluid source supplying fluid at a pressure above that of the low-pressure fluid source; an outlet conduit being fluidly connectable to the fluid sources and including an applicator configured to direct the pulse against a first area of skin of a subject; and a pressure valve fluidly interposed between the applicator and the fluid sources, said pressure valve being shiftable between a first position fluidly connecting the high-pressure fluid source to the outlet conduit and a second position fluidly connecting the low-pressure fluid source to the outlet conduit, with shifting of the pressure valve between the positions alternating connection of the fluid sources to the outlet conduit to generate the pulse. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a control system operably coupled to the pressure valve to control shifting of the pressure valve between the first and second positions, said control system being operable to maintain the pressure valve in the first position and, after a high-pressure predetermined amount of time, shift the pressure valve to the second position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 2, said high-pressure predetermined amount of time being nonzero and equal to or less than 30 milliseconds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 3, said high-pressure predetermined amount of time being between 10 milliseconds and 15 milliseconds, inclusive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: an outlet pressure sensor connectable to the applicator to sense a pressure associated with the pulse supplied to the applicator, said outlet pressure sensor being operably coupled with the control system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a data link coupled to the control system and being connectable to a neuronal sensing device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 1, said outlet conduit defining an inner conduit flow passageway having a minimum passageway cross-sectional dimension, said pressure valve defining an inner valve flow path having a minimum path cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the passageway cross-sectional dimension, said minimum passageway cross-sectional dimension being between 0.002 square inches and 0.05 square inches, inclusive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 1, each of said pressure sources comprising a regulator and a reservoir positioned upstream from the regulator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a common fluid compressor supplies pressurized fluid to both of the reservoirs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second outlet conduit being fluidly connectable to the fluid sources and including a second applicator configured to direct a second pulse against a second area of the skin of the subject; and a second pressure valve fluidly interposed between the second applicator and the fluid sources, said second pressure valve being shiftable between a first position fluidly connecting the high-pressure fluid source to the second outlet conduit and a second position fluidly connecting the low-pressure fluid source to the second outlet conduit, with shifting of the second pressure valve between the positions alternating connection of the fluid sources to the second outlet conduit to generate the second pulse. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tactile stimulation device as claimed in claim 1, said pressure valve being a fast-acting solenoid valve configured to complete shifting between the respective valve positions in a nonzero time period less than or equal to 15 milliseconds. ### Claim 12 A method of providing tactile stimulation via a pulse of compressible fluid delivered to an applicator, said tactile stimulation method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying a high-pressure fluid toward the applicator; and (b) after passage of a first predetermined amount of time, switching the flow of high-pressure fluid to a flow of low-pressure fluid toward the first applicator, wherein— the high-pressure fluid flows for less time than the low-pressure fluid to thereby generate the pulse of compressible fluid to the first applicator, said low-pressure fluid is supplied to the applicator at a pressure above ambient pressure and said high-pressure fluid is supplied to the applicator at a pressure above that of the low-pressure fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 12, wherein— step (b) includes shifting a pressure valve from a high-pressure position, in which a high-pressure fluid source is fluidly connected to the applicator, to a lower pressure position, in which a low-pressure fluid source is fluidly connected to the applicator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said shifting of the pressure valve is performed in 15 milliseconds or less. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first predetermined amount of time is 30 milliseconds or less. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first predetermined amount of time is between 10 milliseconds and 15 milliseconds, inclusive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said flow of high-pressure fluid and flow of low-pressure fluid are supplied to the applicator through an outlet conduit, further comprising: (c) supplying vacuum pressure to the outlet conduit. ### Claim 18 The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim last, wherein step (c) includes shifting a vacuum valve from a pulse position, in which the vacuum pressure is not fluidly connected to the outlet conduit, to a vacuum position, in which the vacuum pressure is fluidly connected to the outlet conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 17, wherein— said high-pressure fluid flow is supplied to the outlet conduit at a pressure between 6 psi and 10 psi, inclusive, said low-pressure fluid flow is supplied to the outlet conduit at a pressure between 1 psi and 2 psi, inclusive, said vacuum pressure is supplied to the outlet conduit at a pressure between −1 psi and −2 psi, inclusive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The tactile stimulation method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising (d) blocking high and low-pressure fluid flow along the outlet conduit during step (c).