Intraoral neuromodulation
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsSaurabh Biswas, Hangue Park
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Abstract
Intraoral neuromodulation for the treatment clinical conditions such as, e.g., dysphagia, migraines, or speech problems can be achieved with a neuromodulation system that includes an intraoral neural stimulator, e.g., integrated into a wearable device to be positioned in the oral cavity, that is controlled based on one or more measured signals associated with an intraoral organ or nerve related to the clinical condition.
Claims26
A system for intraoral neuromodulation, the system comprising:
- an intraoral neural stimulator comprising electrodes positioned to apply an electrical stimulation signal to an intraoral nerve associated with an intraoral function;
- means for measuring a signal associated with the intraoral function;
- and
- electronic circuitry configured to cause application of the electrical stimulation signal to the intraoral nerve by the intraoral neural stimulator based on the measured signal.
A system for dysphagia treatment by intraoral neuromodulation, the system comprising:
- a palatal retainer;
- a pressure sensor positioned on the palatal retainer to measure a patient's tongue-tip pressure;
- a neural stimulator positioned on the palatal retainer to apply an electrical stimulation signal to the patient's soft palatal area;
- and
- electronic circuitry configured to process a sensor signal from the pressure sensor to detect an onset of a pharyngeal phase of swallowing and, responsive to the onset, control the stimulator to apply the electrical stimulation signal.
A method for intraoral neuromodulation, the method comprising:
- measuring one or more signals associated with an intraoral function;
- and
- based on the measured one or more signal, applying an electrical stimulation signal to an intraoral nerve associated with the intraoral function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.