US 2023/0414928 A1Published application

Devices and methods for treating stress and improving alertness using electrical stimulation

OwnerAlejandro Covalin, Navid Khodaparast +1inventors

InventorsAlejandro Covalin, Navid Khodaparast, Melanie McWade

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and methods for treating stress and/or for improving alertness in a subject using neurostimulation therapy include placing first electrode(s) on, over, or adjacent to an auricular branch of the vagus nerve, placing second electrode(s) on, over or adjacent to an auriculotemporal nerve, and delivering therapeutic stimulation pulses via the first electrode(s) and the second electrode(s) by delivering a first series of stimulation pulses to the first electrode(s), the first series configured to increase activity in neural medullary structure(s), and delivering a second series of stimulation pulses to the second electrode(s), the second series configured to increase activity in neural structures within the Trigeminocervical Complex.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for mitigating stress and/or improving performance in stressful situations while reducing the likelihood of and/or controlling bleeding by applying neural stimulations, the method comprising:

placing at least one first electrode on, over, or adjacent to a first neural structure of a set of neural structures in or around the auricle, wherein each electrode of the at least one first electrode is placed against or at least partially into a respective tissue region on or surrounding an ear of a subject;
placing at least one second electrode on, over or adjacent to a second neural structure of the set of neural structures, wherein each electrode of the at least one second electrode is placed against or at least partially into a respective tissue region on or surrounding the ear of the subject;
and
intermittently activating a wearable neural stimulation device comprising the at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode, wherein the wearable neural stimulation device is continuously worn by the subject for a period of time comprising multiple therapy delivery periods and activated to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy to the subject prior to and/or during periods of subject activity involving one or more stressors to the subject, wherein
intermittently activating comprises repeatedly activating delivery of the electrical stimulation therapy, by the wearable neural stimulation device, for a therapy delivery period of at least five minutes followed by a deactivation period, and
delivering the electrical stimulation therapy comprises
delivering, via a controller,
a first series of neural pathway stimulation pulses at one or more frequencies within a range from 5 Hz to 30 Hz to the at least one first electrode, and
delivering a second series of neural pathway stimulation pulses at one or more frequencies within a range from 70 Hz to 150 Hz to the at least one second electrode;
wherein at least one electrode of the at least one first electrode is different than at least one electrode of the at least one second electrode.

7 more elements

A system for mitigating stress and/or improving performance in stressful situations while reducing the likelihood of and/or controlling bleeding by applying transcutaneous stimulation using an ear-mounted stimulation device, the system comprising:

an ear-mounted stimulation device comprising
a plurality of electrodes each configured to deliver a non-piercing electrical stimulation via tissue,
an in-ear portion configured to be positioned against tissue portions of an inside of an ear of a wearer, the in-ear portion comprising a first portion of the plurality of electrodes, and
an earpiece portion configured to be positioned over the ear of the wearer in contact with tissue portions of an exterior of the ear of the wearer, the earpiece portion comprising a second portion of the plurality of electrodes;
and
a controller in electrical communication with the ear-mounted stimulation device, wherein the controller comprises processing circuitry configured to deliver therapeutic stimulation pulses via the ear-mounted stimulation device, wherein the ear-mounted stimulation device is continuously worn by the wearer for a period of time comprising multiple therapy delivery periods and intermittently activated to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy to the wearer during periods of wearer activity involving one or more stressors in the wearer, to mitigate stress and/or improve performance in stressful situations, wherein
intermittently activating comprises repeatedly activating delivery of the therapeutic stimulation pulses for a therapy delivery period of at least five minutes followed by a deactivation period, and
delivering the electrical stimulation therapy comprises
delivering a first series of neural pathway stimulation pulses to at least one first electrode of the plurality of electrodes of the ear-mounted stimulation device at one or more frequencies within a range from 5 Hz to 30 Hz,
delivering a second series of neural pathway stimulation pulses at one or more frequencies within a range from 70 Hz to 150 Hz to at least one second electrode of the plurality of electrodes of the ear-mounted stimulation device, wherein
at least one electrode of the at least one first electrode is different than at least one electrode of the at least one second electrode.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.