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US 7,730,892 B2Granted
Mechanical vestibular stimulator
AssigneeMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
InventorsDaniel M. Merfeld, Wangsong Gong, Steven D. Rauch, Richard Terry, Conrad Wall, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual. The apparatus comprises an actuator configured to mechanically stimulate a semicircular canal, and a control module coupled to the actuator that controls the actuator in response to motion information associated with the individual.
Claims18
An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual, the apparatus comprising:
- an actuator configured
- to be in contact with a portion of the endosteum that forms the inner lining of a bony labyrinth, and
- to displace the portion of endosteum, thereby causing a displacement of a semicircular canal formed from the membranous labyrinth and suspended within perilymph that fills the bony labyrinth,
- wherein movement of the endolymph causes hairs on a cupula to bend in response to an extent of the displacement;
- and
- a control module coupled to the actuator that controls the actuator in response to motion information associated with the individual,
- wherein the actuator comprises one or more controls for setting one or more of an adjustable frequency of the actuator, an adjustable amplitude of the actuator, and a duration of actuation of the actuator, and
- wherein the actuator is further configured to be calibrated to determine experimentally, for a particular set of motion information of the patient, the associated at least one of the frequency of actuation, the amplitude of actuation, and the duration of actuation.
5 more elements
A method for stimulating the vestibular system, the method comprising:
- inserting an actuator in contact with a portion of an endosteum that forms the inner lining of a bony labyrinth of a patient;
- detecting a signal indicative of motion of the patient;
- and
- causing the actuator to press directly against the portion of the endosteum with a force sufficient to displace the portion of the endosteum, thereby causing a displacement of a semicircular canal formed from the membranous labyrinth and suspended within perilymph that fills the bony labyrinth in response to the signal, thereby causing endolymph within the semicircular canal to move in response to displacement of the portion of the endosteum by the actuator, the movement of the endolymph causing hairs on a cupula to bend in response to an extent of the displacement,
- wherein causing the actuator to displace the semicircular canal comprises at least one of setting an adjustable frequency of the actuator, setting an adjustable amplitude of the actuator, and setting a duration of actuation of the actuator, and
- calibrating the actuator to determine experimentally, for a particular set of motion information of the patient, the associated at least one of the frequency of actuation, the amplitude of actuation, and the duration of actuation.
3 more elements
An apparatus for stimulating the vestibular system of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- means for applying a force to cause displacement of a semicircular canal formed from the membranous labyrinth and suspended within perilymph that fills the bony labyrinth, the semicircular canal containing endolymph that moves in response to displacement of the semicircular canal;
- and
- a control module configured for controlling the mechanical actuation of the means in response to motion information associated with the subject,
- wherein the means for applying a force includes means for setting at least one of an adjustable amplitude of force application, an adjustable frequency of force application, and an adjustable duration of force application, and
- wherein the means for applying a force is further configured to be calibrated to determine experimentally, for a particular set of motion information of the patient, the associated at least one of the frequency of force application, the amplitude of force actuation, and the duration of force application.
2 more elements
A method for stimulating the vestibular system, the method comprising:
- inserting an actuator in contact with a portion of an endosteum that forms the inner lining of a bony labyrinth of a patient;
- detecting a signal indicative of motion of the patient;
- and
- causing the actuator to displace the portion of the endosteum, thereby causing a displacement of a semicircular canal formed from the membranous labyrinth and suspended within perilymph that fills the bony labyrinth in response to the signal, thereby causing endolymph within the semicircular canal to move in response to displacement of the portion of the endosteum by the actuator, the movement of the endolymph causing hairs on a cupula to bend in response to an extent of the displacement, wherein
- causing the actuator to displace the semicircular canal comprises at least one of setting an adjustable frequency of the actuator, setting an adjustable amplitude of the actuator, and setting a duration of actuation of the actuator;
- and
- calibrating the actuator to determine experimentally, for a particular set of motion information of the patient, the associated at least one of the frequency of actuation, the amplitude of actuation, and the duration of actuation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.