Devices and methods for vestibular and/or cranial nerve stimulation
AssigneeScion NeuroStim, LLC
InventorsLesco L. Rogers, Lanty L. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject includes (a) an earpiece configured to be insertable into the ear canal of said subject, the earpiece having an outer surface and an internal cavity formed therein, the internal cavity having an inner surface; and (b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to the earpiece internal cavity inner surface.
Claims32
An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:
- (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the subject;
- (b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool said earpiece to thereby heat and/or cool the ear canal of the subject;
- and
- (c) a heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject.
An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:
- (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the subject;
- (b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool said earpiece to thereby heat and/or cool the ear canal of the subject;
- wherein said earpiece is conical in shape and said earpiece comprises a conical apex of the conical shape that has been blunted to form a dome-shaped point;
- wherein said earpiece comprises:
- a generally cylindrical base having opposite first and second ends, the base defining a longitudinal centerline;
- and
- an extended portion extending from the second end of the cylindrical base, wherein said dome-shaped point is offset from the longitudinal centerline.
An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canals of a subject, comprising:
- (a) a first earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the right ear canal of the subject;
- (b) a second earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the left ear canal of the subject;
- (c) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said first earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool said first earpiece to thereby thermally stimulate the right ear canal of the subject;
- (d) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said second earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool said second earpiece to thereby thermally stimulate the left ear canal of the subject;
- (e) a headpiece configured to position said first earpiece in the right ear canal of the subject and to position said second earpiece in the left ear canal of the subject;
- (f) a first heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece and configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject;
- and
- (g) a second heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device coupled to said first earpiece and configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject.
A method for delivering caloric stimulation to a subject, the method comprising:
- positioning at least a portion of an in-ear stimulator in an ear canal of the subject, said in-ear stimulator comprising:
- (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the subject;
- (b) at least one thermoelectric device thermally coupled to said earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool said earpiece to thereby thermally stimulate the ear canal of the subject;
- and
- (c) a heat sink thermally coupled to said at least one thermoelectric device and configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject;
- delivering a time-varying thermal waveform to said at least one thermoelectric device such that said thermoelectric device effects corresponding temperature changes to said earpiece to deliver caloric stimulation to the subject.
An in-ear stimulator for administering thermal stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising:
- a heat sink thermally coupled to at least one thermoelectric device and having at least an outer portion of said heat sink that is configured for positioning outside the ear canal of a subject, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device is configured to thermally stimulate the ear canal of the subject,
- wherein said heat sink further comprises an inner portion that is configured for positioning inside the ear canal of the subject, wherein said at least one thermoelectric device is mounted on said inner portion of said heat sink and the heat sink outer portion comprises a plurality of fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.