# US 8,515,552 B2 · Method of alleviating motion sickness

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- Number: US 8,515,552 B2
- Document ID: US8515552B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/502,801
- Filed: 2010-09-15
- Published: 2012-08-09
- Granted: 2013-08-20
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-28
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Krystle Jo Englehart
- Inventors: Krystle Jo Englehart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8515552B2

## CPC

- A61M 21/02: for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021)
- A61N 1/36036: {of the outer, middle or inner ear}
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense}
- A61M 2021/0055: {with electric or electro-magnetic fields}
- A61M 2021/0066: {with heating or cooling}
- A61M 2021/0072: {with application of electrical currents}
- A61M 2021/0077: {with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus}
- A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes}
- A61N 1/36017: {with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

The present invention provides a method of alleviating motion sickness in a patient during a predetermined event. The predetermined event commencing at a start time. The patient having a vestibular system. The method including determining the start time of the predetermined event. The method further including providing a stimulus to the vestibular system of the patient during a treatment, the treatment occurring a predetermined amount of time before the start time of the predetermined event and lasting a predetermined duration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of alleviating motion sickness in a patient caused by a predetermined event, the predetermined event commencing at a start time, the patient having a vestibular system, the method comprising:
determining (110) the start time for the predetermined event; and
providing (140) a stimulus to the vestibular system of the patient during a treatment alleviate motion sickness caused by the predetermined event, the treatment beginning a predetermined amount of time before the start time of the predetermined event and lasting a predetermined duration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising determining (120) a treatment schedule for the patient after determining (110) the start time for the predetermined event and prior to providing (140) a stimulus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the stimulus comprises an electrical stimulation provided by an electrical nerve stimulation device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the electrical stimulation comprises a sinusoidal wave current stimulation output.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the sinusoidal wave current stimulation output has a frequency at or about 0.50 Hz.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the sinusoidal wave current stimulation output has a peak output of between 0.1 and 1.0 milliamps.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of time is between one and seven days before the predetermined event.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the duration is about 30 minutes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment is a first treatment, the method further comprising:
providing a stimulus to the vestibular system of the patient during a number of subsequent treatments occurring after the first treatment, wherein each of the number of subsequent treatments occur a predetermined time before the start time of the predetermined event and each of the subsequent treatments last a predetermined second duration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined event is an event selected from the group consisting of: riding in an automobile, riding on a boat and riding in a plane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment begins before the patient feels symptoms of motion sickness.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment ends before the start time of predetermined event.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stimulus to the vestibular system of the patient during the treatment induces a rocking sensation in the patient.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the rocking sensation causes symptoms of motion sickness in the patient.