Abstract:
A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering a first thermal stimulus; (b) an input unit for receiving a user input indicating efficacy of said first thermal stimulus, and (c) a controller operatively associated with said earpiece and said input unit for: (i) controlling said earpiece to provide said first thermal stimulus, and (ii) receiving a signal corresponding to the user input and generating a control signal to control the earpiece and delivering a subsequent thermal stimulus different from said first thermal stimulus. In some embodiments, each thermal stimulus is an actively controlled time varying waveform stimulus.
Abstract:
The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for delivering one or more thermal waveforms to the vestibular system and/or the nervous system of a patient. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a vestibular stimulation device configured both to generate a prescription for delivering one or more thermal waveforms and to deliver the prescribed thermal waveforms.
Abstract:
A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering said caloric vestibular stimulation; (b) a power supply operatively associated with said earpiece; and (c) a controller operatively associated with said power supply and said earpiece for configuring said caloric vestibular stimulation as at least a first and second time-varying waveform. Preferably, the waveforms are actively controlled waveforms.
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.
Abstract:
An in-ear stimulation device for administering caloric stimulation to the ear canal of a subject includes (a) first and second earpieces configured to be insertable into the ear canals of the subject; (b) at least first and second thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to respective ones of the first and second earpieces; (c) a first heat sink thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device opposite the first earpiece and a second heat sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device opposite the second earpiece; and (d) a controller comprising a waveform generator in communication with the first and second thermoelectric devices, the waveform generator configured to generate a first control signal to control a first caloric output to the first thermoelectric device and a second control signal to control a second caloric output to the second caloric device.
Abstract:
A method of neurostimulation includes delivering an electrical signal to a plurality of electrodes (215A, 215B) connected to a patient. The electrical signal is characterized by an amplitude and a carrier frequency. The method includes modulating an electrical signal based on an audio waveform. In some cases, the modulation may include modulating at least one of an amplitude and a carrier frequency based on the audio waveform. A neurostimulation device (200) comprising first and second electrodes is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) may include delivering an electrical signal via transdermal electrical stimulation using a plurality of electrodes connected to a patient. The electrical signal may include an amplitude and a carrier frequency. The method may include modulating at least one of the amplitude and the carrier frequency based on a modulation waveform to modulate the electrical signal, the modulation waveform may include a modulation frequency that is less than the carrier frequency.
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods for neurostimulation via vestibular stimulation are described. One example is a device for administering thermal stimulation to an ear canal of a subject. The device may include an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the subject; a thermoelectric device thermally coupled to the earpiece and configured to heat and/or cool the earpiece to thereby heat and/or cool the ear canal of the subject; and a controller configured to administer a selected treatment plan including administering a caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) stimulus to the ear canal of the subject in a condition-treatment effective amount during a first treatment interval. The treatment plan may be effective to produce a durable improvement in at least one symptom of the condition for a time of at least 1 week following cessation of the administering.
Abstract:
A method of neurostimulation may include delivering an electrical signal to a plurality of electrodes connected to a patient. The electrical signal may include a plurality of spaced-apart packets of electrical pulses. The method may include modulating at least one of a quantity of the plurality of electrical pulses within ones of the plurality of packets of electrical pulses, a width in time of the plurality of electrical pulses within ones of the plurality of packets of electrical pulses, an amplitude in voltage of the plurality of electrical pulses within ones of the plurality of packets of electrical pulses, a separation in time between adjacent ones of the plurality of electrical pulses within ones of the plurality of packets of electrical pulses, and a separation in time between adjacent ones of the plurality of packets of electrical pulses to modulate the electrical signal.