Selectively controllable apparatus for insertion into an ear canal, and related methods of use and operation for behavioral control. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body configured for insertion into an ear canal. In one variant, the body includes one or more thermal mechanisms which enable selective increase or decrease of temperature of at least portions of the ear canal so as to implement behavioral control of the user, such as to mitigate cravings for food, alcohol, narcotics, or other potentially deleterious substances. In one variant, a mild nausea or pre-nausea condition is created within the user according to a time-temperature profile so as to induce the aforementioned behavioral modification.

The present disclosure relates to a system 10 comprising an ear cushion 20 for a headset 100, a fluid supply 30 and a fluid guide device 40 connected to the ear cushion 20. The present disclosure further relates to an ear cushion 20 for a headset 100, a fluid guide device 40 for a headset 100. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a headset 100 as well as to a headgear 200 comprising such a system 10.

An auricle heating device according to one aspect of the present invention, including a pair of left and right heating devices that are to be respectively worn in a left and right ear, wherein each heating device includes: a heating body; a holding portion configured to hold the heating body; and a fixing portion. The fixing portion is connected to the holding portion and configured to be worn in an auricle so as to fix the holding portion so as to be in contact with an inner side of the auricle. The left and right heating devices are separate from each other.

A vestibular neurostimulation device, which may include first and second electrodes; first and second thermoelectric devices thermally coupled, respectively, to first and second earpieces that are configured to be insertable into respective ear canals of a patient; and a controller comprising a waveform generator. The waveform generator may be is configured to deliver a modulated electric signal to the patient through galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) using the first and second electrodes and to deliver a time varying thermal waveform to the patient through caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) using the first and second earpieces simultaneous with the delivery of the modulated electrical signal through GVS. The CVS and/or GVS may be configured to increase a passage of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) through a blood-brain-barrier.

A heat transfer device particularly structured for application of thermal therapy from a contact surface to a human ear. A device may be passive (pre-cooled), active (thermoelectrically active), or include elements of both. A device may be structured to apply thermal treatment from a contact surface of a contact cavity only to a localized posterior area relative to the circumference of an ear. Preferably, a device provides an uninterrupted opening extending in a line-of-sight between an ear canal and the local environment. A device may include both of a contact cavity and a bulk cavity, with heat transfer media disposed in each cavity. Typically, a bulk cavity holds at least twice the media volume contained in a contact cavity. The cavities may be disposed in fluid communication, or separated by a barrier to permit only thermal communication there-between. When a barrier is present, a device may include different heat transfer media in each cavity. One or more device may be associated with various mounting structure to dispose a contact surface in contact with desired portion(s) of a head.

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.

A method of neurostimulation may include delivering an electrical signal to a plurality of electrodes connected to a patient. The electrical signal may include an amplitude and a carrier frequency. The method may include modulating the electrical signal based on an audio waveform. In some embodiments, the modulating may include modulating at least one of the amplitude and the carrier frequency based on the audio waveform to modulate the electrical signal.

An applicator has a stem, one or more tips, and one or more chambers which may hold therapeutic or medicinal fluids. The applicator may be separated into two sections so the tips can be used independently. The fluids held in the chambers may be separated with one or more frangible walls which can be broken to release or mix the fluids. The tips are used as applicators for the therapeutic or medicinal effects produced by the fluids or the medicines contained in the cavity.

A method of treating a subject in need thereof, is carried out by (a) administering said subject a therapeutic intervention (e.g., an active agent) in a treatment effective amount; and concurrently (b) administering said subject caloric vestibular stimulation in a treatment effective amount, said caloric vestibular stimulation administered so as to enhance the efficacy of said active agent. In some embodiments, the caloric vestibular stimulation is administered as an actively controlled time varying waveform.

The present invention relates generally to a device and a method that maintains a patient's body temperature during surgical exposure and, more specifically, to a surgical, insulative cap that forms a viewing window and is used in conjunction with a medical temperature trend indicator. The cap is contoured to the patient's head. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.