Vibratory Nerve Exciter

Abstract

A laryngeal nerve exciting system includes a collar holding a bridge, or a neckband, pressing soft tissue nerve exciters against a patient's neck providing a source of vibrations to stimulate the laryngeal nerve through the larynx. At least one exciter, and preferably two exciters, provide vibrations at preferably 70 Hz to 110 Hz and sufficiently strong to penetrate to the laryngeal nerve. The exciters may be held by the collar circling the neck, or by the neck band partially circling the neck. The therapy system includes a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and software which wirelessly connects, monitors, and triggers the device. The system may be used to treat dysphagia, chronic cough, and spasmodic dysphonia.

Claims

1. A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising: a neckband configured to reside at least partially around a patient neck; a pair of soft tissue nerve effectors held by the neckband and configured to reside against the patient neck and conduct vibrations to the patient neck; and wherein the neckband is positionable to locate the effectors simulate a laryngeal nerve.

2. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 1, wherein the neckband is positionable to locate the effectors simulate the laryngeal nerve through a larynx.

3. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 1, wherein: the nerve effectors are attached to a bridge; and the neck band draws the bridge towards the patient neck.

4. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 1, wherein: the nerve effectors are attached to a bridge; and the neck band draws the nerve effectors towards the patient neck.

5. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 4, wherein pressure transducers reside under the nerve effectors.

6. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 3, wherein at least one exciter is attached to the bridge to vibrate the bridge.

7. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 3, wherein one exciter is attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors.

8. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 7, wherein the exciter is a voice coil.

9. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 3, wherein an exciter resides under each of the nerve effectors to vibrate each nerve effector.

10. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 3, wherein: each nerve effector is biased towards the bridge by a resilient material or a spring; and an exciter resides under each nerve effector to vibrate each nerve effector.

11. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 10, wherein a pressure sensor resides between each exciter and each nerve effector.

12. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 10, wherein a pressure adjustor resides each exciter and each nerve effector.

13. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 1, wherein: the neck band is configured to wrap around behind the patient neck and has free ends at an open front; the nerve effectors are attached to the neck band at the free ends; and the neck band urges that nerve effectors against the patent neck.

14. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 1, wherein: the neck band includes a battery compartment electrically connected to a programmable circuit; exciters are attached to the neck band to vibrate the nerve effectors; and the circuit is electrically connected to the exciters.

15. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 14, wherein: the circuit communicates with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA); and the PDA allows control of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: frequency; intensity; therapy time; vibration time; and duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide patient feedback about results of therapy.

16. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 15, wherein the PDA is configured to communicate with a clinician work station to provide the at least one parameter, and the patent feedback.

17. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 15, wherein the exciter is configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 30 and 200 Hz and sufficiently strong to reach the laryngeal nerve.

18. The laryngeal nerve exciter system of claim 17, wherein the exciter is configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz and a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

19. A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising: a pair of soft tissue nerve effectors attached to a bridge; a neckband attached to the bridge and positionable to locate the nerve effectors against a patient neck; the neck band configured to draw the bridge towards the patient neck; pressure transducers residing under the nerve effectors; a voice coil attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors; a programmable circuit electrically connected to the voice coil configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz sufficiently strong to conduct vibrations to the patient neck to simulate the laryngeal nerve through a larynx and reach the laryngeal nerve; and batteries electrically connected to the circuit.

20. A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising: the neck band is configured to wrap around behind the patient neck and has free ends at an open front; the nerve effectors are attached to the neck band at the free ends; and the neck band urges that nerve effectors against the patent neck a voice coil attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors; a programmable circuit electrically connected to the voice coil configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz and a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm; batteries electrically connected to the circuit; the circuit configured to communicate with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA); the PDA configured to control of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: frequency; intensity; therapy time; vibration time; and duration of rest period between vibration, and allowing patient feedback about results of patient therapy; and the PDA further configured to communicate with a clinician work station to provide the at least one parameter, and the patent feedback to the clinician work station

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0010] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1A shows a front view of a laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1B shows a top view of the laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 1C shows a rear view of the laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows an end effector of the laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a neckband laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention on a patent.

[0017] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 7 shows a nerve exciter of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 8 shows an adhesive pad of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 9 shows a laryngeal nerve exciting system according to the present invention.

[0022] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

[0024] Where the terms about or generally are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement.

[0025] A front view of a laryngeal nerve exciter 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1a, a top view of the laryngeal nerve exciter 10 is shown in FIG. 1B, and a rear view of the laryngeal nerve exciter 10 is shown in FIG. 1C. The laryngeal nerve exciter 10 includes a bridge 12, an exciter 14, effector sleeves 16, end effectors 18, strap slots 20, and a strap 22. The exciter 14 is preferably a solenoid or a voice coil, or any device capable of generating vibrations at various frequencies, for example, vibrations between 30 and 200 Hz and preferably between 70 and 110 HZ and sufficiently strong to reach the laryngeal nerve for example, a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

[0026] The end effector 18 of the laryngeal nerve exciter 10 is shown in FIG. 2. A force sensor 24 resides under each end effector 18 and provides force information to allow adjusting the tightness of the strap 22.

[0027] A top view of a second embodiment of a laryngeal nerve exciter 30 is shown in FIG. 3. The laryngeal nerve exciter 30 includes end effectors 18a held inside sleeves 16a and springs (or a resilient material) 34 holding the end effectors 18a against transducers 32. An adjust screw 36 presses the transducer 32 and end effector 18a against the spring 34 allowing adjustment of the end effectors 18a against the patient's neck without adjusting the strap 22. The transducers 32 may both vibrate the end effectors 18a to stimulate the laryngeal nerve and may sense a patient's attempt to swallow, and may sense stimulation by the other end effector 18a. The laryngeal nerve exciter 30 may include the force sensor 24 under the effector 16a. In another embodiment, the end effectors 18a may be fixedly attached to the moving part of the transducers 32 and no spring 34 is required.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a neckband laryngeal nerve exciter (neckband trainer) 42 on a patient 40. The neckband trainer 42 does not press against the patient's throat providing greater comfort for the patient. Two exciters 44 are pressed against sides of the neck. The exciters 44 preferably receive up to 10 Watts (five Watts per exciter). The neckband trainer 42 provides pressure to the area where the exciters 44 contact the neck. The force of the exciters 44 against the neck is measured and an alarm is generated if the force exceeds a threshold.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the neckband trainer 42 and FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the neckband trainer 42. The neckband trainer 42 includes the exciters 44, a circuit 46, and battery compartments 48 and 50. The neckband trainer 42 includes a charging port for charging batteries and is adjustable for individual patients.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a nerve exciter 44 of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter.

[0031] FIG. 8 shows an adhesive pad 52 of the neckband trainer 42. The adhesive pad 52 comprises a top adhesive pad 54, a plastic snap 56, and a bottom adhesive pad 58. The exciter 44 snaps onto the adhesive pad 52 to retain the exciter 44 against the patient's neck.

[0032] A laryngeal nerve exciter system 60 is shown in FIG. 9. The system 60 utilizes a software Application (App) residing in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 64 which triggers, and monitors the neckband trainer 42 through a Bluetooth interface 62. The interface 62 may include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy.

[0033] The PDA 64 may communicate with a secure server 68 through the Internet or any other suitable connection including wireless or wired connections 66 providing signals include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, clinician calibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy.

[0034] The secure server 68 may communicate with a work station 72 over the Internet or any other suitable connection including wireless or wired connections 70 providing signals include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and clinician calibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy to the clinician.

[0035] The App may set the frequency of the neckband trainer 42, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy. Measurements made by the neckband trainer 42 (e.g., force measured by the exciters) may be provided to the PDA 46 via the Bluetooth connection. Further, the system 60 may allow clinicians to monitor the patient's progress. The clinician will be able to see the device settings, frequency of the device, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, number of uses, whether therapy was completed, and the patient feedback. A general state of health section for the patient may be provided to indicate how the patient is feeling before and after the therapy. The PDA 64 may be a smart phone.

[0036] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.