Systems and methods for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area

US8388561B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services · US

Inventors

• Christy Leslie Ludlow · Bethesda, US
• Newlin Morgan · Bethesda, US
• George Dold · Boyds, US
• Soren Lowell · Syracuse, US
• Katie Dietrich-Burns · Riviera Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 16, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2013
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/36025
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A device and methods for treating a subject with dysphagia or other neurological disease, neurological disorder, neurological injury, neurological impairment or neurodegenerative disease that affects voluntary motor control of the hyoid, pharynx, larynx, or oropharyngeal area is disclosed. A device of the invention generally comprises a vibrotactile stimulator for applying at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject's neck; a connector for attaching the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject's neck, and a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator to selectively engage a manual stimulation module and/or automatic stimulation module. Stimulation of an outside surface of the throat area of a subject by a device of the invention stimulates a swallowing reflex in the subject.