Patent · US Active

System and method for facial nerve stimulation

US8792989B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

9References

18Claims

0Family size

Assignee

MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH · AT

Inventors

Orlando Guntinas-Lichius · Jena, DE
Andreas Müller · Wadgassen, DE
Werner Lindenthaler · Oberperfuss, AT

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 21, 2009
Grant date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 19, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61N1/0553
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject with synkinetic reinnervated muscles includes providing an electrode, having a plurality of contacts, in a parotic region of the subject's face, stimulating each of the contacts separately, identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches. The system includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts for placement in a parotic region of the subject's face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating each of the contacts separately, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.