Patent · US Active

System and method for facial nerve stimulation

US9155890B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by

10References

15Claims

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	Jul 7, 2014
Grant date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 7, 2034

Classification

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

Abstract

A system for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts configured to be placed in a parotid region of the subject's face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating one or more facial nerve branches by stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which nerve branch activates which facial muscle, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause the 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.