Method for facial nerve stimulation of aging or dysfunctional muscles
US9162059B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2014 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2034 |
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 includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts, stimulating a central part of a facial nerve with the plurality of contacts in order to improve at least some muscle volume and/or strength in a facial region, and stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts in order to maintain the muscle volume and/or strength in a desired facial muscle. Another method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts in an ear of the subject, stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which contacts activate which facial muscles, 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.