Patent ID: 9655772
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F,A61N

Claim:
1. An in-ear stimulation device for administering caloric stimulation to the ear canal of a subject, comprising: (a) first and second earpieces configured to be insertable into the ear canals of the subject; (b) at least first and second thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to respective ones of the first and second earpieces; (c) a first heat sink thermally coupled to the first thermoelectric device opposite the first earpiece and a second heat sink thermally coupled to the second thermoelectric device opposite the second earpiece; (d) an electrical connection that electrically connects the first and second earpieces, and (e) a controller comprising an impedance monitor configured to measure an impedance value between the first and second earpieces and to determine whether the first and second earpieces are inserted into the ear canals of the subject responsive to the impedance value, wherein the impedance monitor is configured to correlate the impedance value with a thermal impedance and/or thermal conductance of an interface between the first and second earpieces and the ear canal of the subject.