41338 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 144 / Friday, July 27, 2007 / Notices 

stimulator, coupled to the movement 

sensor, for applying pressure to a 

patient’s larynx prior to swallowing. 

The device can also be used to 

automatically trigger and retrain 

swallowing to prevent aspiration 

pneumonia post stroke or post 

extubation. 

Method: For the method patent, the 

instant device has also been claimed in 

a patent application asserting rights for 

improving voluntary initiation of 

swallowing in neurologically impaired 

patients. Swallowing recovery alleviates 

the risk of aspiration by augmenting 

volitional control using a simultaneous 

motor act (e.g., such as pressing a button 

to indicate when they are ready to 

swallow). It is believed that such motor 

training also initiates sensory 

stimulation, immediately preceding the 

motor act, and that such sensory 

stimulation enhances excitation of a 

central pattern generator in the brain 

stem that augments the volitional 

control of swallowing. This principle is 

applicable to other neurological 

impairments; their associated 

enhancement of voluntary motor act 

control by the patient initiating 

immediately concurrent and related 

sensory stimulations. Neurological 

impairments that are contemplated 

include reflex actions involving 

interactions between afferent and 

efferent paths (at the spinal cord or in 

the brain stem) as well as higher order 

interactions. This invention includes 

methods for treating neurologically 

impaired humans using devices such as 

those that produce vibratory 

stimulation, pressure stimulation, 

auditory stimulation, temperature 

stimulation, visual stimulation, 

olfactory stimulation, taste stimulation, 

or a combination of these. Combinations 

of two or more stimulation types are 

particularly useful. For example, the 

combined use of button press training 

with simultaneous vibratory and 

pressure stimulation on the neck to 

augment feedback to the brain stem 

swallowing centers to facilitate 

voluntary control of swallowing 

(thought to be largely an involuntary 

brain stem function) is particularly 

useful for treating dysphagic patients. 

Alternatively automatic cycles of 

stimulation at intervals during the day 

can be used for intensive retraining of 

swallowing post stroke or postextubation to prevent aspiration. 

Inventors: Christy Ludlow (NINDS), 

Christopher Poletto (NINDS), Ianessa 

Humbert (NINDS), Newlin Morgan 

(NIMH). 

Patent Status: PCT Application No. 

PCT/US2006/025535 (HHS Reference 

No. E–251–2005/1–PCT–02). 

Licensing Contact: Michael A. 

Shmilovich, Esq.; 301/435–5019; 

shmilovm@mail.nih.gov. 

Collaborative Research Opportunity: 

For research and development 

collaborations with inventors, contact 

Heather Gunas at 301–435–3944 or email at gunash@mail.nih.gov. 

Dated: July 19, 2007. 

Steven M. Ferguson, 

Director, Division of Technology Development 

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer, 

National Institutes of Health. 

[FR Doc. E7–14501 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood 

Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy. 

Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung, 

and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel, 

Mentored Patient Oriented Research Career 

Development Award (K23’s). 

Date: August 23, 2007. 

Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: National Institutes of Heart, 

Rockledge Center 2, 6701 Rockledge Drive, 

Bethesda, MD 20892, (Telephone Conference 

Call). 

Contact Person: Mark Roltsch, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, Review 

Branch/DERA, National Heart, Lung, and 

Blood Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 

7192, Bethesda, MD 20892–7924, 301–435–

0287, roltschm@nhibi.nih.gov. 

(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 92.233, National Center for 

Sleep Disorders Research; 93.837, Heart and 

Vascular Diseases Research; 93.838, Lung 

Diseases Research; 93.839, Blood Diseases 

and Resources Research, National Institutes 

of Health, HHS) 

Dated: July 19, 2007. 

Jennifer Spaeth, 

Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 07–3668 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse 

and Alcoholism; Notice of Closed 

Meeting 

Pursuant to section 10(d) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, as 

amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice 

is hereby given of the following 

meeting. 

The meeting will be closed to the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions set forth in sections 

552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., 

as amended. The grant applications and 

the discussions could disclose 

confidential trade secrets or commercial 

property such as patentable material, 

and personal information concerning 

individuals associated with the grant 

applications, the disclosure of which 

would constitute a clearly unwarranted 

invasion of personal privacy. 

Name of Committee: National Institute on 

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Special 

Emphasis Panel, Review of SBIR/STTIR 

Applications; RFA AA–07–009/10. 

Date: August 13, 2007. 

Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Agenda: To review and evaluate grant 

applications. 

Place: National Institutes of Health, 5635 

Fishers Lane, Bethesda, MD 20892, 

(Telephone Conference Call). 

Contact Person: Philippe Marmillot, PhD, 

Scientific Review Administrator, National 

Institutes of Health, National Institute on 

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 5635 Fishers 

Lane, RM 3045, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–

443–2861, marmillotp@mail.nih.gov. 

(Catalogue of Federal domestic Assistance 

Program Nos. 93.271, Alcohol Research 

Career Development Awards for Scientists 

and Clinicians; 93.272, Alcohol National 

Research Service Awards for Research 

Training; 93.273, Alcohol Research Programs; 

93.891, Alcohol Research Center Grants, 

National Institutes of Health, HHS) 

Dated: July 20, 2007. 

Anna Snouffer, 

Acting Director, Office of Federal Advisory 

Committee Policy. 

[FR Doc. 07–3667 Filed 7–26–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4140–01–M 


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