APPARATUS FOR GENERATING PNEUMATIC PRESSURE PULSES FOR APPLICATION TO THE EXTERNAL ACOUSTIC MEATUS OF A PATIENT

Abstract: An apparatus for producing pressure pulses intended for application to the external acoustic meatus of a patient, for the purpose of influencing the hydrodynamic system of the inner ear in the treatment of certain diseases, particularly Ménières disease, comprises two rotary air-pump means (1, 2) of variable, controllable speed. Respective pressure sides of the two pump means (1, 2) can be selectively connected to and disconnected from a common pressure-pulse output line (7), by means of a respective controllable valve (5, 6). The pump means are driven by electric motors (3, 4) and the rotational speed of the motors and the settings of the electrically operable valves (5, 6) are controlled by a control unit (9) incorporating a microprocessor, in response to a program relating to a desired shape, frequency, amplitude, duration etc. of the generated pressure pulses, this program being stored in the control unit. The apparatus also includes a pressure transducer (8) which is connected to the output line (7) and which produces a signal representing the momentary pressure prevailing in the output line (7), this signal being applied to the control unit and used therein to control the two pump means (1, 2) and the two valves (5, 6).

Description: A pparatus for generating pneumatic pressure pulses for application to the external acoustic meatus. of a ffafc The present invention relates to. an apparatus for generating pneumatic pressure pulses for application to the external acoustic mea us of a patient in order to influence the hydrodynamic system of the inner ear. It has been possible to establish that changes in the hydrodynamic system of the inner ear, including the endolymph and perilymph, affect the function of the ear and can be thought to be the cause of various disease conditions. One such disease is MδniSres disease, the symptoms of which are extremely troublesome to the patie such as disturbed balance, vertigo, impaired hearing, singing noises in the ear, tinnitus, etc.. Medical tests have shown that these symptoms can be eased considerably and in many cases completely cured, by means of a course of treatment in which pneumatic pressure pulses are appl to the external acoustic meatus of the patient, these pressure pulses propagating through the middle ear to th inner ear and there influencing the hydrodynamic system of the said inner ear. Propagation of the pressure pulse from the external acoustic m atus to the inner ear can b facilitated by implanting in the patient a transmyringia tube, made for example of Teflon-. Those tests which hav been carried out with this form of treatment have shown that in order to obtain the best results, it must be possible to vary and to determine precisely, inter alia, the shape, frequency and amplitude of these pulses in respect of each individual patient. * * For the purpose of generating the pressure pulses necessary in this form of treatment there has earlier be proposed, and used, apparatus which include one or more membrane pumps, pressure reservoirs, mechanically adjust throttle devices, etc., such as described in the Interna nal Patent Application PCT/SE83/00013, Publication Numbe WO 83/02550. Great difficulties have been experienced, however, in producing with sufficient accuracy pressure pulses which have the particular parameters necessary for each individual patient, e.g. such parameters as pulse shape, frequency and amplitude^ y means of these earlier proposed an used apparatus. A prime di ficulty- in this 5 respect is one of avoiding the temporary occurrence of underpressure in the external acoustic meatus, such under¬ pressures being undesirable. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for generating • j O the pneumatic pressure pulses desired in the form of treat¬ ment aforedescribed in which those pressure-pulse parameter of interest can be readily varied and determined with a high degree of accuracy, stability and reliability. The characterizing features of the apparatus 15 according to the invention are set-forth in the following claims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a typical shape 20 of the pressure pulses to be produced by the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a simplified pneumatic-electric block diagram of one embodiment of apparatus according to the invention; 25 Figure 3 illustrates an exemplifying embodiment of a proposed, conceivable external configuration of an appa¬ ratus according to the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates an exemplifying embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention temporarily connec- 30 ted to a separate programming unit. The diagram in Fig. 1 exemplifies a typical shape of the pressure pulses to be produced by the apparatus according to the invention. The treatment cycle consists of a plurality of mutually sequential pressure pulses P, 35 having a substantially sinusoidal modulation. Those parameters of interest when effecting treatment are: the pulse base pressure B , the maximum pulse pressure P , the pulse modulation frequency # the. individual pulse length T ., . and the pulse time ^ -spacing- T. 5 The total number of pulses P in each pulse series is also of interest, as is optionally also the number of such pulse-iseries when a plurality of pulse series is applied to the patient during the course of a single treatment period, and therewith the time lapse from the end of one pulse 10. series to the beginning of the next. In order to achieve the best possible results from the treatment administered, it shall be possible to vary all of these pressure-pulse parameters in a ready and simpl manner, and to set the parameters to desired values with a 15 high degree of accuracy and reliability in dependence on the needs of each individual patient.lt shall be noted in this respect that the p c arameters Bp. Pp. Tp , Tx. and Fm need not necessarily be the same for all pulses in a pulse series. In addition, it is preferred that no underpressure 20 occurs, for example at the end of each pulse. Examples of suitable setting ranges for individual parameters are: B = 0-30 b P P = 0-30 mb P T = 0.1-60 s 25 P The total length of a pulse series can be set for 30 times of up to 10 minutes. The time spacing between mutual¬ ly sequential pulse series, when applying a number of such series, can also be set to values of up to 10 minutes. As illustrated by way of example in Fig. 2, the pressure-pulse generating apparatus according to the 35 invention comprises two rotary air pumps 1 and 2 which are driven continuously at. variable,- controllable speeds by means of a respective electric motor 3 and 4. The pumps 1,2 may be. sliding-vane type pumps, and the pumps with associated drive motors may,, for example, be o the kind retailed ' under the name Microvac 3 b the Company . Edwards, England. Each of the pressure sides of the two pumps is connected to a respective electrically controllable, 3-way, 2-position micro-valve 5 and 6. The micro-valves- may, for example, be of the type FAA 1200118H from the Lee Company, Connecticut, USA. Each of the pumps 1,2 can be connected to a common output hose or line- 7 by means of the micro- valves 5,6, or. so that this connection can be broken. When one of the valves 5,6 breaks the connection between the associated pump 1 or 2 and the output hose, this valve simultaneously places the hose- 7 in communication with ambient atmosphere. The Output hose- 7, in which the pressur pulses generated by the apparatus occur, is connected at its distal end to a suitably designed ear plug 11 , which can be inserted into the external acoustic meatus of a patient, so as to connect the hose 7 thereto in a pressure- tight manner. The ear plug 11 may advantageously be provide with an inflatable cuff 12, for sealing engagement with the walls of. the external acoustic meatus. The pressure requi¬ red to sealed the cuff 12 against said walls may suitably be taken from the pressure side of pump 2. The apparatus also includes a pressure transducer 8, which is connected to the output hose or like line 7 and which produces an electric signal representing the momentary pressure in the hose 7. The pressure transducer 8 may, for example, com¬ prise a micro-pressure-transducer of the type KPY32R from Siemens AG. The apparatus also incorporates a control unit 9, which is arranged to receive the pressure signal produced by the transducer 8 and which controls the pump drive motors 3,4 and the settings of respective valves 5 and 6. The control unit 9 includes a microprocessor which is suitably constructed for the aforesaid purpose and which operates in response to a program inserted and stored therein,, this program containing all relevant data regardin the aforesaid parameters for the series of pressure pulses encompassed by the treatment intended for administration to a particular patient. The pulse base pressure B is determined by means of one of the a oresaid ' " pumps, for example the- punip 1, — steering of the. valve 5 connected to this pump determining the pulse length T and the time spacing. T. between mutually sequential pulses... The rotational speed of the second pump 2 will therewith determine, the maximum pulse pressure P , whereas steering of the valve 6 connected to the other pump 2 will determine the modulation frequency F . It has been found that when ' using an apparatus of this construction the desired series of pressure pulses having parameters which are suitable for each individual patient can be produced to an extremely high degree of precision and stability. Because the valves 5,6 place the hose 7 in communication with ambient atmosphere when breaking the connections of the associated pumps 1,2 to the output hose 7, it is ensured, in a highly effective manner, that no deleterious pressure build-up will occur in the external acoustic meatus of the patient. The apparatus according to the invention also affords approximative sinusoidal modu- lation of the pressure pulses in a desirable manner, and totally avoids the occurrence of temporary underpressure in thehose 7. An apparatus according to the inventioncan readily be given small dimensions, of the same order of magnitude as a conventional personal calling device, thereby enabling the patient to carry the device on his/her person and to administer treatment to himself/herself when found necessary An apparatus according to the invention may also be provided with necessary auxiliary devices, for example a set of keys for entering a pulse-generation control program into the apparatus, or changing an existing program. The apparatus may also be provided with means for visual dis¬ play and/or write-out of the pulse-generation control program stored in the control unit. An apparatus provided with such programming and display means is best suited for use in hospitals, medical treatment clinics, and by doctors. A compact, readily carried apparatus intended for the patient's personal ' use, is, on the other hand,, suitably constructed so that, when necessary it- can be connected C a separate programming unit ' which is provided with a key¬ board for entering a program into and- changing, an existing program in the apparatus ' when temporarily connected to the program ' unit, and which also incorporates display and/or write-out means for. visual presentation of the program data stored in the temporarily connected apparatus. Fig. 3 illustrates by way of example a conceivable external design of- such a patient apparatus 10, whereas Fig..4 illustrates an exemplifying embodiment of one such personal apparatus 10 connected temporarily to a separate program¬ ming unit 13. Such personal apparatus may also conceivably be constructed to enable it to be connected to any type of data terminal of standard design with respect to the afore¬ said programming procedure. Such connection may also con¬ ceivably be effected with the aid of suitable modem through the telephone network. An apparatus according to the invention which is intended to be used solely by one specific patient may also be constructed, to advantage, so that in addition to con¬ taining requisite data concerning the treatment program currently applicable to the patient, the apparatus control unit also contains a complete record of all previous treat¬ ment programs used .in respect of the same patient, so that these previous programs can be visually presented or written-out for study by the doctor concerned, through the agency of a programming unit 13. The memory incorporated in the apparatus may also conveniently contain other perti¬ nent data concerning the patient, so that the patient's doctor has ready access to such data. It will be understood that an apparatus according to the invention may be constructed differently to the appara- tus aforedescribed. For example, the pumps,, valves and pressure transducers ' used may. be different to those ' used in the described embodiment. In order to reduce the dimensions of the apparatus, two pumps combined to forman integral pump unit may be ' used for example.

Claims: • CLAIMS 1. An apparatus ' , for generating pneumatic pressure, pulses for application- to the externa acoustic ' meatus of a patient for the purpose of influencing the hydrodynamic system of the inner ear, characterized- in that it comprises two rotary air-pump means (1,2) of variable controllable speed; two controllable valves (5,6) operative to connect selectively the pressure side of each.of said pump means (1,2) to an output line (7) intended for pressure-tight connection with the external acoustic meatus of the patient and respectively to break said connection; and a control unit (9) for controlling the speed of the two pump means (1,2) and the settings of the two valves (5,6) in depen¬ dence on a program stored in the control unit and relating to the shape, frequency and amplitude of the pressure pulses produced in the output line (7) . 2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by a pressure transducer (8) which is connected to said output line (7) and which is adapted to produce a .signal representing the momentary pressure prevailing in the out- put line, this signal being applied to the control unit (9). 3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that said valves (5,6) are arranged to place the output line (7) in communication with the ambient atmosphere when breaking said connection between said output line (7) and the pressure side of the associated pump means (1,2). 4. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the control unit is provided with, or is connectable to means for reading said program into the control unit. 5. An apparatus according to any of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the control unit (9) is provided with, or is connectable to means for the -visual presenta- tion and/or write-out of data relating to the program stored in the control unit.

Inventors: ANTOWSKI JERZY, ANTOWSKI, JERZY
Applicants: ANTOWSKI JERZY, ZALESKI JACEK, ANTOWSKI, JERZY, ZALESKI, JACEK
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61F11
IPC codes: A61F11, A61H9, A61H21, A61M13