Patent ID: 12220373

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.

Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement.

A front view of a laryngeal nerve exciter10according to the present invention is shown inFIG.1a, a top view of the laryngeal nerve exciter10is shown inFIG.1B, and a rear view of the laryngeal nerve exciter10is shown inFIG.1C. The laryngeal nerve exciter10includes a bridge12, an exciter14, effector sleeves16, end effectors18, strap slots20, and a strap22. The exciter14is preferably a solenoid or a voice coil, or any device capable of generating vibrations at various frequencies, for example, vibrations between 30 and 200 Hz and preferably between 70 and 110 HZ and sufficiently strong to reach the laryngeal nerve for example, a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm.

The end effector18of the laryngeal nerve exciter10is shown inFIG.2. A force sensor24resides under each end effector18and provides force information to allow adjusting the tightness of the strap22.

A top view of a second embodiment of a laryngeal nerve exciter30is shown inFIG.3. The laryngeal nerve exciter30includes end effectors18aheld inside sleeves16aand springs (or a resilient material)34holding the end effectors18aagainst transducers32. An adjust screw36presses the transducer32and end effector18aagainst the spring34allowing adjustment of the end effectors18aagainst the patient's neck without adjusting the strap22. The transducers32may both vibrate the end effectors18ato stimulate the laryngeal nerve and may sense a patient's attempt to swallow, and may sense stimulation by the other end effector18a. The laryngeal nerve exciter30may include the force sensor24under the effector16a. In another embodiment, the end effectors18amay be fixedly attached to the moving part of the transducers32and no spring34is required.

FIG.4shows a neckband laryngeal nerve exciter (neckband trainer)42on a patient40. The neckband trainer42does not press against the patient's throat providing greater comfort for the patient. Two exciters44are pressed against sides of the neck. The exciters44preferably receive up to 10 Watts (five Watts per exciter). The neckband trainer42provides pressure to the area where the exciters44contact the neck. The force of the exciters44against the neck is measured and an alarm is generated if the force exceeds a threshold.

FIG.5shows a top view of the neckband trainer42andFIG.6shows a perspective view of the neckband trainer42. The neckband trainer42includes the exciters44, a circuits46and48, and a battery compartment50. The neckband trainer42includes a charging port for charging batteries and is adjustable for individual patients. The neckband trainer42may include a first free end510, a second free end520, a first side portion540, a second side portion550, and a center portion560. The first free end510and the second free end520form an open front530. Each exciter44may include a first surface512coupled to the first free end510and a second surface514opposing the first surface512. Each of the first side portion540and the second side portion550may include a first region542and a second region544closer to the center portion560than the first region542. Each first region542may include a housing546mounted thereon and accommodate a first electrical circuit46or a second electrical circuit48. Each first region542may be larger in size than each second region544due to the housing546. The neckband trainer42may also include a first adhesive pad and a second adhesive pad52. Each adhesive pad52may include a first surface516respectively coupled to the second surface514of each of the first exciter or the second exciter44, and a second surface518opposing the first surface516of each of first adhesive pad or the second adhesive pad52.

FIG.7shows a nerve exciter44of the neckband laryngeal nerve exciter.

FIG.8shows an adhesive pad52of the neckband trainer42. The adhesive pad52comprises a top adhesive pad54, a plastic snap56, and a bottom adhesive pad58. The exciter44snaps onto the adhesive pad52to retain the exciter44against the patient's neck.

A laryngeal nerve exciter system60is shown inFIG.9. The system60utilizes a software Application (App) residing in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)64which triggers, and monitors the neckband trainer42through a Bluetooth® interface62. The interface62may include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy.

The PDA64may communicate with a secure server68through the Internet or any other suitable connection including wireless or wired connections66providing signals include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, clinician calibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy.

The secure server68may communicate with a work station72over the Internet or any other suitable connection including wireless or wired connections70providing signals include frequency, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and clinician calibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy to the clinician.

The App may set the frequency of the neckband trainer42, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide feedback about the therapy. Measurements made by the neckband trainer42(e.g., force measured by the exciters) may be provided to the PDA64via the Bluetooth® connection. Further, the system60may allow clinicians to monitor the patient's progress. The clinician will be able to see the device settings, frequency of the device, intensity, therapy time, vibration time, duration of rest period between vibration, number of uses, whether therapy was completed, and the patient feedback. A general state of health section for the patient may be provided to indicate how the patient is feeling before and after the therapy. The PDA64may be a smart phone.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.