Patent ID: 8852074

Claim:
An automatic stimulation controller device that cycles on and off to initiate and maintain vibro-tactile stimulation to induce swallowing by a subject during the day and/or night to provide saliva control by swallowing, the automatic stimulation controller device comprising: a vibro-tactile stimulator configured to perform vibro-tactile stimulation of a throat area of the subject; an automatic timing circuit in communication with the vibro-tactile stimulator, the automatic timing circuit configured to control the vibro-tactile stimulation of the throat area of the subject by the vibro-tactile stimulator, the automatic timing circuit configured to at least: output a first pulse to the vibro-tactile stimulator, the first pulse configured to initiate the vibro-tactile stimulation, cause the vibro-tactile stimulator to discontinue the vibro-tactile stimulation for a time interval following the first pulse, and automatically output a second pulse to the vibro-tactile stimulator following the time interval to cause the vibro-tactile stimulator to resume the vibro-tactile stimulation; and a control mechanism configured to cause the vibro-tactile stimulator to also control the vibro-tactile stimulation upon volitional input from the subject, the control mechanism comprising a switch configured to enable the device to switch between an automatic mode utilizing the automatic timing circuit and a volitional mode utilizing the control mechanism.