Patent ID: 8430823

Claim:
A method for reducing sensitivity of a vestibular system in a patient to stimulation, the method comprising: inserting a plugging device in direct contact with an endosteum membrane of a semicircular canal of a patient; actuating the plugging device to a selected one of multiple possible actuated positions that cause a hollow space within the semicircular canal to be reversibly deformed by a variable extent by pressing directly on the endosteum membrane, the selected one of multiple possible positions causing the hollow space within the semicircular canal to be deformed to an extent in which movement of endolymph fluid in the semicircular canal is completely blocked; determining, by a computing device, a deviation of the plugging device from the selected actuated position; and providing a control signal in response to the determined deviation to maintain the plugging device at the selected actuated position to completely constrain the movement of the endolymph fluid in the semicircular canal.