DE202013000559U1 - In-ear earphones for N. vagus stimulation (earphones / stimulator) - Google Patents

In-ear earphones for N. vagus stimulation (earphones / stimulator) Download PDF

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Publication number
DE202013000559U1
DE202013000559U1 DE201320000559 DE202013000559U DE202013000559U1 DE 202013000559 U1 DE202013000559 U1 DE 202013000559U1 DE 201320000559 DE201320000559 DE 201320000559 DE 202013000559 U DE202013000559 U DE 202013000559U DE 202013000559 U1 DE202013000559 U1 DE 202013000559U1
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ear
stimulator according
stimulation
ear stimulator
stimulator
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M21/00—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
    • A61M21/02—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/3605—Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
    • A61N1/36053—Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system adapted for vagal stimulation
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M21/00—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
    • A61M2021/0005—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus
    • A61M2021/0027—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus by the hearing sense
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M21/00—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
    • A61M2021/0005—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus
    • A61M2021/0072—Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus with application of electrical currents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
    • A61M2210/00—Anatomical parts of the body
    • A61M2210/06—Head
    • A61M2210/0662—Ears
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1016—Earpieces of the intra-aural type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1058—Manufacture or assembly
    • H04R1/1075—Mountings of transducers in earphones or headphones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/10—Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones
    • H04R1/1083—Reduction of ambient noise
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2205/00—Details of stereophonic arrangements covered by H04R5/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2205/022—Plurality of transducers corresponding to a plurality of sound channels in each earpiece of headphones or in a single enclosure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/09—Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Anesthesiology (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • Psychology (AREA)
  • Hematology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
  • Neurology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

In-ear Stimulator, dessen Stimulationelektroden auf einem individuell angepassten Ohrhörer aufgebracht sind.In-ear stimulator with stimulation electrodes applied to a custom-made earphone.

Description

Mit Hilfe einer Otoplastik kann eine individuelle Ausformung des äusseren Gehörgangs durchgeführt werden. Dieser Abdruck kann der Herstellung von im äusseren Gehörgang getragenen Kopfhörern, sog. In-ear Kopfhörern oder zur Herstellung von Gehörschützern dienen.With the help of an earmold, an individual shaping of the external auditory canal can be carried out. This impression can be used for the production of earphones worn in the external auditory canal, so-called in-ear headphones or for the production of hearing protectors.

Der 10. Hirnnerv, der sog. Nervus vagus des vegetativen („autonomen”) Nervensystems erreicht mit einem kleinen Hautast einige Bereiche des äusseren Ohres. Einige aktuelle Veröffentlichungen lassen darauf schliessen, dass sich dieser Hirnnerv

  • 1. von aussen durch Elektroden im Bereich des äusseren Ohres stimulieren lässt und dass
  • 2. diese Stimulation messbare klinische Effekte hat. Diese sind u. a.: Reduktion von epileptischen Anfällen, Schmerzlinderung, Besserung der Stimmungslage.
The 10th cranial nerve, the so-called vagus nerve of the vegetative ("autonomous") nervous system, reaches a few areas of the outer ear with a small skin branch. Some recent publications suggest that this cranial nerve
  • 1. can be stimulated externally by electrodes in the area of the outer ear and that
  • 2. This stimulation has measurable clinical effects. These include: reduction of epileptic seizures, pain relief, improvement of mood.

Der im Schutzanspruch 1 angegebenen Erfindung liegt das Problem zugrunde, dass die Stimulation im Rahmen der obg. Studien bisher durch relativ unförmige, instabilie, aufzuklebende Elektroden oder durch unangenehme Nadelelektroden erfolgen musste. Der Zielpunkt der Stimulation, die oberflächlichen Enden des N. Vagus werden so nur unzureichend erreicht.The protection specified in claim 1 invention is based on the problem that the stimulation in the obg. Previous studies had to be done by relatively bulky, unstable, sticking electrodes or unpleasant needle electrodes. The target point of the stimulation, the superficial ends of the N. vagus are reached inadequately.

Dieses Problem wird mit den im Schutzanspruch 1 aufgeführten Merkmalen gelöst.This problem is solved with the features listed in the protection claim 1.

Mit der Erfindung wird eine angenehm zu tragende, fest sitzende Stimulationseinheit vorgestellt, die eine im Vergleich zu den existierenden Stimulationselektroden verbesserte und spezifische Weiterleitung der elektrischen Impulse an den N. vagus sicherstellt. Die Stimulationsfunktion stellt eine bisher nicht umgesetzte oder angedachte Funktionserweiterung eines bereits existierenden In-ear Kopfhörers dar. Das vegetative Nervensystem kann durch die Erfindung nicht-invasiv beeinflusst werden, während mit dem Kopfhörer Musik gehört wird (= Stimulation des Hörnerven, 8th) und gleichzeitig ablenkende Einflüsse durch äussere Schallquellen reduziert werden.With the invention, a comfortable to be worn, firmly seated stimulation unit is presented, which ensures an improved and specific transmission of the electrical impulses to the vagus nerve in comparison to the existing stimulation electrodes. The stimulation function represents a previously unrealized or intended functional extension of an existing in-ear earphone. The autonomic nervous system can be influenced non-invasively by the invention, while listening to music with the headphone (= stimulation of the auditory nerve, 8th) and at the same time distracting Influences are reduced by external sound sources.

Eine vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist im Schutzanspruch 3 dargestellt.An advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in the protection claim 3.

Die in die Oberfläche des Ohrhörers integrierten Elektroden erreichen eine grosse Stimulationsfläche und erreichen damit einen höheren Stimulationseffekt als z. B. Nadelelektroden.The integrated into the surface of the earphone electrodes reach a large stimulation area and thus achieve a higher stimulation effect than z. B. needle electrodes.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung wird anhand der 1 bis 2 erläutert.An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to 1 to 2 explained.

Es zeigen:Show it:

1 den in das Ohr eingesetzten In-Ear Vagusstimulator 1 the in-ear vagus stimulator inserted into the ear

2 eine seitliche Ansicht des Ohrhörers mit Darstellung der Stimulationsoberfläche 2 a side view of the earphone showing the stimulation surface

3 eine mögliche Verschaltung des Stimulators/Ohrhörers. 3 a possible connection of the stimulator / earphone.

In den Figuren ist der Stimulator 1 mit Kabelzuführung 2, integriertem Mehrkanal-Lautsprechersystem 3 zu sehen. Eine Öffnung nach Aussen 4 kann mittels eines Gummistöpsels verschlossen werden, wodurch eine höhere Dämpfung der Umgebungsgeräusche zur besseren Entspannung, aber auch eine Verbesserung der Kopfhörer-Wiedergabequalität resultiert.In the figures is the stimulator 1 with cable feed 2 , integrated multi-channel speaker system 3 to see. An opening to the outside 4 can be closed by means of a rubber plug, resulting in a higher attenuation of ambient noise for better relaxation, but also an improvement in the headphone playback quality.

Bild 2 zeigt die zum Ohr gewandte Oberfläche des Ohrhörers/Stimulators mit den eingearbeiteten bzw. aufgebrachten Stimulationselektroden 5a + b. Ggf. können über ein weiteres Gehäuseteil noch weitere Hautareale des äusseren Ohres (Helix) stimuliert werden 6.Figure 2 shows the ear-facing surface of the earphone / stimulator with the incorporated or applied stimulation electrodes 5a + b. Possibly. can be stimulated by another housing part even more skin areas of the outer ear (helix) 6 ,

Bild 3 zeigt eine mögliche Schaltungsvariante des Ohrhörers/Stimulators entweder verbunden mit einem externen Stimulator 7 oder verbunden mit einer noch zu programmierenden Softwareapplikation („App”) eines angeschlossenen Mobiltelefons oder portablen Musikwiedergabegerätes 8.Figure 3 shows a possible circuit variant of the earphone / stimulator either connected to an external stimulator 7 or connected to a still to be programmed software application ("App") of a connected mobile phone or portable music player 8th ,

Claims (11)

In-ear Stimulator, dessen Stimulationelektroden auf einem individuell angepassten Ohrhörer aufgebracht sind.In-ear stimulator with stimulation electrodes applied to a custom-made earphone. In-ear Stimulator nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass als Träger der Elektrode ein handelsüblicher, nach einer individuell angefertigten Passform (Otoplastik) angefertigter Ohrhörer fungiert.In-ear stimulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier of the electrode is a commercially available earphone made according to an individually made fit (earmold). In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dessen Träger neben den in 2. beschriebenen In-ear Ohrhörer auch ein Gehörschutz durch Kunststoff oder Gummi sein kann.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wearer can be in addition to the in-ear earphones described in 2, an ear protection by plastic or rubber. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die stimulierende Elektrode in die Oberfläche desselbigen z. B. durch Aufkleben, Aufdampfen oder Aufbringen von elektrisch leitenden Substanzen integriert ist.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stimulating electrode in the surface desselbigen z. B. is integrated by gluing, vapor deposition or application of electrically conductive substances. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass im äusseren Gehörgang die peripheren Austrittsgebiete des N. vagus erfasst werden. In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral auditory passages of the vagus nerve are detected in the external auditory canal. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anschlüsse der Oberflächenelektroden zusammen mit den Kopfhörerkabel nach unten zum Stimulator laufen.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections of the surface electrodes together with the headphone cable run down to the stimulator. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elektrische Stimulator-Steuereinheit sich entweder in einem gesonderten angeschlossenen Gerät befindet, oder softwarebasiert als „App” in ein Musikwiedergabegerät oder ein Mobiltelefon integriert ist.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical stimulator control unit is either located in a separate connected device, or software-based integrated as an "App" in a music playback device or a mobile phone. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, das dessen Anwendungsgebiete z. B. die Dämpfung bzw. Verhinderung von epileptischen Anfällen, die Linderung von Schmerzen oder die Besserung der Stimmungslage darstellen.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its application areas z. As the attenuation or prevention of epileptic seizures, alleviation of pain or improvement in mood represent. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass mittels Ohrhörer während der N. Vagus Stimulation Musik gehört werden kann.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of earphones during the N. Vagus stimulation music can be heard. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass während der N. Vagus Stimulation durch den Stimulationsträger eine deutliche Dämpfung von störenden Umweltgeräuschen erreicht werden kann.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the N. vagus stimulation by the stimulation carrier a significant attenuation of disturbing environmental noise can be achieved. In-ear Stimulator nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass neben der Stimulation auch Hautwiderstände und ähnliche vegetative Parameter über die Oberflächenelektroden gemessern werden können und vom Steuergerät erfasst, gespeichert und verarbeitet werden können.In-ear stimulator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the stimulation and skin resistance and similar vegetative parameters can be measured on the surface electrodes and detected by the control unit, stored and processed.
DE201320000559 2013-01-18 2013-01-18 In-ear earphones for N. vagus stimulation (earphones / stimulator) Expired - Lifetime DE202013000559U1 (en)

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Effective date: 20130418

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