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Publication Number
US-12434050-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Intraoral neuromodulation for the treatment clinical conditions such as, e.g., dysphagia, migraines, or speech problems can be achieved with a neuromodulation system that includes an intraoral neural stimulator, e.g., integrated into a wearable device to be positioned in the oral cavity, that is controlled based on one or more measured signals associated with an intraoral organ or nerve related to the clinical condition.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an intraoral sensorimotor neurostimulation system that includes a retainer placed in a patient's oral cavity. The system includes an intraoral neural stimulator with electrodes positioned on the retainer to intraorally apply electrical stimulation signals to the patient's tongue at one or more locations of at least one of a glossopharyngeal nerve or a hypoglossal nerve, and to a soft palatal region at one or more locations of at least one of a lesser palatine nerve or a greater palatine nerve. The system further includes a pressure sensor positioned on the retainer to measure tongue tip pressure associated with an onset of a pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Electronic circuitry in the system is configured to detect the onset of the pharyngeal phase based on the measured tongue tip pressure. Responsive to the detection, the electronic circuitry causes application of the electrical stimulation signals to the tongue and the soft palatal region by the intraoral neural stimulator. In this manner, the electrical stimulation modulates the pharyngeal phase of swallowing using intraoral sensorimotor sensing and closed-loop control.
The invention also encompasses embodiments that include additional sensing and parameter selection for stimulation. In some embodiments, acceleration of laryngeal excursion is measured with an accelerometer, and the electronic circuitry optimizes one or more stimulation parameters based on the measured acceleration of laryngeal excursion. The stimulation signals can be configured with a frequency range, and in some embodiments an amplitude is selected based on a patient perception threshold and a comfort threshold.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are provided, one directed to an intraoral sensorimotor neurostimulation system and one directed to a corresponding method. Each claim centers on pressure-based detection of swallowing onset and responsive intraoral electrical stimulation targeting glossopharyngeal/hypoglossal and lesser/greater palatine nerve regions.
Intraoral retainer-based sensorimotor neurostimulation with closed-loop pharyngeal onset detection
A system comprising a retainer for placement in a patient's oral cavity; an intraoral neural stimulator with electrodes positioned on the retainer to intraorally apply electrical stimulation signals to the patient's tongue at one or more locations of at least one of a glossopharyngeal nerve or a hypoglossal nerve, and to a soft palatal region at one or more locations of at least one of a lesser palatine nerve or a greater palatine nerve; a pressure sensor positioned on the retainer to measure tongue tip pressure associated with an onset of a pharyngeal phase of swallowing; and electronic circuitry configured to cause, responsive to detection of the onset of the pharyngeal phase based on the measured tongue tip pressure, application of the electrical stimulation signals to the tongue and the soft palatal region to thereby modulate the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Pressure-sensed pharyngeal onset triggering intraoral nerve stimulation
A method comprising measuring, with a pressure sensor positioned on a retainer placed in a patient's oral cavity, a tongue-tip pressure indicative of an onset of a pharyngeal phase of swallowing; and responsive to detection of the onset of the pharyngeal phase, applying, by electrodes positioned on the retainer, electrical stimulation signals to the patient's tongue at one or more locations of at least one of a glossopharyngeal nerve or a hypoglossal nerve, and to a soft palatal region at one or more locations of at least one of a lesser palatine nerve or a greater palatine nerve, to thereby modulate the pharyngeal phase of swallowing.
Across both independent claims, the core coverage is closed-loop detection of pharyngeal-phase onset using tongue-tip pressure from an intraoral retainer, followed by responsive electrical stimulation via retainer electrodes to tongue and soft-palate nerve-associated locations to modulate swallowing.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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