Device for mitigating motion sickness and other responses to inconsistent sensory information

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein mitigate motion sickness by disrupting, controlling, or influencing anatomy of the vestibular system. An embodiment may induce vibrations in the vestibular system, including otoliths and / or semicircular canals of the inner ear, causing noisy or unreliable sensory information to be sent to the brain from the vestibular system. Due to the noisy or unreliable quality, the brain, as part of a normal physiological response, may rely less on sensory information from the vestibular system and rely more on other sources, thereby mitigating the motion sickness response, vertigo, vestibular migraines, and other physiological responses to inconsistent sensory information. Vibrations in the vestibular system may be induced by an agitator placed on an individual's head near the vestibular system, or by a transducer placed near the eardrum or directly on an individual's head. Some embodiments may optionally include implantable components in addition to extracorporeal components.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 867,774, entitled “Device for Mitigating Motion Sickness and Other Responses to Inconsistent Sensory Information,” filed Sep. 28, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 179,682, entitled “Device for Mitigating Motion Sickness,” filed May 15, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 071,636, entitled “Device to Manipulate the Otolith Organ Using Sound Waves,” filed Sep. 29, 2014, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, devices, and methods for mitigating motion sickness, vertigo, vestibular migraines, and loss of consciousness by disrupting, controlling, or influencing anatomy of the vestibular system.BACKGROUND[0003]The brain can determine orientation, balance, positio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]A “noisy” signal from the vestibular system cannot be properly interpreted by the brain, prompting the brain to instead rely on signals from other sources, such as the eyes and muscles. Fewer signals to interpret may allow the brain to determine orientation, balance, position, movement, or a combination thereof, and may reduce the chance that the brain receives unmatched signals. Consequently, this reduces the likelihood that an individual may experience resulting detrimental physiological effects.

[0007]Embodiments of the invention can mitigate motion sickness by disrupting, controlling, or influencing anatomy of the vestibular system, including, for example, otoliths, endolymph, and hair follicles. An embodiment of the invention may induce vibrations in the vestibular system, including otoliths and / or semicircular canals of the inner ear, thereby causing noisy or unreliable sensory information in signals sent to the brain from the vestibular system. Due to this noisy or unreliable sensory information, the brain, as part of a normal physiological response, may rely less on signals received from vestibular system and rely more heavily on other sources, thereby mitigating the motion sickness response, vertigo, vestibular migraines, and other physiological responses to inconsistent sensory information. Another embodiment of the invention may induce vibrations in the vestibular system of the inner ear, thereby controlling the positions of otoliths, endolymph, hair follicles or combinations thereof, and, consequently, alter the sensory information in the signal sent from the vestibular system to the brain to mitigate the physiological effects of inconsistent sensory information.

Problems solved by technology

A “noisy” signal from the vestibular system cannot be properly interpreted by the brain, prompting the brain to instead rely on signals from other sources, such as the eyes and muscles.

Consequently, this reduces the likelihood that an individual may experience resulting detrimental physiological effects.

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