40 results about "Vestibular system" patented technology

A device and associated method for providing vestibular stimulation to an individual includes active elements positioned on or proximate an ear insert. The active elements include but are not limited to at least one electrode, at least one thermometer, and at least one thermoelectric transducer. The device includes a computerized control module regulating the active elements. The device incorporates an ear insert that allows the active elements to engage the individual's ear canal and therefore access the individual's vestibular system. Vestibular stimulation applied to the individual is customized for directly stimulating desired regions of the brain for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the device provides vestibular stimulation sufficient to promote physiological changes in the individual, the changes selected from the group consisting of circadian temperature cycle time shifts, ascorbic acid production, serotonin production, acetylcholine production, histamine production, and heat shock protein production.

A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering said caloric vestibular stimulation; (b) a power supply operatively associated with said earpiece; and (c) a controller operatively associated with said power supply and said earpiece for configuring said caloric vestibular stimulation as at least a first and second time-varying waveform. Preferably, the waveforms are actively controlled waveforms.

A device for delivering caloric vestibular stimulation to an individual, includes: (a) an earpiece configured to be at least partially insertable into the ear canal of the individual for delivering said caloric vestibular stimulation; (b) a power supply operatively associated with said earpiece; and (c) a controller operatively associated with said power supply and said earpiece for configuring said caloric vestibular stimulation as at least a first and second time-varying waveform. Preferably, the waveforms are actively controlled waveforms.

The present invention relates to use of DHA analogs and their pharmaceutical compositions for treating ototoxicity, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof. Ototoxicity is defined as damage to the structures of the ear, such as the cochlea and vestibular system, by drugs or toxins. Ototoxicity can result in irreversible hearing loss, tinnitus, dysequilibrium, Meniere's disease, or vertigo.

A method for testing a subject to detect a reduction in cerebral function presumably resulting from mild traumatic brain injury, that affects visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular brain functions includes: providing a user interface, input device, and portable computer into the hands of the test subject suspected of having mild traumatic brain injury; providing an icon on the user interface visible to the subject; rotating the subject holding the computer a predetermined number of revolutions, at a predetermined rate of rotation, to engage the vestibular system of the subject prior to testing; aligning, by the subject, the icon on the screen of the user interface in alignment with a test administrator; maintaining the alignment of the icon on the screen and the test administrator throughout the rotations; and conducting a real-time test for mild traumatic brain injury utilizing the user interface, the user input device, and the associated computer.

Systems and method for selectively applying blinders to remove high peripheral optical flow from three-dimensional imagery. When users experience visual cues corresponding to motion in virtual reality without corresponding non-visual clues (such as cues from the vestibular system), motion sickness can result. Peripheral optic flow is a particularly strong visual cue associated with motion. However, unconditionally removing peripheral imagery significantly reduces user immersion. Embodiments of the invention can selectively apply peripheral blinders to remove high peripheral optic flow and add non-visual motion cues (such as directional audio) corresponding to the virtual motion to reduce or eliminate the disconnect that can cause motion sickness.