KR20220069278A - Multimodal vagus nerve stimulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multimodal vagus nerve stimulator, as a device worn on at least one of a left ear and a right ear, and including one or more electrodes to generate electrical stimulation to vagus nerve in auricle, which comprises a tactile stimulation means that applies tactile stimulation to vagus nerve. The present invention is configured to provide stimulation other than electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve, to supplement electrical stimulation to enhance a vagus nerve stimulation effect and to alleviate problems caused by the electrical stimulation.

Description

Vagus nerve multi-stimulator {MULTIMODAL VAGUS NERVE STIMULATOR}

The present invention relates to a device for stimulating the vagus nerve, and more particularly, to a device for stimulating the vagus nerve to which various stimuli are applied.

In general, the vagus nerve is one of the cranial nerves and corresponds to the 10th cranial nerve. The vagus nerve originates from the brain and is distributed over the face, chest, and abdomen. It is a mixed nerve containing parasympathetic fibers and is involved in the regulation of parasympathetic nerves acting on the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It has the longest and most complex structure among the 12 pairs of cranial nerves, and includes both sensory nerve fibers and motor nerve fibers.

It is known that the vagus nerve stimulation device for epilepsy treatment and depression treatment has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they are targeted to stimulate the cervical region located in the neck. However, in this electrical stimulation of the cervical branch of the vagus nerve, an incision is made directly on the skin, the cervical branch of the vagus nerve is exposed, a coil, which is an electrical body, is wound on the outside, and a microchip is installed. can't

On the other hand, in Oriental medicine, a method of treating diseases through acupuncture on the ear is applied, and the ear is a place where the auricle of the vagus nerve is distributed, and it can be seen that stimulation of the vagus nerve is used for treatment.

Although a device for adding electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve has been developed, research continues to further enhance the effect of the vagus nerve stimulation.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication 10-2019-0088300

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stimulation apparatus in which the effect of vagus nerve stimulation is increased by adding other stimulation together with electrical stimulation.

The vagus nerve multi-stimulator according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a device including one or more electrodes that are worn on at least one of a left ear and a right ear to generate electrical stimulation for the vagus nerve of the outer ear. It is characterized in that it comprises a tactile stimulation means for imparting a tactile stimulation to the.

The tactile stimulation means may be a vibrating device.

It may further include a phototherapy means for radiating the treatment light toward the inner side of the auricle or the external auditory meatus, it is preferable that a lens for guiding the treatment light generated by the phototherapy means to the inside of the external auditory meatus is installed.

The vagus nerve multi-stimulator according to another aspect of the present invention is a device including one or more electrodes that are worn on at least one of a left ear and a right ear to generate electrical stimulation for the vagus nerve of the outer ear, It is characterized in that it comprises a light treatment means for emitting a treatment light.

It is preferable that a lens for guiding the treatment light generated by the phototherapy means to the inside of the external auditory meatus is installed.

It may further include a tactile stimulation means for applying a tactile stimulation to the vagus nerve, the tactile stimulation means may be a vibrating device.

According to the present invention configured as described above, by providing stimulation other than electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve, the electrical stimulation can be supplemented to enhance the vagus nerve stimulation effect.

In addition, by configuring to provide stimulation other than electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve, there is an effect that can alleviate problems caused by electrical stimulation.

FIG. 1 is a view showing one form of a vagus nerve stimulator, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an electrode in FIG. 1 .
3 to 6 are views for explaining a form in which a phototherapy means and a lens are installed in the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, the embodiment of the present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the embodiments described below. The shapes and sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for a clearer description, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals in the drawings are the same elements.

And throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" with another part, it includes not only the case where it is "directly connected" but also the case where it is "electrically connected" with another element interposed therebetween. In addition, when a part "includes" or "includes" a certain component, it means that other components may be further included or provided without excluding other components unless otherwise stated. do.

In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are for distinguishing one component from other components, and the scope of rights should not be limited by these terms. For example, a first component may be termed a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be termed a first component.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating one form of a vagus nerve stimulator, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an electrode in FIG. 1 .

The vagus nerve stimulator is a device that applies electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve located in the ear, and its form may be variously applied.

As shown, a structure in which an electrode unit 13 composed of a plurality of electrodes 131 , 132 , 133 , 134 is installed in two stimulation apparatuses 12 connected by a neckband 11 may be applied. (13) Various types of electrodes (131, 132, 133, 134) are formed so as to contact various parts of the outer ear. In this structure, the electrodes 131 , 132 , 133 , and 134 can be more closely adhered to the skin by the neckband 11 , and are configured to be hung on the ear so that separate stimulators are provided for each of the left and right ears, or one It may be configured to be worn on only one ear.

The vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention is characterized in that it additionally includes various stimulation means for stimulating the vagus nerve, unlike conventional devices in which stimulation of the vagus nerve is limited to electrical stimulation.

The vagus nerve distributed in the outer ear to which the vagus nerve stimulator is worn is known to be composed of afferent nerves, and the afferent nerves can be classified into A-β fibers and A-δ fibers according to myelination. In order to improve cerebral plasticity and obtain an anti-epileptic effect, it is effective to stimulate A-β fibers among the afferent nerves. The inventors of the present invention have found that since A-β fibers are nerves in charge of touch, A-β fibers can be selectively activated more when tactile sense is stimulated rather than electrical stimulation alone, and finally, cerebral plasticity is further improved. It was confirmed that it can be improved.

Accordingly, the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention includes a tactile stimulation means for applying a tactile stimulation to the vagus nerve together with one or more electrodes for applying an electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve of the outer ear.

The tactile stimulation is preferably delivered through an electrode to which the electrical stimulation is applied, and the tactile stimulation means is installed inside the stimulator to apply the tactile stimulation through the electrode. When the stimulator includes a plurality of electrodes, a plurality of tactile stimulation means corresponding to each electrode may be provided so that each electrode can individually impart a sense of touch. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and one tactile stimulation means may be used or a number of tactile stimulation means smaller than the total number of electrodes may be used.

In this case, the tactile stimulation means may be a vibration device that generates vibration. A vibrating device using a motor can stimulate the sense of touch on the skin surface through its own vibration, and the vibrator is manufactured to generate high-frequency vibration, and the intensity of the vibration is sufficient to stimulate the sense of touch of the vagus nerve. do.

It is preferable that the electrical stimulation through the electrodes and the tactile stimulation through the tactile stimulation means interlock with each other. When electrical stimulation and tactile stimulation are simultaneously applied, the activation of A-β fibers is promoted. Conversely, when electrical stimulation and tactile stimulation are alternately performed, since there is a risk of causing pain, the effect of brain stimulation through the vagus nerve can be increased by stimulating the vagus nerve through touch while electrical stimulation is stopped. Therefore, it is preferable to simultaneously perform stimulation within an appropriate range or apply stimulation sequentially.

In addition, the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention further includes a phototherapy means for performing phototherapy on the outer ear.

The phototherapy means is a device for performing treatment by irradiating light to the pinna and external auditory meatus, and light of various wavelengths may be applied to phototherapy, and a specific wavelength may be fixed or configured to be irradiated by changing the wavelength, A plurality of light sources having wavelengths may be provided.

The phototherapy means may be a low-level laser therapy (LLLT). LLLT uses a laser or LED and is known to have various effects depending on the wavelength band of the emitted light.

In addition, the phototherapy means may be an infrared therapy device. The infrared treatment device irradiates infrared rays to perform treatment through heat and blood flow increase.

The phototherapy means is installed inside the stimulator, and is configured to irradiate light to the pinna or external auditory meatus through a through hole or lens formed outside. Since the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention is worn on the ear and configured to contact the outer ear, the treatment light may be irradiated toward the inside of the pinna through a through hole or lens installed in the housing. In addition, in the process of wearing on the ear, a configuration that contacts the entrance to the external auditory meatus or is inserted into the external auditory meatus in the same form as an earphone may be applied, and through this configuration, the treatment light may be irradiated toward the inside of the external auditory meatus. An electrode may be configured to contact the entrance to the external auditory meatus or to be inserted into the external auditory meatus.

In this case, if a flexible LED manufactured on a flexible substrate is used, the phototherapy means can be rolled up inside the housing of the stimulator and installed. This structure is particularly important when the stimulator includes sound reproducing means. The vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention further includes a sound reproducing means for reproducing music or white noise that can provide therapeutic acoustic stimulation for the treatment of diseases such as hearing loss or tinnitus, or enhance the therapeutic effect during the electrical stimulation process do. The sound reproducing means is installed inside the stimulator and transmits sound through a configuration in which it contacts the entrance to the ear canal or is inserted into the ear canal. If it is, the phototherapy means can be installed as if surrounding the sound reproduction means or the sound transmission path.

3 to 6 are views for explaining a form in which a phototherapy means and a lens are installed in the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention.

As shown, the phototherapy means 200 is installed to surround the sound reproducing means 300, a first lens 210 surrounding the outside of the phototherapy means 200, and a second lens for guiding the treatment light to the external auditory meatus ( 220). A vibrating device may be installed as a tactile stimulation means behind the sound reproducing means 300 .

By the first lens 210 and the second lens 220, as shown in FIG. 6, without interfering with the path of the sound reproduced in the sound reproducing means 300, treatment in the direction indicated by the red arrow It can emit light, and even if a phototherapy means is installed together with a sound reproducing means, it was possible to irradiate the treatment light to the inside of the pinna and the entrance to and inside of the external auditory meatus.

It is preferable that the electrical stimulation through the electrode and the irradiation of the therapeutic light through the phototherapy means interlock with each other. Electrical stimulation and phototherapy may be performed simultaneously, or electrical stimulation and phototherapy may be alternately performed, and the therapeutic effect may be improved by reducing pain that may be induced by electrical stimulation. Therefore, it is preferable to simultaneously perform stimulation in an appropriate range or to apply stimulation sequentially.

When the electrode for electrical stimulation, the tactile stimulation means, and the phototherapy means are all provided, it is preferable that the three stimulations are interlocked with each other. Three stimuli may be applied simultaneously, one stimulus may be sequentially performed, or two stimuli out of three may be selectively performed simultaneously.

The vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention further includes a heating means for performing thermotherapy on the outer ear.

Although the infrared therapy device discussed above is a type of thermotherapy, the portion in contact with the electrode for electrical stimulation in the process of irradiating infrared rays cannot be irradiated. The present invention is configured to apply a heater that raises the temperature of an electrode to perform thermal treatment on a place in contact with the electrode.

The vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention can also perform stimulation of the trigeminal nerve in addition to the vagus nerve.

The trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve out of 12 cranial nerves, and it gives out three major branches, spreads to the face and scalp, and is responsible for facial sensation. The three branches are the ophthalmic nerve, the maxillary nerve, and the mandibular nerve, and the mandibular nerve is located in direct contact with the outer ear.

Since the mandibular nerve is located in contact with the outer ear, the trigeminal nerve can be stimulated through the vagus nerve multi-stimulator worn on the ear, and the trigeminal nerve distributed in the face and scalp can be stimulated through additional trigeminal nerve stimulation means.

Repetitive excitation of the trigeminal nerve is neuromodulation of the trigeminal nervous system, and neuromodulation of the trigeminal nervous system induces a sedative effect on the central nervous system and modification of the trigeminal nociceptive threshold. It induces a modification of the trigeminal nociceptive threshold, resulting in headache pain relief during migraine attacks. In addition, the effect of brain stimulation can be increased by stimulating the vagus nerve and the trigeminal nerve alternately or simultaneously.

The electrode of the vagus nerve multi-stimulator of the present invention applies electrical stimulation in contact with the outer ear. We will guide you to apply gel or water before putting on the stimulator, but it is difficult to apply the gel or water to the exact location where the electrode is in contact, which may cause inconvenience of applying the gel or water over a wide area.

The present invention is configured so that the gel is ejected through the micropores formed on the surface of the electrode. In this case, the method in which the gel is ejected allows the gel to be ejected from the surface of the electrode through a separate operation or signal after the user wears the vagus nerve multi-stimulator. Another method in which the gel is ejected is to apply a material or structure that causes the electrode to undergo a predetermined elastic deformation, so that the electrode is elastically deformed by the force that the electrode adheres to the skin during or after the user wears the vagus nerve multi-stimulator. It can also be configured so that the gel inside is ejected.

The present invention has been described through preferred embodiments, but the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present invention, and various changes are possible without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention in this field. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to understand. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the matters described in the claims, not specific embodiments, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

11: Neckband
12: stimulator
131, 132, 133, 134: electrode
200: phototherapy means
300: sound reproduction means
210: first lens
220: second lens

Claims (8)

A device comprising one or more electrodes that are worn on at least one of the left ear and the right ear to generate electrical stimulation for the vagus nerve of the outer ear,
A vagus nerve multi-stimulator comprising tactile stimulation means for imparting tactile stimulation to the vagus nerve.
The method according to claim 1,
The vagus nerve multi-stimulator, characterized in that the tactile stimulation means is a vibrating device.
The method according to claim 1,
The vagus nerve multi-stimulator, characterized in that it further comprises a light treatment means for radiating the treatment light toward the inner side of the pinna or the external auditory meatus.
The method according to claim 3,
A vagus nerve multi-stimulator, characterized in that a lens for guiding the treatment light generated by the phototherapy means to the inside of the external auditory meatus is installed.
A device comprising one or more electrodes that are worn on at least one of the left ear and the right ear to generate electrical stimulation for the vagus nerve of the outer ear,
A vagus nerve multi-stimulator comprising a light treatment means for radiating therapeutic light toward the inner side of the auricle or the external auditory meatus.
6. The method of claim 5,
A vagus nerve multi-stimulator, characterized in that a lens for guiding the treatment light generated by the phototherapy means to the inside of the external auditory meatus is installed.
6. The method of claim 5,
The vagus nerve multi-stimulator further comprising tactile stimulation means for imparting tactile stimulation to the vagus nerve.
8. The method of claim 7,
The vagus nerve multi-stimulator, characterized in that the tactile stimulation means is a vibrating device.

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