SYSTEM FOR SUPPRESSING A PERSON'S VESTIBULAR ACTIVITY

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This description relates to a system and method for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject. The present invention relates to a system for suppressing vestibular activity as defined in claim 1.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The ability to maintain spatial orientation and balance is the result of an elaborate synchronization of neural inputs from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. When there is a mismatch among these signals or when input patterns from different senses do not correspond to stored expected sensory patterns, spatial disorientation may occur. The two primary conflicts occur between the visual and vestibular senses (i.e., intersensory conflict) and within the vestibular sense between the semicircular canals and otoliths (i.e., intrasensory conflict). Secondary conflict, however, may come from proprioceptive inputs that fail to synchronize with other sensory cues, particularly visual and peripheral proprioceptors connected to the vestibular system through vestibulospinal pathways. This creates the sensation commonly known as Motion Sickness. It includes a range of symptoms, from nausea and salivation to a sensation of warmth, tiredness, and other cognitive symptoms. In addition, sensory conflicts remain one of the most persistent issues facing advanced flight simulation development. Flight simulators have been shown to improve training effectiveness with considerably lower cost and risk than actual flight training. The capability to use simulation in training brings advantages in acquisition of skill sets, development of competencies, the reduction of errors in real environments, and decreased costs. The simulation environment, however, imposes limitations in matching real world sensory experiences. These limitations may manifest in the form of simulator-induced motion sickness, also known as simulator sickness (SS). SS is a variant of motion sickness resulting from exposure to simulated environments such as flight simulators, driving simulators and similar virtual, immersive environments. Whereas motion sickness refers to the adverse consequences of exposure to environments that physically put an individual in motion, SS is mainly the result of technological limitations in simulating dynamic environments that create a conflict in the body's self-motion perception sensors. Because of the wide variety of these symptoms, such as nausea, oculomotor disorders, disorientation, and the like, SS has also been described as "polygenic" since several factors have been identified including age, gender, simulator features, e.g., lag and field of view (FOV), and factors associated with the task performed, e.g., duration and degree of control. The theory of sensory conflict, also known as the sensory rearrangement or neural mismatch theory, indicates that sickness occurs when the pattern of inputs from different senses and within a single sensory modality do not correspond to the stored patterns of such inputs based on past experience, as a result of both cognitive and perceptual discrepancy. When SS symptoms develop, the value of the training experience and data derived during the experience may be compromised and in the most extreme cases results in negative transfer-of-training. Moreover, since symptoms may persist or recur spontaneously up to one day after exposure, various training centers routinely ground pilots for 6 to 24 hours after simulator time. These factors can lower the acceptance and overall utility of simulator enhanced learning. Conventional preventative pharmacological agents commonly used for motion sickness are typically ineffective to prevent SS and may be commonly associated with significant side effects after the simulated sessions including drowsiness and fatigue. Thus, simulator design may have a significant role in decreasing the incidence of SS. However, even with technological advances, imperfections including optical deficiencies, image scale factor magnifications, system time delays, limited field of view (FOV) displays head tracker inaccuracies, and the like, still remain unsolved limitations which contribute to SS.

[0003] U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2014 / 0127666 teaches systems and techniques for stimulating motion to a human subject alleviating motion sickness and directional cueing related to the vestibular system with coupling of galvanic vestibular stimulation GVS which relies on voltage and current unequally at two different points on a subject's head to cause a change in a vestibular response. U.S. Patent Publ. No. 2015 / 0039057 teaches an implantable nerve stimulation device sensor system. The nerve stimulation system includes an electrode array with electrodes that are invasively, surgically implanted in the human subject. Japanese Application No. 2006288665 teaches and discloses utilizing direct electrical current and utilizes a fixed reference voltage. Chinese Publ. No. CN2062231 teaches and discloses a complex device with gears, pendulums, double pole, single throw power switch and a light source which utilizes the swing of the hull of a boat to change intensity and a resistance which changes magnitude and current. Korean Publ. No. KR20160007957 relies on a left and right movement input value provided by a virtual reality device which is larger than a reference value to indicate predetermined left and right abrupt rotational sense such that a pair of alternating current stimuluses may be applied. US 2008 / 275513 also discloses a stimulation system known from the prior art.

[0004] Thus there is a need to mitigate motion sickness and / or SS by reducing or eliminating the mismatch between sensory cues inputs expected by a human subject and improve simulation based training.SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0005] In one aspect, a system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject, the system is featured. The system includes an electronics module configured to generate one or more electrical stimulation signals. A plurality of electrodes each placed proximate a predetermined location on a head of a human subject is configured to deliver the one or more electrical stimulation signals to the predetermined location to suppress vestibular activity of the human subject.

[0006] In one embodiment, the plurality of electrodes may be bi-laterally placed on opposing sides of the head. The predetermined location may include a mastoid process, the ear, or a temporal bone of the human subject. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more direct current (DC) signals. The one or more stimulation signals may include one or more DC signals each with an imposed carrier wave. The one or more stimulation signals may include one or more alternating current (AC) signals. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may be configured to hyperpolarize and / or depolarized cells located at each predetermined location to create a desired induced perception of motion. The plurality of electrodes may be configured to deliver electrical stimulation to suppress the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion such that perception of motion of the human subject is reduced. The suppression of the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion may decrease motion sickness that may arise from motion sensed by the human subject. The plurality of electrodes may include a first pair of electrodes placed on one side of the head of the human subject at the predetermined location, another pair of electrodes placed on an opposite side of the head of the human subject at the predetermined location, and a ground electrode placed on the head or neck of the human subject. Each pair of electrodes may include an electrode configured as positive electrode and an electrode configured as a negative electrode. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may be configured as one or more DC signals applied to each positive and negative electrode such that the one or more DC signals are transmitted from the positive electrode located at high predetermined location on the head of the human subject to the negative electrode located at a low location on the head of the human subject to suppress vestibular activity. The high predetermined location may include a high location on a mastoid process of the human subject and the low location includes a low location on mastoid process of the human subject. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may be configured as one or more DC signals each imposed carrier wave applied in phase to each positive and negative electrode such that the one or more DC signals with the imposed carrier waves are transmitted from the positive electrode at a high predetermined location to the negative electrode at a low predetermined location to suppress vestibular activity. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may be configured as one or more DC signals each imposed carrier wave applied temporally offset to each positive and negative electrode such that the one or more DC signals with the imposed carrier waves are transmitted from the positive electrode at a high predetermined location on one side of the head to the negative electrode at a low predetermined location on an opposite side of the head to suppress vestibular activity. The high predetermined location may include a high location on mastoid process and the low predetermined location includes a low location on mastoid process of the human subject. The plurality of electrodes may include one electrode placed on one side of the head of the human subject at the predetermined location and another electrode is placed on an opposite side of the head of the human subject at the predetermined location. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may be configured as one or more AC signals applied to the electrode placed on one side of the head and the electrode placed on one the opposite side of the head such that the one or more AC signals are transmitted back and forth from one electrode at its maximum current at the predetermined location on one side of the head to the another electrode at its maximum negative current at the predetermined location on an opposite side of the head of the human subject to suppress vestibular activity.

[0007] As disclosed herein, all examples of methods for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject are for use with the system for suppressing vestibular activity and are of explanatory nature.

[0008] In another aspect, a method for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject is featured. The method includes generating one or more electrical stimulation signals, and delivering the one or more electrical stimulation signals to a plurality of electrodes each placed proximate a predetermined location on a head of the human subject such that the one or more electrical stimulation signals suppress vestibular activity of the human subject.

[0009] In one embodiment, the method may include bilaterally placing the electrodes on opposing sides of the head of the human subject at the predetermined location. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may hyperpolarize and / or may depolarize cells located at each predetermined location to create a desired induced perception of motion. The method may include delivering electrical stimulation to suppress the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion such that perception of motion of the human subject is reduced. The suppression of the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion may decrease motion sickness that may arise from motion sensed by the human subject. The one or more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more direct current (DC) signals. The one or more stimulation signals may include one or more DC signals each with an imposed carrier wave. The one or more stimulation signals may include one or more alternating current (AC) signals. The one more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more DC signals transmitted from a positive electrode at a high predetermined location on one side of the head to the negative electrode at a low predetermined location on an opposite side of the head to suppress vestibular activity. The one more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more DC signals with the imposed carrier waves transmitted in phase from a positive electrode at a high predetermined location on one side of the head to the negative electrode at a low predetermined location on an opposite side of the head to suppress vestibular activity. The one more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more DC signals with the imposed carrier waves transmitted temporally offset from a positive electrode at a high predetermined location on one side of the head to the negative electrode at a low predetermined location on an opposite side of the head to suppress vestibular activity. The one more electrical stimulation signals may include one or more AC signals transmitted from an electrode on one side of the head at the determined location to an electrode on an opposite side of the head to suppress vestibular activity.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the primary components of one embodiment of the system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject of this description; Fig. 2 shows in further detail the primary components associated with one embodiment of the electronics module shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows in further detail one example of the electronics utilized by the electronics circuit board of the electronics module shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows in further detail one example of the electronics utilized by the electronics circuit board of the electronics module shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 shows one example of one preferred location for the placement of electrodes shown in Fig. 1 on the head of a human subject; Fig. 6 shows examples of electrodes which may be utilized by the system shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows examples of galvanic vestibular stimulation which may used to mimic the body's natural reaction to head acceleration / tilt; Fig. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the primary components of another embodiment of the system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject; Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing the primary components of another embodiment of the system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject; Fig. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing primary components of another embodiment of the system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject; Fig. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject; and Fig. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing the primary steps associated with one embodiment of the method for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject according to the description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present invention is set out in the appended claims and pertains to a system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject.

[0012] There is shown in Fig. 1 one embodiment for system 10 and the method thereof for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject. System 10 includes electronics module 12 configured to generate one or more stimulation signals which are applied to electrodes at predetermined locations of head 14 of the human subject to suppress vestibular activity as will be discussed in detail below. Fig. 2 shows examples of electronics module 12 which is capable of generating the one or more electrical stimulation signals, e.g. up to about 2.5 mA in a DC mode or an AC mode with a frequency between about 300 Hz and 12 kHz using frequency control 16 and amplitude control 18. Electronics module 12 also preferably includes display 20 which displays the current and / or voltage of the one or more stimulation signals. In one design, electronics module 12 may be operated with batteries, e.g., 6 AA batteries indicated at 22. Electronics module 12 also preferably includes electronics board 24 which is coupled to frequency control 16, amplitude 18, display 20, and connectors 52. Electronics board 24 is configured to generate the one or more electrical stimulation signals. Figs. 3 and 4 show in further detail examples of electronic circuitry 25, 27, respectively, incorporated into electronics board 24 of electronics module 12, Figs. 1 and 2, which may be used to generate the one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity.

[0013] System 10, Fig. 1, also includes a plurality of electrodes each placed proximate a predetermined location on head 14 of the human subject configured to deliver the one or more electrical stimulation signals to the predetermined location on head 14 to suppress vestibular activity. In the example shown in Fig. 1, system 10 includes plurality of electrodes 22 placed proximate a predetermined on one side of head 14 and plurality of electrodes 26 bilaterally placed proximate a predetermined location on an opposite sided of head 14 as shown, e.g., proximate the mastoid process 40, Fig. 5, and preferably within the area indicated at 42 which is located directly behind the external ear as shown. In other examples, the predetermined location on each side of head 14 may the temporal bone, indicated at 46

[0014] Fig. 6 shows exemplary electrodes which may be utilized (available from MFI Medical Equipment San Diego, CA) which are preferably coupled to connectors 52, Fig. 2.

[0015] In one example, one of the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes 22, Fig. 1, e.g., electrode 50, may be configured as a positive electrode by connecting it to contact 54 which outputs positive DC or AC current generated by electronics module 12. The other of plurality of electrodes 22, Fig. 1, e.g. electrode 54, may be configured as a negative electrode by connecting it to contact 58 which outputs negative DC or AC current generated by electronics module 12. Similarly, one of the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes 26, e.g., electrode 60, may be configured as a positive electrode by connecting it to contact 62 which outputs positive DC or AC current or voltage generated by electronics module 12 and the other of the plurality of electrodes 22, e.g., electrode 66, may be configured as a negative electrode by connecting it to negative contact 68 which outputs negative DC or AC current or voltage generated by electronics module 12. Preferably, system 10 includes ground electrode 70 preferably placed proximate the nape of the neck as shown coupled to ground contact 72.

[0016] The one or more electrical stimulation signals generated by electronics module 12 to electrodes 50, 54 on one side of head 14 at the predetermined location and the one or more electrical stimulation signals applied to electrodes 60 and 66 at the predetermined location on an opposite side of head 14 of the human subject suppresses vestibular activity.

[0017] Preferably, the vestibular system of the human subject is suppressed to actual motion by system 10 and the method thereof such that the perception of motion of the human subject is reduced. Suppression of the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion preferably decreases motion sickness and / or SS that may arise from motion sensed by the human subject. By suppressing vestibular activity, system 10 and the method thereof may mitigate motion sickness and / or SS by reducing or eliminating the mismatch between sensory cues inputs expected by a human subject and improve simulation based training.

[0018] The one or more electrical stimulation signals generated by electronics module 12 and delivered by electrodes 50, 54 and 60, 66 preferably hyperpolarize and / or depolarize cells proximate each predetermined location on head 14 as discussed above to create a desired induced perception of motion. System 10 and the method thereof mimics the polarization of the cells caused by motion with the application of small amounts of external electrical stimulation by the one or more electrical stimulation signals. By judicious application of the one or more electrical stimulation signals at appropriate external predetermined locations, the cells on each side of head 14 are preferably hyperpolarized and / or depolarized thereby using their natural response to create the desired signals. Unlike conventional systems and methods which may rely on swamping the signals sent the brain, system 10 and the method thereof works with the healthy vestibular system of the human subject to create a transient signal associated with acceleration of the head. Upon cessation of stimulation, the cells repolarize to their "at rest" condition within a few pulses, requiring less than a second to return to their pre-stimulation condition. See Fig. 7.

[0019] In one example, the one or more electrical stimulation signals stimulation signals generated by electronics module 12, Figs. 1-4, to suppress vestibular activity may include one or more direct current (DC) signals, one or more DC signals with an imposed carrier waves or one or more alternating current (AC) signals.

[0020] For example, electronics module 12, Fig. 8, where like parts have been given like numbers, may generate one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity configured as positive DC signal 80 which is applied electrode 50 preferably located at an upper mastoid location of the head 14 as shown, e.g., at location 43, Fig. 5 of area 42. Electronics module 12 may also generate negative DC signal 82 which is applied to electrode 52 preferably located at a lower mastoid position on the head 14 as shown, e.g., at location 45 of area 42. The one or more electrical stimulation signals in this example are transmitted from the upper mastoid location of the left side of head 14 to lower mastoid position on head 14 as shown by arrow 87 to suppress vestibular activity.

[0021] Similarly, electronics module 12 may generate one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity configured as positive DC signal 84 which is applied electrode 60 preferably located at an upper mastoid location of the head 14, as discussed above. Electronics module 12 may also generate negative DC signal 86 which is applied to electrode 66 located at a lower mastoid position on the head 14 as shown, e.g., as discussed above. The one or more electrical stimulation signals in this example are transmitted from the upper mastoid location of the head 14 to lower mastoid position on the head, as shown by arrow 89, to suppress vestibular activity.

[0022] Electronics module 12, Fig. 9, where like parts have been given like numbers, may generate one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity configured as DC signal 90 with imposed positive carrier wave 92 which is applied electrode 50 preferably located at an upper mastoid location of the head 14 as shown, similarly as discussed above. Imposed carrier wave 92 modulates the current applied to electrode 50 between 0 amps, indicated at 93, and the maximum positive current, indicated at 95. Electronics module 12 may also generate DC signal 90 with imposed negative carrier wave 94 which is applied to electrode 52 located at a lower mastoid position on the head 14 as shown, similar as discussed above. Imposed negative carrier wave 94 modulates the current applied to electrode 52 between 0 amps, indicated at 95, and the maximum negative current, indicated at 97. In this example, imposed carrier waves 92 and 94 are preferably in phase such that the one or more electrical stimulation signals are transmitted from electrode 50 to electrode 52, as shown by arrow 97, to suppress vestibular activity.

[0023] Similarly, electronics module 12, Fig 9, may generate one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity configured as configured as DC signal 100 with imposed positive carrier wave 102 which is applied electrode 60 preferably located at an upper mastoid location of the head 14 as shown. Imposed positive carrier wave 102 preferably modulates the current applied to electrode 60 between 0 amps, indicated at 101, and the maximum positive current, indicated at 103. Electronics module 12, Fig 9, may also generate DC signal 100 with imposed negative carrier wave 104 which is applied to electrode 66 located at a lower mastoid position on the head 14 as shown, as discussed above. Imposed negative carrier wave 104 modulates the current applied to electrode 66 between 0 amps, indicated at 101, and the maximum negative current, indicated at 105. In this example, carrier waves 102 and 104 are preferably in phase such that the electrical stimulation signals are transmitted from electrode 60 to electrode 66 as shown by arrow 99, to suppress vestibular activity.

[0024] In another example, electronics module 12, Fig. 10, where like parts have been given like numbers may generate DC signal 90 with imposed carrier waves 92 and 94 which are preferably temporally offset, e.g., 180 degrees out phase, with DC signal 100 with carrier waves 102 and 104 as shown. The result is current is transmitted from electrode 50 at its maximum current on one side of head 14 at a higher mastoid position to electrode 66 at zero current on an opposite side of head 14 a lower mastoid position, as shown by arrow 110, and from electrode 60 at its maximum current on side of head 14 at a higher mastoid position to electrode 52 at zero current, on an opposite side of head 14 at a lower mastoid position, as shown by arrow 112, to suppress vestibular activity.

[0025] Electronics module 12, Fig. 11, where like parts have been given like numbers may generate one or more electrical stimulation signals to suppress vestibular activity configured one or more AC signals. In one example, electronics module 12 preferably generates AC signal 130 by contact 132 which is applied to electrode 134 located on one side of head 14, e.g., at location 43 Fig. 5, of area 42 of the mastoid as shown, or any desired location on one side of head 14. Electronics module 12 also generates AC signal 136 by contact 138 which is temporally offset, e.g., 180 degrees out of phase, with AC signal 130. Ground electrode 70 is coupled to ground contact 72. The result is the one or more AC signals are transmitted back and forth from one of electrodes 134, 140 at its maximum positive current to one of electrodes 134, 140 and its maximum negative current, as shown by arrow 142, to suppress vestibular activity.

[0026] One embodiment of the method for suppressing vestibular activity in a human subject of this description includes generating one or more electrical stimulation signals, step 200, Fig. 12, and delivering one or more electrical stimulation signals to a plurality of electrodes each placed proximate a predetermined location on a head of the human subject such that the one or more electrical stimulation signals suppress vestibular activity of the human subject, step 202.

[0027] Although as discussed above with reference to one or more of Figs. 8-11, the predetermined location is shown as the upper and lower mastoid, this is not a necessary limitation. In other examples, the predetermined location may be the temporal bone, the ear, or any desired location on head 14 of the human subject.

Claims

1. A system for suppressing vestibular activity of a human subject, the system comprising: an electronics module (12) configured to generate at least first and second electrical stimulation signals, the first electrical stimulation signal including a first carrier signal and the second electrical stimulation signal including a second carrier signal, said first electrical stimulation signal being the first carrier signal imposed on a positive biased DC signal and said second electrical stimulation signal being the second carrier signal imposed on a negative biased DC signal; a plurality of electrodes (22, 26) including a first electrode (50, 60) configured to be placed at an upper mastoid position on a side of a head (14) of the human subject and a second electrode (54, 66) configured to be placed at a lower mastoid position on the same side of the head (14) of the human subject, and wherein the electronics module is configured to modulate the current applied to respective electrodes (50, 54, 60, 66) between 0 amps and a maximum positive / negative current and apply the first electrical stimulation signal to the first electrode while concurrently applying the second electrical stimulation signal to the second electrode to suppress vestibular activity of the human subject, the one or more electrical stimulation signals configured to hyperpolarize and / or depolarize cells located proximate the stimulation regions to suppress vestibular activity.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the plurality of electrodes (22, 26) are bi-laterally configured to be placed on opposite sides of the head.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the plurality of electrodes (22, 26) is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to suppress the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion such that perception of motion of the human subject is reduced.

4. The system of claim 3 in which the suppression of the vestibular system of the human subject to actual motion decreases motion sickness that may arise from motion sensed by the human subject.

5. The system of claim 1 in which the plurality of electrodes (22, 26) includes a first pair of electrodes (50, 54) configured to be placed on one side of the head (14) of the human subject, another pair of electrodes (60, 66) configured to be placed on an opposite side of the head of the human subject, and a ground electrode (70) placed on the head or neck of the human subject.

6. The system of claim 1 in which the one or more electrical stimulation signals are applied in phase to each first (50, 60) and second electrode (54, 66) such that the one or more electrical stimulation signals are transmitted from the first electrode (50, 60) to the second electrode (54, 66) to suppress vestibular activity.

7. The system of claim 1 in which the one or more electrical stimulation signals are applied temporally offset to each first (50, 60) and second electrode (54, 66) such that the one or more electrical stimulation signals are transmitted from the first electrode (50, 60) to the second electrode (54, 66) to suppress vestibular activity.

8. The system of claim 1 in which the plurality of electrodes (22, 26) include one electrode (50 or 60) configured to be placed on one side of the head (14) of the human subject and another electrode (54, 66) configured to be placed on an opposite side of the head (14) of the human subject.