External Auditory Canal Therapy Device for Cranial Nerve Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing therapies for treating conditions such as pain, anxiety, and neurological disorders lack effective methods for delivering electrical stimulation and photobiomodulation directly to cranial nerves and arterial branches within the external auditory canal.
Innovation Solution
A device configured to be inserted into the external auditory canal, featuring electrically conductive electrodes and irradiation sources that stimulate cranial nerve branches and arterial branches, combined with sound therapy, to provide electrical and photobiomodulation treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation and photobiomodulation are delivered through the external auditory canal to cranial nerves and arterial branches, then therapeutic effects on cerebral blood flow, neural oscillations, and pain are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of manufacture increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple therapy modalities (electrical stimulation via electrodes, photobiomodulation via irradiation sources, and sound therapy via speakers) into a single integrated device that is inserted into the external auditory canal. This merging of functions allows simultaneous or coordinated delivery of multiple therapeutic effects to cranial nerves and arterial branches, improving overall therapeutic reliability while managing complexity through unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to perform multiple functions: electrical nerve stimulation through conductive electrodes, photobiomodulation through irradiation sources that deliver light energy to chromophores, and acoustic therapy through speakers. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address multiple therapeutic needs (pain, anxiety, neurological conditions) simultaneously, improving therapeutic effectiveness
2Measurement precision
If the device is inserted into the external auditory canal for direct stimulation, then treatment precision and effectiveness are improved, but ease of operation and patient comfort may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The device delivers therapy locally and precisely to specific targets within the external auditory canal. The electrodes, irradiation sources, and speakers are positioned to contact or face specific portions of the canal wall where cranial nerve branches and arterial branches are located. This localized delivery ensures precise therapeutic action on target tissues while minimizing exposure to non-target areas
Solution Approach 2:
The therapy delivery components (electrodes, irradiation sources, speakers) are nested within a housing that is configured to be inserted into the external auditory canal. The housing itself is inserted into the canal, and the therapeutic components are contained within or on the housing, creating a nested structure that facilitates easy insertion while maintaining precise local delivery
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively stimulates cranial nerves and arterial branches, providing long-lasting therapeutic effects on cerebral blood flow, neural oscillations, and lymphatic flow, while also offering pain relief and anxiety reduction.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first circuit component configured to control the at least one electrically conductive electrode to electrically stimulate the at least one of the arterial branch and the peripheral nerve branch of the at least one cranial nerve
Implementation Method 2
Pulsed Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation (PNIP) is a technique which uses radiant light energy to modify biological systems with a resulting therapeutic effect
Implementation Method 3
Pulsed Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation (PNIP) is a technique which uses radiant light energy
Implementation Method 4
at least a second circuit component configured to control at least one of (i) the at least one irradiation source to irradiate the at least one of the arterial branch and the peripheral nerve branch
Data Source
AI summary
An external auditory canal therapy device may include a housing inserted into an external auditory canal of a human ear, at least one electrically conductive electrode coupled to the housing and one or both of at least one irradiation source and at least one speaker coupled to the housing. An electrical circuit carried by the housing may control the at least one electrically conductive electrode to provide electrically stimulation through the dermis to at least one of an arterial branch and a peripheral nerve branch of at least one cranial nerve, and may control one or both of the at least one irradiation source to irradiate the at least one of the arterial branch and the peripheral nerve branch of the at least one cranial nerve through the dermis and the at least one speaker to produce acoustic waves directed toward a tympanic membrane of the ear.