Vestibular Noise Current Control for Motion Sickness Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vestibular electrical stimulation methods for alleviating motion sickness are ineffective when the pseudo-vestibular sensation is provided at inappropriate timings or magnitudes, potentially worsening symptoms.
Innovation Solution
A vestibular electrical stimulation apparatus that applies a noise current, less than the perception threshold, to the vestibular organ to reduce the error between predicted and actual sensory inputs, thereby alleviating motion sickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vestibular electrical stimulation is applied to cancel ship motion, then motion sickness symptoms are suppressed, but symptoms may worsen if the stimulation timing or magnitude is inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a noise current that is intentionally kept below the perception threshold of the user. This partial action approach provides vestibular stimulation that reduces sensory conflict without creating overwhelming artificial sensations that would worsen motion sickness, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of current magnitude by using a noise current with amplitude below the perception threshold. This parameter modification allows the system to provide beneficial vestibular input while avoiding the harmful effect of excessive stimulation that would exacerbate motion sickness symptoms
2Reliability
If a noise current is applied to the vestibular organ, then the brain's attention to vestibular sensation errors is reduced, but the current must remain below perception threshold to be effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the current magnitude parameter by setting it below the perception threshold. This precise parameter control is essential for the noise current to reduce vestibular sensation errors without being perceived by the user, thereby alleviating motion sickness while maintaining imperceptibility
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 noise current reduces the brain's attention to vestibular sensation errors, minimizing the number of errors that can be solved by feedback processing, effectively alleviating motion sickness symptoms.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode configured to provide electrical stimulation to a vestibular organ of a user; an output circuit configured to apply a current to the electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A vestibular electrical stimulation apparatus includes an electrode configured to provide electrical stimulation to a vestibular organ of a user, an output circuit configured to apply a current to the electrode, a control circuit configured to control the current to be applied by the output circuit, and an input circuit configured to receive a control signal from an external apparatus. The control circuit is configured to apply a first current, which is a noise current, based on the control signal received by the input circuit.