US 12,285,177 B2
Methods and devices to reduce damaging effects of concussive or blast forces on a subject
David Smith, West Chester, OH (US); and Joseph A. Fisher, Thornhill (CA)
Assigned to TBI Innovations, LLC, West Chester, OH (US); and Thornhill Research Inc., North York (CA)
Filed by TBI Innovations, LLC, West Chester, OH (US); and Thornhill Research Inc., North York (CA)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/328,501.
Application 18/328,501 is a continuation of application No. 16/448,847, filed on Jun. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,696,766.
Application 16/448,847 is a continuation of application No. 15/150,243, filed on May 9, 2016, granted, now 10,368,877.
Application 15/150,243 is a continuation of application No. 13/489,536, filed on Jun. 6, 2012, granted, now 10,004,515.
Application 13/489,536 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2011/055783, filed on Oct. 11, 2011.
Application 13/489,536 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/931,415, filed on Feb. 1, 2011, granted, now 9,168,045.
Application PCT/US2011/055783 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/807,677, filed on Sep. 10, 2010, granted, now 8,985,120.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/518,117, filed on Apr. 29, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/260,313, filed on Nov. 11, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/241,625, filed on Sep. 11, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0310009 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/132 (2006.01); A61B 17/135 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61F 5/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/1325 (2013.01) [A61B 17/135 (2013.01); A61B 90/08 (2016.02); A61F 5/30 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00119 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 17/1355 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0807 (2016.02)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for mitigating injury to an inner ear of a human subject, the method comprising:
applying pressure to a neck vein of the human subject prior to and during a concussive event, the neck vein being selected from a group consisting of an external jugular vein, an internal jugular vein, and any combination thereof,
wherein the pressure is sufficient to congest a cochlear vein of the human subject thereby reducing a compressibility of cochlear fluid within the inner ear of the human subject so that energy of the concussive event is not transmitted to auditory hair cells within the inner ear of the human subject through vibration of the cochlear fluid.