US 11,771,893 B2
Motion-activated, closed-loop non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for neurorehabtlitation
Bashar Badran, Charleston, SC (US); and Mark S. George, Sullivans Island, SC (US)
Assigned to MUSC Foundation for Research Development, Charleston, SC (US)
Appl. No. 17/619,950
Filed by MUSC Foundation for Research Development, Charleston, SC (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/040121
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/264496, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/867,989, filed on Jun. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296889 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61N 1/32 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/326 (2013.01) [A61N 1/0456 (2013.01); A61N 1/36031 (2017.08); A61N 1/36034 (2017.08)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for neurorehabilitation comprising:
a motion detector configured to generate a voluntary motion detection feedback signal, the motion detector comprising at least one of an EMG electrode, an EEG electrode, a camera, a robotic apparatus, an exoskeleton apparatus, or an accelerometer;
a transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation module; and
a controller configured to receive the voluntary motion detection feedback signal and send a stimulation signal to the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation module with a delay of 2 seconds or less based on the voluntary motion detection feedback signal meeting a minimum threshold criteria for contraction;
wherein the voluntary motion detection feedback signal is based on a plurality of voluntary muscle activity feedback signals; and
wherein the muscle activity signals are based on:
at least a first signal from an upper limb indicative of movement from one or more of a trapezius, deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps, flexor/extensor carpi radialis, flexor/extensor digitorum, and flexor/extensor pollicis brevis; and
at least a second signal from a lower limb indicative of movement from one or more of a gluteus maximus, quadriceps femoris, anterior compartment of the leg, quadriceps femoris, foot inverters and evertors, biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus.