Systems and methods for stimulating swallowing

Abstract

A device includes a first vibrational transducer and a second vibrational transducer. The first vibrational transducer has a first vibrating property. The second vibrotactile stimulator has a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property. A collar may be configured to position the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer over a neck of a subject. A method for stimulating swallowing in a subject includes applying a first vibrotactile stimulation and applying a second vibrotactile stimulation to a throat area of the subject. The first vibrotactile stimulation has a first vibrating property and the second vibrotactile stimulation has a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property. Example vibrating properties include vibrating frequency, vibrating frequency range, wave shape, continuousness, frequency phase, and direction of mechanical force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a first vibrotactile stimulator configured to operate at a first vibrating rate;   a second vibrotactile stimulator configured to operate at a second vibrating rate different than the first vibrating rate; and   a collar configured to position the first vibrotactile stimulator and the second vibrotactile stimulator over a neck of a subject.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch configured to activate the first vibrotactile stimulator and the second vibrotactile stimulator, the switch configured to be volitionally operated by the subject. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an automatic clock configured to activate the first vibrotactile stimulator and the second vibrotactile stimulator. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first vibrotactile stimulator and the second vibrotactile stimulator are configured to operate at partially simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first vibrating rate is between about 30 Hz and about 60 Hz and the second vibrating rate is between about 60 Hz and about 80 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first vibrating rate is between about 50 Hz and about 90 Hz and the second vibrating rate is between about 90 Hz and about 130 Hz. 
     
     
         7 . A method for stimulating swallowing in a subject, the method comprising:
 applying a first vibrotactile stimulation to a throat area of the subject, the first vibrotactile stimulation having a first vibrating property; and   applying a second vibrotactile stimulation to the throat area of the subject, the second vibrotactile stimulation having a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the first vibrotactile stimulation and applying the second vibrotactile stimulation includes the subject voluntary activating a first vibrational transducer and a second vibrational transducer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the first vibrotactile stimulation and applying the second vibrotactile stimulation includes automatically activating a first vibrational transducer and a second vibrational transducer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein automatically activating the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer includes coordinating automatically activating the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer with a monitored bodily parameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein applying the first vibrotactile stimulation is at least partially simultaneous with applying the second vibrotactile stimulation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first vibrating frequency and the second vibrating property comprises a second vibrating frequency different than the first vibrating frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first vibrating frequency range and the second vibrating property comprises a second vibrating frequency range different than the first vibrating frequency range. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first wave shape and the second vibrating property comprises a second wave shape different than the first wave shape. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first vibrating frequency and the second vibrating property comprises a second vibrating frequency out of phase with the first vibrating frequency. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a continuous vibrating frequency and the second vibrating property comprises a pulsed vibrating frequency. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first direction of mechanical force and the second vibrating property comprises a second direction of mechanical force different than the first direction of mechanical force. 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a first vibrational transducer having a first vibrating property;   a second vibrational transducer having a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property; and   a collar configured to position the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer over a neck of a subject.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising a switch configured to activate the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer, the switch configured to be volitionally operated by the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising an automatic clock configured to activate the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer are configured to operate at partially simultaneously. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first vibrating property comprises a first vibrating frequency and the second vibrating property comprises a second vibrating frequency different than the first vibrating frequency.