Device for Mitigating Motion Sickness and Other Responses to Inconsistent Sensory Information

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention can mitigate motion sickness by disrupting, controlling, or influencing anatomy of the vestibular system, including, for example, otoliths, endolymph, and hair follicles. An embodiment of the invention may induce vibrations in the vestibular system, including otoliths and/or semicircular canals of the inner ear, thereby causing noisy or unreliable sensory information in signals sent to the brain from the vestibular system. Due to this noisy or unreliable sensory information, the brain, as part of a normal physiological response, may rely less on signals received from vestibular system and rely more heavily on other sources, thereby mitigating the motion sickness response, vertigo, vestibular migraines, and other physiological responses to inconsistent sensory information. Vibrations in the vestibular system may be induced by an agitator placed on an individual's head near the vestibular system. Vibrations in the vestibular system may also be induced by a transducer placed near the eardrum or directly on an individual's head. Embodiments of the invention may optionally include implantable components in addition to extracorporeal components.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for disrupting a vestibular system, comprising:
 a power source;   a signal generator connected to the power source and configured to generate a signal comprising a tone having a sine wave pattern at a user-selectable fixed frequency in the infrasound range, said signal having an average output power level of between 100 and 150 decibels;   a vibration-inducing element connected to the signal generator and configured to convert the signal into physical vibrations;   the power source, the signal generator, and the vibration-inducing element disposed in a portable frame capable of being held substantially against the skull of an animal near the animal's ear, the vibration-inducing element configured to transmit the physical vibrations to a vestibular system of the animal via the animal's skull;   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the term “infrasound range” corresponds to a frequency range of between 10 Hz and 30 Hz. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a USB port. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generator includes an amplifier. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the output power level can be adjusted by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an acceleration sensor in the portable frame; and said output power level varying in response to a change in sensed acceleration or deceleration. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an orientation sensor in the portable frame; and said output power level varying in response to a change in sensed orientation of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration-inducing element is configured to be implantable under the animal's skin and held substantially against fascia covering the skull. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable frame is configured to be attached to or incorporated into a vehicle, helmet, seat, or headrest. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising an acceleration sensor disposed in the vehicle, said power level varying in response to a change in sensed acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising an orientation sensor disposed in the vehicle, said power level varying in response to a change in sensed orientation of the device of the vehicle.