Vibratory Nerve Exciter

Abstract

A laryngeal nerve exciting system includes a collar holding a bridge, or a neckband, pressing soft tissue nerve exciters against a patient's neck providing a source of vibrations to stimulate the laryngeal nerve through the larynx. At least one exciter, and preferably two exciters, provide vibrations at preferably 70 Hz to 110 Hz and sufficiently strong to penetrate to the laryngeal nerve. The exciters may be held by the collar circling the neck, or by the neck band partially circling the neck. The therapy system includes a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and software which wirelessly connects, monitors, and triggers the device. The system may be used to treat dysphagia, chronic cough, and spasmodic dysphonia.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising:
 a neckband configured to reside at least partially around a patient neck;   a pair of soft tissue nerve effectors held by the neckband and configured to reside against the patient neck and conduct vibrations to the patient neck; and   wherein the neckband is positionable to locate the effectors simulate a laryngeal nerve.   
     
     
         2 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 1 , wherein the neckband is positionable to locate the effectors simulate the laryngeal nerve through a larynx. 
     
     
         3 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nerve effectors are attached to a bridge; and   the neck band draws the bridge towards the patient neck.   
     
     
         4 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nerve effectors are attached to a bridge; and   the neck band draws the nerve effectors towards the patient neck.   
     
     
         5 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 4 , wherein pressure transducers reside under the nerve effectors. 
     
     
         6 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one exciter is attached to the bridge to vibrate the bridge. 
     
     
         7 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 3 , wherein one exciter is attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors. 
     
     
         8 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 7 , wherein the exciter is a voice coil. 
     
     
         9 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 3 , wherein an exciter resides under each of the nerve effectors to vibrate each nerve effector. 
     
     
         10 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 each nerve effector is biased towards the bridge by a resilient material or a spring; and   an exciter resides under each nerve effector to vibrate each nerve effector.   
     
     
         11 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 10 , wherein a pressure sensor resides between each exciter and each nerve effector. 
     
     
         12 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 10 , wherein a pressure adjustor resides each exciter and each nerve effector. 
     
     
         13 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the neck band is configured to wrap around behind the patient neck and has free ends at an open front;   the nerve effectors are attached to the neck band at the free ends; and   the neck band urges that nerve effectors against the patent neck.   
     
     
         14 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the neck band includes a battery compartment electrically connected to a programmable circuit;   exciters are attached to the neck band to vibrate the nerve effectors; and   the circuit is electrically connected to the exciters.   
     
     
         15 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the circuit communicates with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA); and   the PDA allows control of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: frequency; intensity; therapy time; vibration time; and duration of rest period between vibration, and allows for patients to provide patient feedback about results of therapy.   
     
     
         16 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 15 , wherein the PDA is configured to communicate with a clinician work station to provide the at least one parameter, and the patent feedback. 
     
     
         17 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 15 , wherein the exciter is configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 30 and 200 Hz and sufficiently strong to reach the laryngeal nerve. 
     
     
         18 . The laryngeal nerve exciter system of  claim 17 , wherein the exciter is configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz and a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         19 . A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising:
 a pair of soft tissue nerve effectors attached to a bridge;   a neckband attached to the bridge and positionable to locate the nerve effectors against a patient neck;   the neck band configured to draw the bridge towards the patient neck;   pressure transducers residing under the nerve effectors;   a voice coil attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors;   a programmable circuit electrically connected to the voice coil configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz sufficiently strong to conduct vibrations to the patient neck to simulate the laryngeal nerve through a larynx and reach the laryngeal nerve; and   batteries electrically connected to the circuit.   
     
     
         20 . A laryngeal nerve exciter system, compromising:
 the neck band is configured to wrap around behind the patient neck and has free ends at an open front;   the nerve effectors are attached to the neck band at the free ends; and   the neck band urges that nerve effectors against the patent neck a voice coil attached to the bridge between the nerve effectors;   a programmable circuit electrically connected to the voice coil configured to vibrate the nerve effectors at between 70 and 110 Hz and a pressure of 2-4 kpa or a vibration amplitude of 0.15 mm to 0.25 mm;   batteries electrically connected to the circuit;   the circuit configured to communicate with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA);   the PDA configured to control of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: frequency; intensity; therapy time; vibration time; and duration of rest period between vibration, and allowing patient feedback about results of patient therapy; and   the PDA further configured to communicate with a clinician work station to provide the at least one parameter, and the patent feedback to the clinician work station