The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

George Dold

Christy Leslie Ludlow

Newlin Morgan

Soren Lowell

Katie Dietrich-Burns

A device for volitional swallowing with a substitute sensory system comprises a band wrapped around the neck with a vibrator positioned over the larynx. Upon activation by a button on a spoon held by an operator, such as the subject, the vibrator moves and vibrates the larynx. The patient initiates the sensory stimulation immediately prior to the patient's own initiation of a swallow by viewing on a display screen a movement feedback signal, possibly from a piezo-electric sensor also contained in the band which will also be displayed on the display screen. The signal from the switch device initiating sensory stimulation will be presented on the same display screen for the patient and trainer to observe when the button or switch is activated for sensory stimulation in relation to the onset of the swallow.

Device for volitional swallowing with a substitute sensory system

A device and methods for treating a subject with dysphagia or other neurological disease, neurological disorder, neurological injury, neurological impairment or neurodegenerative disease that affects voluntary motor control of the hyoid, pharynx, larynx, or oropharyngeal area is disclosed. A device of the invention generally comprises a vibrotactile stimulator for applying at least one stimulus to the outside surface of a subject's neck; a connector for attaching the vibrotactile stimulator to an outside surface of the subject's neck, and a switch control communicatively connected to the vibrotactile stimulator to selectively engage a manual stimulation module and/or automatic stimulation module. Stimulation of an outside surface of the throat area of a subject by a device of the invention stimulates a swallowing reflex in the subject.

Systems and methods for recovery from motor control via stimulation to a substituted site to an affected area

A device for volitional swallowing with a substitute sensory system comprises a bandwrapped around the neck with a vibratorpositioned over the larynx. Upon activation by a buttonon a spoonheld by an operator, such as the subject, the vibratormoves and vibrates the larynx. The patientinitiates the sensory stimulation immediately prior to the patient's own initiation of a swallow by viewing on a display screena movement feedback signal, possibly from a piezo-electric sensoralso contained in the bandwhich will also be displayed on the display screen. The signalfrom the switch device initiating sensory stimulation will be presented on the same display screenfor the patientand trainer to observe when the button or switchis activated for sensory stimulation in relation to the onset of the swallow.

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Boyds, MD, United States of America

George Dold