SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATING HYPER-G FORCES TO RELOCATE DETACHED AND IMPEDED CANALITHS IN THE INNER EAR

摘要

A motorized system for selectively moving a patient to reposition canaliths in the patient's inner ear to treat a balance disorder includes a base member, a patient support and a connecting assembly. The patient support is mounted on the connecting assembly and the connecting assembly is engaged with the base member. In one embodiment, the connecting assembly can include a substantially U-shaped loop member and the patient support is a chair. One motor rotates the patient support (and patient) about a first axis relative to the connecting assembly. Another motor rotates the connecting assembly (and patient support) relative to the base member about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. With this arrangement, the motors move the patient support (and patient) at relatively high angular velocities, from one patient position to the next, in accordance with a predetermined protocol, such as the well-known Epley maneuver.

主权项

1. A system for repositioning canaliths in the inner ear of a patient to treat a balance disorder, the system comprising:
a base member; a connecting assembly engaged with the base member; a patient support mounted on the connecting assembly for fixedly holding the patient on the patient support, with the spine of the patient oriented substantially parallel to a first rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is defined by the connecting assembly; a first rotation means mounted on the connecting assembly for rotating the patient support about the first rotation axis at an angular velocity, ω1, greater than 20 revolutions per minute (rpm); a second rotation means mounted on the base member for rotating the connecting assembly and the patient support about a second rotation axis at an angular velocity, ω2, greater than 20 rpm; and a controller for selectively activating the first rotation means, and the second rotation means, to move the patient, together with the patient support, relative to the base member, in accordance with a predetermined protocol, for relocating canaliths in the inner ear of the patient to treat a balance disorder.