Tinnitis masking

• US 20020173697A1
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sound Techniques Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Sound Techniques Systems LLC
• Inventors: Lenhardt, Martin L.
• Application Number:
  US10/135,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0808 for diagnosis of the brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

A system and method for tinnitus masking. Ultrasound noise is provided to a head of a patient as a vibration by way of a transducer, to thereby stimulate the auditory cortex. Once stimulated, the auditory cortex will suppress tinnitus. The ultrasound noise may be provided as an ultrasound frequency tone or as a range of frequencies that have been multiplied with an audio frequency. Pulsed ultrasound is utilized for ultrasound noise in the MHz range.

Claims

1. A tinnitus masker, comprising:

an ultrasound source configured to output at least one ultrasound frequency; and

a vibration unit connected to the ultrasound source and configured to convert the at least one ultrasound frequency to a vibration,

wherein the vibration unit is coupled to a person who experiences tinnitus in order to provide a vibration within a brain of the person to thereby mask the tinnitus.

2. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, further comprising an amplifier and power supply unit connected between the ultrasound unit and the vibration unit and configured to control an amplitude level of the at least one ultrasound frequency to be no more than 20 dB greater than a threshold level of sound for the person.

3. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is a frequency of between 20 kHz and 200 kHz.

4. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is a frequency of between 10 kHz and 200 kHz.

5. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is a frequency of between 200 kHz and 5 MHz.

6. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is a frequency of between 20 kHz and 5 MHz.

7. The tinnitus masker according to claim 1, further comprising a pulser connected between the ultrasound unit and the vibration unit and configured to pulse the at least one ultrasound frequency at a rate less than a 10 Hz rate.

8. The tinnitus masker according to claim 3, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is swept over a range of frequencies centered at the at least one ultrasound frequency.

9. The tinnitus masker according to claim 4, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is swept over a range of frequencies centered at the at least one ultrasound frequency.

10. The tinnitus masker according to claim 5, wherein the at least one ultrasound frequency is swept over a range of frequencies centered at the at least one ultrasound frequency.

11. A method of masking tinnitus, comprising the step of:

a) providing ultrasound noise to a head of a patient.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasound noise is noise within a range of from 20 kHz to 200 kHz.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasound is noise within a range of from 10 kHz to 200 kHz.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasound is noise within a range of from 200 kHz to 5 MHz.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

b) pulsing the ultrasound noise before applying the ultrasound noise to the head of the patient.

16. A method of examining a patient in order to provide an ultrasound treatment for that patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of ultrasound frequency tones, in sequence, to the patient, to determine an optimum ultrasound frequency for the patient; and

providing a plurality of audible frequencies modulated by the determined optimum ultrasound frequency, so as to determine a particular audible frequency that is optimum for the patient with respect to ultrasound tinnitus masking.