Peripheral nerve stimulation to treat auditory dysfunction

• US 20060095090A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Ridder, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

A system and/or method for treating auditory dysfunction by somatosensory system stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to stimulate the probe. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined peripheral nerve site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a peripheral nerve dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve or dermatome area, for example C2 dermatome area or a trigeminal dermatome area. The stimulation portion may be a laminotomy, paddle, surgical, or multiple electrode lead. The device to stimulate the probe may be implanted subcutaneously or transcutaneously.

Claims

1. A method of treating auditory dysfunction comprising the steps of:

implanting at least an electrical lead within a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed adjacent to nerve tissue associated with a C2 dermatome area or a C3 dermatome area;

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical stimulation system that are effective for treating auditory dysfunction;

programming the electrical stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

activating the electrical stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue associated with a C2 dermatome area or a C3 dermatome area thereby treating the patient'"'"'s auditory dysfunction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nerve tissue associated with the C2 dermatome area or C3 dermatome area comprises cranial nerves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nerve tissue associated with the C2 dermatome area or C3 dermatome area comprises the occipital nerve.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus, hyperacousis, phonophobia, misophonia, auditory agnosia, auditory spatial dysfunction or auditory hallucinations.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is auditory agnosia.

7. A method of treating auditory dysfunction comprising the steps of:

implanting at least an electrical lead within a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed adjacent to nerve tissue associated with a peripheral nerve selected from the group of cranial nerves consisting of olfactory nerve, optic, nerve, oculomoter nerve, trochlear nerve, trigeminal nerve, abducent nerve, facial nerve, vestibulocochlear nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagal nerve, accessory nerve, hypoglossal nerve, and a combination thereof;

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical stimulation system that are effective for treating auditory dysfunction;

programming the electrical stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

activating the electrical stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue associated with the peripheral nerve thereby treating the patient'"'"'s auditory dysfunction.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the electrical stimulation delivers electrical pulses on a substantially continuous basis.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of operating parameters include a pulse amplitude parameter, a pulse width parameter, and a pulse frequency parameter.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the pulse frequency parameter is within the range of about 3 to about 80 Hz.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the electrical stimulation delivers electrical pulses on a temporary basis in response to receiving an initiation signal from an external control device operated by the patient.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the selecting comprises:

temporarily delivering electrical pulses according to the plurality of operating parameters to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue associated with a peripheral nerve; and

monitoring the auditory dysfunction while the temporarily delivering is performed.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the monitoring comprises:

determining an improvement in the auditory dysfunction.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus, hyperacousis, phonophobia, misophonia, auditory agnosia, auditory spatial dysfunction or auditory hallucinations.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of operating parameters include an electrode configuration.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting stimulation parameters to optimize auditory dysfunction treatment.