Method and Apparatus for Treatment of Tinnitus and Other Neurological Disorders by Brain Stimulation in the Inferior Colliculi and/or In Adjacent Areas

• US 20070265683A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dov Ehrlich
• Original Assignee: Dov Ehrlich
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Dov
• Application Number:
  US11/575,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus

Abstract

Electrical stimulation is applied to the inferior colliculus or colliculi (IC), in order to diminish tinnitus by revising auditory pathway neuronal activity. This intervention diminishes tinnitus and treats other neurological and otological disorders. The locations and methods of electrode placement and anchoring and the structure of the electrodes are an advance over prior treatments. Other treatment locations in the nearby region of the IC, including the superior colliculi (SC) and Peri-aqueductal gray (PAG), provide treatments for other disorders and symptoms such as partial hearing loss and pain. The IC is a unique choice for the treatment of tinnitus and other disorders because an electrode placed in that region enables minimal invasiveness. The anchoring location also uniquely minimizes invasiveness by providing the option of residing in the meninges instead of the brain tissue. The shape of the electrode and its anchoring process uniquely match the brain'"'"'s anatomy in order to provide greater specificity in diagnosis and treatment. Stimulation of areas near the IC, particularly the superior colliculus and peri-aqueductal gray, can be used to treat various neurological disorders. Customized feedback from the implantable system enables the creation of customized treatment programs.

Claims

1-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A method for treating tinnitus of a subject, comprising:

coupling an implant device to an inferior colliculus of the subject, the implant device including an electrode; and

treating the tinnitus by driving a current into a vicinity of the inferior colliculus via the electrode.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein treating the tinnitus comprises inducing a change in an auditory pathway of the subject, by driving the current into the vicinity of the inferior colliculus.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein coupling the implant device to the inferior colliculus comprises deploying a majority of the implant device outside of brain tissue.

63. The method according to claim 60, wherein coupling the implant device to the inferior colliculus comprises implanting the implant device so that it substantially apposes at least the inferior colliculus.

64. The method according to claim 60, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current into a somatotropic area in the vicinity of the inferior colliculus.

65. The method according to claim 60, wherein driving the current comprises performing anodal blocking.

66. The method according to claim 60, wherein the subject has a first ear and a second ear, wherein the method comprises identifying the first ear as having greater tinnitus than the second ear, and wherein coupling the implant device to the inferior colliculus comprises coupling the implant device contralaterally to the first ear.

67. The method according to claim 60, comprising determining whether the tinnitus is bilateral, and wherein coupling the implant device to the inferior colliculus comprises coupling the implant device to a left inferior colliculus of the subject, responsively to determining that the tinnitus is bilateral.

68. Apparatus for treating tinnitus of a subject, comprising:

an implant device comprising an electrode and configured to be disposed in a vicinity of an inferior colliculus of the subject; and

a control unit which is configured to treat the tinnitus by driving current into the vicinity of the inferior colliculus via the electrode.

69. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes.

70. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the electrode has a characteristic length that is less than 0.25 times a characteristic length of the implant device.

71. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device is substantially planar, and a plane of the implant device is configured to be implanted substantially parallel to a plane of a brain surface of the subject.

72. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device is configured to appose the inferior colliculus.

73. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device is configured to cover at least the inferior colliculus.

74. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein a ratio between a characteristic dimension of the implant device and a characteristic dimension of a brain of the subject is less than 0.4.

75. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the electrode is configured to deliver current into a somatotropic area in the vicinity of the inferior colliculus.

76. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device comprises an arm configured to attach to a cranial structure.

77. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device is configured to change shape from a needle-like shape to a fan-like shape.

78. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device comprises an anodal blocking element.

79. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device is coated with an agent which is configured to interact with brain tissue.

80. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the implant device comprises a conduit which is configured to facilitate delivery, to brain tissue of the subject, of an agent configured to interact with the brain tissue.

81. The apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an input and to control the driving of current to the electrodes in response thereto.

82. The apparatus according to claim 81, wherein the input includes feedback from the electrode, and wherein the control unit is configured to receive the feedback.

83. The apparatus according to claim 81, wherein the input includes an input from a human, and wherein the control unit is configured to receive the input from the human.

84. The apparatus according to claim 81, comprising a computer, wherein the input includes an input from the computer, and wherein the computer is configured to store a treatment parameter and to send the input in response treatment parameter.

85. A method for treating a condition of a subject, the condition selected from the group consisting of:

tinnitus and pain, the method comprising;

implanting an electrode on a surface of a brain of the subject in a vicinity of an inferior colliculus of the subject; and

treating the condition by driving a current into the vicinity of the inferior colliculus via the electrode.

86. Apparatus for treating pain in a subject, comprising:

a planar electrode, configured to be deployed on a surface of a brain of the subject in a vicinity of an inferior colliculus of the subject; and

a control unit, configured to drive the planar electrode to apply a current to the vicinity of the inferior colliculus.

87. A method for implanting a device in a brain of a subject, comprising:

coupling an anchoring element to the device; and

anchoring the anchoring element to a site selected from the group consisting of;

a meningeal layer of the subject, and a skull of the subject.

88. The method according to claim 87, wherein the anchoring element includes a first portion having a needle shape, and a second portion configured to fan out, and wherein anchoring the anchoring element comprises facilitating the second portion to fan out.