Systems, Methods and Devices for Treating Tinnitus

• US 20100004705A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: MicroTransponder Inc., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Engineer, Navzer, Kilgard, Michael, Rosellini, Will, Cauller, Larry, McIntyre, Christa
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• 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: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0077 with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3515 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 : adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 : Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 : Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36092 : Mental training
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 : Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 : Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 : Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 : Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 : Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Claims

1. A tinnitus treatment system comprising:

a neurostimulator providing stimulation to a nerve during a stimulation period;

a audible sound generator providing an audible sound including a therapeutic frequency during a sound period; and

a timing control communicably connected to said neurostimulator and said audible sound generator wherein said timing control causes said stimulation period and said sound period to be simultaneous.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said stimulation period begins before said sound period.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said stimulation is an electrical stimulation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said audible sound is a tone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said audible sound comprises a sweep of therapeutic frequencies.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said nerve is a cranial nerve.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said cranial nerve is a vagus nerve.

8. A method of treating tinnitus in a patient, comprising:

determining a therapeutic frequency for the patient symptoms;

generating an audible sound including a therapeutic frequency during a sound period;

stimulating a nerve during a stimulation period; and

controlling said nerve stimulation such that said stimulation period and said sound period overlap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said stimulation period begins before the beginning of said sound period.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a plurality of therapeutic frequencies.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said audible sound is a tone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said audible sound comprises a plurality of audible sounds at therapeutic frequencies.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising repeating said generating and stimulating at predetermined intervals over a series of days.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said series of days is two weeks.

15. A timing control system for a tinnitus treatment, comprising:

an audible sound timing connection;

a neurostimulator timing connection; and

timing control communicably connected to said audible sound timing connection and to said neurostimulator timing connection, wherein said timing control provides timing instructions to an audible sound generator and to a neurostimulator.

16. The timing control system of claim 15 wherein said timing instructions initiate simultaneous sound generation and neural stimulation.

17. The timing control system of claim 16 wherein said neural stimulation begins before the beginning of said sound generation.

18. The timing control system of claim 15 wherein said timing control is a computer process.

19. The timing control system of claim 15 wherein said timing control is an integrated circuit.

20. The timing control system of claim 16 wherein said timing control communicates with said neurostimulator via coupled coils.