Human cerebral cortex neural prosthetic for tinnitus

• US 5,697,975 A
• Filed: 11/01/1994
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Incorporated (Iowa State University)
• Original Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Inventors: Howard, Matthew A. III, Bauer, Carol A., McCulloch, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZUTTARELLI, ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US08/332,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 607/2, 607/55-57, 623/10-11, 623/24, 623/66
• US Class Current: 623/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• 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: A61F 11/20 Ear surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0693 Brain, cerebrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/006 Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1428 with manual pumping action
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• 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

A neural prosthetic device for reducing or eliminating the effects of tinnitus is inserted into a tinnitus patient'"'"'s primary auditory cortex (or thalamus). The prosthetic device includes a stimulation device for outputting processed electrical signals and an electrode arranged in the primary auditory cortex having a plurality of electrical contacts. Each of the plurality of electrical contacts independently outputs electrical discharges in accordance with the electrical signals. In another embodiment, a catheter is inserted into the tinnitus patient'"'"'s primary auditory cortex or thalamus. The catheter microinfuses drugs which suppress or eliminate abnormal neural activity into disperse geometric locations in the cortex or thalamus, thereby reducing or eliminating the effects of the patient'"'"'s tinnitus.

Claims

1. A neural prosthetic apparatus for treatment of a patient with tinnitus, comprising:

a stimulation device for outputting one or more electrical signals;

an electrode for tonotopic arrangement along the patient'"'"'s primary auditory cortex having a plurality of electrical contacts approximately uniformly arranged along said electrode from about 50 to about 150 micrometers apart, each of said plurality of electrical contacts independently outputting electrical discharges in accordance with said electrical signals; and

,

electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said electrical contacts to said stimulation device,

wherein said neural prosthetic apparatus effectively alleviates the tinnitus of said patient.

8. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional electrode for tonotopic arrangement in said cortex or thalamus, said at least one additional electrode having an additional plurality of electrical contacts electrically coupled to said stimulation device, each of said additional plurality of electrical contacts outputting additional electrical signals.

2. A neural prosthetic apparatus for the treatment of a patient with tinnitus, comprising:

a stimulation device for outputting electrical signals;

an electrode, for tenotopic arrangement in a patient'"'"'s cortex or thalamus, said electrode having a plurality of electrical contacts spaced from about 10 micrometers to about 2 millimeters apart and electrically coupled to said stimulation device, and

an electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said plurality of electrical contacts to said stimulation device,

wherein one or more of said plurality of electrical contacts outputs electrical discharges that are in accordance with said electrical signals, and wherein said neural prosthetic apparatus effectively alleviates the tinnitus of said patient.

3. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrode is for arrangement in said cortex and said plurality of electrical contacts are arranged on said electrode such that each of said plurality of electrical contacts is capable of stimulating geometrically separate locations of said cortex.

4. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a stopping piece for holding said electrode in place.

5. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrode is cylindrical.

6. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts are approximately uniformly arranged along said electrode.

7. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts are spaced approximately 50 to 150 micrometers apart.

9. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stimulation device can adjustably output electrical signals with sufficient electrical power to eliminate effects of the patient'"'"'s tinnitus.

10. The neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts can further sense electrical discharges, occurring in said one of the patient'"'"'s cortex and thalamus.