Electronic stimulation system for treating tinnitus disorders

• US 5,788,656 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfonso D.I. Mino
• Original Assignee: Alfonso D.I. Mino
• Inventors: Mino, Alfonso Di
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/808,180
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 128/897, 600/559, 600/27, 600/28, 601/46, 601/47, 601/48, 601/78, 601/79, 601/80, 601/81, 601/9, 607/55
• US Class Current: 601/47
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• 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: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers

Abstract

An electronic stimulation system for treating a patient suffering from a tinnitus disorder in which the patient hears ringing or other sounds originating in the ear. The system includes an electronically actuated probe to which is applied a complex signal in the auditory range to cause the probe to vibrate in accordance with the signal. The probe is placed at a site on the patient in proximity to the cochlea of the inner ear whereby the probe vibrations are transmitted to the cochlea to stimulate this organ and thereby alleviate the tinnitus disorder. In this system, use is made of two adjustable audio-frequency oscillators, one operating in a low frequency range whose upper limit is about 400 Hz, the other operating in a high-frequency whose upper limit is about 1000 Hz. The outputs of these oscillators are combined and amplified to produce the complex signal applied to the probe. The mechanical vibrations transmitted by the probe in accordance with the complex signal must be properly related to the sonic frequencies of the tinnitus sounds being heard by the patient.

Claims

1. An electronic stimulation system for treating a patient having a tinnitus condition in which he hears ringing or other sounds in the sonic frequency range, the sounds heard internally by the patient having predetermined frequencies, said system comprising:

A. means to generate a complex electrical signal having frequency components lying with said sonic range, said means being adjustable by the patient to yield frequency components which interfere with the frequencies of the tinnitus sounds heard by the patient;

B. means to produce mechanical vibrations corresponding to said complex signal; and

C. means to apply said mechanical vibrations to a site on said patient in the proximity of the cochlea of his inner ear whereby the vibrations are transmitted to the cochlea to relieve the tinnitus condition.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, in which the means to produce said mechanical vibrations includes a diaphragm and means to electromagnetically actuate the diaphragm in accordance with said complex signal.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, in which the means to apply said vibrations to the patient includes a probe anchored on said diaphragm.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, in which the means to generate the complex signal are constituted by a low sonic frequency oscillator which is adjustable in frequency and a high sonic frequency oscillator which is adjustable in frequency, and means to combine the adjusted outputs of said low and high-frequency oscillators to produce the complex signal having the desired frequency components.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, in which the low-frequency oscillator is adjustable in a range whose upper limit is about 400 Hz.

6. A system as set forth in claim 4, in which the high-frequency oscillator is adjustable in a range whose upper limit is about 1000 Hz.