Method and apparatus for treating auditory hallucinations

• US 6,430,443 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karell, Manuel L.
• Original Assignee: Karell, Manuel L.
• Inventors: Karell, Manuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,154
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/3, 607/45, 607/46, 607/55-58, 607/72-76
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear

Abstract

Stimulating one or more vestibulocochlear nerves or cochlea or cochlear regions will treat, prevent and control auditory hallucinations.

Claims

1. A method of treating, controlling, or preventing auditory hallucinations comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting at least one electrode adapted to be affixed to at least one vestibulocochlear cranial nerve or cochlea or cochlear region of a user; and

applying an electric stimulus to energize said electrode.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein said user controls said electric stimulus.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein said user does not control said electric stimulus.

7. An apparatus for using method of claim 1 for treating, controlling or preventing auditory hallucinations of a user comprising:

at least one electrode means adapted to be affixed to a user'"'"'s vestibulocochlear nerve or to a cochlea or to a cochlear region;

a signal generator operatively attached to and for energizing said at least one electrode.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said signal generator is adapted to be used internal to said user'"'"'s body.

9. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said signal generator is adapted to be used external to said user'"'"'s body.

10. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said signal generator is controllable by said user.

11. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said signal generator is not controllable by said user.

12. An apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising a monitoring means on a user'"'"'s skull or within or on a user'"'"'s brain for monitoring brain electrical or chemical changes;

wherein said monitoring means is operatively attached to a controller means adapted to be used comprising;

a comparer means for comparing monitored activity to predetermined parameters;

a logic means for logically determining the presence of hallucinations;

a stimulus modulating means for modulating an electric stimulus sent to said signal generator.

13. An apparatus of claim 12 wherein said monitoring means comprises one or more electrodes.

14. An apparatus of claim 12 wherein said monitoring means comprises one or more chemical sensors.

23. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said electrode is combined with a catheter coupled with an infusion pump, for discharging one or more drugs in or near at least one vestibulocochlear cranial nerve or cochlea or cochlear region to treat hallucinations.

4. A method of treating, controlling, or preventing auditory hallucinations comprising the steps of:

monitoring brain electrical or chemical activity;

comparing monitored activity to predetermined parameters;

logically determining the presence of hallucinations;

surgically implanting at least one electrode adjacent to at least one vestibulocochlear cranial nerve or cochlea or cochlear region of a user; and

applying an electric stimulus to energize said electrode.

5. A method of claim 4 comprising the additional steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical or chemical sensor within a skull or on or within a brain; and

using said sensor for monitoring electrical or chemical changes.

6. A method of claim 4 comprising the additional steps of:

modulating an electrical stimulus and applying the modulated stimulus to energize said electrode.

15. A method for treating, controlling or preventing auditory hallucinations of a user comprising the following steps:

monitoring brain electrical or chemical activity;

comparing monitored activity to predetermined parameters;

logically determining the presence of hallucinations;

applying electrical and sound waves to a user'"'"'s ear for inducing vestibulocochlear cranial nerve excitation to block said hallucinations.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein said sound waves are audible.

17. A method of claim 15 wherein said sound waves are inaudible.

18. An apparatus for using the method of claim 15 for treating, controlling or preventing auditory hallucinations of a user comprising:

a monitoring means for monitoring brain electrical or chemical activity;

a comparer means operatively attached to said monitoring means for comparing monitored activity to predetermined parameters;

a logic means operatively attached to said comparer means for logically determining if hallucinations are present;

a sound wave generating means operatively attached to said logic means for producing sound waves;

wherein said waves enter a user'"'"'s ear by air or bone conduction thereby inducing vestibulocochlear cranial nerve excitation to block hallucinations.

19. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said sound wave generating means produces audible sound.

20. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said sound wave generating means produces inaudible sound.

21. A method of using one or more drugs having neuroactivation properties to therapeutically treat hallucinations by means of an implantable drug pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to the pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of the one or more drugs, the method comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting the catheter so that the discharge portion lies in or near at least one vestibulocochlear cranial nerve or cochlea or cochlear region of a user;

surgically implanting at least one electrode adjacent to at lease one vestibulocochlear cranial nerve or cochlea or cochlear region of a user;

applying an electric stimulus to energize said electrode; and

operating the pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of the one or more drugs through the discharge portion of the catheter into the infusion site, whereby hallucinations are treated.

22. A method of claim 21 wherein said catheter is combined with one or more electrodes and comprises the additional step of applying an electric stimulus to energize said electrode.