Human cerabal cortex neural prosthetic for tinnitus

• US 6,456,886 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1997
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Inventors: McCulloch, Timothy A, Bauer, Carol A., Howard, Matthew A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): ISABELLA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US08/869,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 607/2, 607/55, 607/56, 607/57, 623/10, 623/11, 623/24, 623/66
• US Class Current: 607/55
• 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 a patient with tinnitus, comprising:

a stimulation device for outputting at least one electrical signal; and

at least one electrode configured to be placed in the brain of a patient, said at least one electrode having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically coupled to said stimulation device, wherein the stimulation devices the at least one electrode, and the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to output at least one electrical discharge in accordance with said electrical signal, and to provide localized potentials that correspond to spacing of nerve cell pairs in the brain of the patient.

2. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode is configured to be placed in at least one of (a) the auditory cortex (b) the thalamus, and (c) the auditory cortex and thalamus of the brain of said patient.

3. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said plurality of electrical contacts with said stimulation device.

4. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding means for holding said at least one electrode device.

5. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode is substantially cylindrical.

6. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contacts are spaced from about 10 micrometers to about 2 millimeters apart.

7. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contacts are spaced from about 10 micrometers to about 150 micrometers apart.

8. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contacts are spaced from about 50 micrometers to about 150 micrometers apart.

9. The neural prosthetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stimulation device is capable of adjustably outputting electrical signals with sufficient electrical p power to eliminate the symptoms of the tinnitus.

10. The neural prosthetic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode is adapted to be tonotopically arranged along said patient'"'"'s auditory cortex.

11. The neural prosthetic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode is adapted to be tonotopically arranged along said patient'"'"'s thalamus.

12. The neural prosthetic device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrical contacts are capable of independently outputting at least one electrical discharge in accordance with said at least one electrical signal.

21. A neural prosthetic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrical contacts comprise a plurality of high impedance electrical contacts.

13. A neural prosthetic for a patient in need thereof, comprising:

circuit means for outputting at least one stimulation signal; and

stimulation means for outputting at least one electrical discharge in response to the stimulation signal, wherein the stimulation means is configured to be inserted into a brain of a patient, and to provide localized potentials that correspond to spacing of nerve cell pairs in the brain of the patient.

14. The neural prosthetic of claim 13, wherein the stimulation means is configured to be inserted into at least one of (a) the auditory cortex, (b) the thalamus, and (c) the auditory cortex and thalamus of said patient.

15. The neural prosthetic of claim 13, wherein the stimulation means comprises a plurality of means for outputting electrical discharges.

16. The neural prosthetic of claim 13, wherein the circuit means is configured to output a plurality of stimulation signals, and wherein the stimulation means is configured to output electrical discharges corresponding to the plurality of stimulation signals at a corresponding plurality of locations.

17. The neural prosthetic of claim 13, wherein the stimulation means is configured to be tonotopically arranged along at least one of (a) the auditory cortex, (b) the thalamus, and (c) the auditory cortex and thalamus of the brain of said patient.

18. The neural prosthetic of claim 17, wherein the stimulation means is configured to selectively output electrical discharges to different locations within the brain of said patient.

19. A neural prosthetic for a patient in need thereof, comprising:

at least one circuit for outputting at least one electrical signal; and

at least one electrode connected to the at least one circuit for outputting at least one electrical discharge in response to the at least one electrical signal, wherein the electrode is configured to be inserted into a brain of a patient, and to provide localized potentials that correspond to spacing of nerve cell pairs in the brain of the patient.

20. The neural prosthetic of claim 19, wherein the circuit is configured to be adjustable such that the neural prosthetic can achieve a desired effect on said patient.