Peripheral nerve stimulation to treat auditory dysfunction

• US 7,613,519 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: De Ridder, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes; Angela D
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US11/254,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/45, 607 55- 57, 607/116, 607/139
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

A system and/or method for treating auditory dysfunction by somatosensory system stimulation. The system and/or method comprises a probe and a device to stimulate the probe. The probe has a stimulation portion implanted in communication with a predetermined peripheral nerve site. The stimulation portion of the probe may be implanted in contact with a peripheral nerve dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve or dermatome area, for example C2 dermatome area or a trigeminal dermatome area. The stimulation portion may be a laminotomy, paddle, surgical, or multiple electrode lead. The device to stimulate the probe may be implanted subcutaneously or transcutaneously.

Claims

1. A method of treating auditory dysfunction comprising the steps of:

implanting an electrical lead subcutaneously within a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed directly next to or on the occipital nerve;

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical stimulation system that are effective for treating auditory dysfunction;

programming the electrical stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

activating the electrical stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the occipital nerve thereby treating the patient'"'"'s auditory dysfunction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus, hyperacousis, phonophobia, misophonia, auditory agnosia, auditory spatial dysfunction or auditory hallucinations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the auditory dysfunction is auditory agnosia.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical stimulation delivers electrical pulses on a substantially continuous basis.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of operating parameters include a pulse amplitude parameter, a pulse width parameter, and a pulse frequency parameter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse frequency parameter is within the range of about 3 to about 80 Hz.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical stimulation delivers electrical pulses on a temporary basis in response to receiving an initiation signal from an external control device operated by the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting comprises:

temporarily delivering electrical pulses according to the plurality of operating parameters to the occipital nerve; and

monitoring the auditory dysfunction while the temporarily delivering is performed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the monitoring comprises:

determining an improvement in the auditory dysfunction.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the auditory dysfunction is tinnitus, hyperacousis, phonophobia, misophonia, auditory agnosia, auditory spatial dysfunction or auditory hallucinations.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of operating parameters include an electrode configuration.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting stimulation parameters to optimize auditory dysfunction treatment.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the occipital nerve comprises subocciptial nerve, greater occipital nerve, lesser occipital nerve or combinations thereof.

15. A method of treating tinnitus comprising the steps of:

implanting an electrical lead within a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed within an occipital area wherein the occipital area comprises subocciptial nerve, greater occipital nerve, lesser occipital nerve or combinations thereof

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical stimulation system that are effective for treating tinnitus;

programming the electrical stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

activating the electrical stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the occipital nerve thereby treating the patient'"'"'s tinnitus.