Timing control for paired plasticity

• US 9,339,654 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: MicroTransponder Inc., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Kilgard, Michael P., Cauller, Larry, Engineer, Navzer, McIntyre Rodriguez, Christa, Rosellini, Will
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US14/500,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20150018893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0077 with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3515 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 : adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 : Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 : Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36092 : Mental training
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 : Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 : Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 : Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 : Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 : Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Claims

1. A method of treating tinnitus, comprising:

providing an electrical stimulation to a vagus nerve of a patient; and

providing a sound to the patient, having tinnitus, in therapeutic temporal proximity to the action of providing the electrical stimulation, thereby treating the tinnitus, wherein

the action of providing the electrical stimulation entails providing a half second train of biphasic stimulation pulses with a pulse width of 100 microseconds, at 0.8 milliamps and at 30 Hz.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sound provided to the patient has a first frequency different than a predetermined second frequency associated with the patient'"'"'s tinnitus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action of providing the electrical stimulation has a temporal period that is different from that of the action of providing sound to the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action of providing the electrical stimulation begins prior to a beginning of the action of providing the sound to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action of providing the electrical stimulation begins after a beginning of the action of providing the sound to the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the action of providing the electrical stimulation overlaps with the action of providing the sound to the patient.