Personalized auditory-somatosensory stimulation to treat tinnitus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016106975-A1
Application number	US-201514977416-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Timed stimulation of both somatosensory system and auditory system is controlled, in such a manner, that an individual's brain activity is altered through spike-timing dependent plasticity, thereby reducing or removing tinnitus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, for treating an auditory condition in the subject, the method comprising:
determining optimal parameter values for an audible stimulation signal and a somatosensory stimulation signal to alter firing rates for neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition; and applying the audible stimulation signal and the somatosensory stimulation signal in accordance with the optimal parameters.

2 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
increasing firing rates for the neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition.

3 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
decreasing firing rates for the neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition.

4 . A system for treating an auditory condition in a subject, the system comprising:
a processor and a memory; and a bimodal stimulation system configured to, determine optimal parameter values for an audible stimulation signal and a somatosensory stimulation signal to alter firing rates for neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition, and apply the audible stimulation signal and the somatosensory stimulation signal in accordance with the optimal parameters.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the bimodal stimulation system is configured to
increase firing rates for the neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the bimodal stimulation system is configured to
decrease firing rates for the neurons in the auditory and non-auditory pathways involved in the auditory condition.

7 . A method of treatment comprising:
identifying, in a bimodal stimulation system, initial parameters for timing and intervals of a bimodal stimulation for a subject by identifying stimulation parameters that in the subject produce a reduction in objective measures of neural correlates of tinnitus assessed by any of an electroencephalography test, auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, or psychophysical tinnitus matching test; and treating the subject in accordance with the identifying stimulation parameters.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the bimodal stimulation comprises an audible stimulation signal and a somatosensory stimulation signal.

9 . A system of treatment comprising:
a processor and a memory; and a bimodal stimulation system configured to identify initial parameters for timing and intervals of a bimodal stimulation for a subject by identifying stimulation parameters that in the subject produce a reduction in objective measures of neural correlates of tinnitus assessed by any of an electroencephalography test, auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, or psychophysical tinnitus matching test; and treating the subject in accordance with the identifying stimulation parameters.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the bimodal stimulation comprises an audible stimulation signal and a somatosensory stimulation signal.

11 . A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, executable by a processor, for treating an auditory condition in a subject, the instructions comprising:
instructions for identifying initial parameters for timing and intervals of a bimodal stimulation for a subject by identifying stimulation parameters that in the subject produce a reduction in objective measures of neural correlates of tinnitus assessed by any of an electroencephalography test, auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, or psychophysical tinnitus matching test; and instructions for treating the subject in accordance with the identifying stimulation parameters.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the bimodal stimulation comprises an audible stimulation signal and a somatosensory stimulation signal.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan

Inventors

• Shore Susan
• Martel David
• Koehler Seth

Classifications

• A61F11/00 Primary

  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 title

• H04R25/75

  Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception · CPC title

• A61N1/361

  Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus · CPC title

• A61M21/02

  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 title

• A61M2021/0072

  with application of electrical currents · CPC title