Back to results
US 9,682,232 B2Granted
Personalized auditory-somatosensory stimulation to treat tinnitus
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsSusan Shore, David Martel, Seth Koehler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A computer-implementable method, for treating an auditory condition in a subject, the method comprising:
- determining, in a processor, 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, wherein the optimal parameter values comprise timing and/or ordering information for the audible stimulation signal and the somatosensory stimulation signal;
- and
- applying the audible stimulation signal to the auditory system of the subject, using an audible signal generator, and applying the somatosensory stimulation signal, using a somatosensory signal generator, in accordance with the timing and/or ordering information in the optimal parameters thereby treating the auditory condition of the subject,
- wherein the somatosensory signal generator is physically connected to the subject to apply the somatosensory stimulation signal electrically or mechanically to the somatosensory system of the subject, and wherein the audible signal generator is a sound generator positioned to apply the audible stimulation signal to the auditory system.
1 more element
A system for treating an auditory condition in a subject, the system comprising:
- a processor and a memory;
- and
- a bimodal stimulation system having a processor and a memory and configured to,
- determine, in the processor, 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, wherein the optimal parameter values comprise timing and/or ordering information for the audible stimulation signal and the somatosensory stimulation signal, and
- apply, using an audible signal generator, the audible stimulation signal to the auditory system of the subject and apply, using a somatosensory signal generator, the somatosensory stimulation signal to the somatosensory system of the subject in accordance with the timing and/or ordering information in the optimal parameters thereby treating the auditory condition of the subject,
- wherein the somatosensory signal generator is configured to physically connect to the subject to apply the somatosensory stimulation signal electrically or mechanically to the somatosensory system of the subject, and wherein the audible signal generator is a sound generator configured to apply the audible stimulation signal to the auditory system of the subject.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.