Personalized tinnitus rehabilitation applications with auditory and visual neuromodulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to auditory and visual neuromodulation and personalized tinnitus rehabilitation applications that meet the new, effective, relatively inexpensive and personalized tinnitus treatment / therapy needs of individuals with tinnitus, characterized in that it comprises the application frequency, sound intensity and application time characteristics of the controller, the central processor (1) that allows the simultaneous video visualization with the appropriate sounds to be presented to the patient and this information is manually entered, the software (2) that allows the audio and video visuals prepared in accordance with the patient and this information to be recorded in the system, the headset (3) that allows the frequency of the appropriate sounds to be transmitted to the patient during the application, the headset (3) and the goggles (4) with which the video visuals are presented to the patient simultaneously.

Description

[0001] PERSONALIZED TINNITUS REHABILITATION APPLICATIONS WITH AUDITORY AND VISUAL NEUROMODULATION

[0002] Technical Field:

[0003] The present invention relates to auditory and visual neuromodulation and personalized tinnitus rehabilitation applications that meet the new, effective, relatively inexpensive, and personalized tinnitus treatment / therapy needs of individuals with tinnitus in order to reach a better quality of life.

[0004] State of the Art:

[0005] Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound heard by the individual, in other words, ringing in ears, although there is no external stimulus. The formation mechanisms of this pathology, which can affect daily life, have not been fully elucidated even in today's technology. Especially with the aging of the society, increasing hearing losses and increases in tinnitus complaints are noteworthy.

[0006] In studies conducted worldwide, it is reported that 10% to 20% of the population has the complaint of tinnitus. It is considered that 20% of those with tinnitus complaints are looking for a treatment method and their quality of life decreases due to this complaint. It affects approximately 50 million adults in the United States, and 12 million of this population affect their daily lives and cause severe psychological stress.

[0007] There are some known applications in the present art regarding tinnitus. The following are the treatment / rehabilitation methods used in the present art.

[0008] 1- Medical Intervention: Until today, different drug treatments have been tried for the purpose of therapy. However, as a result of the studies, no drug could be determined to be used safely and effectively in patients. There is no drug approved for the treatment of tinnitus by the competent authorities of the European Union Member States (EMA) and the United States (FDA).

[0009] 2- Hearing Aids: High-intensity sounds provided to patients can reduce their perception of tinnitus, but it is known that the frequency ranges of hearing aids are limited and have no effect on some receptors (ribbon cells) in the auditory nerve.

[0010] 3- rTMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Applications: It is aimed to change the perception of tinnitus at the cortical level through short magnetic pulses over the head. Although there are differences between the methods in these applications, the results obtained are generally considered unsuccessful.

[0011] 4- Sound Therapies: Until today, many sound therapy methods have been tried in order to change the perception of tinnitus, to get rid of it and / or to relieve patients. These include sound therapies such as TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy), Neuromonics Therapy, and deSyncra. However, research shows that there is an increase in tinnitus as a result of these sound therapies being performed blindly. It is an inadequate method alone.

[0012] 5- Complementary Medicine Practices: Within the scope of complementary and traditional medicine practices, different applications are performed, especially acupuncture. Although relief can be observed in patients in these applications, it is known that the effects of this relief on tinnitus are only instantaneous.

[0013] 6- Cognitive Behavioral Therapies: It basically includes the application of cognitive and behavioral therapy methods in order to reduce the psychological responses developed against the complaint of tinnitus. Since the general purpose of this system is not to eliminate tinnitus but to reduce the discomfort caused by tinnitus, it is seen that the discomfort does not disappear.

[0014] 7- Lenire: Today, therapy studies are still ongoing. In this context, Lenire® - Tinnitus Treatment Using Bimodal Neuromodulation method has been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA. Within the scope of the system, it is aimed to provide neuromodulation with a sound therapy given simultaneously with electrical stimuli applied through the tongue in the mouth.

[0015] These methods used in the present art are often non-personal methods that do not respond to treatment, requiring long-term therapy. Application numbered KR20230092730 A discloses "Device and Surgery Method for the Treatment of Tinnitus". The invention discloses a tinnitus treatment device and method of operating it. A tinnitus treatment device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a tactile device, display device, speaker, memory that is connected to and included in the memory that receives the user's motion command and provides tactile feedback to the user. At least one processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions generates content, including a cognitively mediated object corresponding to the user's tinnitus property. It is set to display on at least one of the device and speaker, to change the size and shape of the object according to the user's tactile device control, to display tactile feedback on the tactile device according to the change in the object.

[0016] In the above-mentioned application, the device and surgery method for the treatment of tinnitus are mentioned. The method used in this application belongs to surgery. However, the slightest mistake to be made in sensitive parts such as the eardrum in the ear canal during surgery will cause the person to have hearing loss. In addition, it is seen that the fact that the application includes a treatment method and surgery is also disadvantageous in terms of cost for patients suffering from this disease.

[0017] Patent application numbered US2009099474A1 discloses "System and Method for Adaptive Therapy Based on Combined Bioelectric Detection and Biosensor Feedback for Medical Disorders". The invention is a system and method for adaptive therapeutic intervention to affect real-time changes in the behavioral profile of the individual in order to facilitate the effectiveness of combined bioelectric detection and biosensor-based treatment for certain disorders. The system and method induce a transient physiological mood (e.g. increased relaxation) to affect permanent changes in the cognitive-emotional profile of the individual (e.g., reduced inner tinnitus). Sensory and mental state awareness responses are integrated into a two-way (i.e., bidirectional) feedback system that uses a dynamic interface with smartly controlled thresholds. The invention considers details of multivariate and non-linear dynamics and database templates to calculate the “state of mind” of the user more accurately. They then use this "state of mind" to guide the therapeutic and non-therapeutic stimulus intervention. Through a "combinatorial warning sequence" approach using customized sounds, the present invention creates a fine-tuned and well-controlled process. The importance of this interaction is that there is a long-term change in the cognitive-emotional profile of the individual. In the above-mentioned application, the system and method for adaptive therapy based on combined bioelectric detection and biosensor feedback for medical disorders are mentioned. In this application, it is not aimed to treat the patient's tinnitus, but to reduce these tinnitus and relieve the patient. However, with this method, which cannot be completely solved, the patient is psychologically damaged by thinking that they are dependent on the machine by constantly applying this therapy, inviting other diseases with this psychological injury, wastes time and is constantly disadvantageous in terms of spending for this treatment.

[0018] As a result, a new technology is needed that completely eliminates the tinnitus problem of patients who can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages, increases the quality of life, eliminates the problems experienced in daily life and allows them to have a healthier psychology.

[0019] Definition of the Invention:

[0020] This invention is a new technology that is personalized tinnitus rehabilitation applications with auditory and visual neuromodulation, characterized in that it is a new technology that completely eliminates the tinnitus problem of patients and / or increases the quality of life, eliminates the problems experienced in daily life and allows them to have a healthier psychology.

[0021] In order to realize all the objects that will emerge from the abovementioned and detailed description below, the invention is an ear tinnitus rehabilitation aimed at eliminating these problems that reduce the living standards of patients with tinnitus without any external stimulus in daily life.

[0022] The product and method of the invention creates an environment that primarily matches the visual and auditory stimuli to the patients in order to eliminate or reduce the tinnitus caused by the hearing loss.

[0023] In patients with tinnitus complaints within the scope of the system planned for the present invention, it is aimed to drag the brain electrical activation to the targeted frequency band with visual and auditory stimulation thanks to the brain electrical activation frequency value calculated for the patient by the practitioner.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, in the event that different tinnitus is affected (accompanying hearing loss, tinnitus complaint in one or two ears, type of hearing loss, effect on quality of life), the optimal way of use will be applied. Thanks to the present invention, the commitment of people with tinnitus to the clinical environment is reduced and a personalized tinnitus rehabilitation is achieved in the home environment by preventing the effect of daily life activities.

[0025] Although the subject matter of the invention requires long-term application of alternative therapy methods, it constitutes a system with successful results in 8 weeks. It can be applied individually according to the electrical activations of the patients and most importantly, it is not an invasive method.

[0026] The invention includes a product and method. The product creates the environment in which the patient receives treatment with auditory and visual stimuli. Thanks to the headset and goggles connected to the central processor, a synchronous auditory and visual stimulus is created for the treatment of the patient. The method is related to the application of the product. Patient information (name, surname, date of birth, ear with tinnitus, other chronic diseases, anamnesis of the patient) is entered into the system manually or received automatically by the system. Two different stimulations are applied to the patient simultaneously, auditory, and visual, and headsets are used for auditory stimulation and goggles with different visual fields for two eyes are used for visual stimulation. Auditory and visual stimuli work synchronously and the characteristics of the stimulus such as frequency and application time are entered manually through the system.

[0027] The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the product subject to the invention will be understood more clearly with the figures given below and the detailed description with reference to these figures, and therefore the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.

[0028] Description of the Figures: The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the features of the invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated, but it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to encompass all alternatives, modifications and equivalents which may be included in the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that the details shown have been provided to ensure the demonstration of preferred embodiments of the present invention and shaping of the methods and to provide the most useful and understandable definition of the rules and conceptual features of the invention. The figures are as follows:

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic view of the product of the invention.

[0030] Figure 2 A view of the visual stimuli of the inventive product

[0031] Figure 3 A view of the auditory stimuli of the product of the invention

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic view of the inventive method

[0033] The figures that will assist the understanding of this invention are numbered as specified in the enclosed image and the corresponding designations are given below.

[0034] Description of the References:

[0035] 1. Central Processor

[0036] 2. Software

[0037] 3. Headset

[0038] 3.1 Right Headset Jack

[0039] 3.2 Left Headset Jack

[0040] 4. Goggles

[0041] 4.1 Right Eye Display

[0042] 4.2 Left Eye Display

[0043] 10. Entering Patient Data

[0044] 20. Defining Frequency and Duration

[0045] 30. Playing Audio and Video

[0046] 40. Rehabilitation Application Description of the Invention:

[0047] The invention includes the central processor (1) that allows the application frequency, sound intensity and application time characteristics of the controller to be presented simultaneously with the appropriate sounds to the patient and where this information is manually entered, the software (2) that allows the audio and video visual prepared in accordance with the patient to be presented to the patient and this information to be recorded in the system, the headset (3) that allows the frequency of the appropriate sounds to be transmitted to the patient during the application, the headset (3) and the goggles (4) with which the video visual is presented to the patient simultaneously.

[0048] It comprises the software (4) that transfers the sounds and visuals it creates to the headset (3) and the goggles (4), the headset (3) that can create a different frequency for the right headset jack (3.1) and the left headset jack (3.2) of the frequency of the sounds played to the patient during the application, the goggles (4) that create the visual by separating the visual field of the right eye display (4.1) and the left eye display (4.2) of the visual provided to the patient simultaneously with the headset (3).

[0049] The invention comprises the steps of entering the patient's name, surname, date of birth, ear with tinnitus, tinnitus frequency and intensity, other chronic diseases, anamnesis into the system manually or automatically (10), manually defining the appropriate frequency, sound intensity and stimulus duration information for the patient via the central processor (1) by the practitioner (20), playing the audio and visual stimuli synchronously with the software (4) (30), rehabilitating the patient by applying the stimuli synchronously presented by the user from the headset (3) and the goggles (4) at any time (60).

[0050] Detailed Description of the Invention:

[0051] The invention consists of two parts, the product, and the method.

[0052] All the parts that make up the product consist of the central processor (1), software (2), headset (3) and goggles (4). Technical features of the invention;

[0053] The central processor (1) consists of software (2) that provides audio and video synchronization and activates them at any time of the patient. The software (2) in the product of the invention acts as the main station that allows the headset (3) and the goggles (4) to be transmitted to the patient in a synchronous manner. The software (2) allows the patients to be matched with the sound and visual to be provided, to provide information such as certain stimulus frequency, sound intensity and application time, and to present it in an audio and video visual. For patients with tinnitus, the practitioner calculates the brain electrical activation frequency value for the patient through the central processor (1) and activates it by dragging the brain electrical activation to the targeted frequency band with visual and auditory stimulation. Based on the possibility that the patient's tinnitus will not be in the same frequency range for both ears, the headset (3) is divided into the right headset jack (3.1) and the left headset jack (3.2) in order to offer the most appropriate treatment to the patient. Different frequency ranges can be selected for the patient at the headset jacks (3.1, 3.2). Since this frequency range will be different in the visual that should be presented to the patient by considering factors such as sound intensity, there is a visual separator for the goggles (4). With this visual separator, the right eye display (4.1) and the left eye display (4.2) are provided, and appropriate video visuals are transmitted to the patient. During patient rehabilitation, a personalized rehabilitation environment is created by entering the name, surname, date of birth, ear with tinnitus, tinnitus frequency and intensity data, other chronic diseases, anamnesis information into the system manually or automatically (10). After the appropriate frequency and time information to be applied to the patient, the sound and visual will be presented synchronously at the same frequency feature. The characteristics of the sound and visual to be applied to the patient (such as the frequency of the sound and visual separately, the application time information) will be added manually.

Claims

CLAIMS1. The invention relates to a personalized tinnitus rehabilitation product with sound therapy that provides auditory and visual stimuli in a synchronous manner, characterized in that it comprises the following: central processor (1) that allows the application frequency, sound intensity and application time features of the controller, the sounds appropriate for the patient and the simultaneous presentation of the video image and where this information is manually entered, software (2) that allows the audio and video visual prepared in accordance with the patient to be presented to the patient and this information to be recorded in the system,- the headset (3) that allows the frequency of the appropriate sounds to be transmitted to the patient during the application,- the headset (3) and the goggles (4) where the video visual presented to the patient is formed simultaneously.

2. The sound therapy personalized tinnitus rehabilitation product synchronizing auditory stimulus and visual stimulus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the software (4) that transfers the sound and visuals it creates to headset (3) and goggles (4).

3. The sound therapy personalized tinnitus rehabilitation product synchronized with the auditory stimulus and visual stimulus according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency of the sounds played to the patient comprises the headset (3) that can create a different frequency for the right headset jack (3.1) and the left headset jack (3.2) during the application.

4. The sound therapy personalized tinnitus rehabilitation product synchronizing auditory stimulus and visual stimulus according to claim 1, characterized in that the visual provided to the patient simultaneously with the headset (3) comprises the goggles (4) that create the visual by separating the visual field of the right eye screen (4.1) and the left eye screen (4.2).The invention relates to the method of a personalized tinnitus rehabilitation product with synchronized sound therapy of auditory and visual stimulus whose frequency values will be applied individually, characterized in that it comprises the following process steps: entering the patient's name, surname, date of birth, ear with tinnitus, tinnitus frequency and intensity, other chronic diseases, anamnesis into the system manually or automatically (10), manually defining the appropriate frequency, loudness, and stimulus duration for the patient by the operator via the central processor (1) (20), playing the audio and visual stimuli synchronously with the software (4) (30), rehabilitating stimuli synchronously presented through the headset (3) and goggles (4) at the time desired by the user (60).

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