Coloured Light Display for Tinnitus Perception Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for tinnitus, such as hearing aids, off-label pharmaceuticals, and tinnitus retraining therapy, have low success rates, are costly, and often come with adverse side effects, failing to provide effective symptomatic relief for a significant proportion of sufferers.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of coloured light, where variable sources illuminate a display with measurable values of light that are adjusted based on a subject's perception of tinnitus, allowing for the determination of specific tristimulus values or wavelength mixtures that alleviate tinnitus symptoms, and the use of articles like light sources or filters to deliver these values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hearing aids are used to mask tinnitus, then hearing is improved and attention is diverted from tinnitus, but the treatment is costly and has low success rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic system of hearing aids with an optical system using coloured light. Instead of amplifying sound to mask tinnitus, the invention uses light of specific wavelengths to directly alleviate tinnitus perception, eliminating the need for expensive hearing aid devices and batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter from acoustic (sound amplification) to optical (light wavelength). By varying the wavelength and intensity of coloured light, the treatment achieves symptomatic relief for tinnitus, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional sound-based masking therapies.
2Reliability
If off-label pharmaceuticals are prescribed for tinnitus, then symptomatic relief may be achieved, but adverse side effects occur and success rate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes pharmaceutical chemical treatment with an optical treatment using coloured light. Instead of administering drugs that may cause adverse side effects, the invention uses light of specific wavelengths to alleviate tinnitus symptoms, eliminating the harmful side effects associated with off-label pharmaceuticals.
3Reliability
If tinnitus retraining therapy is used, then counseling and white noise are provided, but success rate remains low and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the therapeutic parameter from auditory (white noise) and psychological (counseling) to optical (coloured light). By using light of specific wavelengths, the treatment achieves symptomatic relief more effectively and costlessly than traditional retraining therapy that relies on audio masking and counseling techniques.
4Reliability
If coloured light is used to treat tinnitus, then symptomatic relief is achieved with 40% success rate, but the treatment must be tailored to individual cone sensitivities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to self-treat by allowing them to adjust the light parameters themselves. Patients can control the wavelength and intensity of coloured light based on their individual responses, eliminating the need for complex clinical customization while maintaining high success rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dynamically adjustable light parameters that can be modified in real-time based on patient response. The system allows flexible adjustment of wavelength and intensity to optimize treatment effectiveness for each individual's cone sensitivity profile.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a 40% initial success rate in alleviating tinnitus symptoms without adverse side effects, offering a cost-effective treatment that can be administered by patients, with the ability to tailor light exposure to individual cone sensitivities for improved perception.
Implementation Method 1
illuminating the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus, comprising the steps of: presenting a display in at least part of the subject's field of view; illuminating the display with coloured light in the visible spectrum using one or more variable sources, varying measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display; and recording the measurable values of the coloured light illuminating the display at which the subject indicates a change in their perception of tinnitus. Also provided are methods of determining which tristimulus values of light can be used to alleviate a subject's perception of tinnitus, methods of producing data sets of measurable values of coloured light, use of coloured light, articles formulated to modify illumination of at least part of the visual field of a subject, a method of alleviating a subject's perception of tinnitus and use of apparatus for assessing the effect of viewing varying colours of light on a subject's perception of tinnitus.