Implantable Cochlear Electrodes for Long-Term Tinnitus Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for tinnitus, such as counseling and sound therapy, do not abolish the symptom or reverse the underlying pathophysiological process, and there are no FDA-approved pharmacological therapies or surgical devices available.
Innovation Solution
Implantable electrodes and stimulation devices are used to deliver electrical stimulation to the cochlear promontory and other regions, including the otic capsule, cochlea bone, vestibular region, and vestibulocochlear nerve, with features like intraosseous placement and wireless communication, to treat tinnitus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional treatments (counseling, sound therapy) are used, then tinnitus is made more tolerable, but the symptom is not abolished and underlying pathophysiology is not reversed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional non-invasive treatments (counseling, sound therapy) with an implantable electrical stimulation system that directly targets the cochlear promontory. The device uses electrical pulses delivered through an implanted electrode to modulate neural activity in the auditory pathway, aiming to reverse the underlying pathophysiological changes rather than merely masking or tolerating the symptom.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of treatment delivery from external/non-invasive to internal/implantable electrical stimulation. By placing an electrode directly in the cochlear promontory and delivering controlled electrical pulses, the system creates a new physiological state that can reverse maladaptive neural reorganization, transforming the treatment mechanism from symptomatic relief to pathophysiological reversal.
2Reliability
If implantable electrodes are placed in the cochlear promontory, then effective long-term relief is achieved, but the device complexity and surgical intervention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the treatment system into distinct functional segments: an implanted stimulator device with electrode, a lead wire with insulation, and control electronics. The electrode is separately positioned in the cochlear promontory while the stimulator can be placed in different locations (otic capsule, mastoid, or implanted in ear). This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and easier surgical implantation while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead wire acts as an intermediary element connecting the stimulator to the electrode. It provides electrical conduction while being insulated to prevent unwanted current flow. The lead wire can be routed through soft tissue or bone, and its insulation layer prevents direct tissue contact except at the electrode tip, simplifying the overall device architecture while ensuring safe and effective stimulation delivery.
3Reliability
If electrical stimulation is delivered continuously, then tinnitus suppression is maintained, but energy consumption and treatment duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic electrical stimulation rather than continuous delivery. The stimulator can be activated in intermittent patterns (e.g., daily sessions of 15-30 minutes) to achieve and maintain tinnitus suppression. This periodic action reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness, allowing patients to receive treatment in manageable doses that prevent habituation while avoiding excessive battery drain.
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
The electrical stimulation provides effective, long-term relief from tinnitus, with some patients experiencing substantial relief in 30 minutes per day and lasting suppression even after the device is turned off, while being partially or totally implantable and imperceptible.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate insulated electrical conductor in electrical communication with the stimulator device to conduct the electrical pulse stimuli
Implementation Method 2
a single electrode disposed at a distal end of the lead and in electrical communication with the electrical conductor to deliver the electrical pulse stimuli to the patient's cochlear region
Implementation Method 3
a receiver coupled to the stimulator device and comprising an electrical coil configured for inductively communicating with an external device through a scalp of the patient
Data Source
AI summary
Electrical stimulation devices can be used to treat tinnitus. For example, tinnitus can be treated using implantable electrodes and stimulation devices for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient's cochlear region, such as the cochlear promontory. Intraosseous cochlear promontory electrode(s), endosteal electrode(s), subendosteal electrode(s), or short intracochlear electrode(s) (or a combination thereof), connected to a cochlear implant receiver/stimulator device, can provide a successful model for long-term treatment of tinnitus in a large number of patients. In some cases, patients can simply turn on the tinnitus implant when experiencing troublesome tinnitus and gain instant relief.