Patent · US Expired

Human drug delivery device for tinnitus

US5713847A · kind A · utility

215Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 6, 1996
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2210/0693
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A neural prosthetic drug delivery apparatus for reducing or eliminating the effects of tinnitus. The apparatus includes a catheter which is inserted into the patient's auditory cortex or thalamus. The catheter microinfuses drugs which suppress or eliminate abnormal neural activity into geometrically separate locations of the patient's brain, thereby reducing or eliminating the effects of tinnitus. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a stimulation device for outputting processed electrical signals and an electrode having a plurality of electrical contacts which is arranged in a target zone of the patient's brain. Each of the plurality of electrical contacts independently outputs electrical discharges in accordance with the electrical signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.