Systems, methods and devices for treating tinnitus

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training. Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tinnitus treatment system comprising:
 a neurostimulator configured to provide stimulation to a nerve during a stimulation period;   an audible sound generator configured to provide an audible sound including a therapeutic frequency during a sound period; and   a timing control communicably connected to said neurostimulator and said audible sound generator wherein said timing control is configured to cause said stimulation period and said sound period to be temporally linked.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stimulation period begins before said sound period. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said stimulation is an electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said audible sound is a tone. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said audible sound comprises a sweep of therapeutic frequencies. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said nerve is a cranial nerve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said cranial nerve is a vagus nerve. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said timing control is configured to cause said stimulation period and said sound period to be simultaneous. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating tinnitus in a patient, comprising:
 determining a therapeutic frequency for the patient symptoms;   generating an audible sound including a therapeutic frequency during a sound period;   stimulating a nerve during a stimulation period; and   controlling said nerve stimulation such that a temporal location of said stimulation period is based on a temporal location of said sound period.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said stimulation period begins before the beginning of said sound period. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising determining a plurality of therapeutic frequencies. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said audible sound is a tone. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said audible sound comprises a plurality of audible sounds at therapeutic frequencies. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising repeating said generating and stimulating at predetermined intervals over a series of days. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said series of days is two weeks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the action of controlling said nerve stimulation entails controlling said nerve stimulation such that said stimulation period and said sound period overlap. 
     
     
         17 . A timing control system for a treatment, comprising:
 an audible sound timing connection;   a neurostimulator timing connection; and   a timing control communicably connected to said audible sound timing connection and to said neurostimulator timing connection, wherein said timing control is configured to provide timing instructions to an audible sound generator and to a neurostimulator system.   
     
     
         18 . The timing control system of  claim 17 , wherein said timing instructions initiate simultaneous sound generation and neural stimulation. 
     
     
         19 . The timing control system of  claim 18 , wherein said neural stimulation begins before the beginning of said sound generation. 
     
     
         20 . The timing control system of  claim 17 , wherein said timing control is a computer process. 
     
     
         21 . The timing control system of  claim 17 , wherein said timing control is an integrated circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The timing control system of  claim 18 , wherein said timing control is configured to communicate with said neurostimulator via coupled coils. 
     
     
         23 . The timing control system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the neurostimulator system includes:
 a neurostimulator; and 
 a neural stimulator control configured to receive timing instructions from the timing control and to initiate stimulation poses from the neurostimulator. 
   
     
     
         24 . The timing control system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the timing control is a synchronized timing control system and is configured to synchronize stimulation from the neurostimulator system with a sound generated by the audible sound generator.