Method and apparatus for treating various neurological conditions

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for treating neurological conditions such as attention deficit disorder, autism, and Parkinson's disease. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and apparatus used to stimulate the 8th cranial nerve, particularly for treatment of such diseases and disorders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a neurological disorder, the method comprising:
 mechanically stimulating both auditory and vestibular nerve bundles of a vestibulocochlear nerve of a patient, wherein the stimulation comprises a first mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the auditory nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve and a second mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the vestibular nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve, wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli vibrate at different frequencies and are applied simultaneously by a vibrating mechanism externally applied to the patient, and wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are achieved by application of a mechanical force.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are applied to both vestibulocochlear nerves of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mechanical vibratory stimuli is applied at a frequency of about 0.1 Hz to about 40 Hz. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the mechanical vibratory stimuli is applied at a frequency of about 0.3 Hz to about 15 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second mechanical vibratory stimulus is applied at a frequency of about 0.3 Hz to about 15 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical vibratory stimulus is applied to the auditory nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve, without affecting the vestibular nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second mechanical vibratory stimulus is applied to the vestibular nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve, without affecting the auditory nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve. 
     
     
         8 . A method of increasing concentration, the method comprising:
 mechanically stimulating both auditory and vestibular nerve bundles of a vestibulocochlear nerve of a patient, wherein the stimulation comprises a first mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the auditory nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve and a second mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the vestibular nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve, wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are applied simultaneously by a vibrating mechanism externally applied to the patient to increase Beta brain wave activity, and wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are achieved by application of a mechanical force.   
     
     
         9 . A method of enhancing relaxation, the method comprising:
 mechanically stimulating both auditory and vestibular nerve bundles of a vestibulocochlear nerve of a patient, wherein the stimulation comprises a first mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the auditory nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve and a second mechanical vibratory stimulus for mechanically stimulating the vestibular nerve bundle of the vestibulocochlear nerve, wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are applied simultaneously by a vibrating mechanism externally applied to the patient to increase alpha brain wave activity, and wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are achieved by application of a mechanical force.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for delivering a mechanical stimulus to the vestibulocochlear nerve of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one mechanical vibratory element capable of delivering a complex mechanical vibration to the vestibulocochlear nerve, wherein the complex mechanical vibration comprises a first mechanical vibratory stimulus between about 0.1 Hz and about 40 Hz, and a second mechanical vibratory stimulus between about 0.3 Hz and about 15 Hz, wherein the mechanical vibratory element is externally applied to the patient, and wherein the mechanical vibratory stimuli are achieved by application of a mechanical force; and   a microprocessor, operatively coupled to the vibratory element for controlling the delivery of stimuli via the at least one mechanical vibratory element.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a second mechanical vibratory element capable of delivering a complex mechanical vibration to another vestibulocochlear nerve of the patient comprising a first mechanical vibratory stimulus between about 0.1 Hz and about 40 Hz, and a second mechanical vibratory stimulus between about 0.3 Hz and about 15 Hz, wherein the second mechanical vibratory element is externally applied to the patient and wherein the at least one mechanical vibratory element and the second mechanical vibratory element are independently controllable by the microprocessor. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising user controls for selective control of the stimuli. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one mechanical vibratory element is adapted for placement externally behind the ear of a patient. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second mechanical vibratory elements are adapted for placement externally behind the ear of a patient.