Devices and methods for treating tinnitus using electrical stimulation

Abstract

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. Cochlear surface electrode(s), endosteal electrode(s), subendosteal electrode(s), intraosseous electrode(s), or short intracochlear electrode(s) (or a combination thereof), connected to existing or modified cochlear implant receiver/stimulator technology, 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

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode device for delivering electrical pulse stimuli to a patient's cochlear region, the electrode device comprising:
 a lead comprising a single elongate insulated electrical conductor;   a single electrode disposed at a distal end of the lead and in electrical communication with the insulated electrical conductor, wherein the electrode is configured to be intraosseously placed within a hole created in target tissue to deliver the electrical pulse stimuli to the patient's cochlear region; and   an anchor element disposed adjacent to the electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , further comprising an implantable stimulator device in electrical communication with the lead and configured to generate the electrical pulse stimuli. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode device of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable stimulator device includes a magnet for aligning with an external device. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode device of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable stimulator device comprises a receiver coil configured to wirelessly communicate through the patient's scalp with an external device. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the lead comprises a malleable member that retains a shape after being bent into the shape. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the lead comprises a shape-memory member that seeks a curved shape when heated. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor element is attached to the lead. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode device of  claim 7 , wherein the anchor element is configured to be coupled to the patient's tissue using an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode device of  claim 8 , wherein the anchor element defines an attachment feature that can receive the adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the single electrode is configured to placed within the hole having a hole depth of 1.1 mm to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the single electrode is configured to placed within the hole having a hole depth of 0.9 mm to 1.3 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the single electrode is configured to placed within the hole having a hole depth of 1.3 mm to 1.7 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode device of  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue is a cochlear promontory bone.