Patent ID: 8888712
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for objectively identifying an acoustic characteristic of tinnitus of a human or animal subject comprising: exposing the subject to a sound pattern having at least a first segment and a second segment via one or more transducers, wherein the sound pattern is continuous and has both a first acoustic characteristic and an audible silence during the first segment and has a second acoustic characteristic during the second segment, wherein the first acoustic characteristic during the first segment of the sound pattern has a first duration and the audible silence during the first segment of the sound pattern has a second duration, and wherein the first acoustic characteristic during the first segment of the sound pattern is different than the second acoustic characteristic during the second segment of the sound pattern; measuring in an objective manner an electrical response of the subject's central nervous system to the exposure to the sound pattern via one or more electrodes, said measured electrical response having a first portion representing the electrical response of the subject's central nervous system to the exposure to the first acoustic characteristic and the audible silence during the first segment of the sound pattern, and said measured electrical response having a second portion representing the electrical response of the subject's central nervous system to the exposure to the second acoustic characteristic during the second segment of the sound pattern; comparing, by the controller, the first portion of the measured electrical response to the second portion of the measured electrical response; and determining, by the controller, whether the subject has tinnitus with an acoustic characteristic similar to the first acoustic characteristic based on said comparison.