Abstract: A medical device (10) is provided for stimulating neurons of a patient (12) to suppress a pathologically synchronous activity of the neurons, comprising a stimulation unit (14) configured for selectively generating acoustic stimuli to be administered to the patient (12), and a control unit (20) for actuating the stimulation unit (14) to generate a plurality of stimuli of different frequencies, wherein the control unit (20) is configured to determine a target frequency range within a patient's hearing range in dependence on a patient's auditory perception; and to select the plurality of stimuli such that the frequencies of the different stimuli are within the determined frequency range and correspond to tone frequencies of a musical scale spanning at least one octave.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a medical device (10) for stimulating neurons of a patient to suppress a pathologically synchronous activity of the neurons. The medical device (10) comprises a non-invasive therapeutic stimulation unit (12) configured to administer a plurality of stimuli to a patient's body which is configured to suppress the pathologically synchronous activity; a clock unit (24) configured to generate at least one periodic or cyclical clock signal (S(t); S?(t); S(t), S?(t)) related to a physiological activity or physiological cycle of the patient; and a control unit (18) configured to control operation of the medical device (10) in dependence on the at least one clock signal (S(t); S?(t); S(t), S?(t)).

Abstract: A device for stimulating neurons that includes a stimulation unit that applies mechanically tactile and/or thermal stimuli to the body surface of a patient that stimulate neurons with a pathologically synchronous and oscillatory neural activity. The device includes a measuring unit that records measurement signals of neural activity of the stimulated neurons, and a controller that controls the stimulation unit and analyzes the measurement signals. The controller actuates the stimulation unit to scan at least one part of the body surface of the patient along a path and thereby periodically applies stimuli and also selects two regions or more regions on the patient's body surface along the path where the phase synchronization between the periodic application of the stimuli and the neural activity of the stimulated neurons have a local maximum using the measurement signals. The stimuli are then applied in a delayed manner in the two regions.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for treating a patient with vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli. The device includes first and second stimulating units for generating first and second stimuli respectively. The stimuli are vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli, and each of the stimuli is repeated on average at a frequency of 1 to 60 Hz. The stimuli are generated partly at different times.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for treating a patient with vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli. The device includes first and second stimulating units for generating first and second stimuli respectively. The stimuli are vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli, and each of the stimuli is repeated on average at a frequency of 1 to 60 Hz. The stimuli are generated partly at different times.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of a patient using vibrotactile multi-channel stimulation includes: (1) multiple vibratory stimulators; (2) multiple fastening mechanisms to secure respective ones of the vibratory stimulators to respective parts of a hand of the patient; and (3) a controller connected to the vibratory stimulators to direct operation of the vibratory stimulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical treatment device for stimulating neurons of a patient. The device comprises a first non-invasive stimulating device for generating at least two different first stimuli to a patient's body, a second non-invasive stimulating device for generating at least two different second stimuli to the patient's body, and a control unit for selectively and intermittently actuating the stimulating devices. In a first operating mode, the control unit is configured to actuate the first stimulating device in a sequence of successive actuating periods such that a number n of first stimuli to be generated simultaneously during the actuating periods is variedly determined across the sequence and to actuate the second stimulating device so as to generate the second stimuli to be paired to the generation of at least a part of the first stimuli.

Abstract: An apparatus for stimulating neurons that includes a stimulation unit for applying pulse-like tones, a measuring unit for picking up measurement signals that render neural activity by the stimulated neurons, a control. The control unit applies a first pulse train having varied pitch, takes the measurement signals picked up in response to the first pulse train to select a first pitch range or pitch in which there is phase synchronization between the pulse train and the neural activity, actuates the stimulation unit to apply two phase-shifted second pulse trains, the pitch of the pulse trains being varied in opposite directions and a pitch starting value of the second pulse trains based on first pitch range or pitch that is used to select a second pitch range or pitch resulting in minimum amplitude of the neural activity.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a medical treatment device for stimulating neurons of a patient to suppress a pathologically synchronous activity, the device comprises at least three non-invasive stimulating units for generating stimuli to a patient's body, and a control unit for selectively and intermittently actuating the stimulating units in a sequence of actuating periods. The control unit is configured to, across the sequence of actuating periods, variedly determine for each actuating period a number n of stimulating units to be simultaneously actuated during the respective actuating period.

Abstract: A system for providing electrical stimulation to a patient includes a processor configured to: provide a time-ordered arrangement of multiple stimulation instances, where each of the stimulation instances is configured to produce a different stimulation field from each other stimulation instance in the arrangement; provide an ON/OFF switch pattern that includes alternating ON periods and OFF periods; generate an intermittent stimulation program that corresponds to repetition of the arrangement of stimulation instances with omission of each of the stimulation instances occurring during the OFF periods; and initiate a signal that provides a pulse generator with instructions that enable the pulse generator to generate stimulation according to the intermittent stimulation program using an electrical stimulation lead coupled to the pulse generator.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for stimulation of neurons. The device includes a stimulation unit that can be implanted into a body of a patient and has stimulation elements that apply a stimulation signal to tissue of the patient to stimulate neurons in the brain and/or the spinal cord of the patient. Moreover, a measuring unit receive a measurement signal that reflects a neuronal activity of the stimulated neurons. Further, a control unit generate a modulation signal from the measurement signal, and modulates an amplitude of a pulse train with the modulation signal. Individual pulses of the pulse train include a first and second pulse portions that introduce and remove charge from the tissue. Moreover, the control unit varies a pause between the pulse portions until the synchronization of the stimulated neurons is minimized or falls below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A device for stimulation of a patient with acoustic stimulation signals includes a stimulation unit for generating acoustic stimulation signals and a control unit for controlling the stimulation unit. The control unit is configured so that it determines a bandwidth of an auditory filter with a frequency of a predetermined tone as a center frequency, wherein this bandwidth is a reference bandwidth. The control unit determines a frequency of a first acoustic therapy signal such that a measure of coverage between the reference bandwidth around the frequency of the predetermined tone and a first bandwidth of an auditory filter with the frequency of the first acoustic therapy signal as a center frequency assumes a predetermined first value, and controls the stimulation unit such that the stimulation unit generates the first acoustic therapy signal.

Abstract: A device for determining the frequency of a dominant tone of a tinnitus perceived by a patient. A tone generator plays tones, an input unit receives patient evaluations, and a controller carries out a similarity measurement and a comparison of pairs of tones. The controller controls the tone generator for the similarity measurement to generate successive tones, and, after playing a respective tone, receive patient's evaluation regarding the similarity of the tone to the dominant tone of the tinnitus. The controller also controls the tone generator for the comparison of pairs of tones to play successive pairs of tones, and, after playing a respective pair, receives the patient's evaluation as to which tone of the pair is more similar to the at least one dominant tone of the tinnitus. Using the results, the frequency most similar to the frequency of the dominant tone of the tinnitus can be determined.

Abstract: A device is provide for stimulating neurons. The device includes a stimulation unit that is implantable into a patient's body and that includes multiple stimulation elements for stimulating neurons in a target area of the brain and/or spinal cord of the patient with stimuli. Moreover, the device includes a control unit that actuates the stimulation unit such that multiple groups of stimulation elements generate respective stimuli. In this aspect, each group includes multiple stimulation elements of the stimulation unit with two or more of the groups generating sequences of stimuli in a repetitive manner in a respective time pattern which includes successive cycles. Furthermore, the sequences of stimuli generated by the two or more groups differ in terms of the number of cycles in which the sequence in which the stimulation elements generate the stimuli within one sequence is constant and/or in terms of the duration of respective cycles.

Abstract: A device for stimulating neurons that includes a stimulation unit implantable in the body of a patient and having stimulation elements that stimulate neurons in the brain and/or spinal cord. A control unit controls the stimulation unit during first and second time intervals in different stimulation modes. The control unit controls the stimulation unit during 75% or more of the first time interval in the first stimulation mode to repeatedly generate sequences of stimuli and the order in which the stimulation elements generate stimuli is constant for not more than 5 successively generated sequences and then varied. The control unit controls the stimulation unit during 75% or more of the second time interval in a second stimulation mode such that the stimulation elements repeatedly generate sequences of stimuli and the order in which the stimulation elements generate stimuli is constant for at least 25 successively generated sequences and then varied.

Abstract: A device for stimulating neurons that includes a non-invasive stimulation unit for generating stimuli in stimulation channels. A control unit controls the stimulation unit during first and second time intervals in different stimulation modes. The control unit controls the stimulation unit during 75% or more of the first time interval in the first stimulation mode to repeatedly generate sequences of stimuli and the order in which the stimulation channels generate stimuli is constant for not more than 5 successively generated sequences and then varied. The control unit controls the stimulation unit during 75% or more of the second time interval in a second stimulation mode such that the stimulation channels repeatedly generate sequences of stimuli and the order in which the stimulation channels generate stimuli is constant for at least 25 successively generated sequences and then varied.

Abstract: A device is provided for the stimulation of neurons that includes a non-invasive stimulation unit to generate stimuli in multiple stimulation channels, where the stimulation unit stimulates a neuron population in the brain and/or spinal cord of a patient in different locations for each of the stimulation channels. Moreover, the device includes a control unit that controls the stimulation unit to generate repetitive bursts in each of the stimulation channels, where each of the bursts includes multiple stimuli and is designed so that they do not reset the phase of the neuronal activity of the respective stimulated neurons.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for treating a patient with vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli. The device includes first and second stimulating units for generating first and second stimuli respectively. The stimuli are vibration and/or tactile and/or thermal stimuli, and each of the stimuli is repeated on average at a frequency of 1 to 60 Hz. The stimuli are generated partly at different times.

Abstract: A device that suppresses a pathological synchronous and oscillatory neuron activity, and includes a non-invasive stimulation unit implantable in a patient, for stimulation, using electrical and/or optical stimuli, of neurons in the patient's brain and/or spinal cord, where those neurons are showing pathologically synchronous and oscillatory neuron activity, and the stimuli are deigned to suppress are this activity when administered to the patient. Moreover, a measuring unit records measurement signals reflecting the neuron activity of the stimulated neurons and a control and analysis unit controls the stimulation unit to administer stimuli, check the success of stimulation based on the measurement, and, if the stimulation success is not sufficient, insert one or more stimulation breaks in the application of the stimuli or extend one or more stimulation breaks, where no stimuli that could suppress the pathological synchronous and oscillatory neuron activity are applied during the stimulation breaks.

Abstract: An apparatus for stimulating neurons that includes a stimulation unit for applying pulse-like tones, a measuring unit for picking up measurement signals that render neural activity by the stimulated neurons, a control. The control unit applies a first pulse train having varied pitch, takes the measurement signals picked up in response to the first pulse train to select a first pitch range or pitch in which there is phase synchronization between the pulse train and the neural activity, actuates the stimulation unit to apply two phase-shifted second pulse trains, the pitch of the pulse trains being varied in opposite directions and a pitch starting value of the second pulse trains based on first pitch range or pitch that is used to select a second pitch range or pitch resulting in minimum amplitude of the neural activity.