Abstract: Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for treating tinnitus in a subject in need thereof. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound having a structure represented by Formula I as described herein. The compounds and compositions are administered transdermally or orally, preferably via a sustained release mechanism. The compounds and compositions reduce at least one behavioral correlate of tinnitus and/or at least one neurophysiological correlate of tinnitus. The compounds and compositions reduce hyperactivity in the auditory system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a peristaltic micropump comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, a microtube that extends across the first side of the substrate, and multiple pump actuators formed on the first side of the substrate and positioned adjacent to the microtube at discrete, spaced positions along the length of the microtube, wherein the micropump is configured to sequentially actuate the pump actuators so as to create peristaltic action that drives fluid contained in the microtube along the length of the tube.

Abstract: A hearing aid is permanently adjusted to match prescribed amplification characteristics at predetermined frequencies. A single channel filter (24) includes three identical filter stages (60, 62, and 64) that are optionally cascaded in series. Each of the filter stages (60, 62, and 64) exhibits a frequency response curve having a first corner frequency (36) below which the magnitude of the response curve approaches a predetermined minimum value, a second corner frequency (38) above which the magnitude of the response curve approaches a maximum value, and a predetermined gain in magnitude between the minimum and maximum values.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit is incorporated into an audio reproducing device for suppressing noise while preserving distinctive features of speech. A noise detecting circuit includes a low pass filtering circuit (12) and a level detector (14). An output signal (C) from the detecting circuit controls a variable high pass filtering circuit (20) to attenuate a range of low frequencies of an input signal (A) proportional to the detected level of noise. The variable high pass filtering circuit exhibits a family of variable response curves (22, 24, and 26) that vary in slope below a common cut-off frequency (28) that is below a range of frequencies that convey a majority of second formant transitions between consonants and vowels.