MicroTransponder: Latest News and Research

[nills]

How to know the diffrence between Tonal or braodband tinnitus? I feel I have a 7000 htz but underlined with whitenoise. Would this work with Vagus stimulation?

Ps Jes can you share what information HIFU gave you? Is there any succes in this therapy yet? What I`m a bit worried about with HIFU is that even if it would help my tinnitus.. the day Hearing Health discovers how to regenerate Hearing haircells it wouldn`t work because that part of the hearing cortex is ablated.. correct? Or would brain plasticity come in here?

 

[jes]

Hey Nills good old boy. I have a 7100 but I think its the middel of a white russing I dont know if its ok
but i dont belive.I send them HIFU some questions but all she could say was that the mr scan would for sure not hurt my ears.
Then she gave me a date for an untersuchung 4 april and there they could say if a treatment was possible and I could talk to the doctors about it all
I am 61 I wil not wait 10 years or more.What I can understand is that they ablate the deaf high part and thats ok for me. Its a price to pay.

 

[Linds]

We are nearly at the end of 2013. Has anyone heard any more news on VNS therapy?

 

[James White]

We are nearly at the end of 2013. Has anyone heard any more news on VNS therapy?

Yes Linds, have a look at this article

http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2013/1...Tinnitu_story-wide.html?WT.mc_id=NewsHomePage

 

[SISKO]

Also check this complete study with details http://www.utdallas.edu/~sxv140030/...tinnitus._A_case_series._Neuromodulation..pdf

 

[Zimichael]

I have been following Micro-Transponder for a while...and personally I was hoping for better numbers than what they ended up with. Not to down-play any improvements, but we are getting into pretty esoteric stuff with their VNS approach, and if that level of "brain-electrical-nerve-whatever" impaction has such 'moderate' effect...Well, I just have to keep sighing.
Back when I was a kid and first got my tinnitus 'step one' (1956 for Pete's sake!), my mom said: "Don't worry, they will find a cure in not time!"...Ha ha. There was such faith in the guys (always males then) in white coats solving everything. Heady stuff. We got to the moon and still have tinnitus.
Not trying to be a downer here, just objective, and recalling, many, many "sighs" of hopes tempered.
One day...it will happen though, even if it comes via studying fruit flies brains.
Best, Zimichael

 

[Hudson]

I honestly can't stress enough that people should not pay attention to the efficacy results from a phase I trial very much. The trials are not structured to show efficacy, as they are safety studies. They have ridiculously low enrollment, which means that any numbers gleaned from the study are not statistically significant in any way as it is. When you see their Phase II results, I would pay a lot more attention to the efficacy then.

 

[II Packy II]

Hudson is correct. You need a. Minimum of at least 100 to establish a true basis for statistical analysis. 10 people is nowhere near an accurate representation of a population.

 

[Zimichael]

Oh...now I see this little icon things that people use...So yes, I liked these two replies from you Hudson and II Packy II. Maybe there will be better numbers as they progress with the next stages. It sure sounded like a good shot when I first read about their work and contacted the company, etc. For sure it seems like it's going to take some pretty whiz tech to kick this tinnitus back a good shot, as it is so..."difficult" and almost insanely unfathomable for researches to get a good handle on.
There is so much mystery to it. Even just, as we know, how people can blast their ears to bits at rock concerts for years and never get it, yet one loud exposure thing can cause it 'forever on' for someone else...Like me! (Not that it was a concert in my instance).
Ah well...My bets are on the post Iraq war stuff really giving research a major shove forward as the Pentagon has clout, and with so many Vets suffering from it, there may be more enthusiasm and $$$$$$$$$$$ poured into it.
Anyway. Thanks!

 

[II Packy II]

I truly believe a cure will be found in the next 2-3 years. The breadth of knowledge they've attained in the past year alone is remarkable if you really think about it.

 

[dan]

How can you compare a VNS trial to a tinnitus pill trial?
VNS is a $20,000 procedure involving implantation, it either works or it does not - there are no "dosages". When a drug goes into phase 1, it is given in subclinical dosages to evaluate safety.
How can you implant somebody and give them subclinical dosage of VNS?
Ergo, 10 were implanted and tested, 6 did not respond, I would call that a failure.

 

[Erlend]

How can you compare a VNS trial to a tinnitus pill trial?
VNS is a $20,000 procedure involving implantation, it either works or it does not - there are no "dosages". When a drug goes into phase 1, it is given in subclinical dosages to evaluate safety.
How can you implant somebody and give them subclinical dosage of VNS?
Ergo, 10 were implanted and tested, 6 did not respond, I would call that a failure.

Of the 10 tested, 6 people were on drug medication

4 were not


VNS worked on all of those 4

 

[dan]

Erlend, I think VNS is going to work on a very narrow and select group of tinnitus sufferers.
Seems there are just so many exclusion critera- non-tonal tinnitus, no medications/pills....bla bla bla.
Ask them if they would offer a refund if the treatment does not work.

 

[Erlend]

Erlend, I think VNS is going to work on a very narrow and select group of tinnitus sufferers.
Seems there are just so many exclusion critera- non-tonal tinnitus, no medications/pills....bla bla bla.
Ask them if they would offer a refund if the treatment does not work.

Ye if it's only for tonal tinnitius, it's useless for me... But i dont ser why it would be only for tonal T

 

[dan]

Ye if it's only for tonal tinnitius, it's useless for me... But i dont ser why it would be only for tonal T

because they said so.

 

[Erlend]

because they said so.

Where?

 

[Valentin]

For now it's for tonal tinnituses only cause they send tones to your ears but not at the frequency of your tinnitus.

broadnoise, whitenoise, crickets, hissing etc etc don't really have any frequencies that you can identify.

 

[LadyDi]

So anyone know what's up with the good folks at MicroTransponder and University of Texas? Back in 2012, they were saying clinical trial would begin in 2013. Of all the potential treatments out there, I have the most hope for electrical stimulation, even if they do have to stick something in my brain.

http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2012/1...-Center-to-Support-Tinnitus_article-wide.html

Also, maybe some of you research whizzes out there can answer this for me:
I happen to be the survivor of a cerebral hemorrhage and stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm (Yes, I am one lucky girl to be here and without any serious complications. Although it appears the area of brain death that came through this stroke may be hindering my habituation).

Anyway...
In order to save my life, the neurosurgeons had to clip off the broken blood vessel. Back in those days (1999), this required a metal clip and plate to be installed in my brain and cranium. Today, these devices are plastic. But the fact that I have the old-fashioned metal type in my head prevents me from getting magnetic-based tests, like MRIs, for obvious reasons. There is an experimental electrical treatment clinic here in South Florida that was using electro-magnectic stimulation, currently being used to treat depression, on tinnitus. But I did not qualify, because of the magnetic technology.

So: Does anyone know if MicroTransponder in any way involves magnetic technology? Or is it just electrical stimulation?
Thanks.

 

[Champ]

So anyone know what's up with the good folks at MicroTransponder and University of Texas? Back in 2012, they were saying clinical trial would begin in 2013. Of all the potential treatments out there, I have the most hope for electrical stimulation, even if they do have to stick something in my brain.

http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2012/1...-Center-to-Support-Tinnitus_article-wide.html

Also, maybe some of you research whizzes out there can answer this for me:
I happen to be the survivor of a cerebral hemorrhage and stroke caused by a ruptured aneurysm (Yes, I am one lucky girl to be here and without any serious complications. Although it appears the area of brain death that came through this stroke may be hindering my habituation).

Anyway...
In order to save my life, the neurosurgeons had to clip off the broken blood vessel. Back in those days (1999), this required a metal clip and plate to be installed in my brain and cranium. Today, these devices are plastic. But the fact that I have the old-fashioned metal type in my head prevents me from getting magnetic-based tests, like MRIs, for obvious reasons. There is an experimental electrical treatment clinic here in South Florida that was using electro-magnectic stimulation, currently being used to treat depression, on tinnitus. But I did not qualify, because of the magnetic technology.

So: Does anyone know if MicroTransponder in any way involves magnetic technology? Or is it just electrical stimulation?
Thanks.

They sent me an e-mail a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to participate in the trial. I've not responded (I'm not going to, waiting for AM-101 trials in New England).

It's crazy and exciting that all these trials for tinnitus therapies & real treatments are ongoing. I get the feeling the last step will be within 10-15 years once we have fully mastered restoring the inner ear and breaking up any bizarre tinnitus brain related activity, effectively ceasing the sound permanently, unless you're just one of the unlucky people with REALLY incurable tinnitus

I kid, hopefully it's all easily curable just the same =) I bet this stuff is not going to even be a talking point soon as we develop better ways of reversing the damage. And when that day comes we all gotta PARTY WITH LOUD MUSIC YEAH!!!!!! and then restore our hearing

 

[LadyDi]

Thanks, @Champ. Maybe I will email them and see what's up.

But FYI: I think at this point, AM-101 trials, at least in the US, are for those with onset at three months or less. We are getting a site at University of Miami and my doctor was trying to get me enrolled, but Auris won't bend the rules. Maybe the New England site is different.

 

[Champ]

Thanks, @Champ. Maybe I will email them and see what's up.

But FYI: I think at this point, AM-101 trials, at least in the US, are for those with onset at three months or less. We are getting a site at University of Miami and my doctor was trying to get me enrolled, but Auris won't bend the rules. Maybe the New England site is different.

Hello Paul,

We will be running this trial at several location in the New England area. Once we have sites open, I will provide the contact information for the site conducting the research.

Katherine, PhD, CCRC

Clinical Trial Manager

This is what I got from Auris after e-mailing them. The response was very quick.

 

[LadyDi]

Re MicoTransponder: Recruitment has started for a clinical study at the University of Texas-Dallas on tinnitus treatment involving electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve with the implanted Serenity device. You can find details about inclusion criteria here:

http://www.utdallas.edu/~sxv140030/clinical_trial/

This treatment targets people with long-term acute tinnitus (at least one year), who already have failed at least one therapy, like Neuromonics.
Not saying I support it or not. Just letting you all know its out there. There have been some studies in the EU, I believe, but none large or very inclusive.

I won't qualify at this point, given I am on NTT, and intend to stick with it and give it my best for a year.

Also, my University of Miami doctor told me again, on Friday, that the AM-101 US trials at this point are accepting only patients who are no more than three months from onset. He said it may change later, as it has in the EU.

 

[Hudson]

It's somewhat exciting to have all of these clinical trials starting up right now. I hope that they all show benefit and merit as it will only serve to increase the pool of knowledge available to tinnitus researchers and clinicians.

 

[Gael11]

I have just received this newsletter from MicroTransponder.


Tinnitus Trial Now Enrolling
Tinnitus Clinical Trial - Now Open for Enrollment in U.S.

MicroTransponder is pleased to announce that its U.S. Tinnitus Clinical Trial is now open for enrollment. The 30-patient study is being supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

3 sites are currently enrolling patients in this study and a 4th site will begin shortly.

The 3 sites currently enrolling patients are in:
1) Buffalo, New York
2) Dallas, Texas
3) Iowa City, Iowa

We are seeking patients that live within a 200 mile radius of those cities for participation in this trial.

Interested patients should visit the clinical trial website for additional information on the therapy as well as links to signing up at each individual site. The website is:

www.tinnitustrial.com

For those of you who live more than 200 miles away from the current trial sites or outside the U.S. - We are planning additional clinical trials in the EU, U.S., and other parts of the world as well. We also plan to seek approval in Europe to be able to offer our therapy to all patients that are currently seeking a treatment for tinnitus.

If you want information on additional clinical trials and future updates - please visit this NEW TINNITUS FORM Note - This is a different list from our general "Tinnitus Update List".

Thank you to each of you that has expressed your support for our research over the past few years. The process to develop an implantable device and begin clinical trials is time consuming, difficult, and requires a great deal of financial resources. We know how devastating it is to live with tinnitus and have been working for the past 6 years as quickly as we are able to bring the Serenity System therapy into the clinic. We expect that our U.S. clinical results will be favorable, as they were in our 10 patient study in Europe; and the next step would be to make the therapy commercially available in Europe and the U.S. for those who suffer from tinnitus. Please check our website www.microtransponder.com for news and updates. We will also continue to send out information via the current Tinnitus Update List when we have news to share.

-the MicroTransponder management team

 

[erik]

More info on this clinical

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/...-the-ringing-in-tinnitus-sufferers-ears.html/

 

[Grace]

I wonder if any celebrities with T would participate in the trial... If so i would guess it would be hush hush?

 

[Piper the great]

My girl friend is getting a neuromodulation device put on her back for pain reasons... at first it hurt like hell.. but over the trial period it really helped... next they bury it in her back... it has its pros and cons... and the device is the size of an Oreo cookie... battery charges inside the body.. not a bad deal... if this works its going to be pricy.... with surgery, and everything else... I would say comparing it with hers.. 25 to 40 K.....

 

[Piper the great]

It must be nice having "T" that manageable. I'll allows them to cut up my brain if necessary.

Also, they take the device out after the therapy is over.

When did they ever say that..?.. maybe in the trials... there not even sure if they process is permanent.... it could only last for weeks or months......or be on going indefinitely.....

 

[Grace]

If this isnt permanent couldnt they leave the device in you
For ever and just keep doing the treatment everyday to keep the T level down?

 

[Piper the great]

If this isnt permanent couldnt they leave the device in you
For ever and just keep doing the treatment everyday to keep the T level down?

I think that is the way its going to be, the company Boston Scientific who has the implant for the pain said its good for 15 to 29 years... but its close to the skin if it needs to come out.. can't gain or loose to much weight....