Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation System for Treating Tinnitus based on the Cortex-M4 Microcontroller

Abstract

Among the methods of treating tinnitus, the transcutaneous clectrical nerve stimulation (TENS) method of treating by electrical stimulation is common. However, there is a problem that surgical operation is required to stimulate the vagus nerve (VN) main trunk near most of the bronchus. Alternatively, we found that the same effect could be achieved by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve VN branch (Arnold's nerve) distributed in the outer ear. The TENS system for stimulation of vagus nerve has been developed, but it has not been able to implement to stimulate as a parameter optimized for the patient by simultaneously playing the sound of eliminating the tinnitus frequency. Therefore, in this paper, it is important to develop a safe and practical TENS device for tinnitus treatment based on a 32-bit microprocessor that simultaneously applies non-invasive and notched sounds and to develop optimal treatment methods for treating tinnitus.