KR101992266B1 - Assesment apparatus of tinnitus treatment result for using brain response - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention relates to an assessment apparatus of a tinnitus treatment result using a brain response capable of selecting a tinnitus treatment method suitable for user characteristics through an assessment result. The assessment apparatus of a tinnitus treatment result using a brain response comprises: a brainwave measurement unit measuring a brainwave generated from a user who responses a bi-stimulus sound including a first stimulus sound and a second stimulus sound; a response ratio calculation unit receiving a first amplitude value of the brainwave in accordance with the first stimulus sound and a second amplitude value of the brainwave in accordance with the second stimulus sound, and calculating a response ratio showing the ratio the second amplitude value to the first amplitude value; and an assessment unit comparing the response ratio and a standard response ratio provided through the user before tinnitus treatment and quantifying a tinnitus treatment result of the user by using a comparison result.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a tinnitus treatment result using brain reaction,

The present invention relates to a tinnitus treatment result evaluating apparatus, and more particularly, to a tinnitus treatment result evaluating apparatus using a brain response.

Recently, the population of 5 million people suffering from tinnitus has been reported to have no cure for all patients. Tinnitus causes attention loss, emotional instability, deterioration of work capacity, and not only significantly decreases quality of life, but also high correlation with dementia, Alzheimer 's disease, and falls.

However, it is difficult to improve the prognosis of tinnitus patients based on the results of five years of patient care and research in the single treatment technique.

Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the pattern of the functional brain state of the patient prior to the treatment, and it is necessary to select a personalized treatment method suitable for the characteristics of the patient in the diagnosis of the tinnitus and the treatment planning stage.

In other words, in order to select a personalized therapy that meets the characteristics of the patient in the diagnosis and treatment planning stage of the tinnitus, it is necessary to analyze the pattern of the functional brain state of the patient before treatment. It is imperative to establish a basis for selecting

Among the treatments described above, cortical stimulation is a method of generating magnetic field energy by using an electric device and repeatedly stimulating the cerebral cortex using this energy, which improves brain function and autonomic imbalance, It is a non-invasive treatment method that stimulates brain nerve cells. In addition, the same frequency training method is a training method that alleviates tinnitus by repeatedly reproducing the same frequency signal as the tinnitus frequency.

The present invention overcomes the weak points of the conventional omni-directional treatment selection method and acquires the brain signal non-invasively to discriminate the characteristics of the patient and selects a proper treatment method. In particular, , And to construct a toolkit for evaluating the effect of the treatment through objective / quantitative methods through the connectivity information between the user's cerebral regions.

Korean Patent No. 10-1428680

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for evaluating the tinnitus treatment result of a user by using an objective index according to a user's brain reaction, And to provide a tinnitus treatment result evaluating device using a brain response capable of selecting a tinnitus treatment method suited to a user's characteristic through evaluation results.

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for evaluating the result of a tinnitus treatment using a brain response according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an EEG that measures an EEG generated from a user who responds to a pair of stimuli including a first stimulus sound and a second stimulus sound Measuring unit; A first amplitude value of an EEG according to the first stimulus sound and a second amplitude value of an EEG according to the second stimulus sound and receives a second amplitude value of the EEG according to a reaction rate A reaction rate calculating unit for calculating a reaction rate; And an evaluator for comparing the response rate with a reference response rate established through the user before treatment for tinnitus, and quantifying the tinnitus treatment result of the user using the comparison result.

And a pair of stimulating sound generators for generating the pair of stimulating sounds, wherein the first stimulating sound and the second stimulating sound may have a predetermined time interval.

The first stimulus note and the second stimulus note may consist of pulse signals and may have the same pulse amplitude and pulse width.

Further comprising a connectivity information calculating unit for calculating connectivity information between the cerebral regions of the user by using a pre-prepared algorithm and the brain waves according to the second stimulus sound, and the evaluator calculates the tinnitus treatment The results can be quantified.

The connectivity information may include an information transmission direction and a connectivity strength between the cerebral regions of the user.

Wherein the evaluating unit quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user at a high level when the response rate is greater than the reference response rate and if the response rate is less than or equal to the reference response rate, . ≪ / RTI >

Wherein the evaluation unit determines that the tinnitus treatment result of the user is at a high level when the response rate is larger than the reference response rate and it is determined through the connectivity information that information transmission to the wedge lobes is activated at the frontal lobe of the cerebral region of the user Can be quantified.

The evaluator receives the tinnitus intensity from the user before and after the tinnitus treatment, and quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user in consideration of the input results.

The EEG measuring unit may include a preprocessor for detecting EEG from the user and pre-processing the EEG, a noise eliminator for removing noise from the pre-processed EEG, And a signal processing unit for extracting the second amplitude value.

Therefore, according to the tinnitus treatment result evaluating apparatus using the brain response according to the embodiment of the present invention, the tinnitus treatment result of the user can be obtained by using the response rate or connectivity information, which is an objective indicator according to the user's brain reaction, And evaluating the efficacy of the tinnitus treatment method provided by the user objectively.

Tinnitus treatment can be selected according to the user's characteristics through the evaluation result.

1 is a block diagram of a tinnitus treatment result evaluation apparatus using a brain response according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing a user's brain wave in response to a pair of stimulus tones according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) It is a graph of EEG of a user who has no therapeutic effect.
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining connectivity information of a user who has a tinnitus treatment effect, FIG. 3 (a) showing connectivity information of a user before tinnitus treatment, and FIG. 3 (b) FIG.
4 (a) and 4 (b) illustrate connection information of a user who has no tinnitus treatment effect, FIG. 4 (a) FIG.
FIG. 5 is a first diagram for explaining a signal source of a user's brain region responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) FIG. 5 (b) is a brain image of the user (the therapist) after the tinnitus treatment by the false treatment method.
FIG. 6 is a second diagram illustrating a signal source of a user's brain region responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6B is a brain image of a user before tinnitus treatment, 6 (b) is a brain image of a user who has a therapeutic effect after tinnitus treatment by local stimulation.
FIG. 7 is a third diagram for explaining a signal source of a user's brain region responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 (a) is a brain image of a user before tinnitus treatment, 7 (b) is a brain image of a user who has no therapeutic effect after tinnitus treatment by local stimulation.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. In addition, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below, but it is needless to say that the technical idea of the present invention is not limited thereto and can be variously modified by those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus 100 for evaluating the result of tinnitus treatment using a brain response according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a user who receives tinnitus treatment selected from tinnitus treatment methods such as tinnitus stimulation and the same frequency training method, And may include a pair of stimulus sound generating unit 110, an EEG measuring unit 120, a reaction ratio calculating unit 130, a connectivity information calculating unit 140, and an evaluating unit 150 .

The dual stimulus sound generator 110 generates a dual stimulus sound including the first stimulus sound N1 and the second stimulus sound N2. The EEG measuring unit 120 measures the EEG generated by the user in response to the bi-polarized sound. The response rate calculation unit 130 receives the first amplitude value of the EEG according to the first stimulus sound N1 and the second amplitude value of the EEG according to the second stimulus sound N2, And a ratio of the second amplitude value to the second amplitude value. The connectivity information calculating unit 140 calculates connectivity information between the cerebral regions of the user by using brain waves according to the second stimulus note N2. The evaluating unit 150 compares the response rate with the reference response rate prepared through the user before the treatment of tinnitus, and quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result using the comparison result. Also, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user in consideration of the connectivity information.

The tinnitus treatment result evaluation apparatus 100 using the brain reaction described above quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user step by step using the reaction rate or connectivity information which is an objective indicator rather than the subjective judgment of the user, The effectiveness of the tinnitus treatment provided can be objectively evaluated, and the tinnitus treatment method suitable for the user characteristics can be selected through the evaluation result.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the tinnitus treatment result evaluation apparatus 100 using the brain response according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The pair of stimulus sounds generator 110 generates a pair of stimulus sounds that cause a user's brain reaction. Here, the bi-polarized sound includes the first stimulus sound N1 and the second stimulus sound N2. The first stimulus sound N1 and the second stimulus sound N2 have a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time is preferably 20 ms. This is the result of repeated experiment. The first stimulus sound N1 and the second stimulus sound N2 are composed of pulse signals. It is preferable that the first stimulus sound N1 and the second stimulus sound N2 have the same pulse amplitude and pulse width. The first stimulus note N1 and the second stimulus note N2 preferably have a sound level of about 65 dB in a frequency band of about 1 KHz. This is the result of repeated experiment.

The pair of stimulus sound generator 110 transmits the generated pair of stimulus sounds to the stimulus sound output device 200. Here, the stimulus sound output apparatus 200 may be a headphone or an earphone that reflects the high-density frequency characteristic. The dual stimulus sound generator 110 outputs a dual stimulus sound through the stimulus sound output device 200 so that the user can listen to the sound. The dual stimulus sound generator 110 controls the stimulus sound output apparatus 200 to output a double stimulus sound for approximately 4 minutes to 5 minutes for a sufficient amount of EEG measurement. Here, the time interval of the output of the bi-polarized sound is appropriately set according to the user's need, and is repeatedly output according to the set time interval. At this time, brain waves are generated from the user responding to the bi-polar sounds outputted through the stimulus sound output device 200.

The EEG measuring unit 120 measures the EEG generated by the user in response to the bi-stimulus sound. The EEG measuring unit 120 may measure EEG through a plurality of electrodes disposed on the user's head. Here, the plurality of electrodes are arranged at positions corresponding to the cerebral regions including the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe (wedge lobe), and occipital lobe.

The EEG measuring unit 120 processes the measured EEG to make it available for evaluation of the results of the tinnitus treatment. For this, the EEG measurement unit 120 may include a preprocessing unit, a noise removing unit, and a signal processing unit. The preprocessor can pre-process the EEG detected through the electrodes. The preprocessing unit performs a process of filtering an unnecessary frequency band of the EEG. To this end, the pre-processing unit may include at least one of a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, and a band-pass filter. The noise eliminator can remove the noise mixed into the EEG. Here, noise is generated due to movement of the user's neck, face, eyes, and the like and needs to be removed. The signal processor extracts the first amplitude value and the second amplitude value from the noise-canceled EEG. Here, the first amplitude value is the amplitude value of the EEG according to the first stimulus sound N1, and the second amplitude value is the amplitude value of the EEG according to the second stimulus sound N2.

The EEG measuring unit 120 having the above-described configuration transmits the first amplitude value and the second amplitude value of the EEG to the response ratio calculating unit 130. [ The EEG measuring unit 120 also transmits the frequency and amplitude information of the EEG generated according to the second stimulus N2 to the connectivity information calculating unit 140.

The reaction rate calculating unit 130 receives the first amplitude value and the second amplitude value from the EEG measuring unit 120 and calculates a reaction rate indicating how much the second amplitude value is decreased in comparison with the first amplitude value . The reaction rate calculation will be described with reference to Fig.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a user's brain wave in response to a pair of stimulus tones according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a graph of a brain wave of a user having a tinnitus treatment effect, ) Is a non-responder EEG graph with no tinnitus treatment effect. Here, the treatment for tinnitus may be performed by a treatment method selected from a mild cranial stimulation or the same frequency training method. Cervical stimulation stimulates brain cells by providing a magnetic field to the cerebral region, and the same frequency training method trains through the same frequency signal as the tinnitus frequency. Such a treatment method is already known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2 (a), it is possible to identify an electroencephalogram before a tinnitus treatment and an electroencephalogram after a tinnitus treatment of a responder having an effect of treating a tinnitus. Tinnitus prefrontal cortex is used to calculate the reference response rate, and after tinnitus treatment, EEG is used to calculate response rate. The reference response rate and the response rate are used to quantify the tinnitus treatment result by the evaluation unit 150, which will be described later.

First, the response rate calculating unit 130 calculates the reference response rate using the first amplitude value BA1 and the second amplitude value BA2 of the brain waves before the tinnitus treatment. Here, the first amplitude value BA1 is approximately 2 [mu] V and the second amplitude value BA2 is approximately 1 [mu] V, whereby the reference response rate is calculated to be approximately 50%.

The reaction rate calculating unit 130 calculates the reaction rate using the first amplitude value AA1 and the second amplitude value AA2 of the brain waves after the tinnitus treatment. Here, the first amplitude value AA1 is approximately 5 [mu] V and the second amplitude value AA2 is approximately 1 [mu] V, whereby the reaction rate is calculated to be approximately 80%.

In FIG. 2A, -30%, which is a value obtained by subtracting the reference response rate by the response rate, indicates that the treatment for tinnitus is effective, and is used for quantification of the results of tinnitus treatment by the evaluation unit 150 described later.

In FIG. 2 (b), it is possible to identify non-responder users who have no tinnitus treatment effect before the tinnitus treatment and brain waves after the tinnitus treatment.

The reaction ratio calculating unit 130 calculates the reference reaction ratio and the reaction ratio in the manner described in FIG. 2 (a). Here, the first amplitude value (BA1) of the brain waves before tinnitus treatment is approximately 3 μV, and the second amplitude value (BA2) of the brain waves before the tinnitus treatment is 1.5 μV, whereby the reference response rate is calculated to be approximately 50%. In addition, the first amplitude value (AA1) of the brain waves after tinnitus treatment is approximately 4.5 .mu.V, and the second amplitude value (AA2) of the brain waves after the tinnitus treatment is approximately 3 .mu.V.

In FIG. 2 (b), 16.7%, which is the value obtained by subtracting the reference response rate by the response rate, indicates that there is no tinnitus treatment effect, and is used by the evaluating unit 150 to be described later to quantify the treatment result.

The reaction rate calculating unit 130 transmits the calculated reference reaction rate and the calculated reaction rate to the evaluating unit 150. The evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result using the reference response ratio and the response ratio. Also, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user in consideration of the connectivity information. The quantification method of the evaluation unit 150 will be described after the connection information calculation process is described.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the connectivity information calculating unit 140 receives brain waves according to the second stimulus sound N2 from the brain wave measuring unit 120 and calculates connectivity information using the frequency characteristics of the brain waves. Here, the connectivity information includes the direction of information transmission between the user's cerebral regions and the connectivity strength. Connectivity information will be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining connectivity information of a user having an effect of treating a tinnitus, FIG. 3 (a) is a diagram showing connectivity information of a user before a treatment for tinnitus, FIG. 3 And showing connectivity information of a user having an effect.

In Figures 3 (a) and 3 (b), connectivity information is shown as a 9 x 9 matrix. This connectivity information is calculated by the following equation (1).

&Quot; (1) "

In Equation (1), PDC (partial directed coherence) denotes connectivity information, P denotes an M x M matrix, f denotes a frequency of an EEG according to a second stimulus, i and j denote positions of a brain region . ij represents the connection between the jth brain region and the i th brain region.

In FIG. 3 (a), the enlarged graph shows the connectivity between the frontal lobe of the cerebral region and the wedge lobes of the user. Here, the cerebral region generally includes the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe, and the wedge lobule belongs to the parietal lobe. At this time, the frontal lobe of the user is defined as the sixth row, and the wedge lobes are defined as the third row. That is, the enlarged graph shows how much information is transferred from the frontal lobe (sixth column) to the wedge lobes (third row). The connection strength is expressed as 0, which is no connection force, to 1, which represents the maximum connection force. The graph enlarged in (a) of FIG. 3 shows that the connectivity difference (0.01 probability) is not secured when compared with 5000 random data in the frequency band of 1 to 50 Hz, and the wedge lobes 3 The second row). This indicates that the brain response to the second stimulus from the frontal lobe and the wedge lobe region of the user before the treatment of the tinnitus does not occur.

In FIG. 3 (b), it is possible to check the connectivity information of the user who has the effect of treating the tinnitus after the treatment of the tinnitus. In FIG. 3 (b), the enlarged graph shows that the connectivity difference (0.01 probability) is secured in comparison with 5000 random data in the frequency band of 1 to 50 Hz. The wedge lobes Line) is being carried out. This indicates that a brain response is being made to the second stimulus from the frontal lobe of the user and the wedge lobe region after the treatment of the tinnitus, and that the tinnitus treatment for the user has therapeutic effect.

4 (a) and 4 (b) illustrate connection information of a user who has no tinnitus treatment effect, FIG. 4 (a) FIG.

In FIG. 4 (a), the enlarged graph shows that the significance (0.01 probability) of the difference in connectivity is not secured when compared with 5000 random data in the frequency band of 1 to 50 Hz, and the wedge leaflets The third line) shows that information is not transmitted. This indicates that the brain response to the second stimulus from the frontal lobe and the wedge lobe region of the user before the treatment of the tinnitus does not occur.

In (b) of FIG. 4, it is possible to check the connectivity information of the user who does not have the effect of treating the tinnitus after the treatment of the tinnitus. In Fig. 4 (b), the enlarged graph shows that the significance (0.01 probability) of the difference in connectivity is not obtained when compared with 5000 random data in the frequency band of 1 to 50 Hz, and the wedge leaflets 3) shows that no information has been transmitted. This indicates that the brain response is not made to the second stimulus sound from the frontal lobe of the user and the wedge lobule region after the treatment of the tinnitus, and that the tinnitus treatment for the user has no therapeutic effect.

3 and 4, the connectivity information calculating unit 140 may calculate connectivity information that objectively shows whether the treatment effect of the tinnitus treatment method for the user exists. That is, the connectivity information calculating unit 140 calculates connectivity information between the cerebral regions of the user by using a pre-prepared algorithm and an EEG based on the second stimulus note N2. Here, the algorithm prepared in advance is constituted by Equation (1). The connectivity information calculation unit 140 transmits the calculated connectivity information to the evaluation unit 150. [

Referring again to FIG. 1, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result using the response rate received from the response ratio calculating unit 130 and the reference response ratio. In addition, the evaluator 150 further quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user by further considering the connectivity information received from the connectivity information calculator 140.

The evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result to a high level when the response rate is larger than the reference response rate. Also, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result to a low level when the response rate is smaller than or equal to the reference response rate. Here, the high level indicates the effect of the tinnitus treatment, and the low level indicates the effect of the tinnitus treatment. The quantification is not limited to the above example, and can be further subdivided into more steps.

For example, if the reference response rate is subtracted from the reference response rate and the result is within -5% to -60%, the evaluation unit 150 evaluates the user to a high level indicating that the tinnitus treatment effect on the user is effective. The evaluating unit 150 evaluates the reference response rate as a middle level indicating that the tinnitus treatment effect of the tinnitus treatment method for the user can not be known if the result is within -3% to 3%. The evaluating unit 150 evaluates the reference response rate as a low level indicating that there is no tinnitus treatment effect of the tinnitus treatment method for the user when the reference response rate is subtracted as the response rate and the result is within 5% to 60%.

On the other hand, the evaluation unit 150 may evaluate the tinnitus treatment method only by the reaction ratio. For example, when the response rate is 81.50% or more, the evaluating unit 150 selects the tinnitus treatment method as a recommendation target. If the response rate is within 78.00% to 81.30%, the tinnitus treatment method is selected as the 50% Tinnitus treatment can be chosen as a non-subject.

Also, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user in consideration of the connectivity information. For example, if the response rate is larger than the reference response rate and it is determined that the information transmission is activated to the wedge lobes in the frontal lobe of the user, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result to a high level. On the other hand, if the response rate is larger than the reference response rate, the evaluating unit 150 can quantify the user's tinnitus treatment result as a middle level if it is determined that the information transmission from the frontal lobe of the user is not activated to the wedge lobes.

Also, the evaluating unit 150 quantifies the user's tinnitus treatment result to a low level if it is determined that the reaction rate is less than or equal to the reference response rate, and that the information transmission is not activated to the wedge lobes in the user's frontal lobe. On the other hand, if the response rate is less than or equal to the reference response rate, the evaluator 150 can quantify the user's tinnitus treatment result as a middle level if it is determined that the information transfer from the frontal lobe of the user to the wedge lobes is not activated .

Also, the evaluating unit 150 may quantify the result of the tinnitus treatment by further considering the user's input related to the subjective judgment. The evaluation unit 150 can receive the input result from the input unit 300 when the user inputs the tinnitus intensity for the tinnitus treatment before the tinnitus treatment in the input unit 300. [ Here, the input result may be represented by 2 indicating that the treatment effect is effective, 1 indicating the unknown value, and 0 indicating no treatment effect, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The evaluation unit 150 can re-quantify the tinnitus treatment result according to the input result. Through this, the evaluator 150 can evaluate the tinnitus treatment result using both the subjective index and the objective index.

The evaluation unit 150 may output the evaluation result of the tinnitus treatment result to the user through the output unit 400. Here, the output unit 400 may include a monitor for visually displaying the evaluation result and a speaker for audibly listening to the evaluation result. Accordingly, the evaluating unit 150 allows the user to immediately check his / her tinnitus treatment result.

On the other hand, referring to Figs. 5 to 7, a description will be given of how the connectivity information is used as an evaluation index of tinnitus treatment.

FIG. 5 is a first diagram for explaining a signal source of a cerebral region of a user responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 (a) FIG. 5 (b) is a brain image of the user (the therapist) after the tinnitus treatment by the false treatment method. Here, the brain image is an image photographed through an imaging device such as an MRI, and the color of a brain image is represented by an EEG measured by a user and a backward tracking technique.

In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the left and right brain images of the left brain, the right brain of the user, the right image of the user right brain, the left image of the user right brain, Plane image. The arrangement order of the brain images is also the same in Figs. 6 and 7.

In FIG. 5 (a), the brain of the user before the treatment of tinnitus reacts with the second stimulus sound N2 to activate the occipital region. In (b) of FIG. 5, the brain of the user (the therapist) after the tinnitus treatment by the false therapy is not much different from that before the treatment of the tinnitus. This shows that the user's brain was not significantly affected by the spurious treatment. Here, fake therapy is selected from untried tinnitus therapy except cortical stimulation and the same frequency training method.

FIG. 6 is a second diagram illustrating a signal source of a user's brain region responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6B is a brain image of a user before tinnitus treatment, 6 (b) is a brain image of a user who has a therapeutic effect after tinnitus treatment by local stimulation.

In FIG. 6 (a), the brain of the user before the treatment for tinnitus reacts with the second stimulus sound N2 to activate the pore area. In (b) of FIG. 6, after the tinnitus treatment by the local stimulation method (light cranial stimulation), the user's brain activates the frontal lobe and parietal lobe in response to the second stimulus N2. This indicates that the user's brain was affected by local stimulation after the tinnitus treatment by local stimulation. That is, the brain of the user who has the effect of treating the tinnitus reacts to the second stimulus sound (N2) to activate the frontal lobe and the wedge lobe region. Thus, the connectivity information indicating the connection between the frontal lobe and the wedge lobe can be used to evaluate the user's tinnitus treatment outcome.

FIG. 7 is a third diagram for explaining a signal source of a user's brain region responsive to a second stimulus sound according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 (a) is a brain image of a user before tinnitus treatment, 7 (b) is a brain image of a user who has no therapeutic effect after tinnitus treatment by local stimulation.

In FIG. 7 (a), the brain of the user before the treatment of the tinnitus reacts with the second stimulus sound N2 to activate the parietal region. In (b) of FIG. 7, after the tinnitus treatment by the local stimulation method (cingular cortex), the user's brain reacts to the second stimulus (N2) to activate the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe (wedge lobule), and the temporal lobe region. In other words, the brain of the user who has no effect on the treatment of tinnitus reacts to the second stimulus (N2), activating the frontal, parietal, and temporal areas. As such, connectivity information indicating the link between the frontal and temporal lobes can not be used to assess the user's tinnitus outcome.

The method according to the present invention can be implemented as a computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and a carrier wave (for example, transmission via the Internet). The computer-readable recording medium may also be distributed over a networked computer system so that computer readable code can be stored and executed in a distributed manner.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, substitutions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. will be. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate and not to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments and the accompanying drawings . The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

100: Tinnitus treatment result evaluation device using brain response
110: a pair of stimulation sound generating units
120: EEG measuring unit
130: reaction ratio calculating unit
140: Connectivity information calculating section
150:
200: Stimulus sound output device
300:
400: Output section

Claims (9)

An EEG measuring unit for measuring an EEG generated by a user in response to a pair of stimuli including a first stimulus sound and a second stimulus sound;
A first amplitude value of an EEG according to the first stimulus sound and a second amplitude value of an EEG according to the second stimulus sound and receives a second amplitude value of the EEG according to a reaction rate A reaction rate calculating unit for calculating a reaction rate;
A connectivity information calculation unit for calculating connectivity information between the cerebral regions of the user using the algorithm and the EEG according to the second stimulus sound; And
An evaluator for comparing the response rate with a reference response rate established through the user before treatment for tinnitus and quantifying the result of the tinnitus treatment of the user using the comparison result;
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the evaluation unit quantifies the tinnitus treatment result of the user in consideration of the connectivity information. The method according to claim 1,
And a pair of magnetic pole sound generators for generating the pair of magnetic pole sounds,
Wherein the first stimulus sound and the second stimulus sound have a predetermined time interval. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first stimulus sound and the second stimulus sound are constituted by pulse signals and have the same pulse amplitude and pulse width as each other. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the connectivity information includes an information transmission direction and a connection strength between the cerebral regions of the user. The method according to claim 1,
The evaluating unit,
Quantifying the tinnitus treatment result of the user to a high level when the response rate is larger than the reference response rate and quantifying the tinnitus treatment result of the user as a low level when the response rate is smaller than or equal to the reference response rate Evaluation of Tinnitus Therapy Using Brain Response. 6. The method of claim 5,
The evaluating unit,
The result of the tinnitus treatment of the user is quantified to a high level if it is determined that the response rate is larger than the reference response rate and information transmission is activated from the frontal lobe of the cerebral region of the user to the wedge lobes through the connectivity information For the evaluation of tinnitus results. 8. The method of claim 7,
The evaluating unit,
Wherein the tinnitus intensity is input from the user after the tinnitus treatment in comparison with before the tinnitus treatment, and the tinnitus treatment result of the user is quantified in consideration of the input result. The method according to claim 1,
The EEG-
A pre-processing unit for detecting an EEG from the user and pre-processing the EEG; a noise removing unit for removing noise from the pre-processed EEG; and a controller for detecting the first amplitude value and the second amplitude value from the noise- And a signal processing unit for extracting the brain from the brain.

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