Appeal No. 1998-0659
Application No. 08/264,527
Representative independent claims 1 and 12 are reproduced
as follows:
1. Apparatus for treating a patient for symptoms caused
by tinnitus, comprising:
means for generating a masking noise signal in an
ultrasonic frequency range; and
means for applying said masking noise signal physically
to a selected body part of said patient to alleviate said
symptoms caused by tinnitus.
12. Apparatus for treating a patient for symptoms of
tinnitus, comprising:
means for generating a masking noise signal in an
auditory frequency range;
means for applying said masking noise signal to a
selected body part of said patient to alleviate said symptoms
of tinnitus;
transducer means for converting sounds in an auditory
frequency range into audio frequency electrical signals;
ultrasonic modulator means for converting said audio
frequency electrical signals into ultrasonic frequency
electrical signals; and
means for applying said ultrasonic frequency electrical
signals physically to a selected body part of said patient.
The Examiner relies on the following references:
Shannon et al. (Shannon) 5,285,499 Feb. 8,
1994
Matsushima et al. (Matsushima), Development Of Implanted
Electrical Tinnitus Suppressor, 1994, pages 1-17
3
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