Monitoring Hearing-Loss Treatment Through Brain Imaging

Larta Institute
posted on 10/10/2007

Technology Description:
UCSD researchers have discovered the link between neuroglobin and sensoneural hearing loss and suggest that it can be used to monitor, detect, and diagnose hearing loss in patients. Neuroglobin levels can be monitored by protein blots, such as a Western Blot or ELISA. Furthermore, with clinical intervention, it may be possible to up-regulate this protein in hearing loss patients in the effort to use it as treatment for hearing loss.

UCLA researchers have discovered a way to eliminate the background noise caused by fMRI in order to enable simultaneous administration of fMRI and EEG tests. This technology involves a combination of electrode placement, A/D conversion and digital filtering. This invention also eliminates background resulting from heart beats and other interferences to digital imaging.

Combined, the neuroglobin test and the reduced-noise fMRI provide an integrated solution for monitoring hearing-loss treatment.

Technology Background:
Electroencephalograms (EEG) and functional MRIs (fMRI) are two current methods of monitoring brain activity: EEG measure brain waves while fMRIs focus on blood accumulation in the various regions of the brain. Due to large background levels caused by fMRIs, it is currently impossible to map brain locus activity simultaneously using both fMRI and EEG. Achieving this high resolution level of brain mapping would be useful for studying and diagnosing a wide range of disorders, including sensoneural hearing loss. Currently there is no way to treat, prevent, or quantitatively diagnose sensoneural hearing loss. Researchers at UCSD have discovered that neuroglobin, a respiratory protein in inner ear sensory hair cells, is a good indicator of hearing function. Low concentrations of neuroglobin have been linked with hearing loss due to cochlear oxidative stress, but neuroglobin concentrations can also be used to diagnose viral infection, noise exposure, hypoxia, and other conditions.

Advantages

- Non-invasive monitoring of hearing loss causes
- Reduces time required for monitoring brain function in patients

Innovation Details

File Number: B-111

Other Information:

Intellectual Property:
At least a portion of this combination is protected by US & foreign Patent Application WO 2002/013689; other rights may also pertain.

Additional Information:
Technology Bundling Project
Funded by Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and administered by Larta Institute, the Project’s expert panels examined technologies from 18 Southern California research centers and identified inventions which could be synergistically combined for unique solutions. These Linked-Solutions are now being offered for license, with reduced red tape and “1-stop technology shopping”.

IP Protection