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Members of the military who suffer from mild to moderate tinnitus now can benefit from a new device designed specifically for their condition – and funded by a U.S. Army development grant.

Neuromonics, Inc., the maker and distributor of the FDA-cleared, patented and clinically proven Oasis medical device designed for long-term significant relief of tinnitus, has introduced the Neuromonics Sanctuary™. With funds received from a U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Act in the fall of 2011, Neuromonics has developed and brought to market this first device helping individuals suffering from mild to moderate tinnitus.

“With the introduction of the Sanctuary, Neuromonics can provide effective, simple treatment for the full range of tinnitus that particularly affects members of the military,” says Curtis Amann, Neuromonics’ vice president of marketing and sales. According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 50 million people in the United States alone suffer from tinnitus, described as buzzing, ringing, hissing, humming, roaring, or whistling that someone hears in the absence of any external sound. Usually brought on by exposure to loud noise, the problem is especially significant in the military, with more than 34 percent of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from tinnitus.

The Sanctuary provides relief of relief of tinnitus symptoms by combining relaxing music with a customized neural stimulus, explains Amann. By blending a customized, high-frequency signal with music, the device provices an on-demand sense of control and relief to the individual. Patients with mild or moderate tinnitus disturbance can experience relief within minutes of their tinnitus assessment, Amann states.

Ease of use
The compact Sanctuary device is simple to use, functioning much like familiar consumer music players, and fits easily into patients’ lifestyles, says Amann. Tinnitus sufferers can choose from one of three pre-programmed profiles to find the signal that provides the greatest degree of relief from their particular symptoms. Pressing “play” allows them to listen to calming, relaxing music that interacts with the tinnitus perception.

The Sanctuary is not a masking device, explains Amann, but rather works to promote new neural connections that will allow the brain to help filter out the tinnitus perception. Individuals use the Sanctuary at times when their tinnitus is bothersome. The device works on the same principles as the Neuromonics Oasis, the gold standard for long-term reduction of tinnitus disturbance and awareness. Whereas the Sanctuary provides situational relief, the Oasis, combined with the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment, is a long-term treatment program for those with more severe tinnitus.

“The Sanctuary’s excellent, early results are gratifying,” says Duane Knight, chief operating officer at Neuromonics. “To see a direct result of the U.S. Army grant in a position to help so many people is another confirmation that Neuromonics and the U.S. military are committed to working together, and to providing the best possible solution to all those who suffer from tinnitus as a result of their active military service.”

Neuromonics, Inc. (http://www.neuromonics.com)
Based in Bethlehem, Pa., Neuromonics, Inc., manufactures and distributes clinically proven, FDA-cleared medical devices to treat tinnitus. The Sanctuary provides situational relief for those suffering from mild to moderate tinnitus. The patented and clinically proven Oasis, working the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment, provides long-term significant relief for those with severe tinnitus. With research and development beginning in the early 1990s, Neuromonics has helped thousands of tinnitus sufferers improve their quality of life and overcome the daily life challenges associated with tinnitus. The treatment has been featured on national news media including "The Doctors" and CNN.

USAMRMC Contract
This research and development project will be conducted by Neuromonics, Inc., and is made possible by a contract that was awarded and administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command (USAMRMC) and the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), at Fort Detrick, MD, under Contract Number: W81XWH-11-2-0190.