Implantable hearing assistance apparatus and corresponding systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
- an implantable cochlear stimulator, that does not include sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data and does not include a battery, including a position element, receiver apparatus adapted to wirelessly receive power and stimulation data, an electrode array, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the receiver apparatus and to the electrode array;
a hearing assistance device including a battery, sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to transmit the stimulation data; and
a headpiece, that does not include sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, including a battery, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a data/power transmission apparatus adapted to receive the stimulation data, to wirelessly transmit the received stimulation data to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus, and to wirelessly transmit power from the battery to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus;
wherein the hearing assistance device is not connected to the headpiece with a cable during use.
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Abstract
Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power.
46 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator, that does not include sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data and does not include a battery, including a position element, receiver apparatus adapted to wirelessly receive power and stimulation data, an electrode array, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; a hearing assistance device including a battery, sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to transmit the stimulation data; and a headpiece, that does not include sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, including a battery, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a data/power transmission apparatus adapted to receive the stimulation data, to wirelessly transmit the received stimulation data to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus, and to wirelessly transmit power from the battery to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus; wherein the hearing assistance device is not connected to the headpiece with a cable during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A hearing assistance method, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting stimulation data, but not power, from an external hearing assistance device associated with a user'"'"'s head to a headpiece that is mounted on the exterior of the user'"'"'s head, that does not include sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, that includes a housing, a coil antenna within the housing and a battery within the housing, and that is not connected to the external hearing device with a cable, by way of magnetic attraction between the headpiece and a cochlear stimulator implanted within the user'"'"'s head; wirelessly transmitting the stimulation data from the headpiece to the implanted cochlear stimulator; wirelessly transmitting power stored in the battery within headpiece housing to the implanted cochlear stimulator with the coil antenna within the headpiece housing; and electrically stimulating the user'"'"'s auditory nerve with the implanted cochlear stimulator in response to receipt of the stimulation data from the headpiece. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a position element, receiver apparatus adapted to wirelessly receive power and stimulation data, an electrode array, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; a headpiece including a battery, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a data/power transmission apparatus adapted to receive the stimulation data, to wirelessly transmit received stimulation data to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus, and to wirelessly transmit power from the battery to the cochlear stimulator receiver apparatus; a notification source that transmits a notification signal; and a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus, that is not part of or attached to an external hearing device and that wirelessly receives the notification signal and wirelessly transmits stimulation data to the headpiece in response to receipt of the notification signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification