Optically coupled cochlear implant systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system to stimulate tissue of a user having a tympanic membrane, the system comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes configured for placement at least partially within the tissue;
circuitry configured to receive a signal from a source;
at least one light source coupled to the circuitry, the at least one light source and the circuitry configured to transmit through the tympanic membrane a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of light pulses;
at least one photodetector sized and shaped to collect a scattered multiplexed optical signal transmitted through the tympanic membrane, the at least one photodetector and the plurality of electrodes configured to pass current through the electrodes in response to the scattered multiplexed optical signal comprising the plurality of light pulses in order to stimulate the tissue,wherein the multiplexed optical signal comprises a plurality of optical channels, each optical channel of the plurality corresponding to at least one frequency of sound, andwherein the multiplexed optical signal is transmitted through the tympanic membrane of the user to the at least one photodetector, the at least one photodetector configured to be affixed to a middle ear and coupled to the plurality of electrodes configured to be positioned at least partially within a cochlea.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An output assembly is sized for placement in the middle and inner ear, such that removal of bone can be decreased. The output assembly may comprise at least one photo detector, a demultiplexer and an electrode array sized to pass through an incision in the eardrum. An input transducer assembly is configured to transmit a multiplexed optical signal to the output assembly. The input assembly can be configured to transmit the multiplexed optical signal through the eardrum, such that tissue removal can be decreased and the device can be placed without removal of bone, for example. The multiplexed optical signal may comprise a pulse width modulated signal so as to decrease the effect of non-linearities of the light source and light detector and provide quality sound to the user.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system to stimulate tissue of a user having a tympanic membrane, the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes configured for placement at least partially within the tissue; circuitry configured to receive a signal from a source; at least one light source coupled to the circuitry, the at least one light source and the circuitry configured to transmit through the tympanic membrane a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of light pulses; at least one photodetector sized and shaped to collect a scattered multiplexed optical signal transmitted through the tympanic membrane, the at least one photodetector and the plurality of electrodes configured to pass current through the electrodes in response to the scattered multiplexed optical signal comprising the plurality of light pulses in order to stimulate the tissue, wherein the multiplexed optical signal comprises a plurality of optical channels, each optical channel of the plurality corresponding to at least one frequency of sound, and wherein the multiplexed optical signal is transmitted through the tympanic membrane of the user to the at least one photodetector, the at least one photodetector configured to be affixed to a middle ear and coupled to the plurality of electrodes configured to be positioned at least partially within a cochlea. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system to transmit an audio signal to a user having a tympanic membrane, the system comprising:
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an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes configured for placement at least partially within a cochlea of the user; circuitry configured to receive the audio signal from a sound source; at least one light source coupled to the circuitry, the at least one light source and the circuitry configured to transmit through the tympanic membrane a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of light pulses and comprising the audio signal, wherein the multiplexed optical signal comprises a plurality of optical channels, each optical channel of the plurality corresponding to at least one frequency of the audio signal; at least one detector sized and shaped to collect a scattered multiplexed optical signal transmitted through the tympanic membrane and pass current through the electrodes in response to the scattered multiplexed optical signal comprising the plurality of light pulses in order to transmit the audio signal, wherein the multiplexed optical signal is transmitted through the tympanic membrane of the user to the at least one detector, the at least one detector configured to be affixed to a middle ear and coupled to the electrode array configured to be positioned at least partially within a cochlea. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification