High contact count, sub-miniature, fully implantable cochlear prosthesis
First Claim
1. A fully implantable tissue stimulation prosthesis comprising:
- an implantable hermetically sealed case;
an implantable microphone;
an active electrode array, comprising at least one electrode group and associated switching circuitry, wherein the at least one electrode group includes a plurality of individual electrodes that may be individually activated by electrode control signals applied to the switching circuitry;
a battery carried within said sealed case;
electronic circuitry housed within said sealed case for receiving and processing signals from said microphone, for generating the electrode control signals, and for generating stimulation currents that are applied through selected groupings of the plurality of individual electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully implantable cochlear prosthesis includes (1) an implantable hermetically sealed case wherein electronic circuitry, including a battery and an implantable microphone, are housed, (2) an active electrode array that provides a programmable number of electrode contacts through which stimulation current may be selectively delivered to surrounding tissue, preferably through the use of appropriate stimulation groups, and (3) a connector that allows the active electrode array to be detachably connected with the electronic circuitry within the sealed case. The active electrode array provides a large number of both medial and lateral contacts, any one of which may be selected to apply a stimulus pulse through active switching elements included within the array. The active switching elements included within the array operate at a very low compliance voltage, thereby reducing power consumption. The entire prosthesis is very efficient from a power consumption standpoint, thereby allowing a smaller battery to power the system for longer periods of time before recharging or replacement is required. The hermetically sealed case within which the electronic circuitry, battery, and microphone are housed may be replaced, when needed, through minimally invasive surgery. Further, the electronic circuitry housed within the hermetically sealed case may be programmed, as needed, using acoustic and/or RF control signals. In one embodiment, such control signals may be realized using phase-shift keyed (PSK) modulation of an acoustic signal within a very narrow frequency band centered at about 6 KHz.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A fully implantable tissue stimulation prosthesis comprising:
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an implantable hermetically sealed case;
an implantable microphone;
an active electrode array, comprising at least one electrode group and associated switching circuitry, wherein the at least one electrode group includes a plurality of individual electrodes that may be individually activated by electrode control signals applied to the switching circuitry;
a battery carried within said sealed case;
electronic circuitry housed within said sealed case for receiving and processing signals from said microphone, for generating the electrode control signals, and for generating stimulation currents that are applied through selected groupings of the plurality of individual electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implantable tissue stimulation prosthesis comprising:
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an implantable hermetically sealed case;
an active electrode array, comprising a plurality of active electrodes, wherein each active electrode includes switching circuitry and a plurality of individual electrode contacts that may be individually activated by electrode control signals applied to the switching circuitry;
a battery carried within said sealed case; and
electronic circuitry housed within said sealed case, said electronic circuitry including telemetry circuitry that receives programming signals from an external source, said electronic circuitry further including circuitry that generates the electrode control signals, and that further generates stimulation currents that are applied through selected ones of the plurality of individual electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. An active electrode array for use with an implantable neural stimulator, wherein the active electrode array comprises at least four banks of active electrodes, wherein each bank of active electrodes includes a plurality of active electrodes, wherein each active electrode comprises a plurality of individual electrode contacts and circuit means adjacent the individual electrode contacts for individually activating the plurality of individual electrode contacts with a selected electrode stimulation current in response to electrode control signals.
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27. A fully implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising:
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an implantable hermetically sealed case wherein is housed;
electronic circuitry;
a battery;
a microphone;
wherein the battery provides operating power for the electronic circuitry and the microphone is operatively connected to the electronic circuitry;
an active electrode array connected to the electronic circuitry within the sealed case, wherein the active electrode array includes a programmable number of electrode contacts through which stimulation current may be selectively delivered to surrounding tissue; and
a connector that allows the active electrode array to be detachably connected with the electronic circuitry within the sealed case;
wherein the active electrode array includes active switching elements and a multiplicity of both medial and lateral electrode contacts, any one of which may be selected to apply a stimulation current through the active switching elements included within the array. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification