Transcanal cochlear implant system

• US 20040093040A1
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microphonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microphonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Boylston, Byron Lee, Goldsmith, Manning Miles
• Granted Patent: US 7,120,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/20 Ear surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant: The magnetic field modulation system receives audible tones and processes the tones into radio frequency signals that are received by a radio frequency coil system. The radio frequency coil system has a transmitting coil and a receiving coil wound in a plurality of configurations. The transmitting coil is implanted in the ear canal wherein it receives processed radio frequency signals. The receiving coil is implanted into the middle ear wherein it receives the radio frequency signals from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is hermetically sealed inside an enclosure wherein it receives and demodulates the radio frequency signal. Audio electrical signals are extracted from the demodulated radio frequency signal and delivered to the cochlea via an electrode. The audio electrical signals are received by the human brain via the nerves from the cochlea.

Claims

1. ) A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant surgically implantable into a human ear, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal, the auditory canal having inserted therein an audio signal processor, switching amplifier and at least one microphone for receiving and processing auditory signals and a middle ear space having an intact tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the magnetic field modulation system comprising:

a) a transmitting coil positioned in said auditory canal adjacently spaced from said tympanic membrane;

b) a receiving coil positioned in the middle ear adjacently spaced from the tympanic membrane;

c) said transmitting coil having a constant thickness and a diameter derived from the space separating said receiving coil and said transmitting coil;

d) said transmitting coil receiving auditory signals from said switching amplifier, said transmitting coil electromagnetically coupling said received audio signals to said receiving coil; and

e) means connected to said receiving coil for demodulating and transmitting said electromagnetically coupled audio signals to the cochlea.

2. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting coil is matched to the switching amplifier such that the coil operates in synchronization with the switching frequency of the amplifier.

3. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting coil is matched to the switching amplifier such that the coil operates coupled directly to the amplifier outputs.

4. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said transmitting coil'"'"'s position is axially aligned with the position of said receiving coil.

5. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said receiving coil'"'"'s position is angularly disposed to said transmitting coil'"'"'s position.

6. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein the spacing between said transmitting coil and said receiving coil is about 1 mm to about 7 mm.

7. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said receiving coil comprises:

a) a first C-shaped coil;

b) a second C-shaped coil juxtaposition said first C-shaped coil;

c) a pair of spaced apart transfer bridges connectively disposed to said first and said second C-shaped coil'"'"'s open end points; and

d) means for operationally connecting said transfer bridges together thereby securing said receiving coil within the confines of the middle ear.

8. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said receiving coil comprises:

a) a C-shaped hub;

b) a C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil;

c) said C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil being slidably insertable into said C-shaped hub; and

d) means for operationally securing said C-shaped hub and C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil thereby securing said receiving coil within the confines of the middle ear.

9. ) The magnetic field modulation system of claim 1, wherein said means connected to said receiving coil for demodulating is a capacitor operationally disposed to said receiving coil.

10. ) A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant surgically implantable into a human ear, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal, the auditory canal having inserted therein an audio signal processor, switching amplifier and at least one microphone for receiving and processing auditory signals and a middle ear space having an intact tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the RF coil system comprising:

a) a transmitting coil positioned in said auditory canal adjacently spaced from said tympanic membrane;

b) a receiving coil positioned in the middle ear adjacently spaced from the tympanic membrane;

c) said receiving coil have a capacitor operationally disposed thereto;

d) said transmitting coil having a constant thickness and a diameter derived from the space separating said receiving coil and said transmitting coil;

e) said transmitting coil receiving auditory signals from said switching amplifier, said transmitting coil electromagnetically coupling said received audio signals to said receiving coil, said capacitor demodulating said received audio signals, and

f) an electrode operationally connected to said receiving coil, said electrode transmitting said electromagnetically coupled audio signals to the cochlea.