Integrated implantable hearing device, microphone and power unit

• US 20060183965A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Kasic, James Frank II, Easter, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.

Claims

1. An implantable system for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:

an implantable microphone operative to transcutaneously receive sound and generate a microphone output signal;

an implantable signal processor adapted to receive said microphone output signal and generate a drive signal for actuating an implantable auditory stimulation device;

an implantable power storage device for powering at least said microphone and said processor; and

a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting said drive signal and electrical power from said power storage device to an implanted auditory stimulation device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless signal transmitter comprises a coil, wherein said coil is operative to create an inductive coupling with a coil of an implanted auditory stimulation device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver for transcutaneously receiving at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said wireless receiver is operatively interconnected to said power storage device, wherein transcutaneously received signals are operable to recharge said power storage device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable housing, wherein said implantable housing houses at least one of said microphone, said signal processor, said power storage device and said wireless signal transmitter.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable housing, wherein said implantable housing houses at least said signal processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said wireless signal transmitter is interconnected to said signal processor by a flexible electrical connector, wherein said signal processor and said wireless signal transmitter are selectively positionable at first and second spaced positions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said microphone is interconnected to said signal processor by a flexible electrical connector, wherein said signal processor and said microphone are positionable as first and second spaced positions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said power storage device comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of rechargeable batteries.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one rechargeable battery has a capacity of at least 20 mW/h.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one rechargeable battery has a capacity of at least 50 mW/h.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said at least one rechargeable battery has a capacity of at least 100 mW/h.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor is operative to generate a drive signal for actuating an intracochlear electrode.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal processor is operative to generate a drive signal for a middle ear auditory stimulation device.

16. An implantable system for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:

an implantable microphone operative to transcutaneously receive sound and generate a microphone output signal;

an implantable signal processor adapted to receive said microphone output signal and generate a drive signal for actuating an implantable auditory stimulation device;

at least one implantable rechargeable battery for powering at least said microphone and said processor;

a first implantable coil electrically interconnected to at least said rechargeable battery, said first implantable coil being operative to form a transcutaneous inductive coupling;

a second implantable coil operatively interconnected to at least said signal processor and said rechargeable battery, said wireless transmitter being operative to form a subcutaneous inductive coupling with an implanted auditory stimulation device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said second implantable coil is operative to inductively transmit said drive signal and electrical power from said battery to an implanted auditory stimulation device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one rechargeable battery has a capacity of at least 50 mW/h.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one rechargeable battery has a capacity of at least 100 mW/h.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said signal processor is operative to generate a drive signal for actuating an intracochlear electrode.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said signal processor is operative to generate a drive signal for a middle ear auditory stimulation device.

22. An implantable auditory stimulation system, comprising:

an implantable module including;

an implantable microphone operative to transcutaneously receive sound and generate a microphone output signal;

an implantable signal processor adapted to receive said microphone output signal and generate a drive signals for actuating an implantable auditory stimulation device;

an implantable rechargeable battery for powering at least said microphone and said processor; and

an implantable cochlear stimulation device;

a flexible communications wire extending between said implantable module and said cochlear stimulation device, wherein said communications wire transmits said drive signals and electrical power from said implantable module to said cochlear stimulation device; and

a selectively attachable and detachable connector for connecting and disconnecting said communications wire.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said implantable module further comprises a modulator for modulating said drive signals prior to said drive signal being transmitted to said implantable cochlear stimulation device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said cochlear stimulation device comprises:

a stimulation module adapted to receive said drive signals; and

an electrode adapted for intracochlear implantation, wherein said electrode is operative to stimulate a cochlea of a patient in response to said drive signals.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said stimulation module further comprises:

a demodulator for demodulating modulated drive signals.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said drive signals comprise analog drive signals.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein said drive signals comprise digital drive signals.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein said connector consists of two electrical conductors.

29. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:

generating a drive signal at a first subcutaneous implant module, said drive signal being operative to actuate an implantable auditory stimulation device; and

wirelessly transmitting said drive signal from said first subcutaneous implant module to a second subcutaneous implant module associated with said implantable auditory stimulation device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

actuating said auditory stimulation device according to said drive signal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein generating said drive signal further comprises:

receiving sound at a subcutaneous microphone;

producing a microphone output associated with said sound; and

processing said microphone output to generate said drive signal.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein wirelessly transmitting said drive signal further comprises:

creating an inductive coupling between said first module and said second module.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting power from a power supply associated with said first implant module to said second implant module, wherein said power is sufficient to run said second module and an auditory stimulation device associated with said second module.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said power and said drive signal are transmitted over a common wireless link between said first and second implant modules.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein wirelessly transmitting power comprises continuously transmitting said power for at least 8 hours.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein wirelessly transmitting power comprises continuously transmitting said power for at least 12 hours.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein wirelessly transmitting power comprises continuously transmitting said power for at least 16 hours.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

transcutaneously receiving, at said first implant module, at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals; and

utilizing said signals to recharge a power supply associated with said implant module.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein generating said drive signal comprises generating a signal operative for use with an intracochlear electrode.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein generating said drive signal comprises generating a signal operative for use with a middle ear stimulation device.

41. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:

positioning a implantable hearing unit relative to an implantable stimulation device;

generating a wireless link between said hearing unit and said stimulation device, wherein said wireless link electrically interconnects said hearing unit and said stimulation device; and

first transmitting from said hearing unit to said stimulation device, using said wireless link, power to operate said stimulation device; and

second transmitting from said hearing unit to said stimulation device, using said wireless link, a drive signal operative to actuate said stimulation device, wherein said stimulation device stimulates an auditory component of a patient.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said first and second transmitting steps are performed simultaneously.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein positioning comprises:

disposing a first coil associated with said hearing unit relative to a second coil associated with said implantable stimulation device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said first coil is disposed in an overlying relationship with said second coil.

45. The method of claim 41, further comprises:

interconnecting said implantable stimulation device to an auditory component of a patient.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said positioning and interconnecting steps are performed during a common procedure.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein said interconnecting step is performed in a first procedure and said positioning step is performed in subsequent second procedure, wherein said first and second procedures are temporally distinct.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

generating a drive signal at said hearing unit, said drive signal being operative to actuate stimulation device.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein generating said drive signal comprises generating a signal operative for use with a middle ear stimulation device.

49. The method of claim 49, wherein generating said drive signal comprises generating a signal operative for use with an intracochlear electrode.

51. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:

positioning a first module of a cochlear implant at a first subcutaneous location relative to a cochlea of a patient, said first module including a receiver and an intracochlear electrode;

locating a second module of said cochlear implant at a second subcutaneous location, said second module including an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power supply and a processor;

subcutaneously routing a communications conductor between said first and second modules; and

releaseably connecting said first and second modules using said communications conductor.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

transmitting from said first module to said second module, through said communications conductor, drive signals for use in actuating said intracochlear electrode.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein releaseably connecting comprises establishing two conductors between said first and second modules.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

modulating signals at said first module prior to transmission to said second module; and

demodulating signals at said second module.