Wearable alarm system for a prosthetic hearing implant

• US 20070055321A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Jurkiewicz, Tadeusz, Leigh, Roger, Gordon, Brian, Tankongchumruskul, Kianqkai
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37258 Alerting the patient

Abstract

A prosthetic hearing implant kit is disclosed. The prosthetic hearing implant kit comprises internal components configured to be implanted in a recipient and comprises an internal coil; external components configured to be worn by the recipient and comprises an external coil adapted to be inductively coupled with said internal coil; and an alert system having a second external coil and adapted to receive an external alarm and to transmit signals to said implanted components via said external coil for providing the recipient with a corresponding alarm indication.

Claims

1. A prosthetic hearing implant kit comprising:

internal components configured to be implanted in a recipient and comprising an internal coil;

external components configured to be worn by the recipient and comprising an external coil adapted to be inductively coupled with said internal coil; and

an alert system having a second external coil and adapted to receive an external alarm and to transmit signals to said implanted components via said external coil for providing the recipient with a corresponding alarm indication.

2. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said alert system comprises:

an event detection module comprising at least one microphone and an FM wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of received audio signals; and

a wearable alarm module configured to analyze one or more characteristics of said representative signal, and to invoke said prosthetic hearing implant to generate an alarm indication when said representative signal represents a received audio signal constituting an alarm event.

3. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 2, wherein said characteristics comprise one or more of the group consisting of amplitude, frequency, and duration.

4. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 2, wherein said at least one microphone is configured for wide-angle, normal or directional sound pick up.

5. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said alert system is adapted to transmit alarm signals of limited predetermined types.

6. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said alarm signals correspond to specific stimulation signals for said prosthetic hearing implant.

7. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 6, wherein said alarm signal is transmitted to the prosthetic hearing implant as a predefined data sequence.

8. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 7, wherein said alert system is adapted for use with a cochlear implant, and the alarm signal corresponds to an instruction to apply any one of a constant amplitude stimulus sequence directed to one of the active electrodes, a sequence of pulses applied sequentially to a group of predefined electrodes, or a steady increase in the amplitude of the electrode stimulation.

9. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said external alarm is an ambient sound signal.

10. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said external alarm is selected from the group comprising one or more of a phone ring, an alarm clock, a smoke alarm, a doorbell, an intruder alarm, a baby monitor, or a sound having greater than a predetermined level.

11. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said external alarm is generated within the alarm device.

12. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 2, wherein said external alarm is communicated to said alarm module by electrical, electronic or radio means.

13. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, wherein said alarm device includes a transmitter module and a receiver module, wherein said transmitter module is adapted to transmit said alarm signals to the prosthetic hearing implant, and is removably held externally adjacent the prosthetic hearing implant.

20. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a helmet adapted to be worn on the recipient'"'"'s head, said helmet comprising a rigid cover over a sock-absorbing material,

wherein said transmission coil is positioned inside said helmet.

21. The prosthetic implant kit of claim 20, wherein said transmission coil is positioned between said shock-absorbing material of said helmet and the recipient'"'"'s head.

22. The prosthetic implant kit of claim 20, wherein said transmission coil is a flexible printed circuit board.

23. The prosthetic implant kit of claim 22, wherein said transmission coil further comprises:

a flexible overmolding secured to the surface of the flexible printed circuit board.

24. The prosthetic implant kit of claim 20, wherein said transmission coil is positioned between said shock-absorbing material and said rigid cover of said helmet.

25. The prosthetic implant kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a protective headgear adapted to be worn on the head of the recipient,

wherein said transmission coil is fixed in position to the inside of said protective headgear.

14. The prosthetic hearing implant kit of claim 14, wherein said receiver module is adapted to receive the external alarm and transmit said external alarm to said alarm module.

15. An alert system for use in a prosthetic hearing implant comprising:

an event detection module comprising at least one microphone and a transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of received audio signals; and

a wearable alarm module configured to analyze one or more characteristics of said representative signal, and to invoke said prosthetic hearing implant to generate an alarm indication when said representative signal represents a received audio signal constituting an alarm event.

16. The alert system of claim 15, wherein said characteristics comprise one or more of the group consisting of amplitude, frequency, and duration.

17. The alert system of claim 15, wherein said at least one microphone is configured for wide-angle, normal or directional sound pick up.

18. The alert system of claim 15, wherein said transmitter of said event detection module comprises an FM wireless transmitter.

19. A method of communicating an external alarm to the recipient of a prosthetic hearing implant, comprising:

receiving at an event detection module audio signals;

transmitting to a wearable alarm module signals representative of said received audio signals;

determining by aid wearable alarm module whether said receipt of said audio signals constitutes an alarm condition; and

controlling the prosthetic hearing implant to provide the recipient with an alarm indication when said audio signals constitute an alarm condition.