Power supply for a cochlear implant

• US 20070104342A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Seligman, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,638,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• 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

A power supply control system for use with a tissue stimulating prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant. The power supply control system comprises a first battery, a second battery, at least a third battery, and a switching system. The first and second batteries are electrically connected in series to provide power to the prosthesis, while the third battery is electrically connectable through the switching means in parallel with either the first battery. The third battery is electrically connected by the control system in parallel with whichever one of said first battery or said second battery has lowest voltage.

Claims

1. A power supply for an electrically powered device, the power supply comprising:

a first battery;

a second battery;

at least a third battery; and

a switching means;

the first and second battery being electrically connected in series, and the at least a third battery being electrically connectable through the switching means in parallel with either the first battery or the second battery;

wherein the third battery is connected in parallel with whichever of the first and second batteries is exhibiting lesser performance.

2-44. -44. (canceled)