SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTABLE LEADLESS COCHLEAR STIMULATION

• US 20070293913A1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Cowan, Mark W., Riley, Richard E., Brisken, Axel F., Echt, Debra S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating within the cochlea of the ear comprising:

generating acoustic energy at an implantation site; and

receiving said acoustic energy at a cochlea stimulation site, wherein said acoustic energy is converted into electrical cochlea stimulation energy based on both energy and signal information included in the generated acoustic energy.

12. A system of claim 1, wherein the externally applied controller-transmitter comprises a power source, control and timing circuitry to provide a stimulation signal, means for converting the stimulation signal to an acoustic energy signal, and means for transmitting the acoustic energy signal to the receiver-stimulator.

13. A system of claim 12, further comprising two or more receiver-stimulator device.

14. A system of claim 13, wherein the system is programmed to activate the receiver stimulator devices sequentially.

15. A system of claim 13, wherein the system is programmed to activate the receiver-stimulator devices simultaneously.

16. A method of claim 1 or 2, wherein receiving comprises receiving the energy at two or more cochlea stimulation sites.

17. A method of claim 16, wherein the signal information stimulates different sites sequentially.

18. A method of claim 16, wherein the signal information stimulates different sites simultaneously.

2. A method for stimulating within the cochlea of the ear comprising:

generating acoustic energy at a site on the exterior surface of the body; and

receiving said acoustic energy at a cochlea stimulation site, wherein said acoustic energy is converted into electrical cochlea stimulation energy, based on energy and signal information included in the generated acoustic energy.

3. A method for stimulating within the cochlea of the ear comprising:

placing electrodes at a cochlea stimulation site;

generating acoustic energy at a site exterior of the body, wherein the acoustic energy contains both energy and signal information; and

receiving said acoustic energy at an implantation site;

wherein said acoustic energy is converted into electrical energy; and

the electrical energy is delivered via electrical connection to the electrodes at the cochlea stimulation site.

4. A system for cochlea stimulation comprising:

an implantable acoustic controller-transmitter; and

an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator having an electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with the cochlea, wherein the controller-transmitter is adapted to transmit acoustic energy and the receiver-stimulator is adapted to receive acoustic energy and the controller-transmitter provides energy and signal information to the receiver-stimulator to provide electrical stimulation to the cochlea.

5. A system of claim 4, wherein the receiver-stimulator comprises an acoustic receiver which receives acoustic energy and generates alternating current, means for converting the alternating current to a pre-determined waveform, and electrodes adapted to deliver the pre-determined waveform to stimulate the cochlea.

6. A system of claim 4, wherein the controller-transmitter comprises a power source, control and timing circuitry to provide a stimulation signal, means for converting the stimulation signal to an acoustic energy signal, and means for transmitting the acoustic energy signal to the receiver-stimulator.

7. A system of claim 6, further comprising two or more receiver-stimulator device.

8. A system of claim 7, wherein the system is programmed to activate the receiver stimulator devices sequentially.

9. A system of claim 7, wherein the system is programmed to activate the receiver-stimulator devices simultaneously.

10. A system for cochlear stimulation comprising:

an externally applied acoustic controller-transmitter; and

an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator having an electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with the cochlea, wherein the transmitter and receiver-stimulator are adapted to transmit and receive acoustic energy which provides both energy and signal information to the receiver-stimulator sufficient to provide electrical stimulation to the cochlea.

11. A system of claim 10, wherein the receiver-stimulator comprises an acoustic receiver which receives acoustic energy and generates alternating current, means for converting the alternating current to a to a pre-determined waveform, and electrodes adapted to deliver the pre-determined waveform to stimulate the cochlea.

19. A method for stimulating within the cochlea of the ear comprising:

placing electrodes at a cochlea stimulation site;

generating acoustic energy at a first implantation site, wherein the acoustic energy contains both energy and signal information; and

receiving said acoustic energy at a second implantation site;

wherein said acoustic energy is converted into electrical energy; and

the electrical energy is delivered via electrical connection to the electrodes at the cochlea stimulation site.