Button Processor For Cochlear Implants
First Claim
1. A cochlear implant system comprising:
- an external housing adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user, the external housing including;
i. a signal processing module for converting an incoming acoustic signal into a representative electrical information signal, and ii. a signal transmission module for transmitting across the skin of the user an electrical power signal representative of the electrical information signal; and
an implanted portion that receives the electrical power signal and produces for the auditory system of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal, wherein the external housing and the implanted portion magnetically cooperate so as to hold the external housing in place at the specific location without structural interaction with the outer ear of the user.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cochlear implant system has an external housing adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user. The external housing includes (i) a signal processing module for converting an incoming acoustic signal into a representative electrical information signal, and (ii) a signal transmission module for transmitting across the skin of the user an electrical power signal representative of the electrical information signal. An implanted portion receives the electrical power signal and produces for the auditory system of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal. The external housing and the implanted portion magnetically cooperate so as to hold the external housing in place at the specific location without structural interaction with the outer ear of the user.
40 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A cochlear implant system comprising:
-
an external housing adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user, the external housing including;
i. a signal processing module for converting an incoming acoustic signal into a representative electrical information signal, and ii. a signal transmission module for transmitting across the skin of the user an electrical power signal representative of the electrical information signal; and
an implanted portion that receives the electrical power signal and produces for the auditory system of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal, wherein the external housing and the implanted portion magnetically cooperate so as to hold the external housing in place at the specific location without structural interaction with the outer ear of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of operating a cochlear implant system, the method comprising:
-
providing an external housing adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user, the external housing including;
i. a signal processing module for converting an incoming acoustic signal into a representative electrical information signal, and ii. a signal transmission module for transmitting across the skin of the user an electrical power signal representative of the electrical information signal; and
receiving the electrical power signal with an implanted portion, andproducing for the auditory system of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal, wherein the external housing and the implanted portion magnetically cooperate so as to hold the external housing in place at the specific location without structural interaction with the outer ear of the user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification