Cochlear Implant Sound Processor With Permanently Integrated Replenishable Power Source
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cochlear implant sound processor is powered by a rechargeable battery that is permanently integrated into the sound processor. The sound processor contains an inductive coil that may be tuned to an external charging coil for battery recharging. The electronic circuits and coil of the sound processor are housed in a material transparent to RF signals. The sound processor may be placed in a recharging base station in which the sound processor is positioned in a space surrounded by the inductive charging coil embedded in a material transparent to RF signals. The inductive charging coil sends power to the coil inside the processor and thereby recharges the battery. An alternative embodiment utilizes contacts in the sound processor case and aligned terminals in the recharging base station that allow direct charging of the battery.
82 Citations
39 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A sound processor for use with an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to receive stimulation signals, the sound processor comprising:
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a microphone configured to receive sound signals and convert them into electrical signals; a circuit configured to receive the electrical signals from the microphone and convert them into a stimulation signal; a coil operably connected to the circuit and configured to transfer the stimulation signal from the circuit to the implantable cochlear stimulator; and a power source permanently integrated into the sound processor and configured to provide operating power for the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A cochlear implant system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator; and an external sound processor including a closed case and a sound processor circuit, a coil and a rechargeable power source integrally housed within the closed case. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification