BI-MODAL COCHLEA STIMULATION
First Claim
1. An implantable hearing instrument comprising:
- an electromechanical transducer for providing a vibratory output in response to a first electrical signal, corresponding with an acoustic signal, for mechanical stimulation of a patient'"'"'s cochlea; and
,a supply electrode, supportably interconnected to said electromechanical transducer, for electrically stimulating a patient'"'"'s cochlea in response to a second electrical signal corresponding with said acoustic signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved implantable hearing instrument and associated method utilize a transducer to mechanically stimulate a patient'"'"'s cochlea (e.g. via the round window or oval window) in response to a first electrical drive signal, and a supply electrode to electrically stimulate the patient'"'"'s cochlea in response to a second drive signal. The first and second drive signals may be provided to affect mechanical stimulation across a first predetermined frequency range and electrical stimulation across a second predetermined frequency range, respectively, wherein the predetermined frequency ranges are at least partially non-overlapping. In one embodiment an electromechanical transducer, having the supply member supportably interconnect thereto, may be selectively positioned via a mounting member fixedly interconnected to a patient'"'"'s skull. The supply electrode may define a distal tip that is supportably interconnected to a vibratory member of the electromechanical transducer. In another embodiment, an implantable transducer may be employed that includes an external housing and an active transducer element located within an internal chamber of the external housing for receiving the first electrical signal. Further, the supply electrode may be one of electrically connected to and defined by at least an electrically-conductive portion of the external housing of the transducer.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable hearing instrument comprising:
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an electromechanical transducer for providing a vibratory output in response to a first electrical signal, corresponding with an acoustic signal, for mechanical stimulation of a patient'"'"'s cochlea; and
,a supply electrode, supportably interconnected to said electromechanical transducer, for electrically stimulating a patient'"'"'s cochlea in response to a second electrical signal corresponding with said acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20-64. -64. (canceled)
Specification