MODULAR COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS INCLUDING IMPLANTABLE SOUND PROCESSORS

• US 20100198303A1
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Haller, Matthew I., Litvak, Leonid M., Kulkarni, Abhijit
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient. The implantable head module includes a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead including one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient. The implantable head module also includes a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient, a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead, and a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient.

Claims

1. A cochlear implant system comprising:

an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient, the implantable head module comprising

a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient,

a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient,

a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead, and

a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient.

2. The cochlear implant system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver comprises a radio-frequency induction coil.

3. The cochlear implant system of claim 1, wherein the power receiver comprises a high-Q induction coil.

4. The cochlear implant system of claim 1, wherein the implantable head module further comprises an audio input port configured to receive an electrical signal representative of another audio signal from an implantable microphone.

5. The cochlear implant system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable power module configured to produce power for operating the implantable head module, the implantable power module being communicatively coupled to the implantable head module.

6. The cochlear implant system of claim 5, wherein the implantable head module further comprises a power input port configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from the implantable power module.

7. The cochlear implant system of claim 5, wherein the implantable power module comprises a rechargeable battery.

8. The cochlear implant system of claim 7, wherein the implantable power module further comprises a power receiver configured to receive power for recharging the rechargeable battery from a power transmitter located external to the patient.

9. The cochlear implant system of claim 8, wherein the implantable power receiver comprises a high-Q induction coil.

10. The cochlear implant system of claim 5, wherein the implantable power module is configured to be implanted within a thoracic region of the patient.

11. The cochlear implant system of claim 10, further comprising a power line configured to electrically couple the implantable power module to the implantable head module.

12. The cochlear implant system of claim 1, further comprising an external head module configured to be positioned external to the patient and communicatively coupled to the implantable head module, the external head module comprising an external microphone for receiving the audio signal.

13. The cochlear implant system of claim 12, wherein the external head module comprises the signal transmitter.

14. The cochlear implant system of claim 12, wherein the external head module comprises the power transmitter.

15. A cochlear implant system comprising:

an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient, the implantable head module comprising;

a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient,

a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient, and

a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead; and

an implantable power module communicatively coupled to and separate from the implantable head module, the implantable power module being configured to produce power for operating the implantable head module.

16. The cochlear implant system of claim 15, wherein the implantable power module is configured to be implanted within a thoracic region of the patient.

17. A cochlear implant system comprising:

an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient, the implantable head module comprising

a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient,

a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient,

a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead,

a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient, and

a power input port configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from an implantable power module;

wherein the implantable head module is selectively configured to operate using power received by at least one of the power receiver and the power input port.

18. The cochlear implant system of claim 17, wherein the implantable head module further comprises an audio input port configured to receive an electrical signal representative of another audio signal from an implantable microphone.

19. An implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient, the implantable head module comprising:

a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient;

a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of a first audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient;

an audio input port configured to receive an electrical signal representative of a second audio signal from an implantable microphone; and

a sound processor selectively configured to process at least one of the telemetry signal and the electrical signal, the sound processor being selectively configured to direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of at least one of the first audio signal and the second audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead.

20. The implantable head module of claim 19, further comprising a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient.