Optically Coupled Cochlear Implant Systems and Methods
First Claim
1. A method of stimulating tissue, the method comprising:
- transmitting a multiplexed optical signal to stimulate the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An output assembly is sized for placement in the middle and inner ear, such that removal of bone can be decreased. The output assembly may comprise at least one photo detector, a demultiplexer and an electrode array sized to pass through an incision in the eardrum. An input transducer assembly is configured to transmit a multiplexed optical signal to the output assembly. The input assembly can be configured to transmit the multiplexed optical signal through the eardrum, such that tissue removal can be decreased and the device can be placed without removal of bone, for example. The multiplexed optical signal may comprise a pulse width modulated signal so as to decrease the effect of non-linearities of the light source and light detector and provide quality sound to the user.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1. A method of stimulating tissue, the method comprising:
transmitting a multiplexed optical signal to stimulate the tissue.
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2. A method of transmitting a sound to a cochlea of a user, the user having a tissue, the method comprising:
transmitting a multiplexed optical signal through the tissue of the user such that the user hears the sound in response to the multiplexed optical signal transmitted through the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A system to stimulate tissue, the system comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes configured for placement at least partially within the tissue; circuitry configured to receive a signal from a source; at least one light source coupled to the circuitry and configured to emit a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of light pulses; at least one photo detector configured to receive the multiplexed optical and pass current through the electrodes in response to the light pulses to stimulate the tissue.
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40. A system to transmit an audio signal to a user, the system comprising:
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an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes configured for placement at least partially within a cochlea of the user; circuitry configured to receive the audio signal from a sound source; at least one light source coupled to the circuitry and configured to emit a multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of light pulses; at least one detector configured to receive the multiplexed optical and pass current through the electrodes in response to the light pulses. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method of providing a hearing prosthesis for a user, the method comprising:
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making an incision in an eardrum of the user, the eardrum comprising an annuls; and passing an electrode array, at least one photodetector, and a demultiplexer through the incision. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87)
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88. A device to stimulate tissue, the device comprising:
means for generating a multiplexed optical signal; and
means for stimulating tissue in response to the optical signal.
Specification