Medical Device User Interface

• US 20120197345A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Staller, Erwin
• Application Number:
  US13/358,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements

Abstract

A medical device includes a housing. A sensor, such as an accelerometer, a magnetic field sensor such as a Hall sensor, and/or a gyroscope, provides a sensor signal in response to a translation of the housing and/or a rotation of the housing. A controller controls the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a housing;

a sensor for providing a sensor signal in response to at least one of a translation of the housing and a rotation of the housing; and

a controller for controlling the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a magnetic field sensor, and a gyroscope.

3. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet external to the housing, wherein the sensor detects a magnetic field caused by the magnet, the controller controlling the medical device based, at least in part, on the sensor signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field.

4. The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is a magnetic field sensor.

5. The medical device according to claim 3, wherein the device is a hearing implant including an external portion and an internal portion, the external portion including the housing, the sensor and the controller, the internal portion for implantation within a user, the internal portion including the magnet.

6. The medical device according to claim 5, wherein the device is a cochlear implant, wherein the external portion includes a speech processor and the internal portion includes a stimulator having an electrode array for stimulating an acoustic nerve of the user.

7. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a second sensor for providing a second sensor signal in response to a tap on an outside surface of the housing.

8. The medical device according to claim 7, wherein the controller controls the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal and the second signal.

9. A method of interfacing with a medical device, the medical device including a housing, the method comprising:

providing a sensor signal in response to at least one of a translation of the housing and a rotation of the housing; and

controlling the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sensor signal includes measuring an acceleration of the housing.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein providing the sensor signal includes measuring a magnetic field.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the medical device includes a magnet external to the housing, and wherein providing the sensor signal includes sensing the magnetic field caused by the magnet.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the medical device includes an external portion and an internal portion, the internal portion implanted in a user, the external portion includes a sensor for providing the sensor signal, the internal portion including the magnet.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the medical device is a cochlear implant, wherein the external portion includes a speech processor positioned within the housing, and wherein the internal portion includes a stimulator having an electrode array, and wherein the method includes activating an electrode in the electrode array so as to stimulate the acoustic nerve of the user.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing a second sensor signal in response to a tap on an outside surface of the housing; and

controlling the medical device, based at least in part, on the sensor signal and the second sensor signal.