Vestibular Implant System with Low Battery Alert

• US 20130096654A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University, MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Jger, Andreas, Garnham, Carolyn, Hessler, Roland, Zimmerling, Martin, Della Santina, Charles Coleman, Fridman, Gene
• Application Number:
  US13/526,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36142 for improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/305 Self-monitoring or self-testing

Abstract

A vestibular implant system is described which includes an implantable vestibular stimulator providing a vestibular stimulation signal to electrically stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by a patient. A patient warning alarm process alters the stimulation signal when a given alarm condition occurs to change the vestibular sensation of the patient thereby warning the patient of the alarm condition.

Claims

1. A vestibular implant system comprising:

an implantable vestibular stimulator for providing a vestibular stimulation signal to electrically stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by a patient; and

a patient warning alarm process for altering the stimulation signal when a given alarm condition occurs to change the vestibular sensation of the patient thereby warning the patient of the alarm condition.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm condition presages a change in operating functionality of the system whereby the altered stimulation signal warns the patient of the change.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the change in operating functionality includes a reduction in operating functionality of the system.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the change in operating functionality includes a termination of operating functionality of the system.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm condition includes a low battery condition.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm condition includes a reduced connection with an external portion of the system.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm condition includes loss of connection with an external portion of the system.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the given alarm condition includes a plurality of different alarm conditions, and wherein the alarm process alters the stimulation signal in a different distinctive way for each alarm condition.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm process alters the stimulation signal to a constant pacing mode independent of sensory inputs.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm process alters the stimulation signal for a brief period to warn the patient of the alarm condition and then shifts back to allow an unaltered stimulation signal.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the alarm process repeats the brief period of altering a plurality of times.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the alarm process terminates the stimulation signal during the brief period of altering.

13. A vestibular implant system comprising:

an implantable vestibular stimulator for providing a vestibular stimulation signal to electrically stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by a patient; and

a patient warning alarm process for activating a patient alarm signal on a separate sensory channel independent of the stimulation signal when a given alarm condition occurs to warn the patient of the alarm condition.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the alarm condition presages a change in operating functionality of the system whereby the alarm signal warns the patient of the change.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the change in operating functionality includes a reduction in operating functionality of the system.

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the change in operating functionality includes a termination of operating functionality of the system.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the alarm condition includes a low battery condition.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the alarm condition includes a reduced connection with an external portion of the system.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the alarm condition includes loss of connection with an external portion of the system.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein the given alarm condition includes a plurality of different alarm conditions, and wherein there is a different distinctive patient alarm signal for each alarm condition.

21. A system according to claim 13, wherein the patient alarm signal is a vibratory signal.

22. A system according to claim 13, wherein the patient alarm signal is an auditory signal.

23. A system according to claim 13, wherein the patient alarm signal is a visual signal.

24. A system according to claim 13, wherein the patient alarm signal is an electrical stimulation signal.