×

ENERGY HARVESTING COCHLEAR IMPLANT

  • US 20140303688A1
  • Filed: 12/02/2011
  • Published: 10/09/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A method for converting acoustic waves to voltage outputs which is used to stimulate auditory nerves in a cochlear implant,wherein the cochlear implant comprises a transducer and a cochlear electrode connecting the transducer to the auditory nerve wherein the transducer comprising:

  • at least one base attached onto a vibrating element of a auditory system that vibrates under the influence of the incoming acoustic waves,an army of cantilever beams each with one free end and one fixed end attached to the base, and each having a predetermined natural frequency,a piezoelectric piece bonded to each of the cantilever beams andat least one harvester electrode associated with every cantilever beam to harvest voltages produced by the piezoelectric pieces and connected to the cochlear electrode to transmit and the voltage to the cochlear electrode;

    the method for converting acoustic waves to voltage outputs comprising the steps ofexposing the cantilever beams to vibrations produced on the vibrating element of the auditory system under the influence of the incoming acoustic waves andgenerating the voltage outputs due to piezoelectricity, at the piezoelectric pieces associated with every vibrating cantilever beam,wherein each of the piezoelectric pieces are bonded on the surface of the cantilever beam and near the fixed end so that the piezoelectric pieces experience the maximum possible stresses,wherein the voltage outputs, generated by the piezoelectric pieces associated with each cantilever beam vibrating near its natural frequency, are higher than a threshold voltage value which is the threshold voltage value required to stimulate the auditory nerve,and in that the predetermined natural frequencies of the cantilever beams correspond to the frequencies that a patient is unable to perceive.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×