METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEARING BY BIODETECTION AND BIOTRANSDUCTION OF RADIOFREQUENCY ENERGY

• US 3,586,791 A
• Filed: 12/23/1969
• Issued: 06/22/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biolectron Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Henry K. Puharich, Joseph L. Lawrence
• Inventors: Puharich, Henry K., Lawrence, Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US04/887,676
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• US Class Current: 607/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/04 Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense, e.g. through the touch sense electronic stimulation of auditory nerves A61N1/36036

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus utilizing R-F carriers of predetermined frequencies to stimulate the sensation of hearing in human subjects and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for establishing a peak LC series resonant coupling, at approximately the predetermined R-F carrier frequency, between a signal source and the facial nerve system of the human subject to transmit A-F information modulated onto the R-F carrier to the brain through the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'facial nerve system,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' well-defined anatomical network of nerves. More particularly, the modulated R-F signal is capacitively coupled to opposite sides of the head at the periaural and/or stylomastoid region through electrodes. A series inductor is included between the source of R-F signals and each of said electrodes and the inductance of said series inductors is related to the capacitance of the coupling electrodes and the capacitance of the head of the subject so as to tune the R-F signals in peak LC series resonance substantially at the selected carrier wave frequency regardless of changes in the physiology of the subject, said means being a necessary condition for auditory information transfer to the deaf.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for electrically stimulating hearing in human subjects, the combination of a. a signal source for supplying carrier wave signals at a frequency above the normal audible range of the subject, b. a second signal source for supplying audiofrequency signals, c. means modulating said carrier wave signals with said audiofrequency signals and having an output comprising a modulated Lc series source, and d. a tuning and coupling circuit adapted to connect the subject to said modulated signal source in tuned LC series resonance, e. said tuning and coupling circuit including a pair of capacitive coupling means, f. said tuning and coupling circuit further including a pair of inductance means each of which is connected in series with each coupling means, g. the inductance of said inductance means being related to the capacitance of said coupling means and the capacitance of said subject so as to tune said modulated signals in peak series resonance substantially at said carrier wave frequency regardless of changes in the physiology of the subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which a. the source of carrier wave signals comprises an external signal generator circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which a. the source of carrier wave signals comprises an amplifier circuit having its input and output coupled with said coupling circuit and actuated to supply amplified carrier wave signals thereto in accordance with high frequency signals imparted to the coupling circuit by the subject.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which a. said carrier wave is supplied at a frequency in the range of 18 to 37 kHz., b. said capacitive coupling means comprises a pair of bare electrodes.

5. In the method of electrically stimulating human subjects to produce sensations of hearing, the improvement which comprises a. supplying an audio-modulated carrier wave in a predetermined frequency range, b. applying said wave to the subject and tuning the applied wave to LC series resonance at carrier wave frequency through a pair of capacitive couplers and a separate pair of series inductor means, c. the inductance of said pair of series inductor means being related to the capacitance of the coupling established by said capacitive couplers and to the capacitance of the tissue of the subject to achieve said series resonance substantially at the carrier wave frequency.

6. The method of claim 5, in which a. at least one of said capacitIve couplers is a bare electrode.

7. The method of claim 5, in which a. said capacitive couplers comprise a pair of bare electrodes placed bilaterally at stylomastoid regions of the head, b. said carrier wave is in the range of 18-37 kHz., and c. the power of said applied modulated carrier wave does not exceed 40-60 milliwatts.