Apparatus for multichannel cochlear implant hearing aid system

• US 4,400,590 A
• Filed: 12/22/1980
• Issued: 08/23/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Michelson, Robin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US06/219,341
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 179/107 R, 179/107 E, 179/107 FD, 179/107 BC, 128/789, 128/784
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing

Abstract

A hearing aid system using a pre-aligned, multichannel, intra-cochlear electrode array for electrically stimulating predetermined locations of the auditory nerve within the cochlea of the ear with selected frequency components of an external sound signal having magnitudes adjusted according to the requirements of the particular user.

Claims

1. A hearing aid apparatus for electrical excitation of the cochlea of the ear, comprising:

transducer means for converting an external audio signal into an electrical signal;

amplifying means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an amplified signal;

a plurality of filter means responsive to the amplified signal for separating the amplified signal into a plurality of frequency component signals and for selectively shaping the component signals;

driver means responsive to the component signals for amplifying the component signals;

a prealigned array of electrodes responsive to the amplified component signals and positionable within the cochlea of the ear for stimulating nerve endings within the cochlea in predetermined locations.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the driver means include a plurality of drivers, each of the drivers having an input connected to the output of a different filter means, and each having an output for supplying designated electrodes of the prealigned electrode array with the amplified component signal.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the driver means further comprise summing means for combining component signals supplied from the filter means so that the combination of component signals is supplied to all electrodes of the electrode array.

4. The combination of claim 2 or 3 wherein the driver means provide bipolar component signals to the electrode array.

5. The combination of claim 1 further including automatic level control means interposed between the transducer means and the amplifying means and responsive to the amplified electrical signal to provide limiting of the amplified signal applied to the filter means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the electrode array comprises:

a base member which is contoured to be positionable within the cochlea of the ear;

a plurality of electrodes retained by the base member so that electrode pairs are positioned at predetermined locations along the base member; and

conductor means for supplying the amplified component signals to the electrodes within the electrode array.

7. The combination of claim 1 or 5 further including user tone and gain control means, interposed between the amplifying means and the driver means, and which is responsive to the amplified electrical signal to permit the user to adjust the gain and tone of the hearing aid apparatus.

8. The combination of claim 1 or 2 wherein the electrodes are positioned in the electrode array to stimulate predetermined portions of the auditory nerve which are responsive to the particular component signals supplied to each electrode.

9. A hearing aid apparatus for electrical excitation of the cochlea of the ear, comprising:

transducer means for converting an external audio signal into an electrical signal;

amplifying means responsive to the electrical signal for producing an amplified signal;

a plurality of filter means responsive to the amplified signal for separating the amplified signal into a plurality of frequency component signals and for selectively shaping the component signals;

driver means responsive to the component signals for amplifying the component signals, wherein the driver means further comprise summing means for combining component signals supplied from the filter means; and

a prealigned array of electrodes responsive to the combination of component signals and positionable within the cochlea of the ear for stimulating nerve endings within the cochlea in predetermined locations, and so that the combination of component signals is supplied to all electrodes of the electrode array.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the driver means provide bipolar component signals to the electrode array.