Failure detection in auditory response stimulators
First Claim
1. In a cochlear stimulator system comprising a wearable processor (wp) and an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), and wherein the WP includes a microphone for detecting audio signals, processing means for processing the detected audio signals, and first transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from the ICS, and further wherein the ICS comprises second transceiver means for receiving and transmitting electrical signals from and to the WP, electrode means for making electrical contact with tissue to be stimulated, means for generating a stimulus signal in response to received electrical signals for application to the electrode means, and back telemetry means for generating telemetry signals for transmission back to the first transceiver means of the WP through the second transceiver means, a method for detecting failures comprising:
- detecting an audio signal through the microphone;
generating a stimulation signal in response to the detected audio signal;
transmitting the stimulation signal to the second transceiver means of the ICS through the first transceiver means of the WP;
receiving the transmitted stimulation signal at the second transceiver means;
generating a feedback signal in the event the stimulation signal is received by the second transceiver means;
transmitting the feedback signal to the first transceiver means of the WP through the second transceiver means of the ICS;
generating an alarm signal to alert an operator in the event the feedback signal is not received by the second transceiver means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting failures in an auditory stimulation device includes, in one embodiment, a microphone; a signal processor; a supercutaneous transmitter; a subcutaneous receiver; a subcutaneous transmitter; and a supercutaneous receiver. The signal processor generates a stimulation signal in response to the microphone detecting an audio signal, and the supercutaneous transmitter couples the stimulation signal through a skin surface of a patient. The subcutaneous receiver receives the stimulation signal, and the subcutaneous transmitter generates a feedback signal in response to receipt of the stimulation signal by the subcutaneous receiver. The supercutaneous receiver receives the feedback signal. In one variation of the embodiment, the signal processor generates an alarm signal when the feedback signal is not received. In another variation of the embodiment, the signal processor analyzes differences between the stimulation signal and the feedback signal, and generates a difference signal indicative of the differences between the stimulation signal and the feedback signal. The signal processor then generates the alarm signal in the event the difference signal indicates the differences exceed a prescribed threshold.
49 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a cochlear stimulator system comprising a wearable processor (wp) and an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), and wherein the WP includes a microphone for detecting audio signals, processing means for processing the detected audio signals, and first transceiver means for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from the ICS, and further wherein the ICS comprises second transceiver means for receiving and transmitting electrical signals from and to the WP, electrode means for making electrical contact with tissue to be stimulated, means for generating a stimulus signal in response to received electrical signals for application to the electrode means, and back telemetry means for generating telemetry signals for transmission back to the first transceiver means of the WP through the second transceiver means, a method for detecting failures comprising:
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detecting an audio signal through the microphone; generating a stimulation signal in response to the detected audio signal; transmitting the stimulation signal to the second transceiver means of the ICS through the first transceiver means of the WP; receiving the transmitted stimulation signal at the second transceiver means; generating a feedback signal in the event the stimulation signal is received by the second transceiver means; transmitting the feedback signal to the first transceiver means of the WP through the second transceiver means of the ICS; generating an alarm signal to alert an operator in the event the feedback signal is not received by the second transceiver means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for detecting a failure in a cochlear stimulator comprising:
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a microphone including means for sensing an audio signal; a signal processor coupled to the microphone, the signal processor including means for generating a stimulation signal in response to the microphone sensing an audio signal; a supercutaneous transmitter coupled to the signal processor, the supercutaneous transmitter including means for coupling the stimulation signal through a skin surface of a patient; a subcutaneous receiver, including means for receiving the stimulation signal; a subcutaneous transmitter coupled to the subcutaneous receiver, the subcutaneous transmitter including means for generating a feedback signal in response to receiving the stimulation signal by the subcutaneous receiver; a supercutaneous receiver coupled to the signal processor, the supercutaneous receiver including means for receiving the feedback signal; the signal processor including means for generating an alarm signal in the event the feedback signal is not received by the supercutaneous receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for detecting failures in a cochlear stimulator comprising:
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microphone means for detecting an audio signal; generating means for generating a stimulation signal in response to the microphone means detecting the audio signal, the generating means being coupled to the microphone means; first transmitter means coupled to the generating means for telemetering the stimulation signal through a skin surface of a patient; first receiver means for receiving the stimulation signal; feedback means coupled to the first receiver means for generating a feedback signal in the event the stimulation signal is received by the first receiver means; second transmitter means coupled to the feedback means for telemetering the feedback signal through the skin surface of the patient; second receiver means coupled to the generating means for receiving the feedback signal; and alarm means coupled to the second receiver means for generating an alarm signal in the event the feedback signal is not received by the second receiver means, the alarm means including means for indicating the presence of the alarm signal. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification