Cochlear stimulation system employing behind-the-ear speech processor with remote control

• US 5,824,022 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Zilberman, Yitzhak, Hazard, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US08/807,534
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 607/55-57, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A cochlear stimulation system includes (1) an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS); (2) a behind-the-ear (BTE) wearable speech processor, including: coils for inductively coupling with the ICS, a first microphone, an LED indicator, and an FM receiver; (3) a remote control unit (RCU), including an FM transmitter, mode/control switches, a second microphone, an input jack for interfacing with external audio equipment, and a status indicator; and (4) an external programmer, including one or more ports for coupling the external programmer with a personal computer. The external programmer is used to program the ICS through the BTE processor to operate in a desired manner, and to perform tests on the ICS. Once the ICS is initially programmed, the user controls the sounds he or she "hears" with the ICS through the RCU, which RCU (when turned ON) is electronically coupled to the BTE processor through an FM (or other wireless) link. Through the RCU, the user may control, e.g., the operating mode, volume, sensitivity, and microphone location of the BTE speech processor. With the RCU microphone turned ON, the RCU may be given to, or placed near, a teacher, performer or other person located remotely from the ICS user, thereby allowing the user to "hear" such remote person (through the FM link) just as though the person were standing next to the user. Other electronic devices, e.g., tape or CD players, may similarly be coupled directly to the user by connecting their audio outputs to the input jack of the RCU.

Claims

1. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including an array of implantable electrodes for insertion into the cochlea, comprising means for stimulating selected pairs of the implantable electrodes with an electrical current of a prescribed intensity, and means for receiving an information signal, the information signal specifying which of the implantable electrodes are to receive the electrical current and the intensity of such current;

a behind-the-ear (BTE) processor comprising means for generating the information signal as a function of received command signals and audio signals, means for sending the information signal to the ICS, a plurality of manual controls for defining at least some of the received command signals, a first microphone that detects audio sounds and converts them to audio signals, and receiver means for receiving external data signals from a source remote from the BTE processor; and

a remote control unit (RCU) comprising a second microphone, a plurality of command controls that when activated generate command data, means for generating data signals as a function of input signals received by the RCU, and means for transmitting the data signals to the BTE processor, the input signals received by the RCU comprising audio signals from the second microphone, audio signals derived from an electronic device, or command data generated by the command controls;

wherein the BTE processor further includes means for combining audio signals from the first microphone and audio signals from the RCU in a prescribed manner before generating the information signal and sending it to the ICS.

2. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 1 wherein the BTE processor includes an FM receiver, and wherein the means for transmitting the data signals to the BTE processor from the RCU comprises an FM transmitter.

3. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 2 wherein the prescribed manner in which the audio signals from the first microphone and audio signals from the RCU are combined comprises means for reducing the magnitude of the audio signal from the first microphone below the magnitude of the audio signal received from the RCU whenever the audio signal received from the RCU exceeds a first threshold.

4. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 2 wherein the prescribed manner in which the audio signals form the first microphone and audio signals from the RCU are combined comprises means for reducing the magnitude of the audio signal from the RCU below the magnitude of the audio signal received from the first microphone whenever the audio signal received from the RCU is less than a second threshold.

5. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 1 wherein the electronic device from which the RCU may receive audio signals comprises a radio, a tape player, a CD player, a television, a telephone, or a personal computer.

6. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 1 wherein the RCU includes display means for displaying information related to the status of the command controls, command data or data signals.

7. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 1 wherein the BTE processor further includes visual indicating means for visually indicating whether a link over which the information signal may be sent has been established between the ICS and BTE.

8. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 7 wherein the command controls of said RCU include means for enabling/disabling said visual indicating means of said BTE.

9. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 1 wherein the RCU includes means for selectively tagging the data signal sent to the BTE processor with a unique identification (ID) signal, and wherein the BTE processor includes means for responding to the data signal received from the RCU only when said ID signal is present, whereby the BTE processor only responds to data signals from the RCU that have been tagged with the unique ID signal.

10. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including an array of implantable electrodes for insertion into the cochlea, comprising means for stimulating selected pairs of the implantable electrodes with an electrical current of a prescribed intensity, and means for receiving an information signal, the information signal specifying which of the implantable electrodes are to receive the electrical current and the intensity of such current; and

a behind-the-ear (BTE) processor comprising means for generating the information signal as a function of command signals and audio signals, means for sending the information signal to the ICS, means for confirming that a link has been established between the BTE processor and the ICS through which the information signal may be sent, a plurality of manual controls for defining the command signals, a microphone that detects audio sounds and converts them to audio signals, and a replaceable battery that provides operating power for said BTE processor.

11. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 10 wherein the confirmation means comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) that is turned ON whenever the link is established between the ICS and the BTE.

12. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 10 wherein the plurality of manual controls included on the BTE include a volume control and an ON/OFF switch.

13. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of manual controls included on the BTE further includes a sensitivity control.

14. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 10 further including means for mounting the microphone inside of the BTE.

15. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 10 wherein the BTE includes a microphone tube secured to the BTE that, when the BTE is worn on an ear of a user, enters the ear canal of said user, and wherein the microphone is mounted on said microphone tube inside of said ear canal.

16. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 10 further including control means other than said plurality of manual controls for selectively controlling the operation of said BTE processor.

17. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 16 wherein said control means comprises a remote control unit (RCU) comprising a second microphone, a plurality of command controls that when activated generate command data, means for generating data signals as a function of input signals received by the RCU, and means for transmitting the data signals to the BTE processor, the input signals received by the RCU comprising audio signals from the second microphone, audio signals derived from an electronic device, or command data generated by the command controls.

18. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including an array of implantable electrodes for insertion into the cochlea, comprising means for stimulating selected pairs of the implantable electrodes with an electrical current of a prescribed intensity, and means for receiving an information signal, the information signal specifying which of the implantable electrodes are to receive the electrical current and the intensity of such current;

a behind-the-ear (BTE) processor comprising means for generating the information signal as a function of received command signals and audio signals, means for sending the information signal to the ICS, visual indicating means for visually indicating whether a link over which the information signal may be sent has been established between the ICS and BTE, a plurality of manual controls for defining at least some of the received command signals, a first microphone that detects audio sounds and converts them to audio signals, and receiver means for receiving external data signals from a source remote from the BTE processor; and

a remote control unit (RCU) comprising a second microphone, a plurality of command controls that when activated generate command data, means for generating data signals as a function of input signals received by the RCU, and means for transmitting the data signals to the BTE processor, the input signals received by the RCU comprising audio signals from the second microphone, audio signals derived from an electronic device, or command data generated by the command controls.

19. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 18 wherein the command controls of said RCU include means for enabling/disabling said visual indicating means of said BTE.

20. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including an array of implantable electrodes for insertion into the cochlea, comprising means for stimulating selected pairs of the implantable electrodes with an electrical current of a prescribed intensity, and means for receiving an information signal, the information signal specifying which of the implantable electrodes are to receive the electrical current and the intensity of such current;

a behind-the-ear (BTE) processor comprising means for generating the information signal as a function of received command signals and audio signals, means for sending the information signal to the ICS, a plurality of manual controls for defining at least some of the received command signals, a first microphone that detects audio sounds and converts them to audio signals, and receiver means for receiving eternal data signals from a source remote from the BTE processor; and

a remote control unit (RCU) comprising a second microphone, a plurality of command controls that when activated generate command data, means for generating data signals as a function of input signals received by the RCU, and means for transmitting the data signals to the BTE processor, the input signals received by the RCU comprising audio signals from the second microphone, audio signals derived from an electronic device, or command data generated by the command controls; and

wherein the RCU includes means for selectively tagging the data signal sent to the BTE processor with a unique identification (ID) signal, and wherein the BTE processor includes means for responding to the data signal received from the RCU only when said ID signal is present, whereby the BTE processor only responds to data signals from the RCU that have been tagged with the unique ID signal.

21. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:

an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including an array of implantable electrodes for insertion into the cochlea, comprising means for stimulating selected pairs of the implantable electrodes with an electrical current of a prescribed intensity, and means for receiving an information signal, the information signal specifying which of the implantable electrodes are to receive the electrical current and the intensity of such current; and

a behind-the-ear (BTE) processor comprising means for generating the information signal as a function of command signals and audio signals, means for sending the information signal to the ICS, a plurality of manual controls for defining the command signals;

a microphone tube secured to the BTE that, when the BTE is worn on an ear of a user, enters the ear canal of said user;

a microphone mounted on the end of the microphone tube that is inside of the ear canal when the BTE is worn that detects audio sounds and converts them to audio signals, and a replaceable battery that provides operating power for said BTE processor.