Implantable cochlear stimulator system incorporating combination electrode/transducer
First Claim
1. An implantable hearing system (10) comprising:
- an electrode/transducer array (60) adapted for insertion into the basal region of the scala tympani of a human cochlea, the electrode/transducer array having a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts (64) thereon, and an acoustic modulator (62) therein;
an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) (20) electrically coupled to the plurality of electrode contacts;
an acoustic transducer fluidly coupled to the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array;
an implantable speech processor (ISP) (40) electrically coupled to the ICS and acoustic transducer;
a power source operatively coupled to the ICS and ISP;
a microphone connected to the ISP, wherein the microphone senses acoustic sound and converts such sensed acoustic sound to electrical signals; and
processing circuitry within the ISP responsive to the electrical signals produced by the microphone, the processing circuitry including means for generating a first set of control signals representative of high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone, and for generating a second set of control signals representative of lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and
further wherein the ICS includes pulse generating circuitry that generates electrical stimulation pulses as defined by the first set of control signals generated by the ISP, and further wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts in a prescribed manner, whereby electrical stimulation of the cochlea is provided corresponding to high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and
additionally wherein the second set of control signals are applied to and modulate the acoustic transducer, wherein the fluid coupling with the acoustic modulator causes the volume of the acoustic modulator to vary as a function of the modulation supplied by the second set of control signals, and wherein variations in the volume of the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array are adapted to be coupled to fluid within the scala tympani, whereby acoustic modulation of the fluid within the scala tympani is provided corresponding to lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid system provides acoustic modulation of the fluid within the cochlea of the inner ear corresponding to a first frequency range of sensed acoustic signals, e.g., lower-to-middle frequencies of the audible range, and electrical stimulation of the cochlea corresponding to a second frequency range, e.g., high frequencies of the audible range. In a preferred implementation, a short electrode/transducer array is provided for use with the hearing system. Such array is adapted to be inserted into the basal region of the scala tympani of the cochlea. The electrode/transducer array includes a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts through which electrical stimulation is provided to stimulate ganglion cells located in the basal region of the cochlea, which cells are responsible for perceiving the higher frequencies of the acoustic energy. The electrode/transducer further includes an acoustic modulator as an integral part thereof, in fluid communication with an acoustic transducer, through which acoustic modulation may be coupled to the fluid within the cochlea, thereby allowing normal hearing processes to occur in the cochlea. In the preferred implementation, the lower frequencies of sensed acoustic energy are processed to provide modulation of the acoustic modulator. An implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS), including the acoustic transducer and coil, and implantable speech processor (ISP), including an implantable microphone, are used with the system. In an alternative embodiment, the acoustic modulator within the electrode/transducer array is used as a sensor, to sense fluid modulation within the cochlea resulting from a functioning middle ear, and the acoustic transducer converts such sensed fluid modulation to electrical signals, thereby providing the function of an microphone implanted in the cochlea.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An implantable hearing system (10) comprising:
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an electrode/transducer array (60) adapted for insertion into the basal region of the scala tympani of a human cochlea, the electrode/transducer array having a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts (64) thereon, and an acoustic modulator (62) therein;
an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) (20) electrically coupled to the plurality of electrode contacts;
an acoustic transducer fluidly coupled to the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array;
an implantable speech processor (ISP) (40) electrically coupled to the ICS and acoustic transducer;
a power source operatively coupled to the ICS and ISP;
a microphone connected to the ISP, wherein the microphone senses acoustic sound and converts such sensed acoustic sound to electrical signals; and
processing circuitry within the ISP responsive to the electrical signals produced by the microphone, the processing circuitry including means for generating a first set of control signals representative of high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone, and for generating a second set of control signals representative of lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and
furtherwherein the ICS includes pulse generating circuitry that generates electrical stimulation pulses as defined by the first set of control signals generated by the ISP, and further wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts in a prescribed manner, whereby electrical stimulation of the cochlea is provided corresponding to high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and
additionallywherein the second set of control signals are applied to and modulate the acoustic transducer, wherein the fluid coupling with the acoustic modulator causes the volume of the acoustic modulator to vary as a function of the modulation supplied by the second set of control signals, and wherein variations in the volume of the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array are adapted to be coupled to fluid within the scala tympani, whereby acoustic modulation of the fluid within the scala tympani is provided corresponding to lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable hearing system comprising:
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an electrode/transducer array adapted for insertion into a human cochlea, wherein the electrode/transducer array has a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts carried thereon, and wherein the electrode/transducer array further has an acoustic modulator carried therein;
an acoustic transducer in fluid communication with the acoustic modulator by way of a fluid communication channel, wherein the acoustic transducer includes an electrical-to-mechanical transducer coupled to a fluid chamber, wherein the fluid chamber has at least one movable or flexible wall, and wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid communication channel, and further wherein the electrical-to-mechanical transducer is attached to the flexible wall of the fluid chamber;
an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) in electrical communication with the plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts of the electrode/transducer array by way of a bundle of wires;
wherein the fluid communication channel and the bundle of wires are carried within a flexible lead;
an implantable speech processor (ISP) in electrical communication with the ICS and the acoustic transducer; and
an implantable microphone coupled to the ISP;
wherein the ISP includes processing circuitry that processes sound waves sensed by the implantable microphone and generates control signals as a function thereof; and
wherein the ICS includes pulse generating circuitry for generating electrical stimulation pulses having an amplitude, rate, and pulse width controlled by the control signals;
wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the electrode contacts in accordance with a prescribed speech processing strategy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrode array adapted for insertion into the cochlea comprising:
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a non-conductive carrier body (61);
a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts (64) carried on the carrier body, each electrode contact having a wire (69) connected thereto through which electrical connection with the respective electrode contacts may be established;
an acoustic modulator (62) formed within the carrier body; and
a tunnel (65) passing through the carrier body that is in fluid communication with the acoustic modulator; and
a flexible lead integrally attached to the carrier body, wherein the wire attached to each electrode contact, and the acoustic modular and the tunnel channel are embedded within said flexible lead. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification