Totally implantable cochlear prosthesis
First Claim
1. A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising a coil and at least one housing containing control electronics, wherein said coil is located outside said housing but is operatively connected to said housing and wherein said coil is an RF coil and is substantially not RF shielded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis is presented. An externally-activated subcutaneous switch controls functions of the prosthesis. A pliable bridge connecting two hermetically sealed housing sections, and corrugated conductor lines, provide for future dimensional changes due to head growth. An encapsulated microphone is positioned underneath the skin in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. A modiolus-hugging electrode array is inserted into one of the cochlea scala. Periodic charging of the implanted battery is accomplished via an external mechanically held head-mounted device containing an external coil, said external coil inductively coupling electrical power to an implanted receiving coil. The external and implanted coils can also be used as a communication link to program the implanted electronics.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising a coil and at least one housing containing control electronics, wherein said coil is located outside said housing but is operatively connected to said housing and wherein said coil is an RF coil and is substantially not RF shielded.
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3. A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising:
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at least one hermetically sealed housing containing electrical power storage means and at least one mechanically-actuated electrical switch for controlling volume or on/off functions of the prosthesis, or both;
a coil for receiving power and/or data from an external head-mounted means;
an implanted microphone encapsulated in a biocompatible housing; and
,an electrode array for insertion into one or more scala within the cochlea. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising at least two substantially flat, thin housings operatively connected to one another wherein said housing(s) are hermetically sealed with a laser welded titanium enclosure, said enclosure containing a leak detection gas for testing enclosure hermeticity.
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22. An implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising at least two substantially flat, thin housings operatively connected to one another wherein the housing(s) are hermetically sealed using a ceramic and/or titanium enclosure.
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23. An implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising at least two substantially flat, thin housings operatively connected to one another wherein said housing(s) are hermetically sealed using a ceramic having an edge and wherein said edge is coated with titanium to allow said edge to be subsequently laser welded, and wherein the enclosure contains a leak detection gas for testing enclosure hermeticity.
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24. A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising a coil and at least one housing containing control electronics, wherein said coil is located outside said housing but is operatively connected to said housing, said coil having an inner diameter that is substantially open in a ring-like configuration, such shape allowing skin overlaying said coil to bond to the skull within said open area post implantation.
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25. An implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising at least two substantially flat, thin housings operatively connected to one another wherein said housings are disc-shaped and are connected by a pliable connector.
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26. A cochlear prosthesis assembly comprising:
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a totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising a coil and at least one housing containing control electronics, wherein said coil is located outside said housing but is operatively connected to said housing, and provides a magnetic field; and
,a head-mounted apparatus providing a magnetic field for rotationally aligning a coil within said apparatus in relation to said coil in said prosthesis.
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27. A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis comprising a coil and at least one housing containing control electronics, wherein said coil is located outside said housing but is operatively connected to said housing and wherein said housing(s) are hermetically sealed with a laser welded titanium enclosure, said enclosure containing a leak detection gas for testing enclosure hermeticity.
Specification