Implantable device with flexible interconnect to coil

• US 7,587,246 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Hochmair, Ingeborg, Hochmair, Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/453,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,289 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607 55- 61, 607/137, 600/25, 523/427
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling

Abstract

An implant for implantation into a person. The implant includes a hermetically sealed housing enclosing electrical circuitry. A first coil is flexibly coupled to the housing such that the first coil is external to the housing and capable of being repositioned relative to the housing. The first coil is capable, after being implanted in the person, of being arranged adjacent a second coil of a remote device, such that first coil and the second coil are inductively coupled. The first coil may be adapted to receive at least one of a power signal and a data signal from a remote source.

Claims

1. An implant for implantation into a person comprising:

a housing;

an electrode stimulating element flexibly attached to the housing; and

a first coil flexibly coupled to the housing such that the first coil is external to the housing and capable of being repositioned relative to the housing.

2. The implant system according to claim 1, wherein the first coil is capable, after being implanted in the person, of being arranged adjacent a second coil of a remote device, such that first coil and the second coil are inductively coupled.

3. The implant according to claim 2, wherein the first coil is adapted to receive a power signal from the remote device.

4. The implant according to claim 3, wherein the implant further includes a battery, the battery capable of being recharged based on the power signal.

5. The implant according to claim 2, wherein the first coil is adapted to receive data signals from the remote device.

6. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the first coil is electrically coupled to electrical circuitry enclosed within the housing.

7. The implant according to claim 1, wherein one or more electronic components is enclosed in the housing, the one or more electronic components including at least one of a transmitter, a receiver, a signal processor, an actuator, a battery and a sensor.

8. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the first coil is flexibly coupled to the housing by an electronic interconnect.

9. The implant according to claim 8, wherein the electronic interconnect is a cable.

10. The implant according to claim 9, wherein the cable includes one or more wires.

11. The implant according to claim 10, wherein the one or more wires includes at least one of a litz wire, a multi-strand wire, a single-strand wire, a coiled wire, and a serrated wire.

12. The implant according to claim 10, wherein the one or more wires may be made of at least one material from the group of materials consisting of platinum iridium, platinum, gold, silver, copper, tantalum and niobium.

13. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the housing is electrically conductive.

14. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of a ceramic material.

15. The implant according to claim 1, further comprising insulating material covering at least one portion of the coil.

16. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is one of silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene, and parylene.

17. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the coil is removably coupled to the housing.

18. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the coil is coupled to the housing via a hermetic feedthrough in the housing.

19. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the implant is a cochlear implant.

20. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to an element positioned external to the housing, the element being one of an electrode, a sensor, and an actuator.

21. The implant according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener for attaching the coil and/or the housing to the skull.

22. The implant according to claim 21, wherein the at least one fastener is one of a bone screw, a hook, a suture, and a clamp.

23. A method of providing an implantable system comprising:

providing electrical circuitry into an implantable, hermetically sealed housing;

flexibly attaching an electrode stimulating element to the housing; and

flexibly attaching an antenna coil to the housing such that the coil is external to the housing and capable of being repositioned relative to the housing, the antenna coil adapted to receive at least one of a power signal and a data signal from a remote source.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein flexibly attaching the coil to the housing includes electrically coupling the antenna coil to the housing so that the at least one of the power signal and the data signal can be shared between the electrical circuitry contained in the housing.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

placing a rechargeable battery in the housing, the rechargeable battery capable of being recharged based on the power signal.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the means for delivering includes at least one electrode.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein flexibly attaching the coil to the housing includes providing a cable to electrically couple the antenna coil to the housing.

28. The method according to claim 23, further comprising attaching an element to the housing, the element positioned external to the housing, the element being one of an electrode, a sensor, and an actuator.

29. The method according to claim 23, further comprising attaching a means for delivering stimulating pulses to body tissue.

30. The method according to claim 23, further comprising implanting the housing and the coil into a person.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein flexibly attaching the coil to the housing includes providing a cable to electrically couple the antenna coil to the housing, and wherein the implanting includes:

milling a groove in a bone; and

placing the cable in the groove.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the implanting includes:

milling a first area of the bone; and

placing the housing in the first area.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the implanting includes:

milling a second area of the bone; and

placing the coil in the second area.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the implanting includes:

fastening the coil to the first area; and

fastening the housing to the second area.

35. The method according to claim 23, wherein flexibly attaching the antenna coil to the housing includes coupling the antennae to the housing via a cable.