Bionic ear implant

• US 7,636,603 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Faltys, Michael A, Overstreet, Edward H
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/428,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 607 55- 57
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

A bionic ear cochlear stimulation system has the capability to stimulate fast enough to induce stochastic neural firing, thereby acting to restore “spontaneous” neural activity. Such neurostimulation involves the use of a high rate pulsitile stimulation signal that is amplitude modulated with sound information. Advantageously, by using such neurostimulation, a fitting system may be utilized that does not normally require T-level threshold measurements. T-level threshold measurements are not required in most instances because the high-rate pulsitile stimulation, even though at levels that would normally be a sub-threshold electrical stimulus, is able to modulate neural firing patterns in a perceptible way.

Claims

1. A bionic ear implant adapted to stimulate the auditory nerve of a patient comprising:

means for sensing sound information;

an electrode array having multiple electrode contacts, the electrode array being adapted to be inserted into the cochlea of the patient;

pulse generator means for generating a pulsitile stimulation waveform having a pulse rate of at least 2000 Hz, and pulse widths of less than about 75 μ

S;

means for amplitude modulating the pulsatile stimulation waveform with the sound information, whereby an amplitude modulated pulsitile stimulation waveform is created having an energy content that varies as a function of the sound information;

means for applying the amplitude-modulated pulsatile stimulation waveform to selected ones of the multiple electrode contacts;

means for measuring an M-level associated with application of the amplitude-modulated pulsatile stimulation waveform, where an M-level comprises a comfortable stimulation intensity;

means for globally determining a T-level for all of the electrode contacts, where a T-level comprises a minimally perceptible stimulation intensity; and

means for using the M- and T-levels to help set the intensity of stimuli applied to the electrode contacts;

wherein the amplitude modulated pulsitile stimulation waveform is adapted to elicit stochastic firing of auditory nerve fibers in the vicinity of the electrode contacts on which the amplitude-modulated pulsitile stimulation waveform is applied as a function of the energy content within the amplitude modulated pulsitile stimulation waveform and

wherein the means for globally determining a T-level comprises means for setting the T-level to zero as the determined T-level.

2. The bionic ear implant of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator means generates biphasic stimulation pulses having pulse widths of less than about 32 μ

S.

3. The bionic ear implant of claim 2 wherein the pulse generator means generates biphasic stimulation pulses having pulse widths of less than about 21 μ

S.

4. The bionic ear implant of claim 3 wherein the pulse generator means generates biphasic stimulation pulses having pulse widths of less than about 11 μ

S.