Power supply for a cochlear implant
First Claim
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1. A cochlear implant system having an internal component and an external component, said system comprising:
- first and second battery cells electrically connected in series to supply power to said components;
at least one additional battery cell electrically disconnected from both the first and second battery cells; and
a switch configured to electrically connect said at least one additional battery cell in parallel with one of said first or second battery cells,wherein said switch is configured to connect said additional battery cell in parallel with whichever of said first or second battery cells has a lower voltage.
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Abstract
A power supply for use with a tissue stimulating prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant. The power supply system comprises a first battery cell, a second battery cell, at least a third battery cell and a switch. The first and second battery cells are electrically connected in series to provide power to components of the prosthesis, while the third battery cell is configured to be selectively electrically connected in parallel with either the first or second battery cells.
40 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A cochlear implant system having an internal component and an external component, said system comprising:
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first and second battery cells electrically connected in series to supply power to said components; at least one additional battery cell electrically disconnected from both the first and second battery cells; and a switch configured to electrically connect said at least one additional battery cell in parallel with one of said first or second battery cells, wherein said switch is configured to connect said additional battery cell in parallel with whichever of said first or second battery cells has a lower voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power supply system for an electronic device comprising one or more tissue-stimulating elements, the system comprising:
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first and second battery cells electrically connected in series to supply power to one or more components of the device; at least one additional battery cell electrically disconnected from both the first and second battery cells; and a switch configured to electrically connect said at least one additional battery cell in parallel with one of said first or second battery cells, wherein said switch is configured to connect said additional battery cell in parallel with whichever of said first or second battery cells has a lower voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for supplying power from a power supply to components of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis comprising first, second and third battery cells, the method comprising:
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electrically connecting the first and second battery cells in series to supply said power; comparing the voltages of the first and second battery cells; maintaining the third battery cell electrically disconnected from the first and second battery cells; and electrically connecting the third battery cell in parallel with whichever of the first or second battery cells has a lower voltage. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A cochlear implant having an internal component and an external component, the implant comprising:
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first and second battery cells electrically connected in series to supply power to one or more of said components; at least one additional battery cell electrically disconnected from both the first and second battery cells; and a switch configured to electrically connect said at least one additional battery cell in parallel with one of said first or second battery cells, wherein said switch connects said additional battery cell in parallel with whichever of said first or second battery cells has a voltage which is lower than a threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification