Systems and methods for implantable leadless cochlear stimulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for cochlea stimulation comprising:
- a sound-speech processor configured to convert sound into one or more stimulation characteristics;
an implantable acoustic controller-transmitter configured to receive the one or more stimulation characteristics from the sound-speech processor and generate acoustic energy according to the received stimulation characteristics; and
an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator comprising a stimulation electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with the cochlea, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive and convert the acoustic energy into an electrical stimulation output delivered to the cochlea by the stimulation electrode assembly;
wherein the controller-transmitter is configured to periodically sense the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator and adjust acoustic energy transmission accordingly in order to compensate for changes in the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea.
142 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A system for cochlea stimulation comprising:
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a sound-speech processor configured to convert sound into one or more stimulation characteristics; an implantable acoustic controller-transmitter configured to receive the one or more stimulation characteristics from the sound-speech processor and generate acoustic energy according to the received stimulation characteristics; and an implantable acoustic receiver-stimulator comprising a stimulation electrode assembly adapted to be in direct contact with the cochlea, wherein the receiver-stimulator is configured to receive and convert the acoustic energy into an electrical stimulation output delivered to the cochlea by the stimulation electrode assembly; wherein the controller-transmitter is configured to periodically sense the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator and adjust acoustic energy transmission accordingly in order to compensate for changes in the electrical stimulation output of the receiver-stimulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification