Multi-electrode cochlear implant system with distributed electronics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable tissue-stimulating component of an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising:
- a carrier member;
a plurality of stimulation sites disposed in an array along at least a portion of the carrier member; and
a plurality of signal transmitting means extending through the carrier member, wherein the number of the signal transmitting means within the carrier member is less than the number of the stimulation sites, wherein the plurality of the stimulation sites are arranged at individual locations along the plurality of signal transmitting means and each of the stimulation sites comprises a stimulating electrode element and associated electronic circuitry that controls a stimulation output by the stimulating electrode element in response to signals delivered to the stimulation site by the signal transmitting means,wherein the plurality of signal transmitting means comprises at least five signal transmitting means, the at least five signal transmitting means comprising a clock line, a data line, a first stimulation line, a second stimulation line, and a common ground line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising a carrier member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon, and at least one signal transmitting wire extending through at least a portion of the carrier member and adapted to transmit signals through the carrier member to and/or from the electrodes. The number of wires within the carrier member is less than the number of electrodes mounted thereon.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable tissue-stimulating component of an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising:
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a carrier member; a plurality of stimulation sites disposed in an array along at least a portion of the carrier member; and a plurality of signal transmitting means extending through the carrier member, wherein the number of the signal transmitting means within the carrier member is less than the number of the stimulation sites, wherein the plurality of the stimulation sites are arranged at individual locations along the plurality of signal transmitting means and each of the stimulation sites comprises a stimulating electrode element and associated electronic circuitry that controls a stimulation output by the stimulating electrode element in response to signals delivered to the stimulation site by the signal transmitting means, wherein the plurality of signal transmitting means comprises at least five signal transmitting means, the at least five signal transmitting means comprising a clock line, a data line, a first stimulation line, a second stimulation line, and a common ground line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23)
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17. An implantable tissue-stimulating component of an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising:
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a carrier member; a plurality of stimulation sites disposed in an array along at least a portion of the carrier member; and a plurality of signal transmitting means extending through the carrier member, wherein the number of the signal transmitting means within the carrier member is less than the number of the stimulation sites; and wherein the plurality of the stimulation sites are arranged at individual locations along the plurality of signal transmitting means and each of the stimulation sites comprises a stimulating electrode element and associated electronic circuitry that controls a stimulation output by the stimulating electrode element in response to signals delivered to the stimulation site by the signal transmitting means; wherein the plurality of signal transmitting means at least comprise a clock line, a data line, a first stimulation line, a second stimulation line, and a common ground line; wherein the electronic circuitry comprises at least a power rectifier, a data decoder, a control circuit, and an output switch; wherein DC power for the stimulating electrode element is produced by the power rectifier by rectifying an AC power source provided to the power rectifier; and wherein the AC power is provided on two signal transmitting means extending through the carrier member from a receiver/stimulator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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18. An implantable tissue-stimulating component of an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising:
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a carrier member; a plurality of stimulation sites disposed in an array along at least a portion of the carrier member; and a plurality of signal transmitting means extending through the carrier member, wherein the number of the signal transmitting means within the carrier member is less than the number of the stimulation sites; and wherein the plurality of the stimulation sites are arranged at individual locations along the plurality of signal transmitting means and each of the stimulation sites comprises a stimulating electrode element and associated electronic circuitry that controls a stimulation output by the stimulating electrode element in response to signals delivered to the stimulation site by the signal transmitting means; wherein the plurality of signal transmitting means at least comprise a clock line, a data line, a first stimulation line, a second stimulation line, and a common ground line; wherein the electronic circuitry comprises at least a power rectifier, a data decoder, a control circuit, and an output switch; wherein the output switch directs a stimulation current to a selected said stimulating electrode element or connects a selected stimulating electrode element to a telemetry measurement circuit; and wherein each said output switch also opens output of the stimulating electrode element during voltage and neural response telemetry. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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19. An implantable tissue-stimulating component of an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising:
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a carrier member; a plurality of stimulation sites disposed in an array along at least a portion of the carrier member; and a plurality of separate electrical leads extending through the carrier member, wherein the number of the electrical leads within the carrier is less than the number of the stimulation sites; wherein the plurality of the stimulation sites are arranged at individual locations along the plurality of separate electrical leads and the stimulation sites comprise a stimulating electrode element and a respective electronic circuitry assembly configured to control a stimulation output by the respective stimulating electrode element in response to signals delivered to the stimulation site by the electrical leads; wherein the plurality of electrical leads at least comprise a clock line, a data line, a first stimulation line, a second stimulation line, and a common ground line; and wherein the clock line, the data line, the first stimulation line, the second stimulation line and the common ground line are each electrically connected to the electronic circuitry assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of stimulating tissue with an implanted auditory prosthesis, comprising:
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delivering a clock signal, a data signal, a first stimulation signal and a second stimulation signal through respective separate electrical leads to a plurality of electronic circuit assemblies respectively in electrical communication with the separate leads, wherein the number of circuit assemblies is greater than the number of electrical leads; and applying separate stimulation outputs to respective tissue locations from respective electrodes in electrical communication with respective electronic circuit assemblies of the plurality of electronic circuit assemblies in response to the signals delivered through the plurality of electrical leads. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification