Cochlear implant power system and methodology
First Claim
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1. A cochlear implant system comprising:
- an implantable portion including;
a stimulator module for producing for the auditory system of a user an electrical stimulation signal representative of an acoustic signal;
a battery for supplying power to the stimulator module, the battery having a maximum recharge rate;
a receiver module for receiving an electrical power signal across the skin of a user; and
a recharge module that uses the electrical power signal to recharge the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate, without minimizing charge time; and
an external portion adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user, the external portion including;
a power signal transmission module for transmitting the electrical power signal across the skin of a user, the electrical power signal free of modulated data; and
a second battery for supplying power to the power signal transmission module.
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Abstract
A cochlear implant system has an implantable portion that includes a stimulator module for producing for the auditory system of a user an electrical stimulation signal representative of an acoustic signal. The implantable portion further includes a battery for supplying power to the stimulator module, a receiver module for receiving an electrical power signal across the skin of a user, and a recharge module that uses the electrical power signal to recharge the battery. The recharge module recharges the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate.
19 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A cochlear implant system comprising:
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an implantable portion including; a stimulator module for producing for the auditory system of a user an electrical stimulation signal representative of an acoustic signal; a battery for supplying power to the stimulator module, the battery having a maximum recharge rate; a receiver module for receiving an electrical power signal across the skin of a user; and a recharge module that uses the electrical power signal to recharge the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate, without minimizing charge time; and an external portion adapted for placement at a specific location on the external skin of a user, the external portion including; a power signal transmission module for transmitting the electrical power signal across the skin of a user, the electrical power signal free of modulated data; and a second battery for supplying power to the power signal transmission module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a cochlear implant system, the method including:
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transmitting an electrical power signal across the skin of a user, the electrical power signal free of modulated data; receiving, by an implanted portion, the electrical power signal, the implantable portion including a battery having a maximum recharge rate; and recharging the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate using the electrical power signal, without minimizing charge time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification