Integrated implantable hearing device, microphone and power unit
First Claim
1. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation system, comprising:
- generating a first drive signal at a first supercutaneous unit, the first drive signal being based on a first captured sound signal;
transcutaneously wirelessly transmitting said first drive signal from said first supercutaneous unit to a second subcutaneous implant module of the implantable auditory stimulation system;
actuating a subcutaneously implanted stimulation device in communication with the second subcutaneous implant module to evoke a hearing percept based on the transmitted first drive signal;
generating a second drive signal at a first subcutaneous implant module;
wirelessly transmitting said second drive signal from said first subcutaneous implant module to the second subcutaneous implant module;
transcutaneously receiving, at said first implant module, at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals; and
utilizing said at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals to recharge a power supply associated with said first implant module, whereintranscutaneously wirelessly transmitting said first drive signal from the first supercutaneous unit to the second subcutaneous implant module is executed without said first subcutaneous implant module being implanted in a recipient of the implantable auditory stimulation system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.
28 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation system, comprising:
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generating a first drive signal at a first supercutaneous unit, the first drive signal being based on a first captured sound signal; transcutaneously wirelessly transmitting said first drive signal from said first supercutaneous unit to a second subcutaneous implant module of the implantable auditory stimulation system; actuating a subcutaneously implanted stimulation device in communication with the second subcutaneous implant module to evoke a hearing percept based on the transmitted first drive signal; generating a second drive signal at a first subcutaneous implant module; wirelessly transmitting said second drive signal from said first subcutaneous implant module to the second subcutaneous implant module; transcutaneously receiving, at said first implant module, at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals; and utilizing said at least one of magnetic signals and electromagnetic signals to recharge a power supply associated with said first implant module, wherein transcutaneously wirelessly transmitting said first drive signal from the first supercutaneous unit to the second subcutaneous implant module is executed without said first subcutaneous implant module being implanted in a recipient of the implantable auditory stimulation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for use with an implantable auditory stimulation device, comprising:
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generating a wireless link between an implanted hearing unit and an implanted stimulation device, wherein said wireless link electrically interconnects said hearing unit and said stimulation device; transmitting from said hearing unit to said stimulation device, using said wireless link, power to operate said stimulation device; and transmitting from said hearing unit to said stimulation device, using said wireless link, a drive signal operative to actuate said stimulation device, wherein said stimulation device stimulates an auditory component of a patient, wherein the transmitting of said power and said drive signal are performed simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of operating a hearing prosthesis, comprising:
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wirelessly transmitting, from a first unit configured to output power and a drive commands to a second unit including a stimulation device configured to stimulate a recipient of the prosthesis, power to operate the stimulation device, wherein the first unit is a hearing unit; wirelessly transmitting from said first unit to said second unit, drive commands operative to actuate said stimulation device such that the stimulation device stimulates the recipient, wherein the transmissions are performed simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification