Medical implant with current leakage circuitry
First Claim
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1. A medical device implant comprising:
- stimulation circuitry for providing stimulation signals to electrodes, the stimulation circuitry including one or more power supply rails for providing first and second direct current voltages, respectively;
an insulated conductor for carrying electrical charge, wherein the medical device implant is structured so that when the medical device implant is implanted in a recipient, insulation of the insulated conductor is in contact with tissue of the recipient;
a sensing electrode in the insulation; and
a current detection circuit electrically connectable to the sensing electrode so as to detect current between a point of failure of said insulation and one or more additional electrodes connected to the stimulation circuitry,wherein the current detection circuit is configured to provide an output indicative of detection of said current; and
wherein the stimulation circuitry is configured to selectively connect at least one of the sensing electrode and the one or more additional electrodes to the one or more power supply rails, respectively.
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Abstract
Medical device implants for stimulating the nervous system of a recipient are disclosed. Embodiments include a cochlear implant with electrodes for delivering charge to the cochlea of the recipient and stimulation circuitry for delivering the charge to the electrodes. The medical devices include a transfer line which carries power and/or communication signals, the transfer line being in contact with tissue of the recipient when the medical device implant is implanted. A leakage capture conductor and/or sensing electrode is located or locatable proximate the insulated conductor.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A medical device implant comprising:
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stimulation circuitry for providing stimulation signals to electrodes, the stimulation circuitry including one or more power supply rails for providing first and second direct current voltages, respectively; an insulated conductor for carrying electrical charge, wherein the medical device implant is structured so that when the medical device implant is implanted in a recipient, insulation of the insulated conductor is in contact with tissue of the recipient; a sensing electrode in the insulation; and a current detection circuit electrically connectable to the sensing electrode so as to detect current between a point of failure of said insulation and one or more additional electrodes connected to the stimulation circuitry, wherein the current detection circuit is configured to provide an output indicative of detection of said current; and wherein the stimulation circuitry is configured to selectively connect at least one of the sensing electrode and the one or more additional electrodes to the one or more power supply rails, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a medical device implant in a recipient, the method comprising:
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communicating an electrical signal over a transfer path of the medical device implant, wherein the transfer path is normally insulated from tissue of the recipient; maintaining a sensing electrode about said transfer path, the sensing electrode being insulated from said tissue and said transfer path absent failure of insulation; and detecting current from said power transfer path to said sensing electrode due to the failure of insulation there between; performing an action in response to said detecting; and selectively connecting at least one of the sensing electrode and one or more additional electrodes to one or more power supply rails of the medical device, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification