Implant stimulation device
First Claim
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1. An implantable stimulator device including:
- at least one extra-cochlear electrode;
an array of intra-cochlear electrodes;
at least one current source; and
at least one current control circuit configured to control the at least one current source to supply a first pre-defined proportion of a stimulation current to an extra-cochlear stimulation circuit between the at least one extra-cochlear electrode and one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes in the array, and to supply a second pre-defined proportion of the stimulation current to an intra-cochlear stimulation circuit between one or more second intra-cochlear electrodes in the array and the one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes.
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Abstract
An implantable stimulation device is disclosed which provides for reduced power consumption when compared with bipolar stimulation and better stimulation performance when compared with monopolar stimulation. Implantable stimulator devices use less power in monopolar stimulation mode than that of bipolar stimulation but stimulation performance is greater when using bipolar stimulation. The device comprises circuitry capable of simultaneous stimulation between a reference electrode and an electrode of a stimulation array and between electrodes of the stimulation array, the ratio of current to the reference electrode and array electrodes being selectable.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator device including:
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at least one extra-cochlear electrode; an array of intra-cochlear electrodes; at least one current source; and at least one current control circuit configured to control the at least one current source to supply a first pre-defined proportion of a stimulation current to an extra-cochlear stimulation circuit between the at least one extra-cochlear electrode and one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes in the array, and to supply a second pre-defined proportion of the stimulation current to an intra-cochlear stimulation circuit between one or more second intra-cochlear electrodes in the array and the one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
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12. A method for providing electrical stimulation in an implant, the implant including at least one extra-cochlear electrode, an array of intra-cochlear electrodes, at least one current source, and at least one current control circuit, the method comprising:
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controlling the at least one current source to deliver a first pre-defined proportion of a stimulation current to an extra-cochlear stimulation circuit between the at least one extra-cochlear electrode and one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes of the array; and controlling the at least one current source to deliver a second pre-defined proportion of a stimulation current to an intra-cochlear stimulation circuit between one or more second intra-cochlear electrodes of the electrode array and the one or more first intra-cochlear electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification