Implanted auditory prosthesis control by component movement

• US 9,849,284 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Van den Heuvel, Koen Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Jr., Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/991,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20160199644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 607 57, 607 60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation

Abstract

Operational modes or settings of a totally implantable cochlear implant can be adjusted or changed based on movement of an external element. Sensors in the totally implantable cochlear implant detect one of several positions of the external element as that element is moved near the implant. Depending on the position detected, one of a plurality of operational modes or settings can be selected.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising an implantable magnet and a first proximity sensor, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis comprises a first operational mode and a second operational mode; and

an external control element configured to communicate with the implantable auditory prosthesis, wherein the external control element comprises an external magnet, and wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis operates in the first operational mode when the external magnet is engaged with the implantable magnet, and wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis operates in the second operational mode when the external magnet is disengaged from the implantable magnet and the first proximity sensor detects a presence of the external magnet,

wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis further comprises a second proximity sensor, and wherein the presence of the external magnet is characterized by a first signal received at the first proximity sensor being stronger than a second signal received at the second proximity sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis further comprises a third operational mode, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis operates in the third operational mode when the external magnet is disengaged from the implantable magnet and the first proximity sensor fails to detect the presence of the external magnet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis further comprises a disabled mode, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis enters the disabled mode when the external magnet is disengaged from the implantable magnet and the second proximity sensor detects the presence of the external magnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis comprises an implantable microphone and the external control element comprises an external microphone, and wherein when in the disabled mode, both of the implantable microphone and the external microphone are disabled.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis comprises an implantable microphone and the external control element comprises an external microphone, and wherein when in the third operational mode, the implantable microphone is enabled and the external microphone is disabled.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when in the third operational mode, a control signal is received by the implantable auditory prosthesis from the external control element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable auditory prosthesis comprises an implantable microphone and the external control element comprises an external microphone, and wherein when in the first operational mode, the implantable microphone is disabled and the external microphone is enabled and the external control element sends signals to the implantable auditory prosthesis via an inductive link.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein when in the second operational mode, the implantable microphone is disabled and the external microphone is enabled and the external control element sends signals to the implantable auditory prosthesis via a wireless link.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an external control element comprising;

an external magnet; and

an implantable auditory prosthesis comprising;

a processor;

an implantable magnet; and

first and second magnetic sensors in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor selects a first operational mode when the external magnet is engaged with the implantable magnet;

wherein the processor selects a second operational mode when the external magnet is disengaged from the implantable magnet and the first magnetic sensor detects a presence of the external magnet; and

wherein the presence of the external magnet is characterized by a first signal received at the first magnetic sensor being stronger than a second signal received at the second magnetic sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the external control element comprises an external microphone;

the implantable auditory prosthesis comprises an implantable microphone in communication with the processor; and

the processor sends an activation signal to activate at least one of the external microphone and the implantable microphone based at least in part on the selected operational mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a position signal is received from the at least one of the first and second magnetic sensors.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the external control element comprises an external communication coil and a position signal is received from the external communication coil.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a position signal is received when the external magnet is aligned with the implantable magnet.

14. A medical device comprising:

an external component comprising an external magnet; and

an implantable component, wherein the implantable component comprises;

an implantable magnet;

a first magnet sensor,

a second magnet sensor, wherein the second magnet sensor is spaced from the first magnet sensor, and

a processor connected to the first magnet sensor and the second magnet sensor,

wherein the processor is configured to select a first operational mode when the external magnet is disengaged with the implantable magnet;

wherein the processor is configured to select a second operational mode when the external magnet is disengaged from the implantable magnet and the first magnet sensor detects a presence of the external magnet; and

wherein the presence of the external magnet is characterized by a first signal received at the first magnet sensor being stronger than a second signal received at the second magnet sensor.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to enter a disabled mode based at least in part on:

a relative strength of the first signal and the second signal, and an absence of power or data being received from the external component.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second magnet sensors comprises an induction coil, and wherein the induction coil is configured to receive power or data from the external component.

17. The medical device of claim 14, wherein a relative strength of the first signal and the second signal is indicative of a direction of movement of the external component relative to the implantable component.

18. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to determine a position signal based on a relative strength of the first signal and the second signal, and determine a direction of movement of the external component based on changes in the position signal.

19. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the medical device is a hearing prosthesis selected from the group consisting of:

a cochlear implant, an active bone conduction device, and a middle ear implant.