Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cochlear implant, comprising:
- a cochlear lead including a plurality of electrodes;
an antenna;
a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna and to the cochlear lead; and
a magnet apparatus, adjacent to the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable relative to the case about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets each defining a respective longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the central axis, a respective N-S direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a respective N-S rotational orientation, the magnets each being freely rotatable about its respective longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame, and the magnets being configured to be magnetically attracted to one another in such manner that, absent the presence of a dominant magnetic field and in the presence of a headpiece magnet, the N-S rotational orientation of the magnets is perpendicular to the central axis of the case.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cochlear implant including a cochlear lead, an antenna, a stimulation processor, and a magnet apparatus, associated with the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A cochlear implant, comprising:
-
a cochlear lead including a plurality of electrodes; an antenna; a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna and to the cochlear lead; and a magnet apparatus, adjacent to the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable relative to the case about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets each defining a respective longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the central axis, a respective N-S direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a respective N-S rotational orientation, the magnets each being freely rotatable about its respective longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame, and the magnets being configured to be magnetically attracted to one another in such manner that, absent the presence of a dominant magnetic field and in the presence of a headpiece magnet, the N-S rotational orientation of the magnets is perpendicular to the central axis of the case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A system, comprising
a cochlear implant having a cochlear lead including a plurality of electrodes, an antenna, a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna and to the cochlear lead, and a magnet apparatus, adjacent to the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable relative to the case about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets each defining a respective longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the central axis and a respective N-S direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and being freely rotatable about its respective longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame; - and
an external device including a diametrically magnetized disk-shaped positioning magnet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- and
Specification