Implantable hearing assistance apparatus and corresponding systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
- an implantable cochlear stimulator including a position element, a power receiver apparatus, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array, and not including a battery;
an external hearing assistance device including an external hearing device housing, a battery, sound processor circuitry located within the external hearing device housing that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data; and
a head mountable power supply including a head mountable power supply housing, a battery located within the head mountable power supply housing, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a power transmission apparatus operably connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly supply power to the implantable cochlear stimulator power receiver apparatus.
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Abstract
Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of a head mountable power supply to power an implantable cochlear stimulator.
48 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a position element, a power receiver apparatus, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array, and not including a battery; an external hearing assistance device including an external hearing device housing, a battery, sound processor circuitry located within the external hearing device housing that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data; and a head mountable power supply including a head mountable power supply housing, a battery located within the head mountable power supply housing, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a power transmission apparatus operably connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly supply power to the implantable cochlear stimulator power receiver apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hearing assistance method, comprising the steps of:
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wirelessly transmitting stimulation data from an external hearing assistance device associated with a user'"'"'s head to a cochlear stimulator that does not include a battery that is implanted within the user'"'"'s head; wirelessly transmitting power stored in a battery of an external power supply, which is not connected to hearing assistance device and is mounted on the exterior of the user'"'"'s head in spaced relation to the external hearing device by way of magnetic attraction between the power supply and the implanted cochlear stimulator, to the implanted cochlear stimulator; and electrically stimulating the user'"'"'s auditory nerves with the implanted cochlear stimulator in response to receipt of the stimulation data from the external sound processor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a position element, a power receiver apparatus, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array and not including a battery; a hearing assistance device, including a battery, a microphone that converts sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and data communication apparatus that wirelessly transmits the electrical signals; a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus and sound processor circuitry, that wirelessly receives electrical signals from the hearing assistance device, converts the electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and wirelessly transmits the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator; and a head mountable power supply including a battery, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a power transmission apparatus operably connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly supply power to the implantable cochlear stimulator power receiver apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a position element, a power receiver apparatus, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array, and not including a battery; a notification source that transmits a notification signal; a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus, that wirelessly receives the notification signal and wirelessly transmits stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator in response to receipt of the notification signal; and a head mountable power supply including a battery, a magnet that is magnetically attracted to the position element, and a power transmission apparatus operably connected to the battery and configured to wirelessly supply power to the implantable cochlear stimulator power receiver apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification