External Button Processor with a Rechargeable Battery

• US 20150005844A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Duftner, Alexander, Hochmair, Erwin S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,227,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An external processor device is described for a hearing implant system. An external processor housing has a generally planar skin contacting surface and a central axis perpendicular to the skin contacting surface. A signal processor is located within the processor housing for developing an implant data signal. The processor housing also contains a transmitter coil for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the implantable prosthetic system. A battery container forms an annular compartment around the central axis and contains a battery arrangement to provide electrical power to the signal processor and the transmitter coil.

Claims

1. An external processor device, for a hearing implant system that stimulates audio nerve tissue in a cochlea based on an implant data signal, the device comprising:

an external processor housing having a generally planar skin contacting surface and a central axis perpendicular to the skin contacting surface;

a signal processor within the processor housing for developing the implant data signal;

a transmitter coil within the processor housing for coupling the implant data signal across the skin to the hearing implant system; and

a battery container forming an annular compartment around the central axis and containing a battery arrangement to provide electrical power to the signal processor and the transmitter coil.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an external positioning magnet radially inward of the battery container for magnetically interacting with a corresponding internal positioning magnet in the implantable prosthetic system to hold the device in a fixed position on the skin.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the battery container forms a complete annular ring around the central axis.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the battery container forms a partial annular ring around the central axis.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery cells, each cell occupying an annular section within the battery container.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein each battery cell has the same size.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein one of the battery cells is larger than the others.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the external processor device has a center of mass displaced from the central axis so as to define a preferred rotational position of the external processor device on the skin with the center of mass below the central axis.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the battery arrangement uses one or more rechargeable batteries.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the battery arrangement uses one or more replaceable batteries.