Multichannel implantable cochlear stimulator having programmable bipolar, monopolar or multipolar electrode configurations
US5531774A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 12, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 12, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2460/03
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) has eight output stages (212), each having a programmable current source (212B) connected to a pair of electrodes, designated "A" and "B", through respective output coupling capacitors and an electrode switching matrix (212C). An indifferent electrode is connected to each output stage by way of an indifferent electrode switch (212D). An output mode register (208) controls the switching matrix of each stage, as well as the indifferent electrode switch, to configure the electrodes for: (1) bipolar stimulation (current flow between the pair of electrodes of the output stage), (2) monopolar A stimulation (current flow between the "A" electrode of the output stage and the indifferent electrode), (3) monopolar B stimulation (current flow between the "B" electrode of the output stage and the indifferent electrode), or (4) multipolar stimulation (current flow between the "A" or "B" electrode of one output stage and the "A" or "B" electrode of another output stage). The mode register is set by way of a command word, transmitted to the ICS from an external wearable system (10) as part of a data frame. The voltage at the "A" and "B" electrode of each o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.