Fully implantable cochlear implant system
US6308101A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3787
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fully implantable cochlear implant system (170) and method includes an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) unit (212) that is connected to an implantable speech processor (ISP) unit (210). Both the ISP unit and the ICS unit reside in separate, hermetically-sealed, cases. The ICS unit has a coil (220) permanently connected thereto through which magnetic or inductive coupling may occur with a similar coil located externally during recharging, programming, or externally-controlled modes of operation. The ICS unit further has a cochlear electrode array (114) permanently connected thereto via a first multi-conductor cable (116). The ICS unit 212 also has a second multi-conductor cable (222) attached thereto, which second cable contains no more than five conductors. The second cable is detachably connected to the ISP unit via a connector (224) located on the case of the ISP unit. The ISP unit includes an implantable subcutaneous microphone (218) as an integral part thereof, and further includes ISP circuitry (214) and a replenishable power source (216), e.g., a rechargeable battery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.