Focused stimulation in a medical stimulation device
US7860573B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R25/606
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical stimulation device such as a cochlear implant configured to provide stimulation of one or more spatially-restricted contiguous portion(s) of the spiral array of auditory nerve fibers in the cochlear (“discrete stimulation regions”). Each discrete stimulation region is defined by the constructive and/or destructive interference of stimulating and limiting signals simultaneously applied to electrode channels of an implanted electrode array, the stimulating and limiting signals being determined based upon transimpedance measurements of intracochlear electrode channels of the implanted electrode array representing specific spread functions of an individual recipient. The stimulating signal is preferably applied through a targeted electrode channel; that is, one or more successive electrodes which is/are adjacent to the discrete stimulation region. The targeted electrode channel is selected to represent a sound based on the outputs of a sound processor to stimulate neural activity in the discrete stimulation region to thereby cause a percept of the represented sound. The size of the discrete stimulation region is defined by the limiting signal(s) applied to electrode channel(s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.