Method and vestibular implant using optical stimulation of nerves
US8012189B1 · kind B1 · utility
57Cited by
84References
44Claims
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/0659
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical-signal vestibular-nerve stimulation device and method that provides different nerve stimulation signals to a plurality of different vestibular nerves, including at least some of the three semicircular canal nerves and the two otolith organ nerves. In some embodiments, balance conditions of the person are sensed by the implanted device or external device, and based on the sensed balance conditions, varying laser nerve-stimulation signals are sent to a plurality of the different vestibular nerves.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.