Optical neural stimulating device having a short stimulating assembly
US8355793B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/0605
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cochlear implant is provided. The cochlear implant comprises a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals based on sound processor-encoded signals, and to generate one or more optical stimulation signals, and an implantable stimulating assembly. The implantable stimulating assembly is configured to be implanted into a basal region of a recipient's cochlea such that when the stimulating assembly is fully implanted, a distal end of the assembly extends to the basal turn of the cochlea. The stimulating assembly also comprises: an optical contact to deliver the one or more optical stimulation signals to the cochlea, and an electrical contact to deliver the electric stimulation signals to a basal region of the cochlea so as to cause perception by the recipient of one or more frequency components of the acoustic sound signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.