Connectorized cochlear implant systems and methods
US9694179B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 29, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2460/03
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An exemplary system includes 1) a cochlear implant module configured to be implanted within a patient and comprising cochlear implant circuitry configured to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient, 2) an implantable sound processor module configured to be implanted within the patient and comprising sound processor circuitry configured to optically transmit data and/or power to the cochlear implant circuitry, and 3) an optical connector assembly configured to facilitate removable coupling of the implantable sound processor module to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly. The optical connector assembly comprises one or more optical fibers configured to facilitate the optical transmission of the data and/or the power from the sound processor circuitry to the cochlear implant circuitry while the implantable sound processor module is removably coupled to the cochlear implant module by way of the optical connector assembly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.