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US 10,744,333 B2Granted
External and implantable coils for auditory prostheses
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsMartin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Werner Meskens, Koen Erik Van den Heuvel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an implantable portion including:
- a housing;
- a stimulator unit disposed within the housing for generating a stimulus;
- a flexible sleeve connected to the housing;
- and
- a wire disposed within the flexible sleeve, wherein the wire comprises a connector disposed at an end of the wire;
- and
- at least one transmission element extending from the implantable portion for transmitting the stimulus,
- wherein the stimulator unit comprises a port for detachably receiving the connector;
- and
- wherein the flexible sleeve is configured to be guidable into one or more loops during implantation of the flexible sleeve in a recipient to form a receiver coil.
8 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an implantable housing including a stimulator unit disposed within the implantable housing for generating a stimulus;
- a flexible implantable wire extending from the implantable housing and in communication with the stimulator unit, wherein the flexible implantable wire includes a first end connected to the stimulator unit and a second end connectable to the stimulator unit, wherein the flexible implantable wire is configured to send a signal to the stimulator unit;
- and
- at least one transmission element extending from the implantable housing for transmitting the stimulus generated by the stimulator unit,
- wherein the implantable housing comprises a port for receiving the second end;
- and
- wherein the flexible implantable wire is configured to be guidable into one or more loops during implantation of the flexible implantable wire in a recipient to form a receiver coil.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- an external portion of an auditory prosthesis, the external portion including:
- a sound processor;
- and
- an external coil configured to receive a sound processor signal from the sound processor;
- and
- an apparatus comprising:
- an implantable housing including a stimulator unit disposed within the implantable housing for generating a stimulus;
- a flexible implantable wire extending from the implantable housing and in communication with the stimulator unit, wherein the flexible implantable wire includes a first end connected to the stimulator unit and a second end connectable to the stimulator unit, wherein the flexible implantable wire is configured to send a signal to the stimulator unit;
- and
- at least one transmission element extending from the implantable housing for transmitting the stimulus generated by the stimulator unit,
- wherein the implantable housing comprises a port for receiving the second end;
- and
- wherein the flexible implantable wire is configured to be guidable into one or more loops during implantation of the flexible implantable wire in a recipient to form a receiver coil.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.