Intraoperative guidance for implantable transducers
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsKoen Erik Van Den Heuvel, Antonin Rambault
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Abstract
Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the bonding of an implantable transducer, such as an implantable sound sensor or implantable actuator, to tissue of a recipient. More specifically, the sensitivity of the implantable transducer is monitored during the bonding process using signals captured/received by the implantable transducer. The signals captured by the implantable transducer are analyzed to determine whether and/or when the implantable sound sensor is bonded to the tissue.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- delivering sound signals to an ear of a recipient, wherein an implantable sound sensor arrangement is mechanically attached to an internal structure of the ear via a bonding agent;
- at least while the bonding agent is curing, capturing the sound signals with the implantable sound sensor arrangement;
- generating, at the implantable sound sensor arrangement, output signals representing the sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement;
- and
- monitoring a sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement.
One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
- receive output signals captured by an implantable sound sensor arrangement that is mechanically attached to an internal structure of an ear of a recipient via a bonding agent, wherein the output signals represent sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement at least while the bonding agent is curing;
- and
- monitoring a sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.