# US 2019/0167977 A1 · Vestibular Stimulation Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167977 A1 - Document ID: US20190167977A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/237,794 - Filed: 2019-01-02 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-29 - Assignees: Cochlear Limited; University of Washington Center for Commercialization - Inventors: Frank Risi; Colin Irwin; Jay T. Rubinstein; Felipe Santos; James O. Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167977A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/0526: {Head electrodes (A61N1/0551 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes} - A61N 1/361: {Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A vestibular stimulation array is disclosed having one or more separate electrode arrays each operatively adapted for implantation in a semicircular canal of the vestibular system, wherein each separate electrode array is dimensioned and constructed so that residual vestibular function is preserved. In particular, the electrode arrays are dimensioned such that the membranous labyrinth is not substantially compressed. Furthermore, the electrode array has a stop portion to limit insertion of the electrode array into the semi-circular canal and is still enough to avoid damage to the anatomical structures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 A method, comprising: inserting at least one electrode array into a vestibular system of a recipient, wherein the at least one electrode array is electrically connected to a stimulator unit so as to form at least part of a vestibular stimulation device; and after the at least one electrode array is inserted into the vestibular system, generating electrical stimulation at the stimulator unit; and applying the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient with the least one electrode array, wherein the at least one electrode array is dimensioned such that residual vestibular function is retained when the at least one electrode array is inserted into the vestibular system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein inserting at least one electrode array into a vestibular system of a recipient comprises: inserting the at least one electrode array into the vestibular system of the recipient via at least one of an oval window or a round window of the recipient. ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one electrode array has a stiffness such that the at least one electrode array can be inserted to a selected depth in the vestibular system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein inserting the least one electrode array into the vestibular system of the recipient comprises: inserting the at least one electrode array such that the electrode array does not substantially compress a membranous labyrinth of the vestibular system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: controlling the generation of the electrical stimulation from an external device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: monitoring one or more indicators of a balance disorder; and generating the electrical stimulation based on the monitoring of the one or more indicators. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered to a first portion of the vestibular system and secondary electrical stimulation is delivered to a second portion of the vestibular system, and wherein generating the electrical stimulation comprises: generating the electrical stimulation with at least one of an amplitude, a frequency, a phase gap, or a pulse width that is selected to minimize interference with the secondary electrical stimulation delivered to the second portion of the vestibular system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the stimulator unit is configured to generate electrical stimulation in accordance with a plurality of simulation methods, and wherein generating the electrical stimulation at the stimulator unit comprises: generating the electrical stimulation using a selected one of the plurality of stimulation methods that evokes a desired percept and enables the vestibular stimulation device to operate at a lowest power. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein applying the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient with the least one electrode array, comprises: delivering monopolar electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient such that current flows from at least one electrode of the at least one electrode array to at least a second electrode that is used as reference electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: separately implanting one or more electrodes in the recipient, and wherein applying electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient, and wherein the least second electrode is at least one of the one or more electrodes separately implanted in the recipient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one electrode array comprises at least first and second electrodes, and wherein applying electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient comprises: delivering bipolar electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient such that current flows from at least the first electrode to at least the second electrode. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: inserting at least one electrode array into a vestibular system of a recipient; after the at least one electrode array is inserted, applying, using the least one electrode array into, electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient; obtaining one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the electrical stimulation; and analyzing the one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the electrical stimulation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the electrical stimulation comprises: obtaining one or more electrically-evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) generated by the vestibular system in response to the electrical stimulation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the electrical stimulation comprises: evaluating, based on the one or more neural responses, a position of the at least one electrode array in the vestibular system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein evaluating a position of the at least one electrode array in the vestibular system comprises: determining, based on the one or more neural responses, a proximity of one or more of the first and second electrode channels to an ampulla of a lateral canal of the vestibular system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: based on the evaluating, adjusting the position of the at least one electrode array in the at least one to a second position; applying additional electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient; obtaining one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the additional electrical stimulation; and evaluating, based on the one or more neural responses to the additional electrical stimulation, the second position of the at least one electrode array in the at least one. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the one or more neural responses of the vestibular system to the electrical stimulation comprises: evaluating, based on the one or more neural responses, the electrode position where a most desirable neural response is obtained. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one electrode array is dimensioned such that residual vestibular function is retained when the at least one electrode array is inserted into the vestibular system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein inserting the least one electrode array into the vestibular system of the recipient comprises: inserting the at least one electrode array such that the electrode array does not substantially compress a membranous labyrinth of the vestibular system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: controlling application of the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system from an external device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein applying the electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient with the least one electrode array, comprises: delivering monopolar electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient such that current flows from at least one electrode of the at least one electrode array to at least a second electrode that is used as reference electrode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises: separately implanting one or more electrodes in the recipient, and wherein applying electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient, and wherein the least second electrode is at least one of the one or more electrodes separately implanted in the recipient. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one electrode array comprises at least first and second electrodes, and wherein applying electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient comprises: delivering bipolar electrical stimulation to the vestibular system of the recipient such that current flows from at least the first electrode to at least the second electrode.