Device for protecting an electronic prosthesis from adverse effects of RF and/or electrostatic energy

An electronic prosthesis that is implanted into a user's body including:

• A) an electronic device that is implanted into a user's body and includes a metal housing having an opening, a dc power source inside said metal housing, electronic control elements inside said metal housing, tissue stimulating elements and an electronic lead wire electrically connecting said power source and extending through said opening, said electronic control elements and said tissue stimulating elements;
• and
• B) a protective device for protecting said electronic device from undesired RF energy induced operation and from undesired electrostatic energy induced operation, said protective device including
• a closure element covering said case open end and including a ground element having a first impedance and electrically connected to said lead wire, and
• said lead wire having an impedance between said power source and said tissue stimulating elements which is greater than said first impedance when exposed to RF energy.

An electronic prosthesis that is implanted into a user's body including:

• A) an electronic device that is implanted into a user's body and includes a dc power source, electronic control elements, a tissue stimulating element and an electronic lead wire electrically connecting said power source, said electronic control elements and said tissue stimulating element, said tissue stimulating element having a dc resistance;
• and
• B) a protective device for protecting said electronic device from undesired RF energy induced operation and from undesired electrostatic energy induced operation, said protective device including
• (1) a ground element having a first impedance and electrically separated from said lead wire by and first impedance, and
• (2) an impedance element in said lead wire connected between said dc power source and said tissue stimulating element and having an impedance that is greater than said first impedance when exposed to RF energy, said impedance element having a dc resistance that is greater than the dc resistance said tissue stimulating element.

An electronic prosthesis that is implantable into a user's body including:

• A) an electronic device that is implantable into a user's body and includes a dc power source, electronic control elements, tissue stimulating elements and an electronic lead wire electrically connecting said power source, said electronic control elements and said tissue stimulating elements;
• and
• B) a protective device for protecting said electronic device from undesired RF energy induced operation and from undesired electrostatic energy induced operation, said protective device including
• (1) a ground element electrically separated from said lead wire by said first impedance, and
• (2) an impedance element in said lead wire connected between said electronic control elements and said tissue stimulating elements and having an impedance that is greater than said first impedance when exposed to RF energy.