Implantable microphone for cochlear implants and the like
OwnerDavid Moneyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for assisting a person with a hearing disability includes an implantable microphone which senses sounds by monitoring pressure variations in the cochlear fluid. The electrical signal generated by the microphone is processed and used by a signal generator, such as cochlear implant to generate excitation signals for the patient. In this manner, external microphones, used in prior art systems, are eliminated.
Claims21
A system for aiding a person having hearing deficiency, said system comprising:
- a microphone for implantation into said person;
- a coupler for coupling pressure variations in a cochlear fluid of said person, said microphone being constructed and arranged to sense said pressure variations, and to generate corresponding electrical signals;
- and
- a generator for generating excitation signals for said person corresponding to said electrical signals.
A cochlear implant system for implantation into a patient, said system comprising:
- an implanted microphones;
- a coupler being adapted for coupling pressure variations in a cochlear fluid of said patient to said implanted microphone, said implanted microphone being constructed and arranged to sense said pressure variations and to generate electrical signals indicative of said pressure variations;
- an electrode array adapted to provide excitation of a cochlear nerve of said patient;
- and
- a signal processor receiving said electrical signals to generate corresponding excitation signals for said electrode.
A method for producing excitation signals for a patient having a hearing deficiency, said electrical signals being indicative of ambient sounds, comprising the steps of:
- implanting a microphone inside a patient, said microphone being coupled to a cochlear fluid of said patient, said microphone sensing pressure variations in said cochlear fluid due to said ambient sounds;
- generating electrical signals with said microphone indicative of said pressure variations;
- and
- processing said electrical signals to generate said excitation signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.