US 7,349,741 B2 · Cochlear implant sound processor with permanently integrated replenishable power source

Abstract

A cochlear implant sound processor is powered by a rechargeable battery that is permanently integrated into the sound processor. The sound processor contains an inductive coil that may be tuned to an external charging coil for battery recharging. The electronic circuits and coil of the sound processor are housed in a material transparent to RF signals. The sound processor may be placed in a recharging base station in which the sound processor is positioned in a space surrounded by the inductive charging coil embedded in a material transparent to RF signals. The inductive charging coil sends power to the coil inside the processor and thereby recharges the battery. An alternative embodiment utilizes contacts in the sound processor case and aligned terminals in the recharging base station that allow direct charging of the battery.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A sound processor for use with an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to receive stimulation signals and power from a source external to the implantable cochlear stimulator, the sound processor comprising:

a microphone configured to receive sound signals and convert them to electrical signals;
a sound processing circuit configured to receive the electrical signals from the microphone and convert them to a stimulation signal, and further configured to generate a power signal;
a headpiece connected to the sound processing circuit, the headpiece configured to transfer the stimulation signal and the power signal from the sound processing circuit to the implantable cochlear stimulator;
and
a power source permanently integrated into the sound processor and configured to provide operating power for the sound processing circuit and implantable cochlear stimulator.

2 more elements

A cochlear implant system comprising:

an implantable portion;
an external portion comprising
a headpiece, and
a sound processor,
wherein the sound processor includes sound processing circuits, an antenna coil, a rechargeable battery integrally housed within a closed case, and electrical contacts embedded within or carried on an exterior surface of the closed case that are in electrical contact with the rechargeable battery;
a remote control unit configured to electromagnetically communicate through the antenna coil to allow operating parameters of the sound processing circuits to be selectively adjusted;
and
a base station comprising a charging circuit and a primary power source, and further having terminals in electrical contact with the charging circuit, and means for holding the sound processor in such a way that the electrical contacts of the sound processor contact the terminals of the base station so that the charging circuit is connected electrically with the rechargeable battery, and so that the rechargeable battery of the sound processor may be recharged from the primary power source of the base station, when the sound processor is held within the base station.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cochlear implant sound processor with permanently integrated replenishable power source

Life of this patent

Cochlear implant sound processor with permanently integrated replenishable power source

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25