Method and circuitry for measurement of stimulation current
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsKostas Tsampazis, Adrian Cryer, Andrew Saldanha
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Abstract
A method and device for measuring and controlling stimulation current, for example in an implantable device, are disclosed. A series capacitor (Cb) is disposed along the conduction path, and the voltage (Uc) across the capacitor measured, so as to provide a direct measurement of the delivered stimulation current.
Claims26
A neural stimulator, comprising:
- a plurality of stimulation electrodes;
- at least one controllable electrical stimulator, including a current source, configured to deliver electrical stimuli via at least one of the stimulation electrodes;
- a capacitor disposed in series along a conduction path including the at least one stimulation electrode and the controllable electrical stimulator such that the conduction path, during delivery of the electrical stimuli, further includes the current source disposed in series with the capacitor;
- and
- a voltage measurement device configured to measure the voltage across the capacitor, said voltage providing an indication of the current operatively delivered by said at least one stimulation electrode.
A method of monitoring stimulation current in a neural stimulator, the stimulator including an electrical stimulator, and a plurality of stimulation electrodes, the electrical stimulator including a current source, the method comprising:
- disposing a capacitor in a conduction path of at least one of the stimulation electrodes;
- selectively disposing, during delivery of stimulation via said electrode, the current source in the conduction path in series with the capacitor;
- measuring a voltage across said capacitor during delivery of the stimulation via said electrode;
- and
- determining, from said measured voltage, the stimulation current delivered to said electrode.
A cochlear implant system, comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes configured for insertion into at least one of a cochlea and tissue proximal thereto;
- a controllable stimulator circuit, including a current source, configured to selectively deliver electrical stimuli via the electrodes;
- a capacitor disposed in series along a conduction path including at least one of the electrodes and the stimulator circuit such that the conduction path, during delivery of the electrical stimuli, further includes the current source disposed in series with the capacitor;
- and
- a voltage measurement device configured to measure the voltage across the capacitor, said voltage providing an indication of the current operatively delivered by said at least one electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.