A system and method for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea. A first magnet is fastened to a cochlear implant electrode. A second magnet is coupled, via magnetic attraction, to the first. A force is placed on the second magnet to push the first magnet, and thus also the cochlear implant electrode, into the cochlea. If a threshold force is exceeded, the first magnet and second magnet will separate, preventing a force on the second magnet from causing insertion of the cochlear implant electrode into the cochlea.
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A system and method of providing an acoustic stimulus for a human subject so as to evoke an auditory response is presented. The method includes creating a chirp signal, wherein creating the chirp signal includes adding a plurality of frequency signals, each frequency signal delayed within the chirp signal based on its associated frequency specific basilar membrane delay determined as a function of measured in vivo frequency specific basilar membrane delays.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
3.
Respiration Monitoring Sensor for a Laryngeal Pacemaker
A laryngeal pacemaker is configured for external placement on skin of a patient to produce respiration stimulation signals. An implantable stimulation electrode delivers the respiration stimulation signals to adjacent target neural tissue for vocal fold abduction during respiration of the recipient patient. A triaxial accelerometer produces a body motion signal reflecting energy expenditure of the recipient patient. A respiration sensor includes a flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode having a tetrapolar configuration for impedance pneumography measurement to produce a sensed respiration signal for the laryngeal pacemaker. The respiration sensor is configured for transfer and release by guided placement from a sensor applicator to the skin at the angulus sterni of the recipient patient. And the laryngeal pacemaker is configured to interpret the body motion signal and the sensed respiration signal to make a real time determination of respiratory phase and frequency for adaptively adjusting the respiration stimulation signals accordingly.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
The invention proposes forming an auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) in one piece from sheet metal, like pliers, with two congruent clamps (3), which can be opened and closed with a two-part head element (2), the head parts (4) of which act as pliers handles. The auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) can be clamped onto an auditory ossicle without exerting any force on the auditory ossicle.
A respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing includes laryngeal stimulating electrodes that are configured to interface with left and right posterior cricoarytenoid muscles (PCAM) of a patient larynx to deliver respiration pacing signals to the PCAM to promote patient breathing. And a pacing processor is configured to generate the respiration pacing signals to alternatingly stimulate the left and right PCAM one at a time so as to always have one of the left and right PCAM in an unstimulated resting state.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A surgical guide tool and methodology includes a non patient-specific platform including one or more supports for attaching to a body part of a subject. A non patient-specific block has a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface, and includes a guide aperture extending from the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface for guiding a surgical instrument in making at least one of a cut and a drill hole. An intermediate module is removably positioned between the platform and the block. The intermediate module has patient-specific dimensions such that the guide aperture has a desired alignment relative to the body part when the surgical guide tool is attached to the body part of the patient and the intermediate module is positioned between the platform and the block.
The present invention aims at providing a cochlear implant, in particular an electrode array of a cochlear implant, adapted to the specific requirements of a given patient in an improved manner, possibly taking into account the specific cochlea anatomy and hearing assistance needs of each individual patient. A first aspect of the invention refers to a method for determining a geometry, in particular a patient-specific geometry, of an electrode array for a cochlear implant for a patient. The method comprises computing a predicted arrangement of the electrode array within the cochlea of the patient based on: i) patient-specific data about the geometry of the cochlea of the patient and/or of a part thereof, and ii) a predefined geometric relation between the geometry of the cochlea of the patient (or of a part thereof) and the predicted arrangement of the electrode array when received within the cochlea of the patient.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
8.
Background Stimulation for Fitting Cochlear Implants
A fitting arrangement is described for fitting electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array implanted in a cochlea of an implanted patient. This involves iteratively fitting multiple fitting electrode contacts by for each of the fitting electrode contacts: i. delivering fitting stimulation signals to the fitting electrode contact and at least one neighboring electrode contact to stimulate adjacent auditory neural tissue, wherein the fitting stimulation signals are characterized by a charge level distribution function having a non-zero noise level charge at the at least one neighboring electrode contact and a response level charge much greater than the noise level charge at the fitting electrode contact, and ii. obtaining patient responses from the implanted patient to the fitting stimulation signals. A patient-specific fit map is then defined for the electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array based on the patient responses.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
9.
Neural Network Audio Scene Classifier for Hearing Implants
An audio scene classifier classifies an audio input signal from an audio scene and includes a pre-processing neural network configured for pre-processing the audio input signal based on initial classification parameters to produce an initial signal classification, and a scene classifier neural network configured for processing the initial scene classification based on scene classification parameters to produce an audio scene classification output. The initial classification parameters reflect neural network training based on a first set of initial audio training data, and the scene classification parameters reflect neural network training on a second set of classification audio training data separate and different from the first set of initial audio training data. A hearing implant signal processor configured for processing the audio input signal and the audio scene classification output to generate the stimulation signals to the hearing implant for perception by the patient as sound.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A length-adjustable ossicular prosthesis, includes a cylindrical pin serving as a connecting element, which connects a foot element to a head element. The head element is intended to be disposed on an inside of an eardrum, and the foot element is intended to be attached to an anvil in a human ear. The head element is designed as an elliptical ring having an opening, which can be closed by closing a locking mechanism comprising a hook. Two guiding and clamping elements project inwardly from the ring, between which, in an open position, the connecting element is displaceably guided, and which secure the head element non-displaceably and non-rotatably on the connecting element when the ring is closed, and as a result the guiding and clamping elements are tensioned against the connecting element.
A printed tattoo electrode includes an interconnection unit with a stiff magnetic contact component including one or more attachment magnets configured to magnetically attach the electrode sensor to an external device. A stiff electrical contact component is electrically connected to output interface contacts for coupling electrical signals to the external device. And at least one bridge component is configured to mechanically connect the electrical contact component and the magnetic contact component to the output interface contacts. The bridge component is characterized by a connecting length with gradually varying stiffness so as to distribute mechanical stresses between the electrode sensor and the external device and avoid motion artifacts in the electrical signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
12.
METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM TO DETERMINE A FREQUENCY FUNCTION OF A BASILAR MEMBRANE OF COCHLEAE TO TUNE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
A device, system and method to determine a frequency function of a basilar membrane of cochleae to tune cochlear implants is provided. A clinically available scan of a cochlea of a given format is input to a machine learning engine trained to: output higher resolution cochlear images of a resolution higher than the given format using input based on clinically available cochlear scans of the given format. A higher resolution image of the cochlea is determined using the machine learning engine. A number of turns of the cochlea is determined from the higher resolution image. A frequency function of a basilar membrane of the cochlea is determined and/or output, the frequency function being dependent on an angle of the basilar membrane. The frequency function is determined and/or output by inputting the number of turns into a generic predetermined frequency function dependent on the number of turns and the angle.
A61F 11/04 - Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe, p.ex. par le toucher
13.
METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM TO DETERMINE A FREQUENCY FUNCTION OF A BASILAR MEMBRANE OF COCHLEAE TO TUNE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
A device, system and method to determine a frequency function of a basilar membrane of cochleae to tune cochlear implants is provided. A clinically available scan of a cochlea of a given format is input to a machine learning engine trained to: output higher resolution cochlear images of a resolution higher than the given format using input based on clinically available cochlear scans of the given format. A higher resolution image of the cochlea is determined using the machine learning engine. A number of turns of the cochlea is determined from the higher resolution image. A frequency function of a basilar membrane of the cochlea is determined and/or output, the frequency function being dependent on an angle of the basilar membrane. The frequency function is determined and/or output by inputting the number of turns into a generic predetermined frequency function dependent on the number of turns and the angle.
A61F 11/04 - Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe, p.ex. par le toucher
A61F 2/18 - Parties internes de l'oreille ou du nez, p.ex. tympans
Methods and arrangements are described for developing a virtual channel matrix for mapping analysis channels to stimulation channels for a cochlear implant patient by selecting a stimulation channel and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and a positive phase separated in time by a first inter-phase-gap; and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and positive phase separated in time by a second inter-phase-gap and whereby the first and second inter-phase-gaps are different. Thereafter Determining the slopes of the measured amplitude growth functions for the stimulation channel measured with the first and second inter-phase-gaps, and calculating an indicator based at least in part on the difference of the slopes of the amplitude growth functions indicative of the local neural survival for that stimulation channel. Thereafter Repeating this process for each stimulation channel where an indicator shall be derived and selecting for the virtual channel matrix the stimulation channels with best local neural survival by optimizing a function based at least in part on the calculated indicators of the stimulation channels.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
15.
OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENTS FOR DETERMINING CHANNEL INTERACTION OF A COCHLEAR IMPLANT
Approaches are described for adjusting a cochlear implant system that has an electrode array with multiple electrode contacts, which is implanted in a patient. For selected individual electrode contacts, a corresponding channel-specific monoaural interaction component (MIC) score is calculated that represents a channel interaction factor based on a ratio of: i. an electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (eABR) measurement of an electrical stimulation signal applied to the individual electrode contact, and ii. a sum of individual eABR measurements from simultaneous electrical stimulation of selected electrode contacts nearest to the individual electrode contact. Each electrode contact having a channel-specific MIC score below a MIC score threshold value is then deactivated, whereby electrical stimulation signals are not delivered to deactivated electrode contacts.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A cochlear implant system for processing polyphonic pitch includes an electrode array for implanting in a cochlea of a patient. The electrode array includes a first set of electrodes, where each electrode of the first set is for implanting on a first region of the cochlea. The electrode array also includes a second set of electrodes, where each electrode of the second set is for implanting on a second region of the cochlea. The system also includes a sound processor configured to capture a sound signal having polyphonic pitch. For each electrode of the first set and second set, the speech processor generates at least two different modulated frequency signals from the sound signal, such that each of the modulated frequency signals corresponds to a different pitch in the sound signal. The speech processor stimulates the electrode by simultaneously applying the at least two different modulated frequency signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/02 - SCIENCES MÉDICALE OU VÉTÉRINAIRE; HYGIÈNE ÉLECTROTHÉRAPIE; MAGNÉTOTHÉRAPIE; THÉRAPIE PAR RADIATIONS; THÉRAPIE PAR ULTRASONS Électrothérapie; Circuits à cet effet - Parties constitutives
The invention suggests preloading a ball joint (4) of an ossicular prosthesis (1) in a longitudinal direction of a shaft (7) of said ossicular prosthesis (1) by means of a disc-shaped preloading element (11), such that vibration transmission is almost loss-free.
A system and method of providing an acoustic stimulus for a human subject so as to evoke an auditory response is presented. The method includes creating a chirp signal, wherein creating the chirp signal includes adding a plurality of frequency signals, each frequency signal delayed within the chirp signal based on its associated frequency specific basilar membrane delay determined as a function of measured in vivo frequency specific basilar membrane delays.
A system and method of providing an acoustic stimulus for a human subject so as to evoke an auditory response is presented. The method includes creating a chirp signal, wherein creating the chirp signal includes adding a plurality of frequency signals, each frequency signal delayed within the chirp signal based on its associated frequency specific basilar membrane delay determined as a function of measured in vivo frequency specific basilar membrane delays.
A middle ear implant system includes a disc-shape vibration surface that is configured for implantation within skin lying over skull bone of a patient, with the disc-shape vibration surface parallel to an outer surface of the skin and to the skull bone so that sound vibrations striking the outer surface of the skin create corresponding vibrations in the disc-shape vibration surface within the skin. A rigid ossicle connector has a proximal end connected to the disc-shape vibration surface and a distal end connected to an ossicle in the middle ear of the patient so that vibrations of the disc-shape vibration surface are mechanically coupled to the ossicle for perception by the patient as sound.
A system and method of eliciting a swallowing reflex in a human subject. Stimulation signals are generated for eliciting a full swallowing reflex when applied to skin overlying a region of thyroid cartilage in the neck. The stimulation signals delivered via surface electrodes to the skin overlying at least the region of thyroid cartilage in the neck to elicit the full swallowing reflex in the human subject.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/20 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants continus ininterrompus
22.
MRI-safe and force-optimized implantable ring magnet system with an enhanced inductive link
A magnetic system for a medical implant system is described. A planar implant receiver coil is configured to lie underneath and parallel to overlying skin of an implanted patient for transcutaneous communication of an implant communications signal. A planar ring-shaped attachment magnet also is configured to lie underneath and parallel to the overlying skin and radially surrounds the receiver coil. The attachment magnet is characterized by a magnetic field configured to avoid creating torque on the attachment magnet in the presence of an external magnetic field.
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A system for treating cervical dystonia, wherein the system comprises a first electrode and a stimulator, wherein the first electrode is placed or adapted to be placed in functional proximity to at least one of an agonist muscle and an antagonist muscle and/or their innervating nerves, wherein the stimulator is coupled to the first electrode and is configured to apply a pulsed electrical stimulation signal to the first electrode, wherein the pulsed electrical stimulation signal is configured for selectively increasing or reducing the activity of the at least one of the agonist muscle and the antagonist muscle, and wherein the pulsed electrical stimulation signal is adapted to reduce an imbalance in the activity of the agonist muscle and the antagonist muscle.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
24.
Opto-Acoustic Selective Mechanical Stimulation of the Vestibular System
An implantable vestibular prosthesis system includes an implantable optical array of optical sources configured for engagement with a disordered vestibular system to deliver optical stimulation signals to target stimulation locations within the bony or membranous labyrinth of the disordered vestibular system. An implantable stimulation processor is connected to the optical array and configured to produce the optical stimulation signals with the optical sources so as to generate directional pressure waves within the endolymphatic fluid directed to the target stimulation locations for vestibular perception by residual vestibular functioning.
A patient-specific frequency mapping procedure, a fitting system for carrying out said procedure and computer program product for a cochlear implant or an electric-acoustic stimulation device having an electrode array that has been implanted into the cochlea of said patient is disclosed.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
26.
Holding Magnets and Magnet System for Implantable Systems Optimized for MRI
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an implantable hearing implant, such as cochlear implants. The implantable hearing implant includes an implant device containing signal processing circuitry configured to receive an implant communications signal transmitted from an external transmitting coil. The implantable hearing implant further includes an implant magnet configured to cooperate with a corresponding external holding magnet in an external device located over the overlying skin to magnetically hold the external device against the overlying skin. The implant magnet has a north magnetic pole, a south magnetic pole, and as a whole has an overall magnetic dipole moment that is parallel to or at an angle of 300 or less with respect to the outermost surface. The implant magnet has a north end portion and a south end portion, each having an individual magnetic dipole moment that is inclined with respect to the overall magnetic dipole moment.
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
The invention relates to the production of a pincer-type ossicular prosthesis (1) as a single part from sheet metal and having two congruent clamps (3), which can be opened and closed by a 2-part top element (2), wherein the top parts (4) thereof function as pincer grips. The ossicular prosthesis (1) can be securely clamped to an ossicle without exerting a force on the ossicle.
A middle ear implant system includes a bone conduction transducer configured for fixed attachment to skull bone of a patient beneath the skin behind the ear, and for generating sound vibrations from an external communications signal received through the skin for coupling to the skull bone for bone conduction sound perception by the patient. A malleable ossicle connector is connected to the bone conduction transducer and a middle ear hearing structure of the patient. And one or more isolation springs are configured for placement at the fixed attachment of the bone conduction transducer to the skull bone to acoustically decouple the bone conduction transducer from the skull bone to avoid bone conduction sound perception so that sound perception from the external communications signal is solely via the middle ear sound perception from vibrations coupled to the middle ear hearing structure by the ossicle connector.
In order to use the residual hearing in patients indicated for a cochlear implant (CI), it is advantageous to supplement the electrical stimulation of the cochlear implant with an acoustic stimulation. Such residual hearing is usually present in a frequency range below one kilohertz.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
Arrangements are described for fitting an implanted patient and a hearing implant system having an implanted electrode array of electrode contacts. Objective response measurements are performed following delivery of preliminary electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts to determine a preliminary fit map that characterizes preliminary patient-specific operating parameters for the hearing implant system. Then an adjusted fit map is produced that characterizes adjusted patient-specific operating parameters for the hearing implant system based on using the preliminary fit map to constrain an implant neural response model to best fit a normal hearing neural response model.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A magnet arrangement for a hearing implant device is described. A magnet case is contained within an implantable device and has a central case axis of symmetry that is perpendicular to the outermost surface of the implantable device. The magnet case is configured to be freely rotatable within the implantable device about the case axis of symmetry. An implant magnet is contained within the magnet case and consists of a single cylindrical magnet having a central magnet axis of symmetry perpendicular to the case axis of symmetry. The implant magnet is configured to be freely rotatable within the magnet case about the magnet axis of symmetry.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
The invention relates to a length-adjustable ossicle prosthesis (1) having a cylinder pin as a connection element (4) which connects a foot element (3) to a head element (2). The head element (2) is provided for arrangement on an inside of the eardrum and the foot element (3) is provided for attachment to an incus in a human ear. According to the invention, the head element (2) is designed as an elliptical ring (5) having an opening (7) which can be closed by closing a lock (12) having a hook (10). Two guide and clamping elements (8) protrude inward from the ring (5), between which guide and clamping elements the connection element (4) is displaceably guided when in an open position and which fix the head element (2) in place and against rotation on the connection element (4) when the ring (5) is closed and the guide and clamping elements (8) are clamped against the connection element (4) as a result.
A surgical guide tool and methodology includes a non patient-specific platform including one or more supports for attaching to a body part of a subject. A non patient-specific block has a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface, and includes a guide aperture extending from the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface for guiding a surgical instrument in making at least one of a cut and a drill hole. An intermediate module is removably positioned between the platform and the block. The intermediate module has patient-specific dimensions such that the guide aperture has a desired alignment relative to the body part when the surgical guide tool is attached to the body part of the patient and the intermediate module is positioned between the platform and the block.
An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system includes an elongated electrode array for insertion into a patient cochlea. A fluid delivery channel is located within the electrode array parallel to a central longitudinal axis with at least one fluid delivery port for delivering lubricant fluid from the fluid delivery channel to the outer surface of the electrode array. The fluid delivery port and the lubricant fluid are configured to produce a lubrication region close to the outer surface of the electrode array proximal to the fluid delivery port during insertion of the electrode array into the patient cochlea so as to reduce insertion resistance at an adjacent section of lateral wall of the patient cochlea.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
35.
Dual-microphone methods for reverberation mitigation
A dual microphone signal processing arrangement for reducing reverberation is described. Time domain microphone signals are developed from a pair of sensing microphones. These are converted to the time-frequency domain to produce complex value spectra signals. A binary gain function applies frequency-specific energy ratios between the spectra signals to produce transformed spectra signals. A sigmoid gain function based on an inter-microphone coherence value between the transformed spectra signals is applied to the transformed spectra signals to produce coherence adapted spectra signals. And an inverse time-frequency transformation is applied to the coherence adjusted spectra signals to produce time-domain reverberation-compensated microphone signals with reduced reverberation components.
G10L 21/0224 - Traitement dans le domaine temporel
G10L 21/0316 - Amélioration de l'intelligibilité de la parole, p.ex. réduction de bruit ou annulation d'écho en changeant l’amplitude
G10L 25/21 - Techniques d'analyses de la parole ou de la voix qui ne se limitent pas à un seul des groupes caractérisées par le type de paramètres extraits les paramètres extraits étant l’information sur la puissance
H04R 1/40 - Dispositions pour obtenir la fréquence désirée ou les caractéristiques directionnelles pour obtenir la caractéristique directionnelle désirée uniquement en combinant plusieurs transducteurs identiques
Methods and arrangements are described for developing a virtual channel matrix for mapping analysis channels to stimulation channels for a cochlear implant patient by selecting a stimulation channel and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and a positive phase separated in time by a first inter-phase-gap; and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and positive phase separated in time by a second inter-phase-gap and whereby the first and second inter- phase-gaps are different. Thereafter Determining the slopes of the measured amplitude growth functions for the stimulation channel measured with the first and second inter- phase-gaps, and calculating an indicator based at least in part on the difference of the slopes of the amplitude growth functions indicative of the local neural survival for that stimulation channel. Thereafter Repeating this process for each stimulation channel where an indicator shall be derived and selecting for the virtual channel matrix the stimulation channels with best local neural survival by optimizing a function based at least in part on the calculated indicators of the stimulation channels.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has a receptacle opening in the top lateral surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. An elastic opening clamp is located radially around the receptacle opening and is configured to normally be closed around the receptacle opening to maintain the implant magnet within the magnet receptacle. The elastic opening clamp also is configured to cooperate with a surgical handling tool to expand the receptacle opening to permit the implant magnet to be removed from the magnet receptacle through the receptacle opening without needing to move the coil case.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A cochlear implant system for processing polyphonic pitch includes an electrode array for implanting in a cochlea of a patient. The electrode array includes a first set of electrodes, where each electrode of the first set is for implanting on a first region of the cochlea. The electrode array also includes a second set of electrodes, where each electrode of the second set is for implanting on a second region of the cochlea. The system also includes a sound processor configured to capture a sound signal having polyphonic pitch. For each electrode of the first set and second set, the speech processor generates at least two different modulated frequency signals from the sound signal, such that each of the modulated frequency signals corresponds to a different pitch in the sound signal. The speech processor stimulates the electrode by simultaneously applying the at least two different modulated frequency signals.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
G10L 25/90 - Détermination de la hauteur tonale des signaux de parole
A printed tattoo electrode includes an interconnection unit with a stiff magnetic contact component including one or more attachment magnets configured to magnetically attach the electrode sensor to an external device. A stiff electrical contact component is electrically connected to output interface contacts for coupling electrical signals to the external device. And at least one bridge component is configured to mechanically connect the electrical contact component and the magnetic contact component to the output interface contacts. The bridge component is characterized by a connecting length with gradually varying stiffness so as to distribute mechanical stresses between the electrode sensor and the external device and avoid motion artifacts in the electrical signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
40.
Patient Specific Adjustment of Cochlear Implant Insertion Trajectories
An electrode guide device is described for inserting a cochlear implant electrode array into a scala tympany of a patient cochlea has an electrode guide tube and an end positioner at least partially contained within a cavity of the guide tube at the distal end and slidable within the cavity for adjustable extension beyond the distal end. The end positioner has a natural curvature that is constrained by the cavity of the guide tube for any portion contained within the cavity of the guide tube, and any portion of the end positioner extended beyond the distal end follows the natural curvature. The electrode array can be introduced through the groove of the guide tube along a first directional line towards an electrode opening in the patient cochlea, and then the distal end of electrode array emerging from the guide tube is redirected by the extension of the end positioner along a different second directional line through the electrode opening.
A61F 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour le traitement des oreilles ou de l'ouie ; Prothèses auditives non électriques; Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe; Dispositifs de protection pour les oreilles, portés sur le corps ou dans la main
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
Arrangements are described for monitoring cochlear implantation surgery. During surgical insertion of a cochlear implant electrode array into a patient cochlea, at least one measurement difference value is determined for at least one electrode contact currently located at a given insertion depth into the patient cochlea based on comparing current stimulus response data for the at least one electrode contact to prior stimulus response data for at least one prior electrode contact previously located at the given insertion depth. A potential trauma response is identified when the at least one measurement difference value exceeds a defined difference value.
A61B 34/20 - Systèmes de navigation chirurgicale; Dispositifs pour le suivi ou le guidage d'instruments chirurgicaux, p.ex. pour la stéréotaxie sans cadre
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
42.
Inductive link coupling based on relative angular position determination for medical implant systems
A portion of a vestibular prosthesis system is described which includes an external coil housing and an external holding magnet that allow rotation of the external coil housing around a rotation axis that passes through the external holding magnet orthogonal to a skin interface surface. An external communications coil arrangement within the housing includes three or more external coil segments rotationally adjacent to each other around the rotation axis, each external coil segment being independently operable by an external signal processor for coupling an implant communication signal. And the external signal processor is configured to periodically operate the external coil segments to quantify rotation of the external coil housing and adjust the signal component of the implant communication signal to offset quantified rotation of the housing.
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
1. A mobile communication device having a battery and processing device with connected memory, radio transceiver and audio input, according to the invention is adapted to receive audio signal from audio input and execute the method according to the invention on this signal and then transmit this signal with radio transceiver. A computer program product according to the invention when executed by mobile communicating device causes execution of the method according to the invention.
A noise cancelling system is described for a in a patient implantable hearing implant system. An implantable microphone senses a sound signal present at the microphone that includes a sound source component from a sound source external to the patient, and a noise component from internal bone conduction. At least one implantable noise sensing element is located near the microphone to sense the noise component. A filter is controlled by an adaptive algorithm responsive to transform the noise component and outputs a transducer control signal. A bone conduction transducer receives the transducer control signal and generates a corresponding mechanical vibration signal to the skull bone. The adaptive algorithm controls the filter so that the mechanical vibration signal of the bone conduction transducer offsets the noise component sensed by the at least one noise sensing element so as to minimize the noise component sensed by the implantable microphone.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
45.
Monophasic stimulation pulses with alternating polarity and extraordinary polarity changes
Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array. Electrode stimulation signals are a sequence of monophasic stimulation pulses varying in polarity between positive polarity and negative polarity with successive pulses separated in time by an interpulse interval sufficient for neural response. Accumulated charge imbalance and charge imbalance polarity are calculated for each electrode contact after each stimulation pulse. For each electrode contact a stimulation pulse has the same polarity as an immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact only when the charge imbalance polarity has opposite polarity from the immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact, and the accumulated charge imbalance exceeds a defined charge imbalance threshold value. Otherwise, each stimulation pulse has the opposite polarity as the immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
G10L 25/48 - Techniques d'analyses de la parole ou de la voix qui ne se limitent pas à un seul des groupes spécialement adaptées pour un usage particulier
46.
ELECTROACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER FOR IMPLANTATION IN AN EAR, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME AND COCHLEAR IMPLANT SYSTEM
In order to exploit the residual hearing in patients indicated for a cochlear implant (CI), the electrical stimulation of the cochlear implant is advantageously complemented by an acoustic stimulation. Such residual hearing is usually present in a frequency range below one kilohertz.
A61F 11/04 - Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe, p.ex. par le toucher
A magnet arrangement for a hearing implant device is described. A magnet case is contained within an implantable device and has a central case axis of symmetry that is perpendicular to the outermost surface of the implantable device. The magnet case is configured to be freely rotatable within the implantable device about the case axis of symmetry. An implant magnet is contained within the magnet case and consists of a single cylindrical magnet having a central magnet axis of symmetry perpendicular to the case axis of symmetry. The implant magnet is configured to be freely rotatable within the magnet case about the magnet axis of symmetry.
A61F 2/18 - Parties internes de l'oreille ou du nez, p.ex. tympans
A61F 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour le traitement des oreilles ou de l'ouie ; Prothèses auditives non électriques; Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe; Dispositifs de protection pour les oreilles, portés sur le corps ou dans la main
A61F 11/04 - Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe, p.ex. par le toucher
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A middle ear implant system includes a bone conduction transducer configured for fixed attachment to skull bone of a patient beneath the skin behind the ear, and for generating sound vibrations from an external communications signal received through the skin for coupling to the skull bone for bone conduction sound perception by the patient. A malleable ossicle connector is connected to the bone conduction transducer and a middle ear hearing structure of the patient. And one or more isolation springs are configured for placement at the fixed attachment of the bone conduction transducer to the skull bone to acoustically decouple the bone conduction transducer from the skull bone to avoid bone conduction sound perception so that sound perception from the external communications signal is solely via the middle ear sound perception from vibrations coupled to the middle ear hearing structure by the ossicle connector.
A dual microphone signal processing arrangement for reducing reverberation is described. Time domain microphone signals are developed from a pair of sensing microphones. These are converted to the time-frequency domain to produce complex value spectra signals. A binary gain function applies frequency-specific energy ratios between the spectra signals to produce transformed spectra signals. A sigmoid gain function based on an inter-microphone coherence value between the transformed spectra signals is applied to the transformed spectra signals to produce coherence adapted spectra signals. And an inverse time-frequency transformation is applied to the coherence adjusted spectra signals to produce time-domain reverberation-compensated microphone signals with reduced reverberation components.
G06F 17/00 - TRAITEMENT ÉLECTRIQUE DE DONNÉES NUMÉRIQUES Équipement ou méthodes de traitement de données ou de calcul numérique, spécialement adaptés à des fonctions spécifiques
H03G 3/00 - Commande de gain dans les amplificateurs ou les changeurs de fréquence
H04B 3/20 - Systèmes à ligne de transmission - Détails ouverture ou fermeture de la voie d'émission; Commande de la transmission dans une direction ou l'autre
50.
Bilateral synchronized channel selection for cochlear implants
A bilateral hearing implant system has a left side and a right side. Left and right side filter bank pre-processors preprocess left and right microphone signals to generate band pass signals for each side. A bilateral signal processing arrangement processes the band pass signals in a time sequence of stimulation frames. The signal processing module includes a bilateral channel selection module synchronously selects for each stimulation frame a set of stimulation channels for each side based on spectral content of the band pass signals. Left and right side signal processing submodules process for each stimulation frame a limited subset of each side band pass signals corresponding to the selected stimulation channels to generate electrical stimulation signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A fitting arrangement is described for fitting electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array implanted in a cochlea of an implanted patient. This involves iteratively fitting multiple fitting electrode contacts by for each of the fitting electrode contacts: i. delivering fitting stimulation signals to the fitting electrode contact and at least one neighboring electrode contact to stimulate adjacent auditory neural tissue, wherein the fitting stimulation signals are characterized by a charge level distribution function having a non-zero noise level charge at the at least one neighboring electrode contact and a response level charge much greater than the noise level charge at the fitting electrode contact, and ii. obtaining patient responses from the implanted patient to the fitting stimulation signals. A patient-specific fit map is then defined for the electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array based on the patient responses.
A61N 1/00 - SCIENCES MÉDICALE OU VÉTÉRINAIRE; HYGIÈNE ÉLECTROTHÉRAPIE; MAGNÉTOTHÉRAPIE; THÉRAPIE PAR RADIATIONS; THÉRAPIE PAR ULTRASONS Électrothérapie; Circuits à cet effet
52.
Fast objective fitting measurements for cochlear implants
A fitting system is described for fitting electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array implanted in a cochlea of an implanted patient. A test stimulation generator delivers to at least one of the electrode contacts a test stimulation sequence at a variable charge level and a variable stimulation rate over time, wherein the charge level and stimulation rate are inversely related as a function of a defined loudness percept by the implanted patient to the test stimulation sequence. A response measurement module obtains objective response measurements of auditory neural tissues of the implanted patient that are affected by the test stimulation sequence. A fit mapping module defines a patient-specific fit map for the electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array based on the objective response measurements.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
An audio scene classifier classifies an audio input signal from an audio scene and includes a pre-processing neural network configured for pre-processing the audio input signal based on initial classification parameters to produce an initial signal classification, and a scene classifier neural network configured for processing the initial scene classification based on scene classification parameters to produce an audio scene classification output. The initial classification parameters reflect neural network training based on a first set of initial audio training data, and the scene classification parameters reflect neural network training on a second set of classification audio training data separate and different from the first set of initial audio training data. A hearing implant signal processor configured for processing the audio input signal and the audio scene classification output to generate the stimulation signals to the hearing implant for perception by the patient as sound.
G10L 21/00 - Traitement du signal de parole ou de voix pour produire un autre signal audible ou non audible, p.ex. visuel ou tactile, afin de modifier sa qualité ou son intelligibilité
A method of forming a silicone coating on an electrode carrier for use in cochlear implant systems includes dissolving silicone and dexamethasone in a solvent to form a solution, adding a non-solvent to the solvent, the non-solvent miscible with the silicone and the dexamethasone having a solubility in the non-solvent of below about 5 mg/ml, and curing the solution to form the silicone coating on the electrode carrier.
B05D 1/02 - Procédés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides aux surfaces réalisés par pulvérisation
A61K 31/573 - Composés contenant des systèmes cycliques du cyclopenta[a]hydrophénanthrène; Leurs dérivés, p.ex. stéroïdes substitués en position 17 bêta par une chaîne à deux atomes de carbone, p.ex. prégnane ou progestérone substitués en position 21, p.ex. cortisone, dexaméthasone, prednisone ou aldostérone
B05D 3/02 - Traitement préalable des surfaces sur lesquelles des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides doivent être appliqués; Traitement ultérieur des revêtements appliqués, p.ex. traitement intermédiaire d'un revêtement déjà appliqué, pour préparer les applications ultérieures de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par cuisson
B05D 3/14 - Traitement préalable des surfaces sur lesquelles des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides doivent être appliqués; Traitement ultérieur des revêtements appliqués, p.ex. traitement intermédiaire d'un revêtement déjà appliqué, pour préparer les applications ultérieures de liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides par des moyens électriques
B05D 7/24 - Procédés, autres que le flocage, spécialement adaptés pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides, à des surfaces particulières, ou pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides particuliers pour appliquer des liquides ou d'autres matériaux fluides particuliers
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A method of forming an implantable electrode having electrode contacts on an electrode carrier having a coating includes providing a solution of silicone and dexamethasone dissolved in a solvent, applying the solution to the electrode carrier or to a substrate, and subjecting the solution to a two-step heat treatment process that includes a first heat treatment between about 50 and 90° C. for about 1 to 3 hours and a second heat treatment at an elevated temperature between 90° C. and 140° C. for about 2 hours in order to form the coating.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61K 31/573 - Composés contenant des systèmes cycliques du cyclopenta[a]hydrophénanthrène; Leurs dérivés, p.ex. stéroïdes substitués en position 17 bêta par une chaîne à deux atomes de carbone, p.ex. prégnane ou progestérone substitués en position 21, p.ex. cortisone, dexaméthasone, prednisone ou aldostérone
A middle ear implant system includes a disc-shape vibration surface that is configured for implantation within skin lying over skull bone of a patient, with the disc-shape vibration surface parallel to an outer surface of the skin and to the skull bone so that sound vibrations striking the outer surface of the skin create corresponding vibrations in the disc-shape vibration surface within the skin. A rigid ossicle connector has a proximal end connected to the disc-shape vibration surface and a distal end connected to an ossicle in the middle ear of the patient so that vibrations of the disc-shape vibration surface are mechanically coupled to the ossicle for perception by the patient as sound.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
A round window coupling device is described for a hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system. A rigid outer shell securely fits into a round window niche in a cochlear outer surface of a recipient patient. An electrode groove in the outer surface of the outer shell snuggly fits around a portion of a cochlear implant electrode array passing through the round window niche. A coupling filling is enclosed within the outer shell to couple mechanical vibrations from the proximal end to the distal end with minimal attenuation. A transducer receiver at the proximal end connects to and receives vibrations from a drive surface of a mechanical transducer. And a drive face at the distal end interfaces to perilymph fluid within the cochlea of the recipient patient to deliver vibrations from the coupling filling to the perilymph fluid with minimal attenuation for perception as sound.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
H04R 25/02 - Appareils pour sourds adaptés pour être supportés entièrement par l'oreille
58.
3D printed ceramic to metal assemblies for electric feedthroughs in implantable medical devices
An electrical feedthrough assembly for an implantable medical device includes an outer ferrule of metallic material having an outer surface hermetically sealed to an implantable device housing. There is an inner feedthrough assembly which is hermetically sealed within the ferrule and which has a structure of sintered layers that include: i. an electrical insulator of ceramic insulator material, ii. one or more electrically conductive vias of metallized conductive material embedded within and extending through the electrical insulator, and iii. a transition interface region around each of the conductive vias comprising a gradient mixture of the ceramic insulator material and the metallized conductive material forming a gradual transition and a mechanical bond between the electrical insulator and the conductive via.
H01B 3/12 - Isolateurs ou corps isolants caractérisés par le matériau isolant; Emploi de matériaux spécifiés pour leurs propriétés isolantes ou diélectriques composés principalement de substances inorganiques céramiques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
59.
PATIENT SPECIFIC ADJUSTMENT OF COCHLEAR IMPLANT INSERTION TRAJECTORIES
An electrode guide device is described for inserting a cochlear implant electrode array into a scala tympany of a patient cochlea has an electrode guide tube and an end positioner at least partially contained within a cavity of the guide tube at the distal end and slidable within the cavity for adjustable extension beyond the distal end. The end positioner has a natural curvature that is constrained by the cavity of the guide tube for any portion contained within the cavity of the guide tube, and any portion of the end positioner extended beyond the distal end follows the natural curvature. The electrode array can be introduced through the groove of the guide tube along a first directional line towards an electrode opening in the patient cochlea, and then the distal end of electrode array emerging from the guide tube is redirected by the extension of the end positioner along a different second directional line through the electrode opening.
A system and method detect neuronal action potential signals from tissue responding to electrical stimulation signals. A sparse signal space model for a set of tissue response recordings has a signal space separable into a plurality of disjoint component manifolds including a neural action potential (NAP) component manifold corresponding to tissue response to electrical stimulation signals. A response measurement module is configured to: i. map a tissue response measurement signal into the sparse signal model space to obtain a corresponding sparse signal representation, ii. project the sparse signal representation onto the NAP component manifold to obtain a sparse NAP component representation, iii. when the sparse NAP component representation is greater than a minimum threshold value, report and recover a detected NAP signal in the tissue response measurement signal.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
Approaches are described for fitting an implanted cochlear implant having electrode array contacts to an implanted patient. For multiple different fitting methods, each fitting method is assigned one or more electrode contacts wherein no electrode contact is assigned more than one fitting method. For each fitting method, the assigned electrode contacts are fitted according to the fitting method and fitting values for non-assigned electrode contacts are interpolated. Then a fitting is performed for each electrode contact in the electrode array based on a weighted averaging of the fittings for the various different fitting methods.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
Arrangements are described for monitoring cochlear implantation surgery. During surgical insertion of a cochlear implant electrode array into a patient cochlea, at least one measurement difference value is determined for at least one electrode contact currently located at a given insertion depth into the patient cochlea based on comparing current stimulus response data for the at least one electrode contact to prior stimulus response data for at least one prior electrode contact previously located at the given insertion depth. A potential trauma response is identified when the at least one measurement difference value exceeds a defined difference value.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
63.
Respiratory triggered parasternal electromyographic recording in neurostimulators
A respiration sensor is described of a respiration implant system for an implanted patient with impaired breathing. A sensor body is made of electrically insulating material and is configured to fit between two adjacent ribs and between the pectoralis muscle and the parasternal muscle of the implanted patient, with the bottom surface adjacent to an superficial surface of the parasternal muscle and the top surface adjacent to a profound surface of the pectoralis muscle. At least one parasternal sensor electrode is located on the bottom surface of the sensor body and is configured to cooperate with the electrically insulating material of the sensor body to sense a parasternal electromyography (EMG) signal representing electrical activity of the adjacent parasternal muscle with minimal influence by electrical activity of the nearby pectoralis muscle.
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
A61B 5/08 - Dispositifs de mesure pour examiner les organes respiratoires
A61B 5/113 - Mesure du mouvement du corps entier ou de parties de celui-ci, p.ex. tremblement de la tête ou des mains ou mobilité d'un membre se produisant au cours de la respiration
A61B 5/389 - Modalités, c. à d. méthodes diagnostiques spécifiques Électromyographie [EMG]
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61B 5/11 - Mesure du mouvement du corps entier ou de parties de celui-ci, p.ex. tremblement de la tête ou des mains ou mobilité d'un membre
A61B 5/296 - Détection, mesure ou enregistrement de signaux bioélectriques ou biomagnétiques du corps ou de parties de celui-ci Électrodes bioélectriques à cet effet spécialement adaptées à des utilisations particulières pour l’électromyographie [EMG]
64.
Full postoperative insertion of partially inserted cochlear implants
An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. The arrangement includes an electrode array with an outer surface having electrode contacts to apply cochlear stimulation signals to target neural tissue within an implanted patient cochlea. An electrode lead delivers the cochlear stimulation signals from an implanted signal processor to the electrode array. An electrode transition section includes a distal end portion of the electrode lead that is connected to a basal end portion of the electrode array. An electrode storage device contains the electrode transition section and is secured at an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea. The electrode storage device is controllable after being surgically implanted to further insert an additional section of the electrode array from the electrode storage device into the patient cochlea and thereby implant a greater portion of the electrode array more deeply into the patient cochlea.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61M 31/00 - Dispositifs pour l'introduction ou la rétention d'agents, p.ex. de remèdes, dans les cavités du corps
A middle ear prosthesis is made of a stiff deformable material and includes a planar head end with a central portion having a central diameter. The head end is adapted for engagement with a tympanic membrane from the middle ear of an implanted patient. An opposing pair of U-shaped stapes engagement legs bend down from the central portion so that an end distance between ends of the engagement legs is less than the central diameter. The engagement legs are adapted for adjustable length engagement with the stapes in the middle ear of the implanted patient. The head end and the engagement legs are adapted to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the stapes for perception as sound by the implanted patient.
An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. A retraction limiter fits around and securely engages a portion of the distal end of an electrode lead. The retraction limiter includes flexible retraction limiting projections longitudinally distributed along its outer surface. An insertion tube fits around the electrode array and the retraction limiter and engages against the outer surface of the patient cochlea at a cochlear opening. An insertion plunger fits within the insertion tube and engages against the proximal end of the retraction limiter. The insertion plunger slides within the insertion tube to push against the proximal end of the retraction limiter to push the electrode array through the cochlear opening into the patient cochlea.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A system and method of eliciting a swallowing reflex in a human subject. Stimulation signals are generated for eliciting a full swallowing reflex when applied to skin overlying a region of thyroid cartilage in the neck. The stimulation signals delivered via surface electrodes to the skin overlying at least the region of thyroid cartilage in the neck to elicit the full swallowing reflex in the human subject.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61F 9/007 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour la chirurgie de l'œil
A61H 23/00 - Massage par percussion ou vibration, p.ex. en utilisant une vibration ultrasonique; Massage par succion-vibration; Massage avec des membranes mobiles
A61H 23/02 - Massage par percussion ou vibration, p.ex. en utilisant une vibration ultrasonique; Massage par succion-vibration; Massage avec des membranes mobiles à entraînement électrique ou magnétique
69.
INDUCTIVE LINK COUPLING BASED ON RELATIVE ANGULAR POSITION DETERMINATION FOR MEDICAL IMPLANT SYSTEMS
A portion of a vestibular prosthesis system is described which includes an external coil housing and an external holding magnet that allow rotation of the external coil housing around a rotation axis that passes through the external holding magnet orthogonal to a skin interface surface. An external communications coil arrangement within the housing includes three or more external coil segments rotationally adjacent to each other around the rotation axis, each external coil segment being independently operable by an external signal processor for coupling an implant communication signal. And the external signal processor is configured to periodically operate the external coil segments to quantify rotation of the external coil housing and adjust the signal component of the implant communication signal to offset quantified rotation of the housing.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system includes an elongated electrode array for insertion into a patient cochlea. A fluid delivery channel is located within the electrode array parallel to a central longitudinal axis with at least one fluid delivery port for delivering lubricant fluid from the fluid delivery channel to the outer surface of the electrode array. The fluid delivery port and the lubricant fluid are configured to produce a lubrication region close to the outer surface of the electrode array proximal to the fluid delivery port during insertion of the electrode array into the patient cochlea so as to reduce insertion resistance at an adjacent section of lateral wall of the patient cochlea.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
71.
MONOPHASIC STIMULATION PULSES WITH ALTERNATING POLARITY AND EXTRAORDINARY POLARITY CHANGES
Arrangements are described for generating electrode stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant electrode array. Electrode stimulation signals are a sequence of monophasic stimulation pulses varying in polarity between positive polarity and negative polarity with successive pulses separated in time by an interpulse interval sufficient for neural response. Accumulated charge imbalance and charge imbalance polarity are calculated for each electrode contact after each stimulation pulse. For each electrode contact a stimulation pulse has the same polarity as an immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact only when the charge imbalance polarity has opposite polarity from the immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact, and the accumulated charge imbalance exceeds a defined charge imbalance threshold value. Otherwise, each stimulation pulse has the opposite polarity as the immediately preceding stimulation pulse for that electrode contact.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
72.
Recursive noise power estimation with noise model adaptation
A method of signal processing to generate hearing implant stimulation signals for a hearing implant system includes transforming an input sound signal into band pass signals each representing an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. The band pass signals are processed in a sequence of sampling time frames and iterative steps to produce a noise power estimate. This includes using a noise prediction model to determine if a currently observed signal sample includes a target signal, and if so, then updating a current noise power estimate without using the currently observed signal sample, and otherwise updating the current noise power estimate using the currently observed signal sample. The noise prediction model also is adapted based on the updated noise power estimate. The hearing implant stimulation signals are then developed from the band pass signals and the noise power estimate.
G10L 15/20 - Techniques de reconnaissance de la parole spécialement adaptées de par leur robustesse contre les perturbations environnantes, p.ex. en milieu bruyant ou reconnaissance de la parole émise dans une situation de stress
G10L 21/0232 - Traitement dans le domaine fréquentiel
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A surgical guide tool and methodology includes a non patient-specific platform including one or more supports for attaching to a body part of a subject. A non patient-specific block has a top planar surface and a bottom planar surface, and includes a guide aperture extending from the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface for guiding a surgical instrument in making at least one of a cut and a drill hole. An intermediate module is removably positioned between the platform and the block. The intermediate module has patient-specific dimensions such that the guide aperture has a desired alignment relative to the body part when the surgical guide tool is attached to the body part of the patient and the intermediate module is positioned between the platform and the block.
A61B 1/05 - Instruments pour procéder à l'examen médical de l'intérieur des cavités ou des conduits du corps par inspection visuelle ou photographique, p.ex. endoscopes; Dispositions pour l'éclairage dans ces instruments combinés avec des dispositifs photographiques ou de télévision caractérisés par le fait que le capteur d'images, p.ex. l'appareil photographique, est placé dans la partie de l'extrémité distale
Optogenetic signal processing is described for an auditory prosthesis with an intracochlear array of optical stimulation sources implanted in a patient having auditory neurons genetically modified with light sensitive ion channels. Stimulation timing signals are generated for the corresponding auditory neurons for each band pass signal based on characteristic temporal fine structure features of the band pass signals. The stimulation timing signals include: i. one or more channel opening signals adapted to open the ion channels of the corresponding auditory neurons, and ii. one or more channel closing signals adapted to close the ion channels of the corresponding ion channels. Optical stimulation signals are then produced for the optical stimulation sources based on the stimulation timing signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 5/06 - Thérapie par radiations utilisant un rayonnement lumineux
An implantable medical device includes an implantable coil case that contains a communications coil. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case at the radial center and has a magnet opening in one of the lateral surface or the medial surface of the coil case. A magnet fitting groove is recessed into one of the lateral or medial surface of the coil case and extends from the magnet opening to the outer circumference of the coil case. A u-shaped implant magnet clip has parallel clip legs that are connected at a closed end of the u-shape, and an implant magnet is attached to one of the clip legs. The coil case and the magnet clip are configured to cooperate for a portion of the coil case to fit between the clip legs and the implant magnet to slide through the magnet fitting groove and fit through the magnet opening into the magnet receptacle.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
Arrangements are described for fitting a cochlear implant to a recipient patient. An acoustic stimulus is delivered to an ear of the patient over a range of acoustic frequencies. A baseline acoustic transfer function resulting from the acoustic stimulus is measured using a response sensor configured to sense pressure response characteristics in the middle ear. And a maximum comfortable level (MCL) of stimulation is determined for at least one stimulation contact in the electrode array, based on performing an electrically evoked measurement to an electric stimulation signal and using the response sensor to measure a modified acoustic transfer function. The modified acoustic transfer function is compared to the baseline acoustic transfer function to determine when a stapedius reflex response occurs and identify the MCL.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
77.
MRI-SAFE AND FORCE-OPTIMIZED IMPLANTABLE RING MAGNET SYSTEM WITH AN ENHANCED INDUCTIVE LINK
A magnetic system for a medical implant system is described. A planar implant receiver coil is configured to lie underneath and parallel to overlying skin of an implanted patient for transcutaneous communication of an implant communications signal. A planar ring-shaped attachment magnet also is configured to lie underneath and parallel to the overlying skin and radially surrounds the receiver coil. The attachment magnet is characterized by a magnetic field configured to avoid creating torque on the attachment magnet in the presence of an external magnetic field.
An implantable bone conduction transducer arrangement includes a transducer housing having an outer surface with a side wall and opposing ends. A pair of fixation projections are connected to the transducer housing at one end. Each fixation projection includes a bone screw opening configured for insertion of a bone fixation screw to engage underlying skull bone. At least one fixation projection is configured to be independently moveable relative to the transducer housing to form an adjustable relative position between the fixation projections.
A signal processing arrangement is described for signal processing in a bilateral hearing implant system. A channel compression module develops a inhibition-adjusted band pass signal for each band pass signal using a channel-specific dynamic inhibition adjustment based on a channel-normalized medial olivocochlear reflex model that reflects bandwidth energy for a corresponding contralateral band pass signal and bandwidth energy for a selected reference contralateral band pass signal.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
80.
Telemetry of implanted electrode contacts during MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) telemetry arrangement and process for a cochlear implant system are described. Electrode current is measured that is induced in a cochlear implant electrode lead during an MRI process performed on an implanted patient. An MRI telemetry signal for an external telemetry sensor is then output based on the measured electrode current.
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61B 5/01 - Mesure de la température de parties du corps
A61B 5/055 - Détection, mesure ou enregistrement pour établir un diagnostic au moyen de courants électriques ou de champs magnétiques; Mesure utilisant des micro-ondes ou des ondes radio faisant intervenir la résonance magnétique nucléaire [RMN] ou électronique [RME], p.ex. formation d'images par résonance magnétique
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
G01R 33/28 - Dispositions ou appareils pour la mesure des grandeurs magnétiques faisant intervenir la résonance magnétique - Détails des appareils prévus dans les groupes
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
82.
MRI-SAFETY AND FORCE OPTIMIZED IMPLANT MAGNET SYSTEM
A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implant magnet has a modified disc shape and is capable of responding to an external magnetic field by rotating about a primary center rotation axis. The implant magnet shape has at least one cross-sectional view in which the cylindrical diameter corresponds to a horizontal coordinate axis, the center symmetry axis corresponds to a vertical coordinate axis, the height between the end surfaces is greatest at the center symmetry axis, and the height between the end surfaces progressively decreases from the center symmetry axis along the cylindrical diameter towards the outer circumference to define a secondary deflection angle with respect to the horizontal coordinate axis so that the implant magnet is capable of responding to the external magnetic field by deflecting within the secondary deflection angle about a secondary deflection axis defined by a cylinder diameter normal to the cross-sectional view.
A61F 2/18 - Parties internes de l'oreille ou du nez, p.ex. tympans
A61N 1/08 - Aménagements ou circuits de surveillance, de protection, de commande ou d'indication
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A bone conduction hearing aid system includes a hearing aid housing with a hearing aid vibrator. A skin interface has an interface connector offset on an outer interface surface and detachably connected to a housing connector. A skin adhesive connects to the skin of a patient user to transmit the sound vibrations through the skin to underlying skull bone for transmission by bone conduction to a hearing organ of the user. When the skin adhesive is pressed against the skin of the user, the skin is initially engaged during an initial engagement period with an initial adhesive force that promotes removal and relocation of the skin interface, and the skin is fully engaged after the initial engagement period with a full adhesive force greater than the initial adhesive force that promotes a fixed secure connection that resists removal of the skin interface.
An external unit for an implantable neuro stimulator system and a method of operating the same, comprising an external coil inductively couplable to an implant coil of an implantable neural stimulator unit when in close proximity to each other. An RF-signal generating module for generating and outputting an RF-signal to the coil for inductive power and/or data transfer to the implantable neural stimulator unit, a measurement unit connected to the coil for measurement of an electrical parameter at the coil and a controller connected to the measurement unit and comprising a comparator and a storage for storing the electrical parameter. The controller is configured to operate at least in normal operating and corrective action mode, and when in the normal operating mode, to repeatedly measure the electrical parameter with the measurement unit, determine with the comparator a change of the measured electrical parameter in relation to the stored electrical parameter switch the controller into a corrective action mode when the change exceeds a threshold; and otherwise modify the stored electrical parameter by the measured electrical parameter.
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/02 - SCIENCES MÉDICALE OU VÉTÉRINAIRE; HYGIÈNE ÉLECTROTHÉRAPIE; MAGNÉTOTHÉRAPIE; THÉRAPIE PAR RADIATIONS; THÉRAPIE PAR ULTRASONS Électrothérapie; Circuits à cet effet - Parties constitutives
H02J 50/12 - Circuits ou systèmes pour l'alimentation ou la distribution sans fil d'énergie électrique utilisant un couplage inductif du type couplage à résonance
H02J 50/20 - Circuits ou systèmes pour l'alimentation ou la distribution sans fil d'énergie électrique utilisant des micro-ondes ou des ondes radio fréquence
H02J 50/90 - Circuits ou systèmes pour l'alimentation ou la distribution sans fil d'énergie électrique mettant en œuvre la détection ou l'optimisation de la position, p.ex. de l'alignement
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A signal processing arrangement generates electrical stimulation signals to electrode contacts in an implanted cochlear implant array. An input sound signal is processed to generate band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies. A spectrogram representative of frequency spectrum present in the input sound signal is generated. A characteristic envelope signal is produced for each band pass signal based on its amplitude. An active contour model is applied to estimate dominant frequencies present in the spectrogram, and the estimate is used to generate stimulation timing signals for the input sound signal. The electrode stimulation signals are produced for each electrode contact based on the envelope signals and the stimulation timing signals.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
86.
FIXATION OF A REMOVABLE MAGNET OR A SIMILAR ELEMENT IN AN ELASTIC IMPLANT MATERIAL
A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has a receptacle opening in the top lateral surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. An elastic opening clamp is located radially around the receptacle opening and is configured to normally be closed around the receptacle opening to maintain the implant magnet within the magnet receptacle. The elastic opening clamp also is configured to cooperate with a surgical handling tool to expand the receptacle opening to permit the implant magnet to be removed from the magnet receptacle through the receptacle opening without needing to move the coil case.
A61F 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour le traitement des oreilles ou de l'ouie ; Prothèses auditives non électriques; Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe; Dispositifs de protection pour les oreilles, portés sur le corps ou dans la main
87.
FAST OBJECTIVE FITTING MEASUREMENTS FOR COCHLEAR IMPLANTS
A fitting system is described for fitting electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array implanted in a cochlea of an implanted patient. A test stimulation generator delivers to at least one of the electrode contacts a test stimulation sequence at a variable charge level and a variable stimulation rate over time, wherein the charge level and stimulation rate are inversely related as a function of a defined loudness percept by the implanted patient to the test stimulation sequence. A response measurement module obtains objective response measurements of auditory neural tissues of the implanted patient that are affected by the test stimulation sequence. A fit mapping module defines a patient-specific fit map for the electrode contacts of cochlear implant electrode array based on the objective response measurements.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
An implantable bone conduction transducer has a center rotational axis radially surrounded by an outer surface, and at least one radial projection projecting radially outward from the outer surface. An implantable transducer receptacle has a receptacle outer surface configured to fit into a receptacle recess in skull bone of a recipient patient, a receptacle inner surface configured to fit around the outer surface of the transducer, and at least one projection bracket projecting radially inward away from the receptacle inner surface. The at least one projection bracket and the at least one radial projection are configured to cooperate so that rotation of the transducer around the center rotational axis creates increased lateral force between the transducer and the skull bone surrounding the receptacle recess so as to securely engage the transducer with the skull bone.
A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface and an opposing bottom medial surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has opposing receptacle openings in the top lateral surface and the bottom medial surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. The center body diameter is larger than the end diameters. The implant magnet and the magnet receptacle are configured to cooperate to permit the implant magnet to be inserted into or removed from the magnet receptacle through either of the receptacle openings.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/372 - Aménagements en relation avec l'implantation des stimulateurs
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A round window coupling device is described for a hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system. A rigid outer shell securely fits into a round window niche in a cochlear outer surface of a recipient patient. An electrode groove in the outer surface of the outer shell snuggly fits around a portion of a cochlear implant electrode array passing through the round window niche. A coupling filling is enclosed within the outer shell to couple mechanical vibrations from the proximal end to the distal end with minimal attenuation. A transducer receiver at the proximal end connects to and receives vibrations from a drive surface of a mechanical transducer. And a drive face at the distal end interfaces to perilymph fluid within the cochlea of the recipient patient to deliver vibrations from the coupling filling to the perilymph fluid with minimal attenuation for perception as sound.
A61F 11/04 - Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe, p.ex. par le toucher
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A signal processing arrangement generates optical stimulation signals to optical stimulation contacts in an implanted cochlear implant array. An input sound signal is transformed into band pass signals that each represent an associated band of audio frequencies, with each band pass signal includes an envelope component characterizing loudness of the band pass signal, and a fine structure component characterizing temporal details of the band pass signal. One or more of the signal components of each band pass signal is half wave rectified to remove negative phase signals. Signal slope is determined that corresponds to rate of change of the rectified one or more signal components. Then constant-rate optical stimulation pulses are generated for one or more given band signals only when the rectified one or more signal components has a positive signal slope.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A method of forming an implantable electrode having electrode contacts on an electrode carrier having a coating includes providing a solution of silicone and dexamethasone dissolved in a solvent, applying the solution to the electrode carrier or to a substrate, and subjecting the solution to a two-step heat treatment process that includes a first heat treatment between about 50 and 90°C for about 1 to 3 hours and a second heat treatment at an elevated temperature between 90°C and 140°C for about 2 hours in order to form the coating.
A method of forming a silicone coating on an electrode carrier for use in cochlear implant systems includes dissolving silicone and dexamethasone in a solvent to form a solution, adding a non-solvent to the solvent, the non-solvent miscible with the silicone and the dexamethasone having a solubility in the non-solvent of below about 5 mg/ml, and curing the solution to form the silicone coating on the electrode carrier.
The invention relates to a device (10) and to a method for electric stimulation. Said device comprises a stimulator (12) which comprises a multi-channel electrode arrangement with several stimulation electrodes (E1-E12). Said device also comprises a processor (18) which determines the pulse rate and the pulse amplitude for each stimulation electrode (E1-E12), and which controls the electrode arrangement for releasing stimulation impulses of the determined pulse rate and pulse amplitude. Said processor (18) determines the pulse rate for each stimulation electrode (E1-E12) dependent on the position in the cochlea. The invention also relates to a computer program product by means of which a data processing system determines the pulse rate for each stimulation electrode (E1-E12) dependent on the actual position thereof.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/02 - SCIENCES MÉDICALE OU VÉTÉRINAIRE; HYGIÈNE ÉLECTROTHÉRAPIE; MAGNÉTOTHÉRAPIE; THÉRAPIE PAR RADIATIONS; THÉRAPIE PAR ULTRASONS Électrothérapie; Circuits à cet effet - Parties constitutives
95.
Detecting neuronal action potentials using a convolutive compound action potential model
A hearing implant fitting system includes a physiological database containing physiological data characterizing auditory neural tissue response to electrical stimulation. A neural action potential (NAP) measurement system measures NAP signals from cochlear tissue responding to electrical stimulation signals delivered by one or more of the electrode contacts, including: deriving a compound discharge latency distribution (CDLD) of the cochlear tissue by deconvolving: (1) a tissue response measurement signal taken responsive to the delivered electrical stimulation signals, with (2) an elementary unit response signal representing voltage change at a measurement electrode contact due to the electrical stimulation, and then comparing the CDLD to physiological data from the physiological database to detect an NAP signal from the tissue response measurement signal. A fitting display provides to the fitting audiologist a visual display representing the CDLD and the NAP signal for fitting the electrode array to an implanted patient.
A61B 5/04 - Mesure de signaux bioélectriques du corps ou de parties de celui-ci
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61B 5/00 - Mesure servant à établir un diagnostic ; Identification des individus
G06N 7/00 - Agencements informatiques fondés sur des modèles mathématiques spécifiques
A signal processing arrangement is described for signal processing in a bilateral hearing implant system having left side and right side hearing implants. An interaural coherence analysis module analyzes system input signals to produce an interaural coherence signal output characterizing reverberation-related similarity of the input signals. And a stimulation timing and coding module for each hearing implant processes band pass signals to develop stimulation timing signals based on selecting as a function of the interaural coherence signal a stimulation coding strategy from a plurality of different stimulation coding strategies including an envelope-based stimulation coding strategy based on the band pass envelope, and an event-based stimulation coding strategy based on the temporal fine structure features, producing the stimulation timing signals using the selected stimulation coding strategy, and switching between different selected stimulation coding strategies as a function of changes in the interaural coherence signal.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
97.
INTERAURAL COHERENCE BASED COCHLEAR STIMULATION USING ADAPTED ENVELOPE PROCESSING
A signal processing system is described for a bilateral hearing implant system having left side and right side hearing implants. An interaural coherence analysis module receives input signals from each hearing implant including sensing microphone signals and band pass signals, and analyzes the input signals to produce an interaural coherence signal output characterizing reverberation-related similarity of the input signals. A pulse timing and coding module for each hearing implant then processes the band pass signals to develop stimulation timing signals, wherein for one or more selected band pass signals, wherein the processing includes using an envelope gating function developed from the interaural coherence signal.
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
An inner ear fluid circulation system includes an implantable circulation pump that has a pump inlet and a pump outlet both in fluid communication with inner ear fluid of an implanted patient. The circulation pump is configured to drive the inner ear fluid in from the pump inlet and out through the pump outlet. A pump controller is coupled to the circulation pump and one or more sensing elements for measurement of one or more fluid conditions within the inner ear of the implanted patient, and is configured to control operation of the circulation pump as a function of the measured one or more fluid conditions. Also disclosed is a cochlear implant arrangement and a vestibular implant arrangement comprising such a fluid circulation system.
A61F 2/18 - Parties internes de l'oreille ou du nez, p.ex. tympans
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
A61F 11/00 - Procédés ou dispositifs pour le traitement des oreilles ou de l'ouie ; Prothèses auditives non électriques; Procédés ou dispositifs permettant au patient d’obtenir une perception auditive par des sens physiologiques autres que l’ouïe; Dispositifs de protection pour les oreilles, portés sur le corps ou dans la main
99.
RESPIRATION MONITORING SENSOR FOR A LARYNGEAL PACEMAKER
A laryngeal pacemaker is configured for external placement on skin of a patient to produce respiration stimulation signals. An implantable stimulation electrode delivers the respiration stimulation signals to adjacent target neural tissue for vocal fold abduction during respiration of the recipient patient. A triaxial accelerometer produces a body motion signal reflecting energy expenditure of the recipient patient. A respiration sensor includes a flexible skin-transferrable printed tattoo electrode having a tetrapolar configuration for impedance pneumography measurement to produce a sensed respiration signal for the laryngeal pacemaker. The respiration sensor is configured for transfer and release by guided placement from a sensor applicator to the skin at the angulus sterni of the recipient patient. And the laryngeal pacemaker is configured to interpret the body motion signal and the sensed respiration signal to make a real time determination of respiratory phase and frequency for adaptively adjusting the respiration stimulation signals accordingly.
A61N 1/36 - Application de courants électriques par électrodes de contact courants alternatifs ou intermittents pour stimuler, p.ex. stimulateurs cardiaques
A61N 1/05 - Electrodes à implanter ou à introduire dans le corps, p.ex. électrode cardiaque
100.
ACTUATED ELECTRODE LEAD IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE COCHLEAR IMPLANT SURGERY
An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. An electrode lead contains a lead structure control element configured to control a lead shape of the electrode lead between an insertion state wherein the electrode lead within a mastoid tunnel has a longitudinal lead axis lying entirely along the tunnel axis, and a post-insertion state wherein a facial recess portion of the electrode lead fitting within a limited diameter portion of the mastoid tunnel associated with a facial recess portion of the mastoid bone has a longitudinal lead axis along the tunnel axis, and a storage portion of the electrode lead fitting within an enlarged diameter portion of the mastoid tunnel lateral to the facial recess portion has a longitudinal lead axis coiled in a helical shape radially around the tunnel axis.
brevets
