Claims
- 1. A cochlear stimulation implant device comprising:an electrode array adapted for insertion into the cochlea; a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes on the electrode array; first means for generating auditory-informative stimuli and applying such stimuli to selected pairs of the electrodes; second means for generating non-auditory-informative stimuli and applying the non-auditory-informative stimuli to selected pairs of the electrodes; wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli have a magnitude that is substantially no greater than an auditory perception threshold level, and further wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli bias or precondition auditory neurons so that application of the auditory-informative stimuli to the auditory neurons is more effective.
- 2. The cochlear stimulation implant device of claim 1 wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli and the auditory-informative stimuli are interspersed in a single stimulation channel.
- 3. The cochlear stimulation implant device of claim 1 wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli and the auditory-informative stimuli are applied simultaneously to parallel stimulation channels.
- 4. The cochlear stimulation implant device of claim 1 wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli comprise fast sequential stimuli that enhance stochastic response patterns and thereby enhance the effectiveness of the auditory-informative stimuli.
- 5. The cochlear stimulation implant device of claim 4 wherein the fast sequential stimuli used as the non-auditory-informative stimuli have a frequency above 5 kHz.
- 6. The cochlear stimulation implant device of claim 4 wherein the fast sequential stimuli used as the non-auditory-informative stimuli have a pulse width less than 100 microseconds.
- 7. A cochlear stimulation system comprising:a plurality of spaced apart electrodes configured for insertion into the cochlea; a stimulus pulse generator connected to the electrodes that generates auditory-informative stimuli and non-auditory-informative stimuli responsive to control signals; a control circuit coupled to the stimulus pulse generator that generates the control signals which cause the stimulus pulse generator to apply both the auditory-informative stimuli and the non-auditory-informative stimuli to selected electrodes of the plurality of spaced-apart electrodes, and wherein the non-auditory-informative stimuli have a pulse width, pulse amplitude and repetition rate selected to condition tissue and nerves receiving such non-auditory-informative stimuli so that application of the auditory-informative stimuli to the same or adjacent tissue is more effective.
- 8. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 7 wherein the pulse width, pulse amplitude and repetition rate of the non-auditory-informative stimuli are selected, as a combination, to provide stimuli to a user of the cochlear stimulation system that is not noticeably perceptible.
- 9. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 8 wherein the pulse width of the non-auditory-informative stimuli is no greater than 100 microseconds and the repetition rate is at least 5 KHz.
- 10. The cochlear stimulation system of claim 7 wherein the stimulus pulse generator and control circuit are housed within hermetically sealed housings which are implantable.
- 11. A method of stimulating the auditory nerve from inside the cochlea, the auditory nerve having an auditory perception threshold, the method comprising:(a) implanting a cochlear electrode array inside of the cochlea, the electrode array having a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes thereon; (b) applying non-auditory-informative stimuli having pulse width, pulse amplitude and repetition rate characteristics having a magnitude that is substantially greater than the auditory perception threshold to selected electrodes of the electrode array; and (c) applying auditory-informative stimuli to selected electrodes of the electrode array.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein steps (b) and (c) comprise applying the non-auditory-informative stimuli and the auditory-informative stimuli to the same electrodes by interspersing the non-auditory-informative stimuli with the auditory-informative stimuli.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein steps (b) and (c) comprise applying the non-auditory-informative stimuli to one set of electrodes within the electrode array simultaneously with applying the auditory-informative stimuli to another set of electrodes within the electrode array.
- 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the repetition rate, pulse width, and pulse amplitude of the non-auditory-informative stimuli are selected to enhance stochastic response patterns of auditory neurons for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the auditory-informative stimuli applied in step (c).
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein step (b) comprises applying non-auditory-informative stimuli having a frequency of at least 5 KHz.
- 16. The method of claim 14 wherein step (b) comprises applying non-auditory-informative stimuli having a pulse width of no more than 100 microseconds.
Parent Case Info
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/096,191, filed Aug. 11, 1998, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/096191 |
Aug 1998 |
US |