Claims
- 1. A signal processing device for a cochlear implant, the device comprising:
a device body that fits into the ear canal of a user, the device body containing:
(i) a microphone that converts an acoustic signal present at the device body into a representative electrical signal; (ii) a signal processor that performs signal processing of the representative electrical signal to form a cochlear implant signal; and (iii) a transmitter that converts the cochlear implant signal into a radio signal for transmission to a cochlear implant.
- 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device body further includes:
a mechanical stimulation module that delivers to the inner ear structure of the user a mechanical stimulation signal representative of a portion of the acoustic signal, wherein the cochlear implant signal is representative of a first subrange of frequencies in the acoustic signal, and the mechanical stimulation signal is representative of a second subrange of frequencies in the acoustic signal.
- 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes at least one of compression, beamforming, and filtering.
- 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing includes continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) digital signal processing.
- 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing includes channel specific sampling sequences (CSSS).
- 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing includes spectral peak (SPEAK) digital signal processing.
- 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing includes compressed analog (CA) signal processing.
- 8. A cochlear implant system comprising:
a signal processor that fits in the ear canal of a user and processes an acoustic signal present in the ear of the user to produce a representative radio signal; a power transmitter that transmits an electrical power signal through the skin of the user; and a cochlear implant that receives the radio signal and the electrical power signal and produces for the auditory nerve of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal.
- 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the signal processor further includes:
a mechanical stimulation module that delivers to the inner ear structure of the user a mechanical stimulation signal representative of a portion of the acoustic signal, wherein the cochlear implant signal is representative of a first subrange of frequencies in the acoustic signal, and the mechanical stimulation signal is representative of a second subrange of frequencies in the acoustic signal
- 10. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:
an implanted battery module that powers the cochlear implant, and that is rechargeable responsive to the transmitted electrical power signal.
- 11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes at least one of compression, beamforming, and filtering.
- 12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) digital signal processing.
- 13. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes channel specific sampling sequences (CSSS).
- 14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes spectral peak (SPEAK) digital signal processing.
- 15. A system according to claim 8, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes compressed analog (CA) signal processing.
- 16. A system according to claim 8, wherein the cochlear implant uses extracochlear electrodes to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 17. A system according to claim 8, wherein the cochlear implant uses cochleostomy window associated electrodes to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 18. A system according to claim 8, wherein the cochlear implant uses multi-channel array electrodes partially inserted into the cochlea of the user to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 19. A system according to claim 8, wherein the cochlear implant uses multi-channel array electrodes fully inserted into the cochlea of the user to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 20. A cochlear implant system comprising:
a power transmitter that continuously transmits an electrical power signal through the skin of the user; and a cochlear implant having
(i) a power processing module that continuously provides power to the cochlear implant responsive to and representative of the transmitted electrical power signal, and (ii) a signal processor including a microphone, the signal processor processing an acoustic signal present in the ear of the user and producing for the auditory nerve of the user an electrical stimulation signal representative of the acoustic signal.
- 21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes at least one of compression, beamforming, and filtering.
- 22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) digital signal processing.
- 23. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes channel specific sampling sequences (CSSS).
- 24. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes spectral peak (SPEAK) digital signal processing.
- 25. A system according to claim 20, wherein the processing performed by the signal processor includes compressed analog (CA) signal processing.
- 26. A system according to claim 20, wherein the cochlear implant uses extracochlear electrodes to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 27. A system according to claim 20, wherein the cochlear implant uses cochleostomy window associated electrodes to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 28. A system according to claim 20, wherein the cochlear implant uses multi-channel array electrodes partially inserted into the cochlea of the user to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
- 29. A system according to claim 20, wherein the cochlear implant uses multi-channel array electrodes fully inserted into the cochlea of the user to deliver the electrical stimulation signal.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application claims priority from provisional U.S. patent application No. 60/179,176, filed Jan. 31, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60179176 |
Jan 2000 |
US |