Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080300658 | IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED ANTENNA SYSTEM - The present invention is related to active implantable medical devices comprising an antenna and a band diplexer connected to said antenna. The band diplexer comprises first filter means for a first signal to be transmitted and/or received in a first RF band and second filter means for a second signal to be transmitted and/or received in a second RF band. A method of bidirectional wireless communication is disclosed between an active implantable medical device and an external device, comprising the steps of: communicating unidirectionally from the external device to the implantable medical device over a first wireless link in a first RF band in the MI near-field and communicating unidirectionally from the implantable medical device to the external device over a second wireless link in a second RF band in the EM field. | 12-04-2008 |
20080304686 | BEHIND-THE-EAR (BTE) PROSTHETIC DEVICE WITH ANTENNA - A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to an transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system. | 12-11-2008 |
20090067653 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEVICES OF A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method of wireless communication between hearing aid devices of a hearing prosthesis. A first device selects a frequency channel for bidirectional wireless communication from a predefined series of frequency channels. A second device transmits a command signal repeatedly over the series of frequency channels until it transmits the command signal over the frequency channel selected by the first device. Subsequent commands send by the second device to the first device are initially transmitted over the selected frequency channel. | 03-12-2009 |
20090124201 | SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATIONS FOR BODY CONTACTING DEVICES - A communication system for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, the system comprising: a first device configured to receive and modulate the at least one signal, the first device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a first human body and a second conductive element isolated from the first human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal; and a second device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a second human body, and a second conductive element isolated from the second human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to receive the transmitted modulated signal from the first device. | 05-14-2009 |
20090216296 | INTERLEAVING POWER AND DATA IN A TRANSCUTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS LINK - The present invention is related to an implantable medical device. The medical device comprises an implantable component having a receiver unit; an external charging module having a power transmitter unit; and a data module having a data transmitter unit. The units are configured to establish a transcutaneous communication link over which data and power is transmitted on a single frequency channel via a time interleaving scheme comprising successive frames each divided into at least two time slots, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the data transmitter unit, and wherein one or more of the time slots in each frame is allocated to the power transmitter unit, and wherein data and power are transmitted by the transmitter units during their allotted time slots. | 08-27-2009 |
20100030012 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN A MULTIMODAL AUDITORY PROSTHESIS - A multimodal auditory prosthesis. The prosthesis comprises a sound processing unit configured to process sound and to generate electrical signals representing different frequency components of the processed sound and a stimulation module communicably coupled to the sound processing unit, configured to stimulate the recipient to evoke a hearing percept of a range of the frequency components. The prosthesis also comprises an external stimulation module, configured to be positioned within an externally accessible portion of the recipient's first ear, comprising: a receiver unit to wirelessly receive the electrical signals representing the different frequency components, and a transducer that delivers acoustic or mechanical energy to the recipient's ear to evoke a hearing percept of a range of the frequency components. | 02-04-2010 |
20100274319 | CURRENT LEAKAGE DETECTION FOR A MEDICAL IMPLANT - Current leakage detection techniques in an implantable medical device are disclosed. In these techniques, a core surrounds conductors carrying current to and from an implanted medical device. A secondary winding on the core picks up imbalances between the current flows on the conductors traveling through the core. An imbalance is detected if the current on the secondary winding results in a specified threshold being exceeded. Corrective action may then be taken if a current imbalance is detected. | 10-28-2010 |
20100312310 | POWER LINK FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES - A power transfer system for an implanted device, such as an implanted medical device. The implanted device and a power transfer device each include a coil with a magnetically permeable core, so that operatively the coils are magnetically coupled, so as to improve the efficiency of power transfer. The coil resides in an electrically conductive implant case | 12-09-2010 |
20110009924 | VARYING THE EFFECTIVE COIL AREA FOR AN INDUCTIVE TRANSCUTANEOUS POWER LINK - A prosthesis including an external device and an implantable component. The external device includes a first inductive communication component. The implantable component includes a second inductive communication component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted under skin of a recipient. The external device is configured to transmit power via magnetic induction transcutaneously to the implantable component via the second inductive communication component. The internal component is configured to receive at least a portion of the power transmitted from the external device via the inductive communication component. At least one of the first and second inductive communication components comprise an inductive communication component configured to vary its effective coil area. | 01-13-2011 |
20110043051 | MAGNETIC INDUCTION SIGNAL REPEATER - A magnetic induction (MI) repeater includes first and second coils configured to have the same resonance frequency and to be substantially isolated from one another, and an amplifier connected to the first and second coils and configured to receive a signal induced in the first coil by a first magnetic field and output, via the second coil, a second magnetic field based on the signal, wherein the second magnetic field is amplified relative to the first magnetic field. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046730 | IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE SYSTEM - An at least partially implantable hearing prosthesis. The hearing prosthesis comprises an implantable internal energy transfer assembly configured to receive power from an external device and having an implantable microphone system removably positioned therein configured to receive a sound signal and to generate electrical signals representing the received sound signal; a main implantable component having a sound processing unit configured to convert the electrical signals into data signals; and an output stimulator configured to stimulate the recipient's ear based on the data signals. | 02-24-2011 |
20110106210 | ADJUSTABLE TRANSCUTANEOUS ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM - A transcutaneous energy transfer system for an implantable medical device. The system comprises an internal coil assembly implantable in a recipient; and an external data coil assembly positioned in a housing worn by the recipient. The data coil assembly is configured to be inductively coupled to the internal coil assembly in order to transcutaneously transfer data to the internal coil assembly. One or more elements of the data coil assembly are physically adjustable with respect to the housing to alter the inductive coupling. | 05-05-2011 |
20110137376 | MULTI-COIL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - An implantable medical device comprising first and second coils each comprising one or more circular windings defining a diameter. Each of the first and second coils have a length, wherein the diameter of the one or more windings of the first coil are greater than the length of the first coil, and wherein the diameter of the one or more windings of the second coil are smaller than the length of the second coil, and wherein at least one of the one or more windings of the first coil is substantially orthogonal to at least one of the windings of the second coil. | 06-09-2011 |
20120041515 | WIRELESS REMOTE DEVICE FOR A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A hearing prosthesis and method for same are disclosed wherein a smaller wireless microphone component transmits audio signals to an external component of the medical device. The external component processes the received audio signal(s) to generate stimulation data. The external component is detachably connected to a coil that transmits power and the stimulation data, via magnetic induction, to an implanted component. The implanted component applies stimulation to a recipient in accordance with the received stimulation data. | 02-16-2012 |
20120224705 | SYNCHRONIZATION IN A BILATERAL AUDITORY PROSTHESIS SYSTEM - Aspect of the present invention are generally directed to synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system. In this system, a primary wireless communications channel, usable for synchronizing the first and second prostheses, may be disabled to, for example, conserve power. Then, upon detection of a trigger in sound received by one or more of the prostheses, the primary wireless communication channel is enabled and the prostheses synchronized using the primary wireless communication channel. | 09-06-2012 |
20120232616 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS IN MEDICAL DEVICES - A medical device, comprising first and second components coupled via a first wireless link; and a third component coupled to the first device via a second wireless link. The device implements a communication scheme in which transmissions via the second wireless link occur during a time period that is interleaved between periods including transmissions via the first link. | 09-13-2012 |
20120275629 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEVICES OF A HEARING PROSTHESIS - A method of wireless communication between hearing aid devices of a hearing prosthesis. A first device selects a frequency channel for bidirectional wireless communication from a predefined series of frequency channels. A second device transmits a command signal repeatedly over the series of frequency channels until it transmits the command signal over the frequency channel selected by the first device. Subsequent commands send by the second device to the first device are initially transmitted over the selected frequency channel. | 11-01-2012 |
20120286765 | IDENTIFYING HEARING PROSTHESIS ACTUATOR RESONANCE PEAK(S) - An auditory prosthesis comprising an actuator for providing mechanical stimulation to a recipient. The auditory prosthesis comprises a measurement circuit for use in determining the resonance peak(s) of the actuator. In an embodiment, the measurement circuit measures the voltage drop across the actuator and/or current through the actuator during a frequency sweep of the operational frequencies of the actuator. These measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed for discontinuities that are indicative of a resonance peak of the actuator. In another embodiment, rather than using a frequency sweep to measure voltages and/or currents across the actuator, the measurement circuit instead applies a voltage impulse to the actuator and then measure the voltage and/or current across the actuator for a period of time after application of the impulse. The measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed to identify resonance peak(s) of the actuator. | 11-15-2012 |
20130103111 | FREQUENCY-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION-BASED TRANSCUTANEOUS TRANSMISSION - A method for use in an active implantable medical device (AIMD) including an external module and an implantable module having a stimulation transducer implantable in an implantee and configured to deliver stimulation energy to auditory tissue so as to cause a hearing percept, the method including: receiving, at the implantable module, from the external module via a transcutaneous RF link, an analog frequency-modulated RF signal (analog FM) including stimulation signals representative of sound; performing frequency-to-digital conversion upon the frequency-modulated signal to obtain pulse-formatted signals corresponding to the stimulation signals; and energizing the stimulation transducer based upon the pulse-formatted signals to cause the hearing percept. | 04-25-2013 |
20130129125 | SMOOTHING POWER CONSUMPTION OF AN ACTIVE MEDICAL DEVICE - An active medical device, including an input receiver configured to receive a frequency-varying input signal, and a functional component that reacts to the input signal and consumes power at a rate dependant on the frequency of portions of the input signal to which the functional component reacts, wherein the active medical device is configured to adjust one or more portions of the input signal corresponding to portions of the input signal where the functional component consumes power at a rate that is greater than that of other portions of the input signal. | 05-23-2013 |
20130148828 | Controlling a Link for Different Load Conditions - The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for determining prescription rules for a hearing prosthesis. A system in accordance with the present disclosure includes a receiver, a transmitter for wirelessly inducing electrical signals in the receiver, and first and second loads coupled to the receiver and associated with first and second applications, respectively. The system also includes a signal generator coupled to the transmitter. The signal generator is configured to energize the transmitter to transfer the electrical signals at a first duty cycle to the receiver for the first application and to energize the transmitter to transfer the electrical signals at a second duty cycle to the receiver for the second application. | 06-13-2013 |
20130223664 | Device with Combined Antenna and Transducer - A system includes an earhook having a connector for coupling to a behind-the-ear component of a hearing prosthesis. The earhook further includes a transducer and combined electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic induction (MI) antenna circuitry coupled to the transducer. The combined EM and MI antenna circuitry also includes an electrically conductive portion of the transducer and at least one inductor. | 08-29-2013 |
20130265144 | Pairing Or Associating Electronic Devices - A system that includes an implanted medical device such as an auditory prosthesis having a capacity to conduct communications on two channels to establish an association for communication with another electronic device. One of the channels is preferably a short range or near field channel, and the other channel is a broadcast channel. A method of asynchronous communication using both channels for establishing the association is also described. | 10-10-2013 |
20130282067 | Enabling Device for Implantable Medical Devices - Methods and devices for determining the operating mode of an implantable medical device are disclosed. A first device transmits a keep-alive signal to an implantable medical device. If the implantable medical device receives the keep-alive signal within a first time interval, the implantable medical device operates in a normal operating mode. If the implantable medical device does not receive the keep-alive signal with the first time interval, at least a portion of the implantable medical device is deactivated. | 10-24-2013 |
20130308804 | Adaptive Data Rate for a Bilateral Hearing Prosthesis System - Methods, systems, and devices for determining a data rate for a communication between bilateral hearing prostheses are disclosed. A first hearing prosthesis transmits a first signal to a second hearing prosthesis during a first transmission interval. The second hearing prosthesis transmits a second signal to the first hearing prosthesis during a second transmission interval. The first signal includes an indication of a data rate for the second signal. | 11-21-2013 |
20140025137 | Electrical Isolation in an Implantable Device - A total implantable hearing aid system is described. The system includes a single transformer that acts as an insulator between simulation circuitry and associated electrodes, and other system elements residing in the tissue. These other system elements include an RF receiver coil, a microphone system, a battery, and a digital signal processor. The transformer also increases the battery output voltage to a level needed by the simulation circuitry with electrodes. | 01-23-2014 |
20140025138 | Hearing Prosthesis with a Standard Wire Interface - Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound. | 01-23-2014 |
20140073237 | MAGNETIC INDUCTION SIGNAL REPEATER - A magnetic induction (MI) repeater includes first and second coils configured to have the same resonance frequency and to be substantially isolated from one another, and an amplifier connected to the first and second coils and configured to receive a signal induced in the first coil by a first magnetic field and output, via the second coil, a second magnetic field based on the signal, wherein the second magnetic field is amplified relative to the first magnetic field. | 03-13-2014 |
20140135871 | External Unit of an Implanted Medical Device - A method, systems, and devices are disclosed. An example method includes determining whether an external unit of an implanted medical device is coupled to an implanted unit of the implanted medical device. In response to determining that the external unit is coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a first operating mode. In response to determining that the external unit is not coupled to the implanted unit, the example method includes causing the external unit to operate in a second operating mode. | 05-15-2014 |
20140155686 | Data/Power Transfer Over a Communication Link - The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for transferring data and/or data over a communication link. A medical device in one example includes receiver(s) configured to receive first signals, which include power signals and first stimulation data, and second signals, which include second stimulation data. Each of the first stimulation data and the second stimulation data includes data encoded according to a same data encoding protocol. The device also includes control circuitry coupled to the one or more receivers and configured to operate in a first mode and in a second mode. The control circuitry is configured in the first mode to apply the power signals to provide power to the medical device and to apply the first stimulation data to a medical device recipient. Further, the control circuitry is configured in the second mode to apply the second stimulation data to the medical device recipient. | 06-05-2014 |
20140214123 | Bilateral Communication in a Two-Channel System - A hearing prosthesis system has a hearing prosthesis device for each ear. In the case of a cochlear implant, the prosthesis may have both an external portion and an internal portion. The external portion provides a wireless communication to the internal portion. Additionally, each prosthesis is configured to communicate with the other prosthesis. Thus, a second wireless signal provides a bilateral communication link between the two prostheses. Advantageously, in order to mitigate potential wireless interference due to each prosthesis communicating with both a corresponding internal component and the other external component, the disclosed systems and methods operate in a specific communication mode. Under this mode, for each time period, one external component is in a transmit mode, while the other external component is in a receive mode. As the time period advances, the external components simultaneously switch modes. | 07-31-2014 |
20140270296 | Controlling a Link for Different Load Conditions - The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for supporting different load conditions in a data/power link. In one example, a device includes a transformer that has a first tap with a first turns ratio and a second tap with a second turns ratio. The device further includes electronics and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to selectively couple the electronics to the first tap of the transformer for a first application and to couple the electronics to the second tap of the transformer for a second application. | 09-18-2014 |