Patent ID: 6259951
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: A61N,H04R

Abstract:
An implantable hearing system (10) comprising:an electrode/transducer array (60) adapted for insertion into the basal region of the scala tympani of a human cochlea, the electrode/transducer array having a plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts (64) thereon, and an acoustic modulator (62) therein;an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) (20) electrically coupled to the plurality of electrode contacts;an acoustic transducer fluidly coupled to the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array;an implantable speech processor (ISP) (40) electrically coupled to the ICS and acoustic transducer;a power source operatively coupled to the ICS and ISP;a microphone connected to the ISP, wherein the microphone senses acoustic sound and converts such sensed acoustic sound to electrical signals; andprocessing circuitry within the ISP responsive to the electrical signals produced by the microphone, the processing circuitry including means for generating a first set of control signals representative of high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone, and for generating a second set of control signals representative of lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and furtherwherein the ICS includes pulse generating circuitry that generates electrical stimulation pulses as defined by the first set of control signals generated by the ISP, and further wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the plurality of spaced-apart electrode contacts in a prescribed manner, whereby electrical stimulation of the cochlea is provided corresponding to high frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone; and additionallywherein the second set of control signals are applied to and modulate the acoustic transducer, wherein the fluid coupling with the acoustic modulator causes the volume of the acoustic modulator to vary as a function of the modulation supplied by the second set of control signals, and wherein variations in the volume of the acoustic modulator of the electrode/transducer array are adapted to be coupled to fluid within the scala tympani, whereby acoustic modulation of the fluid within the scala tympani is provided corresponding to lower frequency information contained within the acoustic sound sensed by the microphone.