Patent ID: 8894697
Filing Date: 2014-11-25
Classification: A61N,F04C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a cochlea of a person to provide sound-perception auditory sensations for the person, the apparatus comprising: means for sensing an audio signal in real time; means for extracting real time audio signal strength from the audio signal; means for generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having a pulse repetition rate, a peak power, and a pulse width, the plurality of pulsed light signals further having a plurality of one or more successive pulses, each capable of stimulating a nerve action potential (NAP) in the neuron of the person; means for delivering the plurality of light signals to a plurality of locations in the cochlea of the person; and means for selectively controlling the plurality of light signals output by the means for generating to optically stimulate one or more neurons in the cochlea in order to trigger NAPs in the one or more neurons of the cochlea, wherein the means for selectively controlling the plurality of pulsed light signals is configured to hold constant the pulse repetition rate and the peak power of the plurality of pulsed light signals and, concurrently, to modulate the pulse width of the plurality of pulsed light signals in response to the real time audio signal strength so as to encode a dynamic range of sound loudness for the person in real time.