Patent ID: 7225028

Claim:
A method of stimulating the vestibular and cochlear nerves of a patient, comprising: implanting a pulse generator in a patient's head, the pulse generator having a first lead with at least one electrode thereon and a second lead with at least one electrode thereon, the pulse generator further having a return electrode, wherein the pulse generator selectively generates electrical stimulation pulses in response to control signals and applies those electrical stimulation pulses to the at least one electrode on the first lead or to the at least one electrode on the second lead; inserting the first lead into the patient's cochlea and the second lead into the patient's semicircular canals, vestibule, or otherwise in proximity to the patient's vestibular nerve or its terminal branches, whereby electrical stimulation pulses are selectively provided to the cochlear or vestibular nerve as defined by the control signals; sensing sound waves through at least one microphone; sensing motion of the patient's head through at least one motion sensor mounted on or in the patient's head; and applying sensed sound and motion information to a speech and motion processor (SMP), wherein the SMP is configured to generate control signals responsive to sensed sound waves and sensed motion of the patient's head; and providing the control signals to the implanted pulse generator, whereby electrical stimulation is selectively provided to the patient's cochlear nerve in response to information sensed through the at least one microphone and electrical simulation is selectively provided to the patient's vestibular nerve in response to information sensed through the at least one motion sensor.