Patent ID: 8521287

Claim:
A constant current type electrode driver for an implant for a human or animal body, the electrode driver comprising: a driver controller adapted to be implanted within a body to generate anodic and cathodic stimulation switching signals and generate an output current defining a current amplitude for stimulation; a capacitive storage arrangement providing power to the driver controller; a voltage limiting shunting arrangement connected with the capacitive storage arrangement, to limit voltage on the capacitive storage arrangement; a capacitive storage arrangement monitoring circuit adapted to be implanted within the body comprising a subtracting circuit, comparators and NOR logic, wherein the capacitive storage arrangement monitoring circuit is connected with the capacitive storage arrangement, the shunting arrangement, and the driver controller, and wherein the capacitive storage arrangement monitoring circuit is configured to: monitor charging and draining conditions of the capacitive storage arrangement; monitor the capacitive storage arrangement and voltage limiting shunting arrangement including shunt current data; output, in normal power conditions, a high output level signal or a low output level signal in case a voltage of the capacitive storage arrangement falls below a preset threshold, wherein the low output level signal indicates that implant power has fallen below a critical low level required for safe operation; a back telemetry controller connected to the capacitive storage arrangement monitoring circuit that is also adapted to be implanted within the body; a transmitter adapted to be implanted within the body that is configured to transmit driver status data and shunt current data; and a power supply adapted to be external to the body that is configured to: receive said driver status data, shunt current data, said high output level signal and said low output level signal; alter power transmitted according to said driver status data and said shunt current data; and; upon receipt of said low output level signal, stop a stimulating operation and raise a power output level until the output level signal corresponds to the high output level signal.