KR102652857B1 - Cochlear implant with magnet array using rigid structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The cochlear implant according to the embodiment provides a magnet array fixed through a rigid structure, and a pair of magnets are arranged spaced apart from each other on both sides of the rigid structure. In an embodiment, the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be spaced apart from each other on both sides of the rigid structure, and the N and S poles of the first magnet and the N and S poles of the second magnet are arranged in opposite directions. Additionally, in an embodiment, the magnet array may include a coil disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet.

Description

Cochlear implant using a magnet array with a rigid structure {COCHLEAR IMPLANT WITH MAGNET ARRAY USING RIGID STRUCTURE}

This disclosure relates to a cochlear implant magnet array, and specifically, a magnet array that uses a rigid structure to safely maintain a cochlear implant in an MR (Magnetic Resonance) environment, enables high-efficiency power transmission, and increases adhesion to external devices. It's about a cochlear implant.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the material described in this section is not prior art to the claims of this application, and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

A cochlear implant is a medical device used for hearing-impaired patients and consists of an external and internal unit. The external organ collects sound from outside the body, processes it, and transmits it to the internal organ, while the internal organ is implanted in the body and transmits voice signals by stimulating the auditory nerve through a nerve stimulation electrode inserted inside the cochlea.

Referring to Figure 1, which shows a conventional cochlear implant, the internal device of the cochlear implant has a coil structure and a magnet. The coil structure is a part that receives sound signals collected and processed by the external device and transmits nerve impulses by using an inductive link. The magnet allows the external device to be attached to a position close to the internal device. Provides the strength to The internal magnets of cochlear implants generally use neodymium magnets. This magnet can generate a strong magnetic field and attracts the magnet located in the external unit to each other, fixing the external unit and aligning the coil structure to maximize the efficiency of the inductive link.

The coil structure of the internal device allows it to generate signals for nerve stimulation by accepting the inductive link signal transmitted from the external device. The signal received by the coil is converted into a nerve stimulation signal through an internal circuit, and the nerve stimulation thus generated is transmitted to the auditory nerve through the electrode.

Meanwhile, the cochlear implant internal device can be very dangerous in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) environment. MRI is a test that uses a strong magnetic field to image structures inside the human body. The magnet inside the cochlear implant may be affected by the MRI magnetic field and cause problems in operation. For example, the magnet inside the cochlear implant may move, rotate, or stand upright enough to lift the patient's skin due to the strong magnetic field of the MR environment. This movement of the magnet not only causes damage to the internal organs but is also very dangerous to the patient.

Making cochlear implants safe in the MR environment is one of the issues receiving attention in the cochlear implant industry. In order to improve the safety of cochlear implants in the MR environment, even when the cochlear implant is exposed to a strong magnetic field, no force or torque is generated on the magnet of the internal device and it must not move. As shown in Figure 2 (Impact of Cochlear Implant With Diametric Magnet on Imaging Access, Safety, and Clinical Care, Laryngoscope, 131: E952-E956, 2021), the existing cochlear implant has a side facing the skin and a side opposite. It is a structure in which magnets magnetized to the N/S or S/N poles are used to fix and align the coils. However, in this structure, a phenomenon in which the magnet 10 stands upright may occur due to the characteristic that the magnet tends to align in the direction of the magnetic field at the center of the MR device. In order to prevent the erection phenomenon of the magnet, a cochlear implant consisting of a rotating magnet, as shown in FIG. 3, has been developed, but the adhesion between the external and internal groups is reduced, causing cochlear implant users to feel uncomfortable in their daily lives. There is. Additionally, conventionally, there is a trade-off relationship between safety in the cochlear implant MR environment and the adhesion force of the external and internal groups.

In addition, the magnet of a conventional cochlear implant internal device has a problem of low power efficiency due to its structure being located at the center of the coil. The conventional cochlear implant internal magnet has a structure located in the center of the coil and generates mutual inductance with the coil, and the mutual inductance with the coil causes a power loss problem. As a result, some of the electrical energy transferred from the external unit to the internal unit is transferred not only to the internal unit coil but also to the internal unit magnet, resulting in power loss.

1. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2195014 (2020.12.18) 2. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1488480 (2015.01.26)

The cochlear implant according to the embodiment provides a magnet array fixed through a rigid structure, and a pair of magnets are arranged spaced apart from each other on both sides of the rigid structure. In an embodiment, the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be spaced apart from each other on both sides of the rigid structure, and the N and S poles of the first magnet and the N and S poles of the second magnet are arranged in opposite directions.

Additionally, in an embodiment, the magnet array may include a coil disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet.

A cochlear implant according to an embodiment includes an internal device that generates an electrical signal based on external sounds; An external unit attached to and operating an internal unit; It includes: a coil in which the internal unit interacts with the electromagnetic field of the external unit to receive a signal; A magnet array including a first magnet and a second magnet for attaching an external device, and a rigid structure for fixing the first magnet and the second magnet. Includes. In an embodiment, the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be spaced apart at both ends of the magnet array, the N and S poles of the first and second magnets are arranged in opposite directions, and the first and second magnets are arranged in opposite directions. The center of the coil is placed between them.

The cochlear implant magnet array as described above can improve both the safety in the MR environment and the adhesion of the external and internal units without a trade-off between safety in the MR environment and the adhesion of the external and internal units.

In addition, through an embodiment, power efficiency can be improved by providing a structure in which the magnet of the cochlear implant internal device, which causes loss of electrical energy, is located on the side of the coil.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional cochlear implant.
Figure 2 is a diagram showing the phenomenon in which the magnet of a conventional cochlear implant internal device stands upright in an MR environment.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the magnet of a conventional cochlear implant internal device rotating in an MR environment.
Figure 4 shows a cross section of a cochlear implant internal device according to an embodiment.
Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a cochlear implant internal device according to an embodiment.
6 to 8 are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of a rigid structure and a coil according to an embodiment.
Figure 9 is a diagram showing a magnetic system generated in a magnetic field by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure that fixes the first magnet and the second magnet.
Figure 10 is a diagram showing a magnetic field that can be generated in a magnetic system including a rigid structure, a first magnet, and a second magnet according to an embodiment.
Figure 11 is a diagram showing the equilibrium state of a magnetic system created by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure according to an embodiment.
Figure 12 is a view showing a side view of a magnet system created with a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, identical or similar components will be assigned the same reference numbers regardless of reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes “module” and “part” for components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably only for the ease of preparing the specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles in themselves. Additionally, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical idea disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings, and all changes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are not limited. , should be understood to include equivalents or substitutes.

Terms containing ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

When a component is said to be "connected" or "connected" to another component, it is understood that it may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, but that other components may exist in between. It should be. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that a component is “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

In this application, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. It should be understood that this does not exclude in advance the possibility of the existence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In this specification, 'part' includes a unit realized by hardware, a unit realized by software, and a unit realized using both. Additionally, one unit may be realized using two or more pieces of hardware, and two or more units may be realized using one piece of hardware.

In this specification, some of the operations or functions described as being performed by a terminal, apparatus, or device may instead be performed on a server connected to the terminal, apparatus, or device. Likewise, some of the operations or functions described as being performed by the server may also be performed in a terminal, apparatus, or device connected to the server.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of a cochlear implant internal device according to an embodiment, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing a side cross section of a cochlear implant internal device according to an embodiment.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a cochlear implant according to an embodiment includes an internal device that generates an electrical signal based on external sound; An external unit attached to and operating an internal unit; It includes a coil 40 that receives a signal by interacting with the electromagnetic field of the internal unit; A magnet array including a first magnet (30) and a second magnet (50) for attaching an external device, and a rigid structure (20) for fixing the first magnet (30) and the second magnet (50); Includes. In the embodiment, in the magnet array, the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and the N and S poles of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are in opposite directions. The coil is disposed between the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50.

Referring to FIG. 4 showing a cross section of the cochlear implant internal device, the cochlear implant internal device 100 according to the embodiment includes a rigid structure 20, a first magnet 30, a second magnet 50, and It may be configured to include a coil 40. In the embodiment, the coil 40 interacts with the electromagnetic field of the external device to receive a signal, and the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 attach the external device.

In the embodiment, the rigid structure 20 fixes the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50, and the N and S poles of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are in opposite directions. The rigid structure 20 is arranged to be spaced apart on each side. In the embodiment, the coil 40 is disposed between the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50. In the embodiment, the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 of the magnet array 20 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and the N and S poles of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are They are arranged in opposite directions, and the central axis of the coil is arranged between the first magnet and the second magnet. Additionally, in one embodiment, the center of the coil 40 may be placed on a plane including the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50. In one embodiment, the plane including the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 and the central axis of the coil may be perpendicular to each other.

Referring to Figure 5, which shows a side cross-section of the cochlear implant internal device, the N pole 33 of the first magnet 30 according to the embodiment is configured at the upper side and the S pole 31 is configured at the lower side. In this case, the N pole of the second magnet 50 is located on the lower side, and the S pole is located on the upper side. In the embodiment, when the N and S pole positions of the first magnet 30 are changed, the N and S pole configurations of the second magnet are also reversely arranged.

In the embodiment, the rigid structure 20 is not limited to a specific shape and includes a first magnet 30 and a second magnet 50, which are general magnets including an N pole and an S pole. In the embodiment, the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are disposed on both sides of the rigid structure 20 with different polarities. For example, if the first magnet 30 is placed on the left with the S pole on the top surface, the second magnet 50 can be placed on the right with the N pole on the top surface, and vice versa.

6 to 8 are diagrams showing an example of the arrangement of a rigid structure and a coil according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the rigid structure 20 is disposed inside the coil 40. Referring to Figure 6, in an embodiment, the rigid structure 20 may be disposed inside the coil 40, and referring to section A-A of Figure 6, the S of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 The pole and N pole are arranged oppositely.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the magnet of the rigid structure 20 is disposed outside the coil 40. Referring to FIG. 7 , in the embodiment, the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 disposed on both sides of the rigid structure 20 may be disposed on both outer sides of the coil 40, respectively. Referring to Section A-A, the S and N poles of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are arranged oppositely.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the magnets 30 and 50 on both sides of the rigid structure 20 according to the embodiment are arranged to overlap the coil 40. Referring to FIG. 8, in the embodiment, the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 disposed on both sides of the rigid structure 20 may be disposed to overlap the coil 40. For example, the coil 40 may be disposed above the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50. To explain this differently, the coil 40 of the internal unit is disposed closer to the external unit than the rigid structure 20 of the internal unit. That is, the distance between the coil 40 of the internal unit and the external unit is shorter than the distance between the rigid structure 20 of the internal unit and the external unit.

Additionally, in the embodiment, the coil 40 may be disposed on the lower side of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 30. To explain this differently, the coil 40 of the inner machine is disposed farther from the outer machine than the rigid structure 20 of the inner machine. That is, the distance between the coil 40 of the internal unit and the external unit is longer than the distance between the rigid structure 20 of the internal unit and the external unit.

In the embodiment, the upper side is the side facing the external device, which is closer to the external device and is in contact with the external device through magnetism. In the embodiment, the lower side is the side opposite to the upper side and is further away from the external air. For example, if the upper side of the first magnet is the S pole, the lower side is the N pole, and the upper S pole is the side that is closer to the external air and in contact with the external air.

As shown in FIG. 8, each of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 may be disposed on both sides of the lower end of the coil 40 so as to overlap the coil 40. Referring to section A-A of FIG. 8, the S and N poles of the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 are arranged oppositely.

In an embodiment, the rigid structure 20 may be made of ceramic, plastic, or metal that provides stiffness above a certain level. For example, the rigid structure 20 may be made of titanium, zirconia, alumina, liquid crystal polymer, PEEK, etc., but is not limited thereto. 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining the force generation relationship between the rigid structure, the first magnet, and the second magnet of the cochlear implant internal device according to an embodiment.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing a magnetic system generated by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure that fixes the first magnet and the second magnet in a magnetic field. Figure 9 shows a magnetic system generated by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure that fixes the first magnet and the second magnet in a magnetic field.

Referring to (c) of FIG. 9, when the patient is lying down in the MRI machine, the direction of the magnetic field is from the head to the feet. If the direction of the magnetic field is explained based on the cochlear implant internal device, in the case of the cochlear implant cross-section, the first magnet and the second magnet are moved from one side of the upper surface to the other side as shown in Figure 9 (b). is formed Referring to (a) of FIG. 9, based on the side of the cochlear implant internal device, the magnetic field is formed in a direction toward the internal device.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing a magnetic field that can be generated in a magnetic system including a rigid structure, a first magnet, and a second magnet according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, in the cross section (top) of the magnet system, the first and second magnets are composed of N/S poles up and down, but in the side view of the magnet system (Side View), the magnetic field lines are located right behind the S/S poles. It turns to the N pole and enters. This is different from the conventional transversely magnetized magnet configuration.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the equilibrium state of a magnetic system created by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, since the direction of the magnetic field formed in the first magnet 30 and the second magnet 50 is opposite, the first magnet 30, the second magnet 50 and the rigid magnet according to the embodiment When a magnetic system including a structure is exposed to a magnetic field such as an MR environment, the rotational force or displacement force of each magnet becomes balanced.

Figure 12 is a diagram showing a side view of a magnet system created with a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, in a magnetic system created by a first magnet, a second magnet, and a rigid structure, the magnetic force line goes in the direction facing the cross section of the N-S pole, and a pair of magnets magnetized in different directions are bound by the rigid structure. Therefore, the total force (net force) is 0. Because of this, the magnet of the internal device may not move in the MR environment.

The cochlear implant magnet array as described above can improve both the safety in the MR environment and the adhesion of the external and internal units without a trade-off between safety in the MR environment and the adhesion of the external and internal units.

In addition, through an embodiment, power efficiency can be improved by providing a structure in which the magnet of the cochlear implant internal device, which causes loss of electrical energy, is located on the side of the coil.

The disclosed content is merely an example and can be modified and implemented in various ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the claims, so the scope of protection of the disclosed content is limited to the above-mentioned specific scope. It is not limited to the examples.

Claims (12)

In cochlear implants,
An internal device that generates electrical signals based on external sounds;
an external unit fixed to and operating the internal unit; Including,
The internal device is
A coil that receives a signal by interacting with the electromagnetic field of the external device;
A magnet array including a first magnet and a second magnet for attaching an external device, and a rigid structure for fixing the first magnet and the second magnet. includes
In the magnet array
The first and second magnets are arranged spaced apart at both ends.
The N and S pole directions of the first magnet and the N and S pole directions of the second magnet are disposed in opposite directions, and the central axis of the coil is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet,
the coil; silver
The center of the coil is placed above the first magnet and the second magnet, or
The center of the coil is placed below the first and second magnets,
The upper side is the side closer to the external plane,
The lower side is the opposite side of the upper side,
When the S pole of the first magnet is disposed at the upper side and the N pole is disposed at the lower side, the upper side of the second magnet is disposed at the N pole and the lower side is disposed at the S pole,
When the upper side of the first magnet is disposed as the N pole and the lower side is disposed as the S pole, the upper side of the second magnet is disposed as the S pole and the lower side is disposed as the N pole,
Each of the first and second magnets is arranged to overlap the coil on both sides of the upper or lower end of the coil, and when arranged to overlap, the S and N poles of the first and second magnets are arranged oppositely. Featured cochlear implant.
delete delete delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein the rigid structure is
A cochlear implant characterized by being formed of at least one of zirconia, alumina, liquid crystal polymer, PEEK, and titanium.
In the magnet array,
The magnet array includes a first magnet and a second magnet, and a rigid structure for fixing the first magnet and the second magnet,
The first magnet and the second magnet are arranged to be spaced apart at both ends.
The N and S pole directions of the first magnet and the N and S pole directions of the second magnet are disposed in opposite directions, and the central axis of the coil is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet.
the coil; silver
The center of the coil is placed above the first magnet and the second magnet, or
The center of the coil is placed below the first and second magnets,
The upper side is the side closer to the external plane,
The lower side is the opposite side of the upper side
When the S pole of the first magnet is disposed at the upper side and the N pole is disposed at the lower side, the upper side of the second magnet is disposed at the N pole and the lower side is disposed at the S pole,
When the upper side of the first magnet is disposed as the N pole and the lower side is disposed as the S pole, the upper side of the second magnet is disposed as the S pole and the lower side is disposed as the N pole,
Each of the first and second magnets is arranged to overlap the coil on both sides of the upper or lower end of the coil, and when arranged to overlap, the S and N poles of the first and second magnets are arranged oppositely. Characterized by a magnet array.
delete delete delete delete The method of claim 7, wherein the rigid structure is
A magnet array formed of at least one of zirconia, alumina, liquid crystal polymer, PEEK, and titanium.