WO2008148825A1 - Implant auriculaire et électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire - Google Patents

Implant auriculaire et électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008148825A1
WO2008148825A1 PCT/EP2008/056947 EP2008056947W WO2008148825A1 WO 2008148825 A1 WO2008148825 A1 WO 2008148825A1 EP 2008056947 W EP2008056947 W EP 2008056947W WO 2008148825 A1 WO2008148825 A1 WO 2008148825A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stimulation electrode
stimulation
base body
signal processor
electrode according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/056947
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Detlef Behrend
Klaus-Peter Schmitz
Hans Wilhelm Pau
Katrin Sternberg
Wolfram Schmidt
Original Assignee
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte G.M.B.H.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte G.M.B.H. filed Critical Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte G.M.B.H.
Publication of WO2008148825A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008148825A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/02—Details
    • A61N1/04—Electrodes
    • A61N1/05—Electrodes for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode
    • A61N1/0526—Head electrodes
    • A61N1/0541—Cochlear electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
    • H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an ear implant and a stimulation electrode for an ear implant.
  • cochlear implant is a hearing prosthesis for deaf people whose auditory nerve is still functioning.
  • the electrodes of the cochlear implant are introduced into the cochlea (lat. Cochlea) in order to transmit the sound recorded with a microphone directly to the auditory nerve by means of a (digital) signal processor via electrical pulses.
  • cochlear implants do not count as hearing aids, as the irritation of the inner ear does not take place via changes in air or substrate sound, but rather by implanted electrodes.
  • the electrical stimuli in the cochlea produce in the wearer hearing sensations of various kinds.
  • the hearing impressions differ significantly from those of a fully functional ear, since the perceived spectral resolution is severely limited by the number of electrodes.
  • the neurological mechanism for processing acoustic stimuli is so flexible that in many patients rapid adaptation to the auditory sensation caused by the cochlear implant occurs.
  • cochlear implants are used surgically under general anesthesia.
  • Another associated problem of conventional cochlear implants is an increased risk of infection (meningitis infection).
  • the stimulation electrode comprises an elongated base body, on the outer surface of which a plurality of electromechanical transducers and a multiplicity of electrical (individually activatable) stimulation elements (stimulation electrodes) are arranged, wherein the main body has internal isolated electrical control lines with an enclosing shell. wherein the base body has an inner hollow channel within which run a plurality of mutually electrically isolated control lines).
  • an electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve in contrast to conventional cochlear implants according to the invention, not only an electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve, but a combined electrical and mechanical (ie acoustic) excitation can be achieved.
  • This can be an additional stimulation of the auditory nerve (via at least partially intact hair cells) done, which can lead to improved hearing.
  • the inventive Stimulation electrode suitable for patients whose hair cells are already degenerate so much that conventional hearing aids (with acoustic amplification) are no longer sufficient, but some hair cells are still functional so that the listening experience improved by the additional mechanical excitation (sound waves) or advantageously complements can be.
  • stimulation electrodes voltage pulses with an amplitude between -10OmV and + 10OmV for electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve and by means of the electromechanical transducer (preferably piezoelectric elements) generates mechanical vibrations in the auditory sound and / or ultrasound range for mechanical stimulation of the hair cells (and thus the auditory nerve).
  • electromechanical transducer preferably piezoelectric elements
  • the electromechanical transducers preferably generate a pulse train having a frequency of 100 Hz to 10 kHz. Each electromechanical transducer generates an acoustic power of 0.01 to 3 nW.
  • the base body (or the hollow channel) in the region of a first (proximal) end has a passage opening for connecting the
  • a plurality of electrical drive lines with a signal processor wherein the inner region of the base body with the therein
  • Control lines in the area of a second (distal)
  • all electromechanical transducers and all electrical stimulation elements are arranged in an active region extending from the proximal end of the
  • Stimulation electrode at a distance between 80% and 100% of
  • Length of the main body extends.
  • the active area has one
  • the base body is hollow cylindrical or substantially hollow cylindrical in shape and has a diameter between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.
  • the base body (7) has an axial bending stiffness of 1 mNmm 2 to 1 Nmm 2 .
  • the wall thickness of the insulation of the hollow cylindrical body is preferably between 10 .mu.m and 100 .mu.m.
  • the electromechanical transducers / electrical stimulation elements are arranged circumferentially and alternately. As a result, all areas of the cochlea can be combined electrically and mechanically (i.e., acoustically) excited.
  • the electromechanical transducers, each having a first electrical control line and the electrical stimulation elements are each connected to a second electrical control line and thus separately and individually controllable.
  • the lateral extent of an electromechanical transducer / the lateral extent of an electrical stimulation element along the longitudinal axis (as well as perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) of the main body is preferably between 20 ⁇ m and 200 ⁇ m.
  • At least one (preferably all) electromechanical transducer has one or more acoustic lenses.
  • the acoustic lens is preferably formed by at least one (preferably one or two) concave-shaped cavities in the surface of the electromechanical transducer (or the main body) (the surface of the body consists in its active region of alternately arranged electromechanical transducers / stimulation elements).
  • the cavity preferably has a lateral extent between 20 and 200 microns and / or an inwardly inclined Buckling with a radius between 10 and 100 ⁇ m.
  • the radius and thus the focal length of the acoustic lenses) decreases towards the distal end of the electrode so that the sound is always focused on the hair cells with the cochlea distally tapered.
  • additional cavities are introduced on the surface of the base body in which pharmaceuticals (broad-spectrum antibiotics,
  • Proliferationsstimulanzien are introduced. These act as a depot and thereby lead to a longer-term reduction in the risk of infection.
  • the stimulation electrode according to the invention is connected in the region of the first end to a receiving coil, wherein the plurality of drive lines are electrically connected to the receiving coil.
  • the stimulation electrode receives its signals regularly from a transmitter coil (with magnet) located outside the ear and connected to a microphone and a (digital) signal processor.
  • the signal is transmitted through the scalp by means of electromagnetic induction.
  • the transmitter coil of the processor preferably adheres to the scalp using the magnet.
  • the receiver coil is implanted under the skin with the magnet behind the ear and serves as an interface between the stimulation electrode and the signal processor.
  • the ear implant according to the invention accordingly has a microphone, a signal processor and one in operative connection with the signal processor
  • a transmitting unit and a receiving unit wherein the transmitting unit is a microphone, a signal processor and a
  • Transmitting coil and the (to be implanted) receiving unit has a receiving coil and a stimulation electrode with at least one of the above features.
  • each of the electromechanical transducers and / or each of the electrical stimulation elements is individually controllable by the signal processor.
  • the signal processor is designed such that each of the electromechanical transducers and / or each of the electrical stimulation elements is controllable by the signal processor with a voltage between -10OmV and + 10OmV.
  • the signal processor is preferably designed to drive the electromechanical converters and / or the electrical stimulation elements in multiplex mode.
  • the signal processor is designed such that each of the electromechanical transducer and / or each of the electrical stimulation elements by the signal processor pulsed with a pulse length of 10 microseconds to 5 ms and a pulse repetition frequency of 100 Hz to 10 kHz can be controlled.
  • a particularly low power to be introduced into the cochlea can be used to stimulate the hair cells (corresponding to the natural sound propagation), thereby sustainably improving the hearing impression a speed between 300 m / s and 2000 m / s.
  • 1 shows an inventive ear implant in a schematic, sectional representation
  • 2 shows a section of the active region of a stimulation electrode according to the invention in plan view
  • FIG. 3a shows a arranged in a stimulation electrode according to the invention acoustic lens in a schematic, sectional representation
  • 3b shows an alternative embodiment of an acoustic lens in a schematic, sectional representation
  • FIG. 4 shows the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the active region of a stimulation electrode according to the invention in a schematic representation
  • FIG. 5 shows the cross section along the longitudinal axis of the active region of a stimulation electrode according to the invention in a schematic
  • Fig. 1 shows an inventive ear implant in a schematic, sectional view.
  • the ear implant according to the invention is constructed in two parts and consists of a transmitting unit with a microphone 2, a digital signal processor 3 and a transmitting coil 4 and a receiving unit, which is composed of the inventive stimulation electrode 1 and the associated receiving coil 6.
  • microphone 2 and signal processor 3 are formed into an integral unit, but these components may alternatively also be formed separately.
  • Transmitting unit and receiving unit can be implanted like a conventional cochlear implant.
  • the stimulation electrode 1 of the ear implant according to the invention is - as in conventional cochlear implants - introduced into the cochlea 5 (Latin cochlea) to electrically pass the sound recorded with the microphone 2 using a (digital) signal processor 3 directly to the auditory nerve.
  • the stimulation electrode 1 in addition to the electric stimulation serving electrical stimulation elements (stimulation electrodes) 10 in addition via electromechanical transducer 8 (preferably piezoelectric elements) - as shown in Fig. 2.
  • the excitation of the auditory nerve is not limited to the electrical stimulation - as in conventional cochlear implants - but it is possible by means of the electromechanical transducer 8, the auditory nerve in addition to electrical stimulation (in a preferred variant at the same time) mechanically by sound waves (sound and / or Ultrasound).
  • electrical stimulation in a preferred variant at the same time
  • sound waves sound and / or Ultrasound
  • the receiving coil 6 is implanted together with a magnet behind the ear under the skin and serves as an interface between the stimulation electrode 1 and the signal processor 3.
  • the signal is transmitted through the scalp by means of electromagnetic induction.
  • the transmitting coil 4 of the processor 3 adheres to the scalp with the aid of the magnet.
  • the signal processor 3 is also called a speech processor, since it converts the sounds of a spoken language into suitable signals for the stimulation electrode 1.
  • the stimulation electrode 1 is connected in the region of its first (proximal) end to the receiving coil 6 and transmits the signals received there (via a plurality of mutually insulated control lines) up to an active region, which is preferably in the region of the second (distal) end of the stimulation electrode 1.
  • This area is sized to extend within the cochlea 5; in other words, the passive region (which serves only for signal transport) extends from the receiving coil 6 (with the stimulation electrode 1 inserted into the cochlea 5) to the entrance into the cochlea 5 and the active region (which serves to excite hair cells and the auditory nerve). extends from the entrance into the cochlea 5 to the second, distal end of the stimulation electrode 1.
  • the active region has a length between 1 and 10 mm and extends from the first (distal) end of the stimulation electrode 1 at a distance of between 70%. and 100% of the length of stimulation electrode 1.
  • FIG. 2 shows a section of the active region of the stimulation electrode 1 shown in FIG. 1 in plan view
  • FIG. 5 shows a section of the active region of the stimulation electrode 1 shown in FIG. 1 in a schematic, sectional representation.
  • FIG. 5 does not show the entire cross-section of the main body 7, but only the outer lateral surface (shell of the main body) and a part of the inner channel (inner part of the main body with the control lines 11, 12).
  • alternating electrical stimulation electrodes 10 for electrical stimulation and electro-mechanical elements 8 for sound pressure generation are arranged on the outer surface. These elements 8, 10 can be used (simultaneously or sequentially) for electrical and mechanical excitation of the auditory nerve.
  • the signal processor 3 is designed such that each of the electromechanical transducer 8 and / or each of the electrical stimulation electrodes 10 by the signal processor 3 pulsed with a pulse length of 10 microseconds to 5 ms and a pulse repetition frequency of 100 Hz to 10 kHz can be controlled.
  • the electromechanical transducers 8 it is possible to control the electromechanical transducers 8 in a time-shifted manner along the base body 7 such that a (wandering) propagation propagating along the longitudinal axis of the base body 7 is generated from proximal to distal, i. the focus of the faceted electromechanical transducer is oriented distally.
  • the piezo elements 8 have one or more acoustic lenses 9, which are preferably formed by an inwardly curved region.
  • the preferred geometries of the acoustic lenses 9 are shown schematically in Figs. 3a and 3b.
  • the radius of the inwardly curved regions 9 preferably decreases in the direction of the distal end of the stimulation electrode 1 as the diameter of the cochlea narrows so that the foci of the sound waves emitted by the piezoelectric elements (represented by a dashed line) are respectively in the Area of hair cells lie.
  • the acoustic lenses 9 preferably have a lateral extent of between 20 and 200 ⁇ m, and the curvature of the lenses 9 preferably has a radius of between 10 and 100 ⁇ m.
  • 4 shows the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the active region of a stimulation electrode 1 according to the invention in a schematic representation. It can be seen that the electromechanical transducers 8 and the electrical stimulation elements 10 also alternate circumferentially. In the interior of the hollow channel formed by the lateral surface (shell of the main body), liquid-tight, the control lines 11 for the electromechanical transducers 8 and the control lines 12 for stimulation elements 10 are led to the receiving coil 6 (FIG. 1). Due to the circumferential arrangement of electromechanical transducers 8 and electrical stimulation elements 10, the entire inner region of the cochlea can be excited both electrically (via the elements 10) and through sound waves (via the elements 8).

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un implant auriculaire et une électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire. L'objectif de l'invention est de fournir un implant auriculaire et une électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire, qui permettent d'obtenir une meilleure stimulation neuronale et/ou musculaire par rapport à des implants cochléaires classiques. L'électrode de stimulation selon l'invention se compose d'un corps de base (7) de forme allongée, sur la surface extérieure duquel sont placés plusieurs transducteurs électromécaniques (8) et plusieurs éléments de stimulation électriques (10), ledit corps de base (7) présentant une pluralité de lignes d'excitation (11, 12) intérieures, isolées électriquement les unes par rapport aux autres et pourvues d'une gaine.
PCT/EP2008/056947 2007-06-06 2008-06-04 Implant auriculaire et électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire WO2008148825A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE200710026631 DE102007026631A1 (de) 2007-06-06 2007-06-06 Ohrimplantat und Stimulationselektrode für ein Ohrimplantat
DE102007026631.8 2007-06-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2008148825A1 true WO2008148825A1 (fr) 2008-12-11

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PCT/EP2008/056947 WO2008148825A1 (fr) 2007-06-06 2008-06-04 Implant auriculaire et électrode de stimulation pour un implant auriculaire

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DE (1) DE102007026631A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008148825A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108712920A (zh) * 2016-03-09 2018-10-26 Koc大学 对肌肉位置识别和治疗反应增强有效的电刺激设备

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7561920B2 (en) 2004-04-02 2009-07-14 Advanced Bionics, Llc Electric and acoustic stimulation fitting systems and methods
WO2011098144A1 (fr) 2010-02-12 2011-08-18 Advanced Bionics Ag Prothèse auditive comprenant un actionneur intra-cochléaire
DE102011086208A1 (de) 2011-11-11 2013-05-16 Universität Rostock Ohrimplantat und Stimulationselektrode für ein Ohrimplantat
DE102011086194A1 (de) 2011-11-11 2013-06-20 Universität Rostock Ohrimplantat und Stimulationselektrode für ein Ohrimplantat
WO2015028309A1 (fr) 2013-08-31 2015-03-05 Oerlikon Textile Gmbh & Co. Kg Procédé de reconnaissance d'un enroulement de fil et dispositif de guidage d'un fil
DE102017106361B4 (de) 2017-03-24 2021-01-21 Universität Rostock Ohrimplantat und Stimulationselektrode für ein Ohrimplantat
DE102020126712B4 (de) * 2020-10-12 2022-06-15 Audisense Gmbh Hörprothese mit einer Vielzahl von in einer Reihe angeordneten Ultraschallelementen

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6259951B1 (en) * 1999-05-14 2001-07-10 Advanced Bionics Corporation Implantable cochlear stimulator system incorporating combination electrode/transducer
EP1145733A2 (fr) * 2000-04-13 2001-10-17 IMPLEX Aktiengesellschaft Hearing Technology Système au moins partiellement implantable de réhabilitation d'un trouble auditif
US6549814B1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2003-04-15 Juergen Strutz Blade electrode array for insertion under soft tissue of lateral wall of cochlea

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6259951B1 (en) * 1999-05-14 2001-07-10 Advanced Bionics Corporation Implantable cochlear stimulator system incorporating combination electrode/transducer
EP1145733A2 (fr) * 2000-04-13 2001-10-17 IMPLEX Aktiengesellschaft Hearing Technology Système au moins partiellement implantable de réhabilitation d'un trouble auditif
US6549814B1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2003-04-15 Juergen Strutz Blade electrode array for insertion under soft tissue of lateral wall of cochlea

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108712920A (zh) * 2016-03-09 2018-10-26 Koc大学 对肌肉位置识别和治疗反应增强有效的电刺激设备
CN108712920B (zh) * 2016-03-09 2022-05-24 斯多帕金森医疗系统有限责任公司 对肌肉位置识别和治疗反应增强有效的电刺激设备

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