IMPLANTABLE AUDITORY STIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH OFFSET IMPLANTED MICROPHONES

摘要

An improved implantable auditory stimulation system includes two or more implanted microphones for transcutaneous detection of acoustic signals. Each of the implanted microphones provides an output signal. The microphone output signals may be combinatively utilized by an implanted processor to generate a signal for driving an implanted auditory stimulation device. The implanted microphones may be located at offset subcutaneous locations and/or may be provided with different design sensitivities, wherein combinative processing of the microphone output signals may yield an improved drive signal. In one embodiment, the microphone signal may be processed for beamforming and/or directionality purposes.

主权项

1. An implantable auditory stimulation system, comprising:
a plurality of microphones, including at least a first microphone, operative to transcutaneously receive acoustic signals and generate a first microphone output signal in response thereto, and a second microphone operative to transcutaneously receive acoustic signals and generate a second output signal in response thereto; a processor, operatively interconnected to said first microphone and to said second microphone, adapted to use said first microphone output signal and said second microphone output signal to generate a drive signal; and, an implantable auditory stimulation device, operatively interconnected to said processor, adapted to stimulate an auditory system of a patient in response to said drive signal, wherein said first microphone has a different performance capability than said second microphone.