Variable impedance shunt for a tissue stimulating prosthesis

摘要

A method and apparatus for neural stimulation are disclosed. The principle is that a conventional current path is used to deliver the stimulus to neural structures, but an alternative current path is provided to bypass the neural structures during the opposite polarity part of the current flow. As a consequence, charge balance can be provided at the tissue/electrode interface, whilst delivering stimuli which are not charge balanced to the neural structures.

主权项

1. A tissue stimulating prosthesis implantable in a recipient to electrically stimulate a segment of the recipient's tissue with stimulating current, the prosthesis comprising:
a stimulator unit configured to generate the current signals; a first electrode configured to direct stimulation to the tissue; a second electrode positioned separate from the first electrode; and a variable impedance shunt disposed between the first electrode and second electrode; wherein the stimulator unit is further configured to selectively control the shunt impedance.