MAGNETLESS IMPLANTABLE STIMULATOR AND EXTERNAL TRANSMITTER AND IMPLANT TOOLS FOR ALIGNING SAME

摘要

An implantable receiver (12) is powered and controlled by an external (not-implanted) transmitter (14) when a transmitter coil (22) is properly aligned with a receiver coil (20). No magnets are used in either the transmitter or receiver to achieve and maintain the needed alignment. Rather, a special set of implant tools (50) are used to assure that alignment is achieved and maintained between the implantable receiver (12) and external transmitter (14) when the implant operation is carried out. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a magnetless implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) (40) and a corresponding magnetless headpiece (30) worn behind the ear.