Johns Hopkins University

Advanced Bionics Corporation

Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Charles Coleman Della Santina

Gene Y Fridman

Bryce Chiang

Michael Allen Faltys

Americo A Migliaccio

Martin Zimmerling

Andreas G Andreou

Roland Hessler

Carolyn Garnham

Michael C Schubert

Andreas Jäger

Zaven Kalayjian

Hamish MacDougall

Andreas Marx

Julius Georgiou

Tjen Sin Lie

Gene Yevgeny Fridman

Andreas Jager

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a device and method to deliver direct ionic current safely to target neural tissue, while also eliminating interruptions in the output of the device that can result from the non-ideal operation of the valves used to control the current flow in the device. The device includes two valve-operated systems that work in tandem. The first and second current producing systems are configured to be used together in order to eliminate the periodic interruptions in current flow. In use, one system drives current through the target tissue, while the other system closes all of the valves first and then opens its valves in sequence. This intermediate step of closing all of the valves prevents unintended current shunts through either system. The device also includes two conductors to direct the flow of direct current into the target tissue.

Artifact control and miniaturization of the safe direct current stimulator for neural prostheses

A system to improve vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) includes a display device; a head motion detector, the head motion detector being configured to detect at least one of a first angular rotational rate of a subject's head or a first acceleration of said subject's head in a first direction; a signal conditioner in communication with the head motion detector; a first gain control in communication with the signal conditioner; a second gain control in communication with the signal conditioner; a motion controller in communication with the display device and the first gain control and the second gain control; and a head motion-inducing device configured to induce a head motion on the subject. The head motion-inducing device includes a motor configured to rotate a head of the subject based on an instruction produced by a data processor.

System for diagnosis and therapy of gaze stability

A vestibular stimulation electrode lead is described for conducting electrical stimulation signals generated by an implanted vestibular stimulation module. An extra-vestibular lead branch carries the stimulation signals from the stimulation module to a vestibular entry location. A stopper collar is bent away at a first discrete angle from a distal end of the extra-vestibular lead branch to penetrate into a vestibular structure at the entry location. An intra-vestibular electrode array is bent away at a second discrete angle from the stopper collar and has an outer surface with one or more electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to vestibular neural tissue at a target location within the vestibular structure. The first and second discrete angles form a geometry of the stopper collar and intra-vestibular electrode array that limits insertion of the intra-vestibular electrode array beyond the target location within the vestibular structure.

Vestibular stimulation electrode

An implantable nerve stimulation device has a sensor system, a data processor in communication with the sensor system, and a nerve stimulation system in communication with the data processor and constructed to provide electrical stimulation to at least one branch of at least one vestibulocochlear nerve. The nerve stimulation system includes an electrode array that has a first plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a superior branch of the vestibular nerve, a second plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a horizontal branch of the vestibular nerve, a third plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a posterior branch of the vestibular nerve, and a common crus reference electrode structured to be surgically implanted into a common crus of the vestibular labyrinth.

Implantable vestibular prosthesis

An implantable nerve stimulation device has a sensor system, a data processor in communication with the sensor system, and a nerve stimulation system in communication with the data processor and constructed to provide electrical stimulation to at least one branch of at least one vestibulocochlear nerve. The nerve stimulation system includes an electrode array that has a first plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a superior branch of the vestibular nerve, a second plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a horizontal branch of the vestibular nerve, a third plurality of electrodes structured to be surgically implanted in electrical communication with a posterior branch of the vestibular nerve, and a common erus reference electrode structured to be surgically implanted into a common eras of the vestibular labyrinth.

A multichannel vestibular prosthesis includes a sensor system and a microcontroller configured to communicate with the sensor system to receive sensor signals from the sensor system while in operation. The microcontroller is configured to provide control signals in response to the sensor signals. The multichannel vestibular prosthesis also includes a neuroelectronic interface integrated circuit configured to communicate with the microcontroller to receive the control signals, and a plurality of electrodes electrically connected to the neuroelectronic interface integrated circuit. The neuroelectronic interface integrated circuit includes a digital controller configured to communicate with the microcontroller, a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to communicate with the digital controller, and a plurality of analog current control circuits, each constructed to communicate with a respective one of the plurality of digital-to-analog converters. Each of the plurality of analog current control circuits can be electrically connected directly or under software control to a respective one of a plurality of electrodes for delivering electrical stimuli to at least one vestibular nerve, and the digital controller is configured to control amplitudes, frequencies, polarities and durations of currents to be delivered to any combination of the plurality of electrical leads.

High-voltage CMOS neuroelectronic interface for a multichannel vestibular prosthesis

A novel vestibular implant system is described. An implantable vestibular stimulator provides vestibular stimulation signals to stimulate target neural tissue for vestibular sensation by a patient. One or more motion sensors are controllably powered by the vestibular implant system and develop a motion signal reflecting head motion of an implant patient. The vestibular stimulator includes at least two different operating modes: i. a sensor controlled mode wherein the motion sensor is powered and the vestibular stimulation signal is developed as a dependent function of the motion signal, and ii. a sensor independent mode wherein the motion sensor is unpowered and the vestibular stimulation signals, if any, are developed independently of the motion signal.

Implantable vestibular prosthesis system with power saving mode including soft start and soft power-down

The invention relates to systems and methods for testing vestibular and oculomotor function. One aspect of the invention provides a vestibular and oculomotor function testing device including a track supported by a plurality of bearings, an engine configured to selectively displace the track, and a head coupling component coupled to the track. The head coupling component is configured to convey a movement generated by the engine to a subject's head in one or more axes.

Systems and methods for testing vestibular and oculomotor function

A system for treating patients affected both by hearing loss and by balance disorders related to vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source, and an implantable electrical stimulator capable of stimulating areas of the cochlea and areas of the vestibular system.

Dual cochlear/vestibular stimulator with control signals derived from motion and speech signals

A device for measuring the three-dimensional movements of an eye includes: (a) a mark array that identifies prescribed positions on the eye whose movements are to be measured, (b) a digital camera for capturing the two-dimensional images of this marker array as the eye is moved, (c) a light source that illuminates the marker array with an output that is outside the spectral range of the camera, (d) light source that are used to align the camera's optical axis with the center of the eye, (e) an algorithm for computing the three-dimensional positions of the marker array from the information contained in the captured digital images , and (f) a base for fixing the position of the camera relative to the position of the eye, wherein the materials of the marker array are chosen so that the array has the ability to, when illuminated as described above, give off energy that is in the spectral range of the device's camera.

Growing community of inventors

Towson, MD, United States of America

Charles Coleman Della Santina