The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 2014
Filed:
Sep. 24, 2010
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Andrew Xing, Bothell, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
Matthew D. Keller, Seattle, WA (US);
Bryan J. Norton, Seattle, WA (US);
James M. Owen, Redmond, WA (US);
Shuming Yuan, Bothell, WA (US);
Robert W. Royse, Kirkland, WA (US);
Charles A. Lemaire, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Andrew Xing, Bothell, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
Matthew D. Keller, Seattle, WA (US);
Bryan J. Norton, Seattle, WA (US);
James M. Owen, Redmond, WA (US);
Shuming Yuan, Bothell, WA (US);
Robert W. Royse, Kirkland, WA (US);
Charles A. Lemaire, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for optical- or optical-and-electrical stimulation of e.g., auditory nerve pathways, for example spiral ganglion in the cochlea or neurons in the cochlear nerve. Several configurations for guiding and directing the optical stimulation are disclosed. Several configurations for guiding and directing the electrical field (used in some embodiments, for sensitization) in and through the destination tissue to which the optical stimulation is directed are disclosed. In some embodiments, and array of IR VCSELs emit stimulation light, in particular to tissue in the cochlea for restoring hearing. In some embodiments, an electrical signal is also applied in a manner that reduces the amount of light in a pulse that is otherwise needed to elicit a NAP. In some embodiments, a heat dissipater is used to spread the heat generated by operation of the lasers and their circuits, to avoid heat damage to the tissue.