Abstract: The output stage of a tissue stimulating apparatus, for example a cochlear implant prosthesis, operating at a low supply voltage (35) incorporates a multiplier circuit (54, 62, 63, 64) for ensuring that voltage compliance is maintained in the event that high intensity stimulations are required. The multiplier circuit makes use of compliance monitoring so that multiplication is only used as required. Also described is a method for operating a tissue stimulating apparatus incorporating a multiplier circuit.

Abstract: An implant such as a cochlear assembly, or other similar device, includes an elongated therapeutic member arranged and constructed to perform a therapeutic function. The therapeutic member has at least two configurations: an insertion and a deployed configuration. The first configuration is selected to ease the insertion of the member into a body cavity. A stiffening member is used to urge said therapeutic member toward said first configuration. The stiffening member is made of a bioresorbable material so that after insertion, the stiffening member dissolves and allows the therapeutic member to assume the second configuration.

Abstract: An improved pulsatile system for a cochlear prosthesis is disclosed. The system employs a multi-spectral peak coding strategy to extract a number, for example five, of spectral peaks from an incoming acoustic signal received by a microphone. It encodes this information into sequential pulses that are sent to selected electrodes of a cochlear implant. The first formant (F1) spectral peak (280-1000 Hz) and the second formant (F2) spectral peak (800-4000 Hz) are encoded and presented to apical and basal electrodes, respectively. F1 and F2 electrode selection follows the tonotopic organization of the cochlea. High-frequency spectral information is sent to more basal electrodes and low-frequency spectral information is sent to more apical electrodes. Spectral energy in the regions of 2000-2800 Hz, 2800-4000 Hz, and above 4000 Hz is encoded and presented to three fixed electrodes.

Abstract: An improved pulsatile system for a cochlear prosthesis is disclosed. The system employs a multi-spectral peak coding strategy to extract a number, for example five, of spectral peaks from an incoming acoustic signal received by a microphone. It encodes this information into sequential pulses that are sent to selected electrodes of a cochlear implant. The first formant (F1) spectral peak (280-1000 Hz) and the second formant (F2) spectral peak (800-4000 Hz) are encoded and presented to apical and basal electrodes, respectively. F1 and F2 electrode selection follows the tonotopic organization of the cochlea. High-frequency spectral information is sent to more basal electrodes and low-frequency spectral information is sent to more apical electrodes. Spectral energy in the regions of 2000-2800 Hz, 2800-4000 Hz, and above 4000 Hz is encoded and presented to three fixed electrodes.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode assembly and a method for affixing it to a bone in the ear. An electrode ball of unfixed turns is made from one end of each wire leading to the electronics part of the implant, a corresponding attachment hole is drilled in the bone, and the ball is affixed to the hole without the use of fixation devices by tapping the turns into the hole.