Glen A Griffith

US Patent:

6542777, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Jan 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/766290

Inventors:

Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA
Janusz A. Kuzma - Englewood CO
Tae W. Hahn - Northridge CA

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

A61N 140

US Classification:

607 57, 607 61, 607137, 607 33, 607 36, 607 60

Abstract:

A spiral shield for an implantable secondary coil confines the electrical field of the coil, and thus prevents capacitive coupling of the coil through surrounding dielectrics (such as human tissue. ) Known implantable devices receive power inductively, through a secondary coil, from a primary coil in an external device. Efficient power reception requires that the coils be tuned to the same resonant frequency. Use of the spiral shield results in predictable electrical behavior of the secondary coil and permits the secondary coil to be accurately tuned to the same resonate frequency as the primary coil. To further improve performance, spacers made from SILBIONEÂLSR 70 reside between turns of the coil to reduce turn to turn and turn to shield capacitances. Reducing the capacitances prevents excessive reduction of the self resonant frequency of the coil. The coil is imbedded in SILBIONEÂLSR 70, allowing for a thin and flexible coil.

US Patent:

6745077, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Oct 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/975042

Inventors:

Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA
Tae W. Hahn - Northridge CA

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Sylmar CA

International Classification:

A61N 108

US Classification:

607 61

Abstract:

A fixed frequency external power source having an external coil is inductively coupled with an implanted coil of an implanted medical device. The implant device has an electronic impedance transformer as part of its load circuit. Such electronic impedance transformer sets a proper voltage and current ratio (impedance) so that the coil set, i. e. , the external coil and the implanted coil, are loaded with an optimal load. Such optimal loading, in turn, significantly minimizes any mismatch loss from the inductive link between the external coil and the implant coil, and allows wide ranges in the voltage and load resistance and coil separation, while at the same time maintaining an optimal load condition. The impedance transformer is especially applicable to fully implantable cochlear stimulation systems wherein, during one mode of operation, a relatively large power level must be transferred for charging the implanted power storage element, e. g. , a rechargeable battery, but wherein another mode of operation, the implant is operated and powered from an external unit and a relatively small power level is transferred to the implant device.

US Patent:

6826430, Nov 30, 2004

Filed:

Mar 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/823271

Inventors:

Michael A. Faltys - Northridge CA
Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA
William Vanbrooks Harrison - Valencia CA

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valencia CA

International Classification:

A61B 105

US Classification:

607137, 607 57

Abstract:

A fully implantable cochlear prosthesis includes (1) an implantable hermetically sealed case wherein electronic circuitry, including a battery and an implantable microphone, are housed, (2) an active electrode array that provides a programmable number of electrode contacts through which stimulation current may be selectively delivered to surrounding tissue, preferably through the use of appropriate stimulation groups, and (3) a connector that allows the active electrode array to be detachably connected with the electronic circuitry within the sealed case. The active electrode array provides a large number of both medial and lateral contacts, any one of which may be selected to apply a stimulus pulse through active switching elements included within the array. The active switching elements included within the array operate at a very low compliance voltage, thereby reducing power consumption. The entire prosthesis is very efficient from a power consumption standpoint, thereby allowing a smaller battery to power the system for longer periods of time before recharging or replacement is required.

US Patent:

6842647, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Oct 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/981252

Inventors:

Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA, US
Michael A. Faltys - Northridge CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valoncia CA

International Classification:

A61N 108

US Classification:

607 57, 607 60

Abstract:

An implantable neural stimulation system, such as an auditory Fully Implantable System (FIS), includes: (1) an implanted device capable of providing desired tissue or nerve stimulation; and (2) a remote control unit that provides a mechanism for readily controlling the implant device, i. e. , for selectively adjusting certain stimulation parameters associated with the tissue stimulation of the implanted device. The remote control unit uses a first signal path to send signals to the implant device, and a second signal path to receive signals from the implant device. The combination of these two signal paths provides a full-duplex channel between the remote control unit and the implant device through which air appropriate control and status signals may be sent and received. In one embodiment, the first signal path comprises an audio signal path through which audio control signals, e. g. , a tone sequence or a 32-bit word FSK modulated between 300 and 1200 Hz, are sent; and the second signal path comprises a RF signal path through which a BPSK, QPSK or FM modulated RF signal is received.

US Patent:

6980864, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/624724

Inventors:

Michael A. Faltys - Northridge CA, US
Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA, US
William Vanbrooks Harrison - Valencia CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valencia CA

International Classification:

A61N001/375

US Classification:

607116, 607137, 607 57

Abstract:

A fully implantable cochlear prosthesis includes (1) an implantable hermetically sealed case wherein electronic circuitry, including a battery and an implantable microphone, are housed, (2) an active electrode array that provides a programmable number of electrode contacts through which stimulation current may be selectively delivered to surrounding tissue, preferably through the use of appropriate stimulation groups, and (3) a connector that allows the active electrode array to be detachably connected with the electronic circuitry within the sealed case. The active electrode array provides a large number of both medial and lateral contacts, any one of which may be selected to apply a stimulus pulse through active switching elements included within the array. The active switching elements included within the array operate at a very low compliance voltage, thereby reducing power consumption. The entire prosthesis is very efficient from a power consumption standpoint, thereby allowing a smaller battery to power the system for longer periods of time before recharging or replacement is required.

US Patent:

7043304, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Nov 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/999748

Inventors:

Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA, US
Michael A. Faltys - Northridge CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valencia CA

International Classification:

A61N 1/32

US Classification:

607 57, 607 60

Abstract:

A method of controlling an implantable neural stimulation system, such as an auditory Fully Implantable System (FIS), uses a first signal path to send signals to the implant device, and a second signal path to receive signals from the implant device. The combination of these two signal paths provides a full-duplex channel between the remote control unit and the implant device through which appropriate control and status signals may be sent and received. In one embodiment, the first signal path comprises an audio signal path through which audio control signals, e. g. , a tone sequence or a 32-bit word FSK modulated between 300 and 1200 Hz, are sent; and the second signal path comprises a RF signal path through which a BPSK, QPSK or FM modulated RF signal is received. The full-duplex channel allows operation of the remote control unit, i. e. , allows signals to be successfully sent to and received from the implant device, from as far away as 45–60 cm from the implant device.

US Patent:

7092763, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Nov 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/999778

Inventors:

Glen A Griffith - Newbury Park CA, US
Michael A Faltys - Northridge CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valencia CA

International Classification:

A61N 1/08

US Classification:

607 60, 607 57

Abstract:

An implantable neural stimulation system, such as an auditory Fully Implantable System (FIS), includes: (1) an implanted device capable of providing desired tissue or nerve stimulation; and (2) a remote control unit that provides a mechanism for readily controlling the implant device. The remote control unit uses a first signal path to send signals to the implant device, and a second signal path to receive signals from the implant device. The combination of these two signal paths provides a full-duplex channel between the remote control unit and the implant device through which appropriate control and status signals may be sent and received. In one embodiment, the first signal path comprises an audio signal path through which audio control signals, e. g. , a tone sequence or a 32-bit word FSK modulated between 300 and 1200 Hz, are sent; and the second signal path comprises a RF signal path through which a BPSK, QPSK or FM modulated RF signal is received. The full-duplex channel allows operation of the remote control unit, i. e.

US Patent:

7212866, May 1, 2007

Filed:

Jan 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/763843

Inventors:

Glen A. Griffith - Newbury Park CA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Bionics Corporation - Valencia CA

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 60, 607 55, 607 57, 128903

Abstract:

A repeater device allows a remote unit to control, program and/or monitor a medical implant device from a much further distance than has heretofore been possible. Such repeater device also facilitates transmitting other signals, i. e. , other than control signals, to the medical implant device, such as, e. g. , streaming audio, or other auxiliary input data. In one embodiment, the repeater device also allows status signals or sensed data originating within the medical implant device to be transmitted from the medical implant device through the repeater device to the remote unit, even though the remote unit may be located some distance, e. g. , up to 200 feet, from the medical implant device. Such transmitted signals when received at the remote unit may be processed, analyzed, stored, monitored and/or displayed.