Cochlear implant electrode array including receptor and sensor

Abstract

A device including a cochlear implant electrode array and an apparatus configured to sense a phenomenon of fluid in a cochlea, wherein the apparatus and the electrode array are a single unit.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A hearing prosthesis, comprising:
 a receptor; and   a sensor in communication with the receptor, wherein   the receptor is remote from the sensor.   
     
     
         37 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the receptor is a pressure receptor; and   the sensor is a pressure sensor in communication with the pressure receptor.   
     
     
         38 . The prosthesis of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the receptor is spatially separated from the sensor such that the prosthesis is configured to receive pressure changes at a first anatomical cavity of the recipient and sense the changes outside of the first anatomical cavity, wherein the pressure receptor is in pressure communication with the pressure sensor.   
     
     
         39 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the sensor is a pressure sensor;   the receptor is a pressure receptor; and   the pressure sensor is in pressure communication with the pressure receptor.   
     
     
         40 . The prosthesis of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the pressure sensor and the pressure receptor are parts of a single unit.   
     
     
         41 . The prosthesis of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the prosthesis includes an intra-cochlear sub-section including the receptor; and   the prosthesis includes a middle-ear cavity sub-section including the sensor.   
     
     
         42 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the intra-cochlear sub-section includes an electrode.   
     
     
         43 . The prosthesis of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first anatomical cavity is a cochlea.   
     
     
         44 . The prosthesis of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the prosthesis further includes a cochlear implant electrode array; and   the pressure receptor, the pressure sensor and the cochlear implant electrode array are all part of a single unit.   
     
     
         45 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the receptor is configured to be inserted into and prosthetically remain in a human cochlea; and   the prosthesis is configured such that phenomenon received by the receptor is communicated without transduction to the sensor.   
     
     
         46 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the receptor is configured to react to energy originating from acoustic energy; and   the prosthesis is configured such that phenomenon received by the receptor is communicated without transduction to the sensor.   
     
     
         47 . The prosthesis of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the pressure communication is established via a fluid.   
     
     
         48 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the pressure communication is established via a closed volume extending from the intra-cochlear sub-section to the middle-ear cavity sub-section that is hermetically isolated from the environment.   
     
     
         49 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the intra-cochlear sub-section and the middle-ear cavity sub-section are parts of a single unit.   
     
     
         50 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the receptor is a hollow body including a diaphragm configured to deflect when exposed to pressure changes within a cochlea; and   the prosthesis is configured such that the deflection of the diaphragm transfers the pressure changes into fluid in the hollow body, thereby communicating the pressure changes to the sensor without transduction.   
     
     
         51 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 at least a portion of the receptor is configured to deform due to variations in pressure in an environment in which the intra-cochlear sub-section is located, thereby changing an internal pressure in the receptor, wherein the change in the internal pressure in the receptor is fluidically communicated to the sensor.   
     
     
         52 . The prosthesis of  claim 48 , wherein:
 the prosthesis is configured to automatically equalize a pressure in the closed volume with that of the environment in which the middle-ear cavity section is located.   
     
     
         53 . The prosthesis of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the pressure receptor is configured to react to a pressure differential in cochlea fluid.   
     
     
         54 . The prosthesis of  claim 41 , wherein:
 the receptor is a hollow body including at least 2 separate diaphragms configured to deflect when exposed to pressure changes present outside the intra-cochlear sub-section; and   the prosthesis is configured such that the deflection of the diaphragms transfers the pressure changes into fluid in the hollow body, thereby communicating the pressure changes to the sensor without transduction.   
     
     
         55 . The prosthesis of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the sensor and the receptor are parts of a single unit.   
     
     
         56 . The prosthesis of  claim 53 , wherein:
 the first anatomical cavity is a cochlea.   
     
     
         57 . The prosthesis of  claim 50 , wherein:
 the prosthesis further includes an electrode array; and   the sensor and the receptor and the electrode array are parts of a single unit.   
     
     
         58 . The prosthesis of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the pressure communication is established via a gas.   
     
     
         59 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the receptor is a hollow body including at least four separate diaphragms configured to deflect when exposed to the physical phenomenon; and   the prosthesis is configured such that energy received by the receptor is communicated without transduction to the sensor.   
     
     
         60 . The prosthesis of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the receptor is a hollow elongate body;   at least a lateral portion of the receptor is configured to deflect when exposed to the physical phenomenon, thereby communicating the physical phenomenon to the sensor without transduction; and   the prosthesis is configured such that energy received by the receptor is communicated without transduction to the sensor.