US 11,986,656 B2
Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods
Sung Jin Lee, Valencia, CA (US); Jeryle L. Walter, Valencia, CA (US); James George Elcoate Smith, Valencia, CA (US); Uli Gommel, Valencia, CA (US); and Stephanie M. Reed, Conshohocken, PA (US)
Assigned to Advanced Bionics AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed by ADVANCED BIONICS AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/965,580.
Application 17/965,580 is a continuation of application No. 17/008,291, filed on Aug. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,476,025.
Application 17/008,291 is a continuation of application No. 16/009,600, filed on Jun. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,821,279, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 16/009,600 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2016/056351, filed on Oct. 11, 2016.
Application PCT/US2016/056351 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2015/066862, filed on Dec. 18, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0061335 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/375 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/372 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36038 (2017.08) [A61N 1/3758 (2013.01); H01F 7/02 (2013.01); H01F 7/0205 (2013.01); A61N 1/0541 (2013.01); A61N 1/37229 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cochlear implant, comprising:
a cochlear lead including a plurality of electrodes;
an antenna;
a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna and to the cochlear lead;
a flexible housing defining a magnet pocket;
a hermetically sealed case located within the magnet pocket and defining a central axis;
a frame located within the hermetically sealed case, rotatable relative to the hermetically sealed case about the central axis, and including a first magnet receptacle and a second magnet receptacle that is spaced from the first magnet receptacle in a direction perpendicular to the central axis; and
a first elongate diametrically magnetized magnet located in the first magnet receptacle and a second elongate diametrically magnetized magnet located in the second magnet receptacle, the first and second magnets each defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being rotatable about its respective longitudinal axis relative to the frame.
 
15. An assembly, comprising:
a hermetically sealed case defining a central axis;
a frame located within the hermetically sealed case, rotatable relative to the hermetically sealed case about the central axis, and including a first magnet receptacle and a second magnet receptacle that is spaced from the first magnet receptacle in a direction perpendicular to the central axis; and
a first elongate diametrically magnetized magnet located in the first magnet receptacle and a second elongate diametrically magnetized magnet located in the second magnet receptacle, the first and second magnets each defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being rotatable about its respective longitudinal axis relative to the frame.