A radio-linked cochlear prosthesis utilizing SAW filterbanks

Abstract

A micropower, transcutaneous data link has been developed to replace the transdermal connector plug in contemporary use with the implanted cochlear electrode arrays and associated external speech processors recently offered for some postlingually deaf individuals. The completely analog 72-78-MHz radio-linked system described utilizes specially designed and developed miniature, six-channel filterbanks for frequency-division multiplexing and frequency-division demultiplexing at the transmitter and receiver respectively. The need for a very small SAW (surface acoustic wave) filter and filterbank was the impetus for the development of the miniature filterbank system.<>