EP0242038A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Magnetic induction hearing aid
Assignee: ENT LLC
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Filing: 1987-03-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-06
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic induction hearing aid H where the microphone 20, the amplifying electronics 22, the battery 26 and a coil 28 are contained in a single housing 30 which is located deep in the ear canal 34. A magnet 32 is attached to portions of the middle ear by means of a malleus clip 60 or by implantation between the tympanic membrane 68 and the malleus 36. The magnet 32 is vibrated by interaction with the magnetic field produced by the coil 28. Two amplifier designs are disclosed for use with different levels of hearing loss. The magnet 32 can be coated with hydroxyapatite for permanent attachment to the body. The magnet 32 is coated with hydroxyapatite by an ion implantation process, a plasma spraying technique or a method of applying the hydroxyapatite while a precoating polymeric material has not fully solidified.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy D. Gooch
- 👤 Anthony D. Prescott
- 👤 Thomas W. Sander
- 👤 Jim Davidson
- 👤 Eric A. Renz
- 👤 Jorgan Heide
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A magnetic induction hearing aid, comprising: housing means with an outer surface shaped and dimensioned to fit entirely in an animal ear canal; microphone means located in said housing means for producing an electrical signal in response to received sound waves; amplifier means located in said housing means for amplifying said microphone means signal; electrical power means located in said housing means for powering said amplifier means; magnetic coil means located in said housing and driven by said amplifier means for producing a magnetic field indicative of the received sound waves; and magnet means affixed to a portion of the middle ear capable of receiving vibrations in response to movement of the magnet means; wherein the magnet means is induced into movement by the magnetic field produced by the coil means such that the magnet means produces movement of the middle ear indicative of the received sound waves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A magnetic induction hearing aid, comprising: housing means with an outer surface shaped and dimensioned to fit entirely in an animal ear canal; microphone means located in said housing means for producing an electrical signal in response to received sound waves; amplifier means located in said housing means for amplifying said microphone means signal; electrical power means located in said housing means for powering said amplifier means; magnetic coil means located in said housing and driven by said amplifier means for producing a magnetic field indicative of the received sound waves; and magnet means affixed to a portion of the middle ear capable of receiving vibrations in response to movement of the magnet means; wherein the magnet means is induced into movement by the magnetic field produced by the coil means such that the magnet means produces movement of the middle ear indicative of the received sound waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the magnet means includes means for connecting the magnet means to the tympanic membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the magnet means includes a malleous clip which is adapted to clip to the malleous of the middle ear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amplifier means comprises a class A amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amplifier means comprises a class P output stage and the coil means comprises a center tapped coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the longitudinal axis of coil is oriented at an angle to the plane of the magnet means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The hearing aid of claim 6, wherein said angle is 45 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the magnet means is formed of neodymium and iron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the magnet means includes an outer coating formed of hydroxyapatite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hearing aid of claim 9, further including a precoating material under the outer coating for sealing the magnet means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hearing aid of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the coil means comprises a high permeability core material and a plurality of turns of wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hearing aid of claim 11, wherein the core material is formed of mumetal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for coating a target material with hydroxyapatite, comprising the steps of: locating the target material in a vacuum chamber; electrostatically charging the target material; and locating a hydroxyapatite source material such that an electron beam collides with the source material and removes hydroxyapatite atoms from the source material and such that the removed hydroxyapatite atoms are attracted to the target material and are implanted in the target material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for coating a target material with hydroxyapatite, comprising the steps of: locating the target material in a vacuum chamber; electrostatically charging the target material; and locating a hydroxyapatite source material such that an electron beam collides with the source material and removes hydroxyapatite atoms from the source material and such that the removed hydroxyapatite atoms are attracted to the target material and are implanted in the target material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for coating a target material with hydroxyapatite, comprising the stens of: coating the target material with a biocompatible polymeric material in a molten state; allowing the polymeric material to partially solidify; depositing hydroxyapatite material on the partially solidified polymeric material; and allowing the polymeric material to fully solidify.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for coating a target material with hydroxyapatite, comprising the stens of: coating the target material with a biocompatible polymeric material in a molten state; allowing the polymeric material to partially solidify; depositing hydroxyapatite material on the partially solidified polymeric material; and allowing the polymeric material to fully solidify.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of pressing the hydroxyapatite material into the polymeric material after deposition on the polymeric material and prior to allowing the polymeric material to solidify.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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