EP0263254A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable hearing aid
Assignee: MEDICAL DEVICES Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-07-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject. If the subject is anatomically normal he has a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibration in response to sound waves impinging thereon. Said method comprises the steps of: interrupting the ossicular chain to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and inner ear of a subject; and, surgically interposing an implant comprising input and output transducer means for mediating mechanical/ electrical signals, having controlled amplification characateristics, within the interrupted ossicular chain to bridge the interruption therein and form an independent link between said tympanic membrane and said inner ear.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Schaefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/04; H; H04; H04R; H04R17/00; H04R17/02; H04R17/025; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/18; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606; A61F2002/183; H04R2460/00; H04R2460/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject, said subject, if anatomically normal, having a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibration in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended for communicating mechanical vibrations from said tympanic membrane to said inner ear, said method comprising the steps of: interrupting the ossicular chain to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and inner ear of a subject; and, surgically interposing an implant comprising input and output transducer means for mediating mechanical/electrical signals, having controlled amplification characteristics, within the interrupted ossicular chain to bridge the interruption therein and form an independent link between said tympanic membrane and said inner ear; wherein said transducer means includes first transducer means operatively associated with said tympanic membrane for receiving mechanical tympanic vibrations therefrom and converting the same into electrical signals characteristic thereof, second transducer means operatively associated with said inner ear for receiving amplified electrical signals and converting the same into mechanical vibrations replicating said tympanic vibrations and transmission means for communicating between said first and second transducer means in lieu of said ossicular chain.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject, said subject, if anatomically normal, having a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibration in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended for communicating mechanical vibrations from said tympanic membrane to said inner ear, said method comprising the steps of: interrupting the ossicular chain to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and inner ear of a subject; and, surgically interposing an implant comprising input and output transducer means for mediating mechanical/electrical signals, having controlled amplification characteristics, within the interrupted ossicular chain to bridge the interruption therein and form an independent link between said tympanic membrane and said inner ear; wherein said transducer means includes first transducer means operatively associated with said tympanic membrane for receiving mechanical tympanic vibrations therefrom and converting the same into electrical signals characteristic thereof, second transducer means operatively associated with said inner ear for receiving amplified electrical signals and converting the same into mechanical vibrations replicating said tympanic vibrations and transmission means for communicating between said first and second transducer means in lieu of said ossicular chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of surgically interposing said implant comprises surgically implanting at least one piezoelectric film transducer in the middle ear of said subject.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of surgically interposing said implant comprises surgically implanting at least one piezoelectric crystal force transducer in the middle ear of said subject.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of surgically interposing said implant comprises surgically implanting at least one piezoelectric accelerometer in the middle ear of said subject.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of surgically interposing said implant comprises surgically implanting at least one electromagnetic transducer in the middle ear of said subject.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
An implantable apparatus for improving the hearing of a hearing impaired subject, said subject having a hearing apparatus which, if anatomically normal, comprises a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibrations in response to sound waves impinging thereon, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate said tympanic vibrations to the inner ear of said subject, said apparatus comprising input and output transducer means for mediating mechanical/ electrical signals having controlled amplification characteristics, configured for bridging disposition in an interrupted ossicular chain of a subject as an electro-mechanically independent link between the tympanic membrane and inner ear of said subject, comprised of first transducer means for operative association with said tympanic membrane for receiving mechanical tympanic vibrations therefrom and converting the same into electrical signals characteristic thereof, second transducer means for operative association with said inner ear for receiving said electrical signals and converting the same into mechanical vibrations replicating said tympanic vibrations and transmission means for communicating between said first and second transducer means in lieu of said ossicular chain or portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
An implantable apparatus for improving the hearing of a hearing impaired subject, said subject having a hearing apparatus which, if anatomically normal, comprises a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibrations in response to sound waves impinging thereon, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate said tympanic vibrations to the inner ear of said subject, said apparatus comprising input and output transducer means for mediating mechanical/ electrical signals having controlled amplification characteristics, configured for bridging disposition in an interrupted ossicular chain of a subject as an electro-mechanically independent link between the tympanic membrane and inner ear of said subject, comprised of first transducer means for operative association with said tympanic membrane for receiving mechanical tympanic vibrations therefrom and converting the same into electrical signals characteristic thereof, second transducer means for operative association with said inner ear for receiving said electrical signals and converting the same into mechanical vibrations replicating said tympanic vibrations and transmission means for communicating between said first and second transducer means in lieu of said ossicular chain or portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatu s of claim 6, wherein at least one of said transducer means is a piezoelectric film transducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said transducer means is a piezoelectric crystal force transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said transducer means is a piezoelectric accelerometer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said transducer means is an electromagnetic transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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