US3870832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable electromagnetic hearing aid
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-07-29
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1994-07-29
Abstract
Abstract Problems of conventional hearing aids (low fidelity, poor frequency response and feedback) and of hearing aids employing implanted piezoelectric elements (high power requirements and microtrauma) are eliminated or attenuated by implanting a coil and magnet in the ear after removal of the incus, the magnet being fastened to the head of the stapes and the coil being energized by electrical signals from a sound transducer and producing a magnetic field which, interacting with the magnetic field of the magnet, causes movement of the stapes in the same manner as it normally is moved by the incus.
Inventors
- 👤 John M Fredrickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606; A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/07; A61B5/076; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/18; A61F2002/183; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof that are implanted in the ear of the user, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromagnetic transducer means for receiving said electrical signals and converting said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of the ear of the user, said electromagnetic transducer means being implantable in the ear of the user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bone of the user such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil of a size that permits it to be implanted in the middle ear spAce of the user, said coil being adapted to be implanted in the middle ear space of the ear of the user in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone moves as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implantable support means for said coil, said support means being adapted to be secured to a bone that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof that are implanted in the ear of the user, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromagnetic transducer means for receiving said electrical signals and converting said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of the ear of the user, said electromagnetic transducer means being implantable in the ear of the user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bone of the user such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil of a size that permits it to be implanted in the middle ear spAce of the user, said coil being adapted to be implanted in the middle ear space of the ear of the user in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone moves as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implantable support means for said coil, said support means being adapted to be secured to a bone that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
269 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof that are implanted in the ear of the user, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromagnetic transducer means for receiving said electrical signals and converting said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of the ear of the user, said electromagnetic transducer means being implantable in the ear of the user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bone of the user such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil of a size that permits it to be implanted in the middle ear spAce of the user, said coil being adapted to be implanted in the middle ear space of the ear of the user in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone moves as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implantable support means for said coil, said support means being adapted to be secured to a bone that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
269 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof that are implanted in the ear of the user, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromagnetic transducer means for receiving said electrical signals and converting said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of the ear of the user, said electromagnetic transducer means being implantable in the ear of the user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bone of the user such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil of a size that permits it to be implanted in the middle ear spAce of the user, said coil being adapted to be implanted in the middle ear space of the ear of the user in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone moves as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implantable support means for said coil, said support means being adapted to be secured to a bone that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said sound transducer means comprises a microphone, an amplifier and a battery.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
A hearing aid according to claim 2 further including a socket having electrical terminals therein, means electrically connecting said sound transducer means and said coil, said means electrically connecting said sound transducer means and said coil including implantable conductors connected to said terminals and to said coil for supplying said electrical signals to said coil, said socket being adapted to be located behind the ear of the user and secured to bone of the user thereat, a housing for said microphone, amplifier and battery, said housing having output terminals for said electrical signals, said housing being adapted for reception by said socket with said terminals of said socket electrically contacting said output terminals of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A hearing aid according to claim 3 wherein said socket is externally threaded to threadably engage in a tapped opening in said bone behind the ear of the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said means for securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bone of the user comprises a non tissue toxic cement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said means for securing said magnet to the head of the stapes bones comprises a holder for said magnet, said holder being adapted for attachment to the head of the stapes bone of the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hearing aid according to claim 1 including means for securing said support means to a bone that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hearing aid according to claim 7 wherein said means for securing said support means comprises a non tissue toxic cement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
262 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof implanted in an ear of the user from which the incus has been removed, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromechanical transducer means adapted to receive said electrical signals and convert said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of said ear of said user, said electromechanical transducer means being implanted in said ear of said user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of said stapes bone such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil implanted in the middle ear space of said ear in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone is moved as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implanted support means for said coil for holding said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space, and means for securing said support means to a bone of said user that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middLe ear space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
262 words
A hearing aid having certain components thereof implanted in an ear of the user from which the incus has been removed, said hearing aid comprising sound transducer means for converting audio signals to electrical signals and electromechanical transducer means adapted to receive said electrical signals and convert said electrical signals into mechanical movement of the stapes bone of said ear of said user, said electromechanical transducer means being implanted in said ear of said user and comprising a magnet, means for firmly securing said magnet to the head of said stapes bone such that said magnet and said stapes bone move as a unit without relative movement therebetween when said magnet is attracted by a magnetic field and a coil implanted in the middle ear space of said ear in close proximity to said magnet, said coil when energized by said electrical signals producing a magnetic field in which said magnet is located, said coil and said magnet being positioned with respect to each other such that upon energization of said coil said stapes bone is moved as a result of the interaction between the magnetic field of said magnet and said magnetic field of said coil in the same manner as said stapes bone normally is moved by the incus bone, said hearing aid also including implanted support means for said coil for holding said coil in a fixed position in said middle ear space, and means for securing said support means to a bone of said user that holds said coil in a fixed position in said middLe ear space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |