US3882285A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable hearing aid and method of improving hearing
Assignee: MEDICAL DEVICES GROUP Inc A CORP OF WIS
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Filing: 1973-10-09
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1993-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained hearing device made of components compatible with the human body is provided which is implanted in a hollowedout portion of the skull adjacent the ear canal. A microphone port is connected with the ear canal for receiving sound that enters the ear and transforming it to energies which are transmitted by a direct connection to the ossicular chain or to other mechanical movable portions of the middle ear. A method of improving hearing is provided wherein a parallel hearing path is provided to augment the normal hearing path.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Nunley
- 👤 Jeremy A Agnew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A self-contained implantable hearing device for positioning in a hollowed-out portion of the skull adjacent to the ear canal to provide a sound path parallel to the normal sound path to improve hearing, said unit comprising: transducer means positionable adjacent the ear canal for receiving audio signals entering the ear canal and converting them to electrical signals; means for connecting said transducer means with the ear canal for transmission of the audio signal from the ear canal to said transducer means for transmission along a path parallel to the ear canal; amplifier means coupled to said transducer means adjacent the ear canal for amplifying the electrical signal produced by said transducer means along said parallel path; transmitter means coupled to said amplifier means adjacent the ear canal for converting the electrical signal to a mechanical response; and mechanical response means coupled to said transmitter means adjacent the ear canal and connectable to a mechanical drive structure within the ear to complete said parallel path and to provide a mechanical movement of the structure in response to an acoustical signal received by said transducer, which augments and supports any signal produced by the transmission of sounds through the normal sound path of the ear to provide improved hearing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A self-contained implantable hearing device for positioning in a hollowed-out portion of the skull adjacent to the ear canal to provide a sound path parallel to the normal sound path to improve hearing, said unit comprising: transducer means positionable adjacent the ear canal for receiving audio signals entering the ear canal and converting them to electrical signals; means for connecting said transducer means with the ear canal for transmission of the audio signal from the ear canal to said transducer means for transmission along a path parallel to the ear canal; amplifier means coupled to said transducer means adjacent the ear canal for amplifying the electrical signal produced by said transducer means along said parallel path; transmitter means coupled to said amplifier means adjacent the ear canal for converting the electrical signal to a mechanical response; and mechanical response means coupled to said transmitter means adjacent the ear canal and connectable to a mechanical drive structure within the ear to complete said parallel path and to provide a mechanical movement of the structure in response to an acoustical signal received by said transducer, which augments and supports any signal produced by the transmission of sounds through the normal sound path of the ear to provide improved hearing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An implantable hearing device unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanical response means includes: an elongated rigid element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable hearing device unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitter means is: a piezo-electric crystal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An implantable hearing device unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said mechanical response means is connected to the ossicular chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An implantable hearing device unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said mechanical response means is connected to the stapes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An implantable hearing device unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said mechanical response means is connected to the oval window.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
216 words
A self-contained implantable hearing device for positioning in a hollowed-out portion of the skull adjacent to the ear canal to provide a sound path parallel to the normal sound path to improve hearing, said unit comprising: transducer means positionable adjacent the ear canal for receiving audio signals entering the ear canal and converting them to electrical signals; means for connecting said transducer means with the ear canal for transmission of the audio signal from the ear canal to said transducer means for transmission along a path parallel to the ear canal; amplifier means coupled to said transducer means adjacent the ear canal for amplifying the electrical signal produced by said transducer means along said parallel path; a piezo-electric crystal connected to said amplifier means adjacent the ear canal and providing a mechanical response proportional to the electrical signal from said amplifier means; and an elongated rigid element having one end connected to said piezo-electrical crystal adjacent the ear canal and the other end connectable to the ossicular chain to complete said parallel path and to provide a mechanical movement of the structure in response to an acoustical signal received by said transducer means, which augments and supports any signal produced by the transmission of sound through normal sound path of the ear to provide improved hearing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
216 words
A self-contained implantable hearing device for positioning in a hollowed-out portion of the skull adjacent to the ear canal to provide a sound path parallel to the normal sound path to improve hearing, said unit comprising: transducer means positionable adjacent the ear canal for receiving audio signals entering the ear canal and converting them to electrical signals; means for connecting said transducer means with the ear canal for transmission of the audio signal from the ear canal to said transducer means for transmission along a path parallel to the ear canal; amplifier means coupled to said transducer means adjacent the ear canal for amplifying the electrical signal produced by said transducer means along said parallel path; a piezo-electric crystal connected to said amplifier means adjacent the ear canal and providing a mechanical response proportional to the electrical signal from said amplifier means; and an elongated rigid element having one end connected to said piezo-electrical crystal adjacent the ear canal and the other end connectable to the ossicular chain to complete said parallel path and to provide a mechanical movement of the structure in response to an acoustical signal received by said transducer means, which augments and supports any signal produced by the transmission of sound through normal sound path of the ear to provide improved hearing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of improving hearing by providing a sound path parallel to the normal sound path for reproducing sound and augmenting the sound entering an ear canal, including the steps of: implanting a hearing device in the skull bone adjacent the ear canal, wherein said hearing device includes in series a microphone, an amplifier circuit, and a mechanical output responsive to an audio signal received by the microphone; connecting the microphone in audio communication wIth the ear canal; and connecting the mechanical output of the hearing device to a mechanical drive structure within the ear so that sound entering the ear can pass along a parallel path through said hearing device to augment sound passing along the normal path.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of improving hearing by providing a sound path parallel to the normal sound path for reproducing sound and augmenting the sound entering an ear canal, including the steps of: implanting a hearing device in the skull bone adjacent the ear canal, wherein said hearing device includes in series a microphone, an amplifier circuit, and a mechanical output responsive to an audio signal received by the microphone; connecting the microphone in audio communication wIth the ear canal; and connecting the mechanical output of the hearing device to a mechanical drive structure within the ear so that sound entering the ear can pass along a parallel path through said hearing device to augment sound passing along the normal path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connecting of the mechanical output is made to the ossicular chain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection of the mechanical output is to the stapes.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |