Patent US5277694A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5277694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids
Assignee: Implex AG Hearing Technology
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Filing: 1992-02-13
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Granted: 1994-01-11
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Expires: 2012-02-13
Abstract
Abstract Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids. The transducer has a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing, in which a wall is designed as a membrane that can oscillate, and which forms a heteromorphic connecting element together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk. Mechanical oscillations of the housing membrane are coupled to the middle ear or inner ear of the user by a mechanically rigid element attached in the central area of the membrane. This element is configured as a bow, so that in positioning the transducer housing from the direction of the mastoid adjoining the tympanic cavity, it acts as an artificial anvil to which coupling elements can be attached for mechanically transmitting oscillations of this artificial ossicle to the inner ear. Various coupling elements can be used, which correspond to the respective individual pathological situation. The application of the entire transducer system can be performed the operating surgeon having an unobstructed view, without extensive, space-creating interventions in the anatomical conditions of the middle ear.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Leysieffer
- 👤 Guenter Hortmann
- 👤 Joachim Baumann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/18; H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606; A61F2002/183; H04R2225/00; H04R2225/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical stimulation of the ear, comprising a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing having a housing wall that is formed of a membrane which, together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk that is attached on an inner side of the membrane, forms an electromechanically active heteromorphic connecting element, a mechanically rigid bow permanently attached on an outer side of the membrane, and connected to a mechanically rigid coupling element which is adapted to be connected on one of a middle ear ossicle and inner ear of a user; wherein the bow acts as a means for transmitting mechanical oscillations of the connecting element to the rigid coupling element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical stimulation of the ear, comprising a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing having a housing wall that is formed of a membrane which, together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk that is attached on an inner side of the membrane, forms an electromechanically active heteromorphic connecting element, a mechanically rigid bow permanently attached on an outer side of the membrane, and connected to a mechanically rigid coupling element which is adapted to be connected on one of a middle ear ossicle and inner ear of a user; wherein the bow acts as a means for transmitting mechanical oscillations of the connecting element to the rigid coupling element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the mechanically rigid bow is attached at least approximately at a center of the membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the transducer housing is formed by said membrane; and wherein said membrane is circular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein a lower part of the transducer housing has a stepped configuration for being positioned in an artificially created mastoid cavity adjoining the tympanic cavity in the antrum of the user with the membrane being near the middle ear ossicles of the user and a step of the stepped configuration of the housing is adapted to sit on a bony bottom of the mastoid cavity, so that the bow is adapted to be attached to said one of the middle ear and the inner ear with as free as possible a view by the operating surgeon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the transducer housing consists of biocompatible material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer housing at least partially is comprised of a metallic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 6, wherein the metallic material of the transducer housing is selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium, tantalum and their alloys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 5, wherein the transducer housing is produced at least partially from a bio-compatible ceramic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the membrane consists of biocompatible material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 9, wherein the material of the membrane is a metallic material selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium, tantalum and their alloys.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a circular cross section and has a diameter in the range of 6 to 13 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic disk is applied to an inner side of the membrane as an electromechanically active element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic disk is circular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic disk consists of lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the membrane and the thickness of the piezoelectric ceramic disk are approximately the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the membrane and the thickness of the piezoelectric ceramic disk are each in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the membrane has a radius that is greater than that of the piezoelectric ceramic disk by a factor of 1.2 to 2.0.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 17, wherein the radius of the membrane is greater than the radius of the piezoelectric ceramic disk by a factor of about 1.4.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein both the membrane and the housing are electrically conductive; wherein the piezoelectric ceramic disk is electrically connected with the membrane; and wherein the housing forms one of two electrical connections of the transducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 19, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic disk and the membrane are connected to one another by an electrically conductive bonding.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the bow for transmitting the membrane oscillations to the coupling element is generally L-shaped and is attached with a short leg in an area of the center of the membrane, and a long leg of the bow running at a distance from and approximately parallel to the membrane with an end of the long leg projecting a short distance beyond an outside edge of the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 21, wherein the short distance that the long leg projects beyond the outside edge of the housing is about 2 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the bow is produced from a material which is selected from the group consisting of a metallic solid, a hollow metal wire and a carbon fiber reinforced composite material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the bow is in the range of 0.25 to 1.00 mm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein a stirrup prosthesis is mechanically permanently attached to an oscillating distal end of the transducer bow for direct inner ear stimulation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein a sleeve is mechanically permanently attached to an oscillating distal end of the transducer bow by a wire hook, which is adapted to be mounted on the stirrup head of the user's ear for direct mechanical stimulation of the stirrup.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 26, wherein the sleeve is produced from a material which is selected from the material group consisting of polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene and hydroxylapatite.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 26, wherein the wire hook is formed of a metallic material which is selected from the material group consisting of platinum, platinum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, niobium, niobium alloys and high-grade steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein one hook part of a double hook is mechanically permanently attached to an oscillating distal end of the transducer bow and wherein the other hook part is adapted, in the manner of a stirrup prosthesis, to be looped around the long anvil projection of the wearer's ear to transmit the oscillations from the bow to the anvil of the wearer's ear.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 29, wherein the double hook is produced from a metallic material which is selected from the material group consisting of platinum, platinum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, niobium, niobium alloys and high-grade steel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical properties of an oscillatory system formed of the membrane, the bow and the coupling element are selected and matched as a means for causing the oscillatory system to have a first mechanical resonant frequency in the range of 6 to 12 kHz.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 31, wherein the mechanical properties of the oscillatory system is selected and matched so that its first mechanical resonant frequency is at about 10 kHz.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical properties of the membrane are selected so that a mechanical output impedance of the transducer is above a mechanical load impedance of the transducer when oscillations of the transducer are coupled to said one of the middle ear and the inner ear, and movement of the coupling element is load independent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, wherein for controlling a portion of sound energy radiated by oscillation of the membrane, a cover is locked on an upper side of the transducer housing; wherein said cover has a U-shaped slot with an output opening; and wherein the bow is received in said U-shaped slot.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 34, wherein the cover has at least one deformable clamp on its upper side with, said clamp being deformed after adaptively positioning the transducer housing in the user's ear as a means for providing a permanent and long-term stable attachment against a superimposed surface of an artificial mastoid cavity.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 35, wherein the clamp is wire-shaped and is produced from a material which is selected from the material group consisting of platinum, platinum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, niobium, niobium alloys and high-grade steel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 4, wherein an underside of the housing is coated with a bioactive layer adapted grow together with the bone of the bottom of the artificial mastoid cavity after positioning of the transducer in the user's ear as a means for assuring a long-term stable, mechanically permanent attaching of the transducer in the user's ear.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
64 words
Electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, comprising holding means consisting of a bioactive material adapted to grow together with the bone of the bottom of an artificial mastoid cavity as a means for assuring a long-term stable, mechanically permanent attaching of the holding means in the user's ear, said transducer housing being adapted to be mechanically solidly and replaceably attached to said holding means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-10 | 1997-07-12 | 1998-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-10 | 2001-07-12 | 2002-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-10 | 2005-07-12 | 2006-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |