US5624376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable and external hearing systems having a floating mass transducer
Assignee: Vibrant Med El Hearing Technology GmbH
•
Filing: 1995-01-03
•
Granted: 1997-04-29
•
Expires: 2015-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A floating mass transducer for improving hearing in a hearing impaired person is provided. The floating mass transducer (100) may be implanted or mounted externally for producing vibrations in a vibratory structure of an ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is fixed to an ossicle of a middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The vibrations of the housing are conducted to the oval window of the ear via the ossicles. In alternate embodiments, the floating mass transducer produces vibrations using piezoelectric materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey R. Ball
- 👤 James M. Culp
- 👤 Craig Mar
- 👤 Tim Dietz
- 👤 John D. Salisbury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R11/00; H04R11/02; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for improving hearing, comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a vibratory structure of an ear; a mass mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the mass vibrates relative to the housing in direct response to an externally generated electrical signal; and whereby vibration of the mass causes inertial vibration of the housing in order to stimulate the vibratory structure of the ear.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
An apparatus for improving hearing, comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a vibratory structure of an ear; a mass mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the mass vibrates relative to the housing in direct response to an externally generated electrical signal; and whereby vibration of the mass causes inertial vibration of the housing in order to stimulate the vibratory structure of the ear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass includes a magnet which generates a first magnetic field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a coil disposed within the housing; and leads connected to the coil that deliver the signal to the coil, the signal being an alternating current which causes the coil to generate a second magnetic field; wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second magnetic field to cause the magnet to vibrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a first coil disposed within the housing on a first side of the magnet; a second coil disposed within the housing on a second side of the magnet; and leads connected to the first and second coils that deliver the signal to the coils, the signal being an alternating current which causes the first coil to generate a second magnetic field and the second coil to generate a third magnetic field; wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second and third magnetic fields to cause the magnet to vibrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass includes a coil and the apparatus further comprises leads connected to the coil that deliver the signal to the coil, the signal being an alternating current which causes the coil to generate a first magnetic field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the mass includes a flexible diaphragm, the coil being coupled to the flexible diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a magnet disposed within the housing which generates a second magnetic field and wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second magnetic field to cause the coil to vibrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mass includes a piezoelectric assembly and the apparatus further comprises leads connected to the piezoelectric assembly that deliver the signal to the piezoelectric assembly, the signal being an alternating current which causes the piezoelectric assembly to vibrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric assembly is disposed within the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises: a piezoelectric material having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the housing; and a weight coupled to the second end of the piezoelectric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a piezoelectric bimorph.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a plurality of piezoelectric strips having a same polarity, each of the piezoelectric strips having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to the weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a stack of piezoelectric strips having a same polarity, the stack having a first piezoelectric strip coupled to the housing and a second piezoelectric strip coupled to the weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the mass includes a flexible diaphragm, the piezoelectric assembly being coupled to the flexible diaphragm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting mechanism for mounting the housing on the vibratory structure, wherein the mounting mechanism is a clip, glue, adhesive, velcro, suture, screw, or spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a hole passing therethrough, whereby the housing is adapted to be positioned around an ossicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ossicular prosthesis adapted to be coupled to the housing and positioned between a tympanic membrane and an ossicle of the middle ear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ossicular prosthesis adapted to be coupled to the housing and positioned between two ossicles of the middle ear.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ossicular prosthesis adapted to be coupled to the housing and positioned between an ossicle and an oval window of the middle ear.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ossicular prosthesis adapted to be coupled to the housing and positioned between a tympanic membrane and an oval window of the middle ear.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a pickup coil that receives the signal; and leads coupled to the pickup coil and the mass, the signal transmitted from the pickup coil to the mass via the leads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the apparatus adapted to be placed in an ear canal such that the housing is in contact with a tympanic membrane.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a demodulator chip coupled to the leads.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of improving hearing, comprising the steps of: mounting a housing on a vibratory structure of the ear, wherein the housing is mechanically coupled to an inertial mass which vibrates relative to the housing in response to an externally generated electrical signal; and coupling the inertial mass to a microphone which produces the electrical signal in response to ambient sound.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of improving hearing, comprising the steps of: mounting a housing on a vibratory structure of the ear, wherein the housing is mechanically coupled to an inertial mass which vibrates relative to the housing in response to an externally generated electrical signal; and coupling the inertial mass to a microphone which produces the electrical signal in response to ambient sound.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising a mounting mechanism for mounting the housing on the vibratory structure, wherein the mounting mechanism is a clip, glue, adhesive, velcro, suture, screw, or spring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: connecting the housing to an ossicular prosthesis; and positioning the ossicular prosthesis between a tympanic membrane and an ossicle of a middle ear.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: connecting the housing to an ossicular prosthesis; and positioning the ossicular prosthesis between two ossicles of a middle ear.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: connecting the housing to an ossicular prosthesis; and positioning the ossicular prosthesis between an ossicle and an oval window of a middle ear.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: connecting the housing to an ossicular prosthesis; and positioning the ossicular prosthesis between a tympanic membrane and an oval window of a middle ear.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the mounting step includes the steps of: connecting the housing to an ossicular prosthesis; and positioning the ossicular prosthesis between a tympanic membrane and an oval window of a middle ear.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus adapted to generate mechanical vibrations of a vibratory structure of an ear for improving hearing, comprising: a housing; and a mass coupled to the housing such that the mass moves relative to the housing in response to an external signal; whereby the signal causes the mass to move relative to the housing resulting in movement of the housing and the vibratory structure.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus adapted to generate mechanical vibrations of a vibratory structure of an ear for improving hearing, comprising: a housing; and a mass coupled to the housing such that the mass moves relative to the housing in response to an external signal; whereby the signal causes the mass to move relative to the housing resulting in movement of the housing and the vibratory structure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mass includes a magnet which generates a first magnetic field.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising: a coil disposed within the housing; and leads connected to the coil that deliver the signal to the coil, the signal being an alternating current which causes the coil to generate a second magnetic field; wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second magnetic field to cause the magnet to move relative to the housing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising: a first coil disposed within the housing on a first side of the magnet; a second coil disposed within the housing on a second side of the magnet; and leads connected to the first and second coils that deliver the signal to the coils, the signal being an alternating current which causes the first coil to generate a second magnetic field and the second coil to generate a third magnetic field; wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second and third magnetic fields to cause the magnet to move relative to the housing.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mass includes a coil and the apparatus further comprises leads connected to the coil that deliver the signal to the coil, the signal being an alternating current which causes the coil to generate a first magnetic field.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the mass includes a flexible diaphragm, the coil being coupled to the flexible diaphragm.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a magnet disposed within the housing which generates a second magnetic field and wherein the first magnetic field interacts with the second magnetic field to cause the magnet to move relative to the housing.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the mass includes a piezoelectric assembly and the apparatus further comprises leads connected to the piezoelectric assembly that deliver the signal to the piezoelectric assembly, the signal being an alternating current which causes the piezoelectric assembly to move relative to the housing.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the piezoelectric assembly comprises: a piezoelectric material having first and second ends, the first end being coupled to the housing; and a weight coupled to the second end of the piezoelectric material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a piezoelectric bimorph.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a plurality of piezoelectric strips having a same polarity, each of the piezoelectric strips having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end coupled to the weight.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the piezoelectric material includes a stack of piezoelectric strips having a same polarity, the stack having a first piezoelectric strip coupled to the housing and a second piezoelectric strip coupled to the weight.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the mass includes a flexible diaphragm, the piezoelectric assembly being couple to the flexible diaphragm.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of improving hearing, comprising the steps of: vibrating a mass in direct response to an electrical signal corresponding to ambient sound; and vibrating the housing mechanically coupled to the mass, wherein vibration of the housing is caused by vibration of the mass relative to the housing and the housing is coupled to a vibratory structure of an ear.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of improving hearing, comprising the steps of: vibrating a mass in direct response to an electrical signal corresponding to ambient sound; and vibrating the housing mechanically coupled to the mass, wherein vibration of the housing is caused by vibration of the mass relative to the housing and the housing is coupled to a vibratory structure of an ear.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of generating the signal in response to ambient sound.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of mounting the housing to the vibratory structure, wherein the vibratory structure is a tympanic membrane, ossicle, oval window, or cochlea.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
82 words
An improved transducer for producing mechanical vibrations in a vibratory structure of an ear having a magnet and a coil, the magnet vibrating relative to the coil in response to an alternating current through the coil, wherein the improvement comprises a housing adapted to be mounted to the vibratory structure having the magnet and coil disposed therein, the magnet moving more freely within the housing than the coil such that vibrations of the magnet cause the housing and vibratory structure to vibrate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
82 words
An improved transducer for producing mechanical vibrations in a vibratory structure of an ear having a magnet and a coil, the magnet vibrating relative to the coil in response to an alternating current through the coil, wherein the improvement comprises a housing adapted to be mounted to the vibratory structure having the magnet and coil disposed therein, the magnet moving more freely within the housing than the coil such that vibrations of the magnet cause the housing and vibratory structure to vibrate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3594514A
Cited
US3712962A
Cited
US3752939A
Cited
US3764748A
Cited
US3870832A
Cited
US3882285A
Cited
US4063049A
Cited
US4063048A
Cited
US4357497A
Cited
US4352960A
Cited
US4756312A
Cited
US4628907A
Cited
US4611598A
Cited
US4696287A
Cited
US4832051A
Cited
US4606329A
Cited
US4776322A
Cited
US5015225A
Cited
US4612915A
Cited
US4728327A
Cited
US4840178A
Cited
US4800884A
Cited
US4817607A
Cited
US4969900A
Cited
US4817609A
Cited
US4918745A
Cited
US4936305A
Cited
US5085628A
Cited
US4988333A
Cited
US4957478A
Cited
US5015224A
Cited
US5220918A
Cited
US5257623A
Cited
US5047994A
Cited
US5259033A
Cited
US5259032A
Cited
US5277694A
Cited
US5356430A
Cited
US5282858A
Cited
US5163957A
Cited
US5338287A
Cited
US5295193A
Cited
US5531787A
Cited
EP1440724A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |