Implanted outer ear canal hearing aid
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hearing aid, comprising:
- an implant configured for insertion into a recess under the skin of a retro-auricular space, which implant does not occlude an ear canal, the implant comprising;
a case, implanted electronic circuitry housed in the case;
a transducer electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;
an antenna electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a power source electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;
a microphone module configured for external use, comprising;
a housing;
external electronics within the housing;
at least one microphone electrically connected to the electronics;
at least one external antenna electrically connected to the electronics; and
a power source electrically connected to the electronics; and
at least one telemetry link between the at least one external antenna and the implant antenna, allowing transmission between the microphone module and the implant;
wherein audio information received by the at least one microphone is processed by the external electronics, transmitted by the at least one telemetry link to the implant, and emitted by the transducer into the ear canal.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid system including an implant (60) configured for insertion into a recess (40) formed under the skin of the retro-auricular space (50), which implant does not occlude the ear canal (30). The implant includes electronic circuitry (72), a transducer (65, e.g., speaker), antenna (64), and power source (66). The hearing aid also includes an external module (70), which module includes a microphone (163), electronics (172), antenna (164), and power source (166). A telemetry link (76) between the external module antenna and the implant antenna allows transmissions between the microphone module and the implant.
63 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A hearing aid, comprising:
-
an implant configured for insertion into a recess under the skin of a retro-auricular space, which implant does not occlude an ear canal, the implant comprising;
a case, implanted electronic circuitry housed in the case;
a transducer electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;
an antenna electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a power source electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;
a microphone module configured for external use, comprising;
a housing;
external electronics within the housing;
at least one microphone electrically connected to the electronics;
at least one external antenna electrically connected to the electronics; and
a power source electrically connected to the electronics; and
at least one telemetry link between the at least one external antenna and the implant antenna, allowing transmission between the microphone module and the implant;
wherein audio information received by the at least one microphone is processed by the external electronics, transmitted by the at least one telemetry link to the implant, and emitted by the transducer into the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A hearing aid, comprising:
-
an implant configured for insertion into a recess under the skin of a retro-auricular space, which implant does not occlude the ear canal, the implant comprising;
a case;
means for processing electrical signals representing sound waves into sound waves, which means are contained in the case;
means for receiving the electrical signals representing sound waves, which means are electrically connected to at least the processing means;
means for providing power to the implant, which means are electrically connected to at least the processing means; and
means for emitting the sound waves towards the ear canal, which means are connected to at least the processing means; and
a microphone module configured for external use, comprising;
a housing;
means for converting sound waves into electrical signals for transmission to the implant, which means are contained in the housing;
means for sensing the sound waves, which means are electrically connected to at least the converting means;
means for providing power to the module, which means are electrically connected to at least the converting means; and
means for transmitting the electrical signals to the implant, which means are electrically connected to at least the converting means.
-
-
20. A hearing aid system including:
-
a case, having a proximal end and a distal end, configured for implantation in a patient'"'"'s body with said case proximal end subcutaneously implanted proximate to a patient'"'"'s retro-auricular space and said case distal end implanted proximate to said patient'"'"'s ear canal;
microphone means remote from said case for generating an output signal representative of audible sound;
signal processing circuitry in said case responsive to said microphone output signal for producing an electric drive signal; and
a transducer in said case responsive to said electric drive signal for projecting an acoustic output signal into said patient'"'"'s ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification