Surgically implantable hearing aid

• US 20060025648A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan J. Lupin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: No. 182 Corporate Ventures Ltd.
• Inventors: Lupin, Alan J., Lupin, Ewa J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/20 Ear surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

The invention comprises a surgically implantable hearing aid for hearing impaired persons. The hearing aid includes a vibrational element which is vibrated by sound waves and attached to the skull of the person, and a connector which crosses the mastoid cavity and delivers the sound waves to the dura mater of the human being thereby vibrating the dura mater, the cerebrospinal fluids, and the brain to create a hearing percept. The invention can also be adapted to act as a tinnitus masker or used in conjunction with a cochlear implant. It can also be used in a modified form to connect directly through the skull of the human being.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a microphone which receives sound waves and converts the sound waves to electrical signals;

(b) a transducer which converts the electrical signals from the microphone to mechanical vibrations;

(c) a bracket which attaches to the skull of a human being and supports the transducer;

(d) a member which transmits the mechanical vibrations from the transducer to the dura mater inside the skull of the human being.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

(e) wires which interconnect the transducer to at least one housing containing electronics or an energy storage element;

(f) wires which interconnect the microphone to at least one housing containing electronics or an energy storage element; and

,

(g) at least one coil for receiving or sending data or power, transcutaneously.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the member contacts a pad which is situated against the dura mater and transmits the mechanical vibrations from the member to the dura mater.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transducer is situated against the dura mater and transmits vibrations to the dura mater.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the member transmits vibrations to a moveable bone disc cut from the skull or mastoid, said bone disc situated against the dura mater and transmitting the mechanical vibrations from the member to the dura mater.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the pad transmits vibrations to a moveable bone disc cut from the skull or mastoid, said bone disc situated against the dura mater and transmitting the mechanical vibrations from the pad to the dura mater.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transducer transmits vibrations to a moveable bone disc cut from the skull or mastoid, said bone disc situated against the dura mater and transmitting the mechanical vibrations from the transducer to the dura mater.

8. An apparatus for treating deafness or partial deafness in a mammal, characterized by transmitting mechanical vibrations that correspond to sound waves external to the head to the dura mater inside the skull of the mammal.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the mammal is a human being.

10. An apparatus for treating deafness or partial deafness in a mammal, characterized by transmitting mechanical vibrations that correspond to sound waves external to the head to a moveable bone disc cut from the skull or mastoid, said bone disc situated against the dura mater and transmitting the mechanical vibrations to the dura mater inside the skull of the mammal.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the mammal is a human being.

12. An apparatus for masking tinnitus in a human being, characterized by transmitting mechanical vibrations that correspond to sound waves external to the head to the dura mater inside the skull of the human being.

13. An apparatus which can be implanted in the mastoid cavity or skull of a mammal for treating deafness or partial deafness in the mammal, characterized by transmitting mechanical vibrations that correspond to sound waves external to the head to the mammal'"'"'s dura mater through the fluids inside the mammal'"'"'s skull to the mammal'"'"'s inner ear.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the mammal is a human being.

15. A method for treating deafness or partial deafness in a human being comprising transmitting vibrations to the human being'"'"'s dura mater, wherein the vibrations correspond to sound waves external to the head of the human being.

16. A method for treating deafness or partial deafness in a human being comprising transmitting vibrations to a bone disc resting on the human being'"'"'s dura mater, wherein the vibrations correspond to sound waves external to the head of the human being.

17. A method for treating deafness or partial deafness in a human being comprising:

(a) coupling a transducer which converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations to the human being'"'"'s dura mater;

(b) converting sound waves external to the head of the human being into electrical signals; and

,

(c) transmitting the electrical signals to the transducer.

18. The method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of processing the electrical signals before transmitting them to the transducer.

19. The method according to claim 17 comprising the further step of securing the transducer to the skull.

20. A method for treating deafness or partial deafness in a human being comprising:

(a) coupling a transducer which converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations to a bone disc resting on the human being'"'"'s dura mater;

(b) converting sound waves external to the head of the human being into electrical signals; and

,

(c) transmitting the electrical signals to the transducer.

21. The method according to claim 20 comprising the further step of processing the electrical signals before transmitting them to the transducer.

22. The method according to claim 20 comprising the further step of securing the transducer to the skull.

23. A method for masking tinnitus in a human being comprising transmitting vibrations to the human being'"'"'s dura mater.

24. A method for masking tinnitus in a human being comprising transmitting vibrations to a bone disc resting on the human being'"'"'s dura mater.

25. A method for masking tinnitus in a human being comprising:

(a) coupling a transducer which converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations to the human being'"'"'s dura mater;

(b) generating electrical signals; and

,

(c) transmitting the electrical signals to the transducer.

26. A method for masking tinnitus in a human being comprising:

(a) coupling a transducer which converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations to a bone disc resting on the human being'"'"'s dura mater;

(b) generating electrical signals; and

,

(c) transmitting the electrical signals to the transducer.