Method and apparatus for vibrational damping of implantable hearing aid components
First Claim
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1. A driver/sensor assembly for a middle ear implantable hearing aid system, the driver/sensor assembly comprising:
- a transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end;
a housing disposed adjacent the proximal end of the transducer assembly, the housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space; and
a first intermediary layer disposed between the transducer assembly and the housing to couple the housing to the transducer assembly and provide vibrational damping therebetween, the first intermediary layer comprising a vibration damping structure.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for minimizing or eliminating the transmission of vibration away from, as well as induction of vibration into, a middle ear driving or sensing structure of an at least partially implantable hearing aid system. A vibration damping intermediary layer may be positioned between an originating structure and its housing, and/or between a housing and its mounting to the surrounding. The intermediary layer may be formed of a structure having elastic and damping characteristics. The intermediary layer may also have a number of fluid flow paths for absorbing energy and damping vibration.
105 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A driver/sensor assembly for a middle ear implantable hearing aid system, the driver/sensor assembly comprising:
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a transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end;
a housing disposed adjacent the proximal end of the transducer assembly, the housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space; and
a first intermediary layer disposed between the transducer assembly and the housing to couple the housing to the transducer assembly and provide vibrational damping therebetween, the first intermediary layer comprising a vibration damping structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A driver/sensor assembly for a middle ear implantable hearing aid system, the driver/sensor assembly comprising:
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a transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end;
a housing coupled to the proximal end of the transducer assembly, the housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space; and
a first intermediary layer disposed on an outer surface of the housing to provide vibrational damping between the housing and the middle ear space, the first intermediary layer comprising a vibration damping structure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of reducing vibrations in a middle ear implantable hearing aid system having transducer assemblies mounted within a middle ear space, the method comprising:
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providing a transducer assembly;
providing a housing to support the transducer assembly, the housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space; and
forming an intermediary layer on a portion of the housing to provide vibrational damping, the intermediary layer comprising a vibration damping structure. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A middle ear implantable hearing aid system comprising:
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a driver assembly having a driver transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the transducer assembly adapted to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy, and a driver housing disposed adjacent the proximal end of the driver transducer assembly, the driver housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space;
a sensor assembly having a sensor transducer assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the sensor transducer assembly adapted to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, and a sensor housing disposed adjacent the proximal end of the sensor transducer assembly, the sensor housing adapted to be mounted within a middle ear space;
an electronics unit having a sound processor and a battery, the sound processor adapted to filter and amplify signals from the sensor assembly and provide said signals to the driver assembly; and
leads coupling the driver and sensor assemblies to the electronics unit, wherein an intermediary layer is disposed on at least one of the sensor housing and driver housing to provide vibrational damping, the intermediary layer comprising a vibration damping structure. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification