Systems and methods for photo-mechanical hearing transduction

• US 20060189841A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Original Assignee: SoundBeam, LLC
• Inventors: Pluvinage, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• 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

Hearing systems for both hearing impaired and normal hearing subjects comprise an input transducer and a separate output transducer. The input transducer will include a light source for generating a light signal in response to either ambient sound or an external electronic sound signal. The output transducer will comprise a light-responsive transducer component which is adapted to receive light from the input transducer. The output transducer component will vibrate in response to the light input and produce vibrations in a component of a subject'"'"'s hearing transduction pathway, such as the tympanic membrane, a bone in the ossicular chain, or directly on the cochlea, in order to produce neural signals representative of the original sound.

Claims

1. A system for inducing neural impulses that are interpreted as sound by a human subject, said system comprising:

an input transducer assembly which converts an electronic sound signal into a light signal; and

an output transducer assembly which receives the light signal and converts the light signal to mechanical vibration;

wherein the output transducer assembly is adapted to couple to a hearing transduction pathway from the subject'"'"'s tympanic membrane to the subject'"'"'s cochlea to induce said neural impulses.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the input transducer assembly comprises a microphone which receives ambient sound and generates the electronic sound signal and a light source which receives the electronic sound signal and produces the light signal.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the input transducer assembly comprises a receiver which receives electronic sound information from a source and generates the electronic sound signal and a light source which receives the electronic sound signal and produces the light signal.

4. A system as in claim 2, wherein the input transducer assembly further comprises a light transmission component which can deliver light from the light source through an auditory canal to the output transducer assembly residing on the tympanic membrane.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the light transmission component is not mechanically connected to the output transducer assembly.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the light transmission component is configured to leave a gap from 2 mm to 20 mm between a distal termination thereof and the output transducer assembly.

7. A system as in claim 2, wherein the input transducer assembly further comprises a light transmission component which can deliver light transcutaneously from the light source to the output transducer assembly residing in the ossicular chain or on the cochlea.

8. A system as in claim 2, wherein the input transducer assembly further comprises an electrical transmission component which can deliver a signal from the microphone or electronic receiver to the light source which is adapted to reside in the auditory canal over the output transducer assembly residing on the tympanic membrane.

9. A system as in claim 2, wherein the input transducer assembly further comprises an electrical transmission component which can deliver a signal from the microphone or electronic receiver transcutaneously to the light source which is adapted to be disposed adjacent to the output transducer assembly residing in the ossicular chain or on the cochlea.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the output transducer assembly comprises a transducer component and a support component.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the support component conforms to the tympanic membrane and is adapted to be held in place by surface tension or is adapted to be permanently affixed to the tympanic membrane.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the support component has a surface which contacts the tympanic membrane, said surface having an area sufficient for manually releasably supporting the output transducer assembly on the tympanic membrane.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the support component comprises a housing at least partially enclosing the transducer component.

14. A system as in claim 12, wherein the housing encapsulates the transducer component.

15. A system as in claim 12, including a surface wetting agent on the surface which contacts the tympanic membrane.

16. A system as in claim 10, wherein the support component is adapted to couple to the subject'"'"'s ossicular chain or cochlea.

17. A system as in claim 10, wherein the transducer component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of photostrictive materials, photochromic materials, silicon-based semiconductor materials, and chalcogenide glasses.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a ceramic.

19. A system as in claim 18, wherein the ceramic is configured as a bimorph.

20. A system as in claim 18, wherein the ceramic is deposited as a thin layer on a substrate.

21. A system as claim 18, wherein the ceramic comprises PLZT.

22. A system as in claim 17, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a photostrictive polymer.

23. A system as in claim 17, wherein the transducer component comprises a photochromic polymer.

24. A system as in claim 17, wherein the transducer component comprises a silicon based semiconductor material.

25. A system as in claim 1, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flexible beam which flexes in response to the light signal and carries mass to impact inertia to the coupling point in the hearing transduction pathway.

26. A system as in claim 1, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a convex membrane which deforms in resonse to the light signal.

27. A system as in claim 1, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flextensional element which deforms in response to the light signal.

28. An output transducer assembly for inducing neural impulses that are interpreted as sound by a human subject, wherein said output transducer assembly comprises:

a transducer component which receives light from an input transducer and converts the light into vibrational energy, wherein the transducer component is adapted to reside on a tympanic membrane.

29. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, further comprising a support component.

30. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, wherein the transducer component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of photostrictive materials, photochromic materials, silicon-based semiconductor materials, and chalcogenide glasses.

31. An output transducer assembly as in claim 30, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a ceramic.

32. An output transducer assembly as in claim 31, wherein the ceramic is configured as a bimorph.

33. An output transducer assembly as in claim 31, wherein the ceramic is deposited as a thin layer on a substrate.

34. An output transducer assembly as in claim 31, wherein the ceramic comprises PLZT.

35. An output transducer assembly as in claim 30, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a photostrictive polymer.

36. An output transducer assembly as in claim 30, wherein the transducer component comprises a photochromic polymer.

37. An output transducer assembly as in claim 30, wherein the transducer component comprises a silicon based semiconductor material.

38. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flexible beam which flexes in response to the light signal, and carries mass to impact inertia to the coupling point in the hearing transduction pathway.

39. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a convex membrane which deforms in resonse to the light signal.

40. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flextensional element which deforms in response to the light signal.

41. An output transducer assembly as in claim 28, wherein the support component conforms to the tympanic membrane and is adapted to be held in place by surface tension.

42. An output transducer assembly as in claim 41, wherein the support component has a surface which contacts the tympanic membrane, said surface having an area sufficient for manually releasably supporting the output transducer assembly on the tympanic membrane.

43. An output transducer assembly as in claim 42, wherein the support component comprises a housing at least partially enclosing the transducer component.

44. An output transducer assembly as in claim 43, wherein the housing encapsulates the transducer component.

45. An output transducer assembly as in claim 42, including a surface wetting agent on the surface which contacts the tympanic membrane.

46. An input transducer assembly for use in a hearing transduction system including an output transducer assembly which receives light from the input transducer assembly and which converts the received light to vibrational energy, wherein the input transducer assembly comprises:

a transducer component which receives ambient sound and converts said ambient sound to a light output; and

a transmission component which can deliver the light through an auditory canal to the output transducer assembly residing on a tympanic membrane.

47. An input transducer assembly as in claim 46, wherein the transducer component comprises a microphone which receives sound and generates an electrical signal and a light source which receives the electrical signal and produces the light signal.

48. An input transducer assembly as in claim 46, wherein the transmission component comprises one or more light transmission fibers.

49. A method for delivering sound to a human subject, said method comprising:

positioning a light-responsive output transducer assembly on a tympanic membrane of the user; and

delivering light to the output transducer assembly, wherein the light induces the output transducer assembly to vibrate in accordance with a sound signal.

50. A method as in claim 49, wherein positioning comprises placing the light-responsive output transducer assembly on the tympanic membrane in the presence of a surface wetting agent, wherein the output transducer assembly is held against the membrane by surface tension, and wherein positioning comprises permanently affixing the transducer on the tympanic membrane.

51. A method as in claim 50, wherein the surface wetting agent comprises an oil.

52. A method as in claim 49, wherein the light-responsive output transducer assembly is positioned over the tip of the manubrium.

53. A method as in claim 49, wherein the light-responsive output transducer comprises a transducer component and a support component.

54. A method as in claim 49, wherein positioning comprises placing a surface of the support component against the tympanic membrane, wherein the surface conforms to the membrane.

55. A method as in claim 54, wherein the surface conforms to the membrane in the presence of a surface wetting agent.

56. A method as in claim 49, wherein the transducer component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of photostrictive materials, photochromic materials, silicon-based semiconductor materials, and chalcogenide glasses.

57. A method as in claim 56, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a ceramic.

58. A method as in claim 57, wherein the ceramic is configured as a bimorph.

59. A method as in claim 57, wherein the ceramic is deposited as a thin layer on a substrate.

60. A method as in claim 57, wherein the ceramic comprises PLZT.

61. A method as in claim 56, wherein the photostrictive material comprises a photostrictive polymer.

62. A method as in claim 56, wherein the transducer component comprises a photochromic polymer.

63. A method as in claim 56, wherein the transducer component comprises a silicon based semiconductor material.

64. A method as in claim 49, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flexible beam which flexes in response to the light signal, and carries mass to impact inertia to the coupling point in the hearing transduction pathway.

65. A method as in claim 49, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a convex membrane which deforms in resonse to the light signal.

66. A system as in claim 49, wherein the output transducer assembly is configured as a flextensional element which deforms in response to the light signal.

67. A method as in claim 49, wherein delivering light comprises generating an electrical signal in response to an input sound and producing light in response to the electrical signal.

68. A method as in claim 67, wherein delivering further comprises directing the light over a transmission element which passes through the subject'"'"'s auditory canal.

69. A method as in claim 68, wherein the light transmission element comprises at least one light transmission fiber.