Hearing implant
First Claim
1. An actuator for a hearing aid for implantation into the human middle ear, the actuator comprising:
- a substantially elongate piezoelectric component having first and second operating end faces, said end faces extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component; and
a frame component comprising at least one flextensional amplifier element, the flextensional amplifier element being integral with and connecting first and second frame end portions, the first and second frame end portions also extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component when fitted thereto, whereby the first and second end portions are in contact with the piezoelectric component first and second operating end faces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns an actuator for an implantable hearing aid for implantation into the human middle ear. The actuator comprises a substantially elongate piezoelectric component (34, 36) having first and second operating end faces (41, 43), said end faces extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component. Also there is provided a frame component comprising at least one flextensional amplifier element (32), the flextensional amplifier element being integral with and connecting first and second frame end portions (42, 44), the first and second frame end portions also extending substantially at right angles to longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component when fitted thereto, whereby the first and second end portions are in contact with the piezoelectric component end faces.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An actuator for a hearing aid for implantation into the human middle ear, the actuator comprising:
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a substantially elongate piezoelectric component having first and second operating end faces, said end faces extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component; and a frame component comprising at least one flextensional amplifier element, the flextensional amplifier element being integral with and connecting first and second frame end portions, the first and second frame end portions also extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component when fitted thereto, whereby the first and second end portions are in contact with the piezoelectric component first and second operating end faces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37)
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34. An actuator for a hearing aid for implantation into the human middle ear for amplifying sound vibration comprising:
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a piezoelectric component comprising a piezoelectric element or stack of said elements or an array of said stacks of said elements, the or each piezoelectric component having first and second operating ends; and a frame component comprising at least one flextensional amplifier element, said frame component further having first and second end portions integral with and disposed substantially at right angles to the main axis of said flextensional amplifier element or amplifier elements, such that said first and second end portions of said frame component provide close receival and fitting means for said first and second operating ends of said piezoelectric component, said flextensional amplifier element or amplifier elements operating with displacement substantially orthogonal with respect to the operating direction of said piezoelectric component; and the assembly created thereby constituting an actuator surgically implantable into the middle ear through the ear canal and via the incised and folded back tympanum;
wherebysaid actuator may be secured with securing means to one or more bones of the human ossicular chain without the removal or destruction of any part of any said bone. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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35. A method of forming an actuator for a hearing aid for implantation into the human middle ear, the method comprising the steps:
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providing a substantially elongate piezoelectric component having first and second operating end faces, said end faces extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component; providing a frame component comprising at least one flextensional amplifier element, the flextensional amplifier element being integral with and connecting first and second frame end portions, the first and second frame end portions also extending substantially at right angles to longitudinal axis of the piezoelectric component when fitted thereto, whereby the first and second end portions are in contact with the piezoelectric component first and second operating end faces; and assembling the piezoelectric component and the frame component.
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Specification