IMPLANTABLE MICROPHONE WITH SHAPED CHAMBER
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable microphone is disclosed having an external diaphragm and housing that forming chamber capable of being pressurized by deformational movement of the diaphragm induced by pressure waves (e.g., acoustic signals) propagating through overlying tissue. The chamber is shaped such that the volume of the chamber upon deflection of the diaphragm is reduced compared to a static volume of the chamber (i.e., volume of the chamber with no diaphragm deflection). As a result, the change in pressure within the chamber for a given diaphragm displacement is greater than it would be within a chamber having a cylindrical volume, leading to greater microphone sensitivity. In one arrangement, the chamber is shaped such that it is deeper at its center than at its edges, for example, to form a conical or paraboloidal volume.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1-47. -47. (canceled)
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48. An implantable microphone, comprising:
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a housing; a diaphragm sealably positioned across a recessed surface of the housing, wherein said recessed surface and said diaphragm collectively define a chamber and wherein said diaphragm defines a reference plane; a pressure sensitive element operatively interconnected to said chamber for detecting pressure fluctuations and generating an output signal, said output signal being operative to actuate an actuator of a hearing instrument; and wherein a depth of said recessed surfaces varies relative to said reference plane across at least a portion of a width of said recessed surface. wherein said diaphragm is operative to deflect toward said recessed surface in response to a pressure differential across said diaphragm, and wherein in response to a predetermined pressure differential an entirety of said recessed surface is at a distance of less than 0.0015 in. from said diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. An implantable microphone, comprising:
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a housing having a recessed surface; a diaphragm sealably positioned across said recessed surface, wherein said recessed surface and said diaphragm collectively define a chamber and wherein said diaphragm defines a reference plane; a pressure sensitive electret material covering at least a portion of said recessed surface, said electret material being operative to detect pressure fluctuations and generating an output signal; and wherein a depth of said recessed surfaces varies relative to said reference plane across at least a portion of a width of said recessed surface, and wherein said diaphragm is operative to deflect toward said recessed surface in response to a pressure differential across said diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification