Eardrum Implantable Devices For Hearing Systems and Methods

• US 20110142274A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Original Assignee: SoundBeam, LLC
• Inventors: Puria, Sunil, Perkins, Rodney C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• 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

An implantable device is configured for placement in the eardrum to transmit an audio signal to a user. The device may be configured to improve transmission of an electromagnetic signal comprising light energy from an input assembly on a lateral side of eardrum to an output assembly positioned on a medial side of the eardrum, for example at least partially in the middle ear of the user. The output assembly may comprise a transducer or at least two electrodes configured to stimulate the cochlea, for example. The device may comprise an opening to transmit the light signal or an optic to transmit the light signal. Alternatively the device may be configured to support a transducer of the output assembly with the eardrum when the device is implanted in the eardrum, such that the eardrum vibrates in response to the signal electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal may comprise light energy for a magnetic field.

Claims

1. An apparatus to transmit sound to a user having an eardrum, the apparatus comprising:

at least one light source configured to generate light energy;

at least one photodetector sensitive to the light energy configured for placement in the middle ear; and

a device configured for placement at least partially in the eardrum, the device comprising a retention structure and configured to transmit the light energy from the at least one light source to the photodetector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises an opening configured to transmit the light energy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implantable device comprises a light transmitting material configured to transmit the light energy.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the implantable device comprises an optic configured to transmit the light energy.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the optic comprises at least one of a converging lens, a diverging lens, a diffractive optic, a Fresnel lens, a light diffusing optic, a prism, or a transparent window.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the optically transparent material comprises a molded biocompatible material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implantable device comprises a single piece composed of a molded light transmitting material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a first flange on a first side and a second flange on a second side, the first flange disposed opposite the second flange.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first flange is separated from the second flange by a separation distance sized to receive a portion of the eardrum.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first flange comprises a first maximum distance across and the second flange comprises a second maximum across, the second distance across less than the first distance across such that the second flange is sized to pass through a hole in the eardrum and the first flange is sized to contact tissue that defines the hole in the eardrum.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an anchor configured to extend from the structure to an umbo of the eardrum to anchor the structure to the eardrum.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the anchor is configured to disconnect from the umbo when the structure is removed from the eardrum.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the anchor comprises an elongate flexible structure configured to extend at least partially around the umbo.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the anchor comprises a hook sized to extend at least partially around the umbo.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the structure is configured to couple to the anchor with a distal portion of the structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the distal portion of the structure comprises a flange.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the flange comprises a hole sized to receive the anchor.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein anchor is affixed to the flange.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input assembly comprising the at least one light source configured for placement and an output assembly comprising the at least one photodetector, the input transducer assembly configured for placement at least partially within an ear canal or behind a pinna of the user, the output assembly configured for placement at least partially in a middle ear of the user to couple the output assembly with the input assembly.

20. A device to transmit a sound to a user having an eardrum, the device comprising:

a structure configured for placement in the eardrum; and

a transducer supported with the structure and configured to vibrate the eardrum.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a magnet, a coil, a coil and magnet transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a balanced armature transducer, a photostrictive transducer or a magnetostrictive transducer.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the transducer comprises the magnet and wherein the magnet is configured to vibrate the eardrum in response to a coil positioned in an ear canal of the user.

23. The device of claim 20 further comprising at least one of a coil or at least one photodetector supported with the structure and coupled to the transducer, the at least one photodetector configured to receive electromagnetic energy and vibrate the transducer in response to the audio signal such that the user perceives the sound.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the transducer comprises a pair of opposing magnets disposed within the coil so as to vibrate the eardrum in response to the audio signal.

25. The device of claim 20 further comprising an anchor configured to anchor the structure to the eardrum.

26. A method of transmitting a sound to a user, the method comprising:

Transmitting light energy to a device comprising a structure placed at least partially in an eardrum of the user.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the light energy is transmitted through the structure to a photodetector positioned medial of the structure.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein a transducer is supported with the structure and wherein the transducer vibrates such that the user perceives the sound.

29. A method of providing a hearing to a user having an eardrum, the method comprising:

providing a hearing device configured for placement in the eardrum; and

placing the hearing device in the eardrum.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising positioning at least one photodetector in a middle ear of the user and wherein the structure is configured to transmit light.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the structure is configured to support a transducer configured to vibrate the eardrum.

32. The method of claim 29 attaching an anchor to a malleus of the user to anchor the structure in the eardrum.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the anchor is coupled to the structure on a medial side of the structure.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the eardrum is cut to form a flap on a medial side of the eardrum and wherein the flap is positioned at least partially over the anchor when the anchor is attached to the malleus.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the structure is positioned in an at least partially inferior and at least partially anterior portion of the eardrum.