Partially implantable hearing aid device
First Claim
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1. A partially implantable hearing device, comprising:
- a replaceable outer ear canal unit, having means for generating radio frequency waves responsive to acoustic energy received by the unit, and adapted to be located inside an outer ear canal of an ear;
means for holding said replaceable outer ear canal unit in a selected position in the outer ear canal;
an implanted means for generating a first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, wherein said means for generating the first magnetic field comprises an internal induction coil implanted under the skin in the outer ear canal wall for transcutaneously receiving said radio frequency waves from said radio frequency waves generating means, an electromagnetic driving coil connected to said internal induction coil for generating said first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, and means for positioning said electromagnetic driving coil adjacent to and at a distance from an implanted magnet securely attached to the location on the bone in the ossicular chain in the ear;
the implanted magnet having a second magnetic field located adjacent to said electromagnetic driving coil at a distance sufficient to permit the first and second magnetic field to interact with each other to cause the magnet to vibrate in a manner responsive to the acoustic energy received by the unit; and
means for securely attaching the implanted magnet to a location on a bone in the ossicular chain in the ear.
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Abstract
Partially implantable hearing device having easily replaceable components. Outer ear canal units contain the microphone, power source and electronics for receiving acoustic energy or sound waves and converting them into a responsive and variable magnetic field. Magnetic fields of magnets implanted onto bones in the ossicular chain in the ear interact with the variable magnetic field to cause the bones in the ossicular chain to vibrate in response to received sound waves. The variable magnetic field can be created directly via electrical signals or indirectly wherein intermediate radio frequency waves are transmitted and received between external and implanted components.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A partially implantable hearing device, comprising:
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a replaceable outer ear canal unit, having means for generating radio frequency waves responsive to acoustic energy received by the unit, and adapted to be located inside an outer ear canal of an ear; means for holding said replaceable outer ear canal unit in a selected position in the outer ear canal; an implanted means for generating a first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, wherein said means for generating the first magnetic field comprises an internal induction coil implanted under the skin in the outer ear canal wall for transcutaneously receiving said radio frequency waves from said radio frequency waves generating means, an electromagnetic driving coil connected to said internal induction coil for generating said first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, and means for positioning said electromagnetic driving coil adjacent to and at a distance from an implanted magnet securely attached to the location on the bone in the ossicular chain in the ear; the implanted magnet having a second magnetic field located adjacent to said electromagnetic driving coil at a distance sufficient to permit the first and second magnetic field to interact with each other to cause the magnet to vibrate in a manner responsive to the acoustic energy received by the unit; and means for securely attaching the implanted magnet to a location on a bone in the ossicular chain in the ear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A partially implantable hearing device, comprising:
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a replaceable hidden external unit, having means for generating radio frequency waves responsive to acoustic energy received by the unit, and adapted to be located externally and medially to an upper portion of a pinna of an ear; means for holding said replaceable hidden external unit in a selected external position located medically near the upper portion of the pinna of the ear; an implanted means for generating a first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, wherein said means for generating the first magnetic field comprises an internal induction coil implanted under a retroauricular skin behind the ear for transcutaneously receiving said radio frequency waves from said radio frequency waves generating means, an electromagnetic driving coil connected to said internal induction coil for generating said first magnetic field responsive to said radio frequency waves, and means for positioning said electromagnetic driving coil adjacent to and at a distance from an implanted magnet securely attached to the location on the bone in the ossicular chain in the ear; the implanted magnet, having a second magnetic field, located adjacent to said electromagnetic driving coil at a distance sufficient to permit the first and second magnetic field to interact with each other to cause the magnet to vibrate in a manner responsive to the acoustic energy received by the unit; and means for securely attaching the implanted magnet to a location on a bone in the ossicular chain in the ear. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification