Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids
First Claim
1. Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical stimulation of the ear, comprising a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing having a housing wall that is formed of a membrane which, together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk that is attached on an inner side of the membrane, forms an electromechanically active heteromorphic connecting element, a mechanically rigid bow permanently attached on an outer side of the membrane, and connected to a mechanically rigid coupling element which is adapted to be connected on one of a middle ear ossicle and inner ear of a user;
- wherein the bow acts as a means for transmitting mechanical oscillations of the connecting element to the rigid coupling element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids. The transducer has a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing, in which a wall is designed as a membrane that can oscillate, and which forms a heteromorphic connecting element together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk. Mechanical oscillations of the housing membrane are coupled to the middle ear or inner ear of the user by a mechanically rigid element attached in the central area of the membrane. This element is configured as a bow, so that in positioning the transducer housing from the direction of the mastoid adjoining the tympanic cavity, it acts as an artificial anvil to which coupling elements can be attached for mechanically transmitting oscillations of this artificial ossicle to the inner ear. Various coupling elements can be used, which correspond to the respective individual pathological situation. The application of the entire transducer system can be performed the operating surgeon having an unobstructed view, without extensive, space-creating interventions in the anatomical conditions of the middle ear.
387 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical stimulation of the ear, comprising a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing having a housing wall that is formed of a membrane which, together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk that is attached on an inner side of the membrane, forms an electromechanically active heteromorphic connecting element, a mechanically rigid bow permanently attached on an outer side of the membrane, and connected to a mechanically rigid coupling element which is adapted to be connected on one of a middle ear ossicle and inner ear of a user;
- wherein the bow acts as a means for transmitting mechanical oscillations of the connecting element to the rigid coupling element.
- 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, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
Specification