Electromagnetic induction hearing aid device

• US 5,338,287 A
• Filed: 12/23/1991
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene A. Janning Jr, Gale W. Miller, John L. Janning
• Original Assignee: Eugene A. Janning Jr, Gale W. Miller, John L. Janning
• Inventors: Janning, Eugene A. Jr., Miller, Gale W., Janning, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US07/812,404
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 128/420.5, 128/420.6, 181/128-130, 181/134-135, 381/68-69.2
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 15/00 Magnetostrictive transducers magnetostrictive elements in general H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• 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 electromagnetic induction type hearing aid which comprises (1) an electromagnetic transmitter having an input for receiving a radiated acoustical signal and an output for radiating an alternating electromagnetic signal whose frequency components are determined by the input signal and (2) a wireless magnetostrictive vibrator of bimorph design and of biocompatible material and which is adapted to be surgically implanted on one of the bones of the ossicular chain in a spatial operative relationship to the transmitter output without the need for mechanical anchoring and without any components passing through the boundary of the middle ear of the user. The vibrator is further responsive to the electromagnetic signal radiated from the transmitter and vibrates the ossicular chain in response to such radiated electromagnetic signal to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound to the user.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic induction type hearing aid comprising:

electromagnetic transmitting means having an input means for receiving a radiated acoustical signal and an output means for radiating an alternating electromagnetic signal whose frequency components are determined by said input signal; and

, a wireless magnetostrictive vibrator of bimorph design and of biocompatible material and adapted to be surgically implanted on one of the bones of ossicular chain in a spatial operative relationship to said output means without the need for mechanical anchoring and without any components passing through the boundary of the middle ear of a user, and being further adapted to be responsive to said electromagnetic signal radiated from said output means to vibrate said ossicular chain in response to said radiated electromagnetic signal to stimulate said inner ear to create the perception of sound to the user.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vibrator includes a first magnetic layer having a first predetermined magnetostrictive characteristic and a second magnetic layer having a different predetermined magnetostrictive characteristic than said first layer.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said magnetostrictive characteristics are of opposite types.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first magnetic layer is iron and said second magnetic layer is nickel.

5. A method of improving the hearing of a heating impaired user which comprises the steps of:

surgically implanting of magnetostrictive vibrator of bimorph design and of biocompatible material on and in a driving relationship to one of the bones of the ossicular chain of the hearing impaired user, said vibrator being adapted to mechanically vibrate said bone at a frequency determined by alternating electromagnetic signals impinging thereon; and

,

positioning an electromagnetic transmitter in a spatial operative relationship to said vibrator without any components passing through the boundary of the middle ear of the user, said transmitter being adapted to receive a radiated acoustical signal and radiating an alternating electromagnetic signal whose frequency components are determined by said received signal and which causes said vibrator to vibrate said ossicular chain in response thereto to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound to said user.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said vibrator is surgically implanted on the footplate of the stapes bone of the ossicular chain.