Piezoelectric film transducer
First Claim
1. A method of vibrating an auditory element of a middle ear, the method comprising the steps of:
- securing a mount, on which a piezoelectric transducer film is disposed, to a mastoid in the middle ear;
applying an electrical input signal to the film to dynamically vary at least one physical dimension of the film;
constraining the film such that variations in any physical dimension of the film produce film vibrations; and
mechanically coupling the film vibrations to the auditory element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus transduces between mechanical and electrical signals within a middle ear to improve hearing. An electromechanical transducer film, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), is carried by a mount secured to the middle ear. The film is constrained by the mount, or by the mount and an auditory element. The apparatus includes substantially straight, bow-shaped, hoop-shaped, and bi-element transducer film embodiments. The film transduces between mechanical vibrations of an auditory element, such as the malleus or stapes, and electrical signals for use with an electronics unit of a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of vibrating an auditory element of a middle ear, the method comprising the steps of:
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securing a mount, on which a piezoelectric transducer film is disposed, to a mastoid in the middle ear; applying an electrical input signal to the film to dynamically vary at least one physical dimension of the film; constraining the film such that variations in any physical dimension of the film produce film vibrations; and mechanically coupling the film vibrations to the auditory element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A vibrator for an implantable hearing system including an electronics unit providing an electrical input signal, the vibrator comprising:
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a mount, adapted to be secured to a mastoid in a middle ear; and a piezoelectric transducer film, carried by the mount, proportioned to be mechanically coupled to the middle ear and to vibrate an auditory element in response to the electrical input signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of sensing vibrations of an auditory element of a middle ear, the method comprising the steps of:
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securing a mount, on which a piezoelectric transducer film is disposed, to a mastoid in the middle ear; constraining the film at a plurality of constraint points;
receiving at the film the vibrations of the auditory element; and
producing a resulting output voltage in response to the vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a mount adapted to be secured to a mastoid in a middle ear; and a piezoelectric transducer film carried by the mount, in which the film is proportioned for mechanically coupling to an auditory element in the middle ear, and the film is adapted for receiving vibrations from the auditory element and producing a resulting output voltage in response to the vibrations. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of vibrating an auditory element of a middle ear, the method comprising the steps of:
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securing a mount, on which a piezoelectric transducer film is disposed, to a mastoid in the middle ear; applying an electrical input signal to the film to dynamically vary a longitudinal dimension of the film; constraining the film such that the longitudinal dimensional variations produce film vibrations; and mechanically coupling the film vibrations to the auditory element.
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31. A vibrator for an implantable hearing system that includes an electronics
unit providing an electrical input signal, the vibrator comprising: -
a mount, adapted to be secured to a mastoid in a middle ear; and a piezoelectric transducer film, constrained by the mount at a plurality of constraint points, and proportioned to be mechanically coupled to the middle ear and to vibrate an auditory element in response to the electrical input signal. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An apparatus, comprising:
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a mount adapted to be secured to a mastoid in a middle ear; and a piezoelectric transducer film carried by the mount, in which the film is proportioned for mechanically coupling to an auditory element in the middle ear, and the film is adapted for receiving vibrations from the auditory element and producing a resulting output voltage in response to the vibrations, and the film is constrained by the mount to transform vibrations of the auditory element into longitudinal dimensional variations of the film.
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Specification