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Implantable hearing aid

  • US 5,772,575 A
  • Filed: 09/22/1995
  • Issued: 06/30/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A hearing aid adapted for implantation into a subject having both a fluid-filled inner ear, and a middle ear that has an ear drum located distal from the inner ear, said hearing aid comprising:

  • a microphone adapted for subcutaneous implantation in the subject and for generating an electric signal in response to impingement of sound waves upon the subject;

    signal processing means adapted for receiving the electric signal from the microphone, and for processing and re-transmitting a processed electric signal, said signal processing means also being adapted for implantation in the subject;

    a battery for supplying electrical power to said signal processing means, said battery also being adapted for implantation in the subject; and

    a microactuator adapted for implantation in the subject in a location which disposes a transducer included in said microactuator intermediate the fluid filled inner ear and the ear drum, the transducer creating mechanical vibrations in the fluid within the inner ear of the subject in response to receiving the processed electric signal from said signal processing means, the vibrations in the fluid present in the inner ear being proportional to displacing, in response to a sinusoidal processed electric signal at a frequency of 1000 Hz, at least 1.0×

    10-4 microliters of the fluid for an electrical power input to the microactuator of less than 50 microwatts, whereby upon implantation of the microactuator the hearing aid stimulates auditory nerve fibers which stimulation the subject perceives as sound.

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