Electromagnetic implantable hearing device for improvement of partial and total sensoryneural hearing loss
First Claim
1. A totally implantable hearing device adapted for improvement of total hearing loss comprising;
- a high coercivity permanent magnet adapted to be mounted to the ossicular chain of the middle ear;
an electromagnet assembly encased in titanium and adapted to be mounted in the attic of the middle ear so as to be activated by a titanium encased target magnet connected to the malleus and ear drum;
means for actuating said electromagnetic assembly in response to sound and speech variations transmitted by the vibrating ear drum; and
means adapted to be located within the inner ear for actuating the nerve endings of an unresponsive cochlea in response to signals from the actuated electromagnetic assembly with speech processing signals capable of being understood by the brain.
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Abstract
A partially implantable hearing device for improvement of partial and total hearing loss has a high coercivity post type permanent target magnet mounted to the ossicular chain by METABOND adhesive and being driven by a cylidrically shaped air core driving coil extending around the post magnet in a contactless manner. The drive coil responds to auditory vibrations sensed by an externally concealed unit which converts these signals to an electrical signal transmitted to an externally located antenna which transmits same to an internally mounted antenna electronically connected to the air core electromagnetic driving coil to improve partial hearing loss. For total hearing loss restoration, a speech processing unit is mounted inside the mastoid cavity having a intracochlear electrode which is inserted into the cochlea through the oval window to reach the nerve endings thereof and transmit speech signals capable of being understood by the brain. For total hearing loss a totally implantable system with a non rechargeable or rechargeable battery, receiving antenna for remote control of on/off switch, volume, speech processor and programing is used with a biologic-electronic microphone activated by the implanted rechargeable battery to interact with implanted electronics for transmission of electrical signal directly to the cochlear nerve endings.
253 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A totally implantable hearing device adapted for improvement of total hearing loss comprising;
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a high coercivity permanent magnet adapted to be mounted to the ossicular chain of the middle ear; an electromagnet assembly encased in titanium and adapted to be mounted in the attic of the middle ear so as to be activated by a titanium encased target magnet connected to the malleus and ear drum; means for actuating said electromagnetic assembly in response to sound and speech variations transmitted by the vibrating ear drum; and means adapted to be located within the inner ear for actuating the nerve endings of an unresponsive cochlea in response to signals from the actuated electromagnetic assembly with speech processing signals capable of being understood by the brain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A totally implantable hearing device adapted for improvement of total hearing loss due to an unresponsive cochlea comprising;
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programing and speech processing means adapted to be located within the mastoid cavity for receiving signals from the ossicular chain and establishing signals capable of being understood by the brain; a coiled electrode adapted to be inserted into the turns of the cochlea proximate the nerve endings thereof for sending the signals from the speech processor means thereto; and control means for actuating said programing and speech processing unit to send signals along said intracochlear electrode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification