Implantable hearing assistance device with remote electronics unit

• US 5,935,166 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Envoy Medical Corporation
• Original Assignee: St Croix Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Kennedy, Joel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US08/755,181
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 607/56, 607/57, 623/10
• US Class Current: 623/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• 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 implantable hearing assistance system has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance system comprising:

an electromechanical input transducer, proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, for converting a mechanical sound vibration into an input electrical signal;

an output stimulator, proportioned for disposition within the middle ear region of the first ear; and

an electronics unit having volume exceeding approximatelv 10 cubic centimeters, electrically connected between the input transducer and the output stimulator and proportioned only for subcutaneous pectoral implantation, wherein the electronics unit receives the input electrical signal from the input transducer and provides an output electrical signal to the output stimulator in response to the input electrical signal.

2. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the output stimulator is an electromechanical transducer for converting an electrical signal into a mechanical sound vibration.

3. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the output stimulator is a cochlear implant for delivering electrical stimuli to the inner ear.

4. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an input link electrically connecting the input transducer to the electronics unit and an output link electrically connecting the electronics unit to the output stimulator, wherein each of the input and output links includes an implantable lead.

5. The hearing assistance system of claim 4, wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links is longer than approximately 2 inches.

6. The hearing assistance system of claim 4, wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises first and second lead wires.

7. The hearing assistance system of claim 4, wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises first and second lead wires that are twisted with each other.

8. The hearing assistance system of claim 4, wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises at least one shielded lead wire.

9. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, and further comprising:

an input link electrically connecting the input transducer to the electronics unit and an output link electrically connecting the electronics unit to the output stimulator, wherein at least one of the input and output links is capable of alternating current coupled communication.

10. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the electronics unit includes a power source.

11. The hearing assistance system of claim 10, wherein the power source includes a battery having capacity exceeding 1 ampere-hour.

12. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the electronics unit includes a digital signal processor.

13. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the electronics unit includes a telemetry device for communicating with an external telemetry unit.

14. The hearing assistance system of claim 1, wherein the middle ear region in which the input transducer and output stimulator are proportioned for disposition is a naturally present cavity.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the electromechanical input transducer is configured and arranged for connection to a tympanic membrane, a malleus, or an incus of the middle ear region of the first ear.

15. A hearing assistance system comprising:

an electromechanical input transducer, proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, for converting a mechanical sound vibration into an input electrical signal;

an output stimulator, proportioned for disposition within the middle ear region of the first ear;

an electronics unit having a volume exceeding approximatelv 10 cubic centimeters, proportioned only for subcutaneous pectoral implantation remotely from the input transducer and the output stimulator, that provides an output electrical signal in response to the input electrical signal;

an input link electrically connecting the input transducer to the electronics unit for communicating the input electrical signal between the input transducer and the electronics unit; and

an output link electrically connecting the output stimulator to the electronics unit for communicating the output electrical signal between the output stimulator and the electronics unit.

17. The system of cliam 1 wherein the output stimulator is configured and arranged for connection to a stapes of the middle ear region of the first ear or a cochlea of the inner ear region of the first ear.

18. A hearing assistance system comprising:

an electromechanical input transducer, proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, for converting a mechanical sound vibration into an input electrical signal;

an output stimulator, proportioned for disposition within at least one of the middle ear region and an inner ear region of a second ear; and

an electronics unit having a volume exceeding approximately 10 cubic centimeters, electrically connected between the input transducer and the output stimulator and proportioned only for subcutaneous pectoral implantation, wherein the electronics unit receives the input electrical signal from the input transducer in the first ear and provides an output electrical signal to the output stimulator in the second ear in response to the input electrical signal.