Hearing system with middle ear transducer mount
First Claim
1. A transducer mount comprising:
- a first member, proportioned for disposition in a middle ear;
a second member, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and movably engaging the first member; and
an elastically deformable coupler, coupled to each of the first and second members.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing assistance system includes a device and method of providing between a vibrating auditory element and a transducer that senses or provides such mechanical vibrations adjustably positionable contact at a controllable, adjustable, or calibrated force. A screw adjusts a spacing between first and second members of the transducer mount to position the transducer and obtain the desired coupling force between the transducer and the auditory element. A spring provides an adjustable coupling force. A spacer limits further compression of the spring, providing additional force. A calibrated coupling force is obtained by compressing the spring by a known amount, such as by observing visual demarcations, or by reducing the spacing between the first and second members until the spacing is almost limited by the length of the spacer. Optimal ranges of forces for sensing malleus vibrations are disclosed.
73 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A transducer mount comprising:
-
a first member, proportioned for disposition in a middle ear;
a second member, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and movably engaging the first member; and
an elastically deformable coupler, coupled to each of the first and second members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus comprising:
-
a first member, proportioned for disposition in a middle ear;
a second member, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and threadably engaging the first member; and
a transducer, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and attached to the second member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
a mounting portion;
an engaging portion; and
a threaded member, a portion of the threaded member captured between the mounting portion and the engaging portion.
-
-
22. The apparatus of claim 21, in which the first member further comprises:
-
a retainer member, attached to the mounting portion and capturing at least part of the engaging portion between the retainer member and the mounting portion; and
a fastener is configured for securing the engaging portion to the retainer member.
-
-
23. The apparatus of claim 21, in which the second member is coaxially hollowed and threaded for receiving the threaded member.
-
24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the engaging portion of the first member includes a guide, and the second member includes a pin engaging the guide.
-
25. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
-
a transducer proportioned for coupling to an auditory element in a middle ear;
an electronics unit communicatively coupled to the transducer; and
a transducer mount coupled to the transducer and proportioned for securing within the middle ear, the transducer mount including;
a first member, proportioned for disposition in a middle ear;
a second member, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and movably engaging the first member; and
an elastically deformable coupler, coupled to each of the first and second members.
-
-
26. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
-
a transducer proportioned for coupling to an auditory element in a middle ear;
an electronics unit communicatively coupled to the transducer; and
a transducer mount coupled to the transducer and proportioned for securing within the middle ear, the transducer mount including;
a first member, proportioned for disposition in a middle ear; and
a second member, proportioned for disposition in the middle ear, and threadably engaging the first member, and carrying the transducer.
-
-
27. A method of sensing mechanical vibrations of a malleus, the method comprising:
-
disposing a piezoelectric transducer in the middle ear;
positioning a portion of the transducer to contact the malleus; and
adjusting a force between the transducer and the malleus to be approximately between 0 milli-Newtons and 75 milli-Newtons. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of coupling a transducer to an auditory element, the method comprising:
-
disposing a transducer mount in a middle ear, the transducer mount including a first member and also including a second member carrying a transducer and movably engaged with the first member by an elastically deformable coupler; and
coupling the transducer to an auditory element; and
adjusting a spatial relationship between the first and second members to provide a desired coupling force between the transducer and the auditory element. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method of coupling a transducer to an auditory element, the method comprising:
-
disposing a transducer mount in a middle ear, the transducer mount including a first member and also including a second member carrying a transducer, and wherein the first member includes a threaded member that is threadably engaged with the second member; and
coupling the transducer to the auditory element by turning the threaded member to adjust a spatial relationship between the first and second members.
-
Specification