Flextensional microphones for implantable hearing devices
First Claim
1. An acousto-active device comprising:
- a.) an acousto-active substrate having a pair of opposed first and second planar surfaces and a thickness, said substrate having a 3 direction orthogonal to said planar surfaces being defined by 1 and 2 directions parallel to said planar surfaces, and being comprised of an acousto-active material which generates a voltage across said planar surfaces when said substrate is stressed in at least one of said 1 and 2 directions, b.) at least one first stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said first of said opposed planar surfaces, said stress-inducing member inducing stress across at least one of said 1 and 2 directions when exposed to an acoustic pressure, c.) at least one second stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said second of said opposed planar surfaces, and d.) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said first and second stress-inducing members.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This relates to flextensional microphones which are made up of a piezoelectric substrate having opposing surfaces, typically parallel surfaces when the substrate is crystalline or ceramic, and at least one sound receiving surface physically tied to the piezoelectric substrate. The microphones are at least partially isolated via a biocompatible material, e.g., by a covering or a coating. The inventive microphones may be subcutaneously implanted. The microphones may be used as components of surgically implanted hearing aid systems or as components of hearing devices known as cochlear implants. Preferably the microphones are used in arrays and when used as a component of a hearing assistance or replacement device, are used in conjunction with a source of feedback information, usually another microphone. The feedback information usually relates to sound re-emitted from physical portions of the ear, e.g., the eardrum, where those portions have been directly or indirectly driven by the actuator of the implanted hearing aid.
169 Citations
73 Claims
-
1. An acousto-active device comprising:
-
a.) an acousto-active substrate having a pair of opposed first and second planar surfaces and a thickness, said substrate having a 3 direction orthogonal to said planar surfaces being defined by 1 and 2 directions parallel to said planar surfaces, and being comprised of an acousto-active material which generates a voltage across said planar surfaces when said substrate is stressed in at least one of said 1 and 2 directions, b.) at least one first stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said first of said opposed planar surfaces, said stress-inducing member inducing stress across at least one of said 1 and 2 directions when exposed to an acoustic pressure, c.) at least one second stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said second of said opposed planar surfaces, and d.) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said first and second stress-inducing members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A flex-tensional acousto-active device comprising:
-
a.) at least one acousto-active substrate in flex-tension, said at least one substrate being domed and having a pair of opposed first and second surfaces and a thickness, and being comprised of an acousto-active material which generates a voltage across said surfaces when said substrate is stressed, b.) at least one first stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said first of said opposed surfaces, said stress-inducing member inducing stress across at least one of said at least one acousto-active substrates when exposed to an acoustic pressure, c.) at least one second stress-inducing member fixedly attached to said second of said opposed surfaces, and d.) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said first and second stress-inducing members. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
-
Specification