Flextensional output actuators for surgically implantable hearing aids
First Claim
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1. An implantable hearing aid for placement substantially proximate to a middle ear or an inner ear comprising:
- a) at least one output actuator comprising a substrate having a first and second opposing surfaces, a thickness, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a material which changes in said thickness and said transverse size upon application of a voltage;
b) a first end cap having a first actuating surface, said first end cap fixedly attached to a portion of a first planar surface where a change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said first actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said planar surface; and
c) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said output actuator.
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Abstract
This relates to devices and methods for improving hearing, particularly in the field of hearing aids. The described output actuator is a component of a class of hearing devices known as surgically implantable hearing aids. This relates to both fully implanted and partially implanted hearing aids. More particularly, methods and devices disclosed herein provide an actuator for directly driving the inner-ear fluid, or the middle-ear bones referred to as the ossicular chain, resulting in the sensation of hearing.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. An implantable hearing aid for placement substantially proximate to a middle ear or an inner ear comprising:
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a) at least one output actuator comprising a substrate having a first and second opposing surfaces, a thickness, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a material which changes in said thickness and said transverse size upon application of a voltage;
b) a first end cap having a first actuating surface, said first end cap fixedly attached to a portion of a first planar surface where a change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said first actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said planar surface; and
c) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said output actuator. - 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, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
a) an axis along a long side of said stapes, a hole in a footplate of said stapes along said axis; and
b) a portion of said output actuator located in said hole.
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34. The implantable hearing aid of claim 33 further comprising a first membrane covering said hole, and said portion of said output actuator is placed into said first membrane.
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35. The implantable hearing aid of claim 33 wherein said first end cap has a diameter larger than said hole, said end cap having a radial edge which is contiguous with a surface of said footplate.
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36. The implantable hearing aid of claim 35 further comprising a second membrane covering said first end cap and said hole.
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40. The implantable hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising first and second electrically conductive electrodes each in contact with one of said first and second opposing surfaces.
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41. The implantable hearing aid of claim 40 wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive electrodes comprise a metal.
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42. The implantable hearing aid of claim 41 wherein said metal is sputtered, painted, plated, or deposited on said substrate.
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43. The implantable hearing aid of claim 42 wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive electrodes covers at least one of said first and second surfaces.
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44. The implantable hearing aid of claim 42 wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive electrodes covers a portion of at least one of said first and second surfaces.
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45. The implantable hearing aid of claim 42 wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive electrodes comprise a conductive polymer or polymer blend.
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46. The implantable hearing aid of claim 42 wherein said first and second end caps further comprise electrically conductive electrodes.
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47. The implantable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said material comprises a piezoelectric polymer.
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48. The implantable hearing aid of claim 47 wherein said piezoelectric polymer comprises PVDF.
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49. The implantable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible material isolating said output actuator comprises a polymer or metal.
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50. The implantable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible material isolating said output actuator comprises a member selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium oxide, gold, platinum, and vitreous carbon.
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51. The implantable hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said biocompatible material isolating said output actuator comprises a polymeric, metallic or composite bag.
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26. An implantable hearing aid for placement substantially proximate to a middle ear or an inner ear comprising:
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a) at least one output actuator comprising a substrate having a first and second opposing surfaces, a thickness, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a material which changes in said thickness and said transverse size upon application of a voltage;
b) a first end cap having a first actuating surface, said first end cap fixedly attached to a portion of a first planar surface where a change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said first actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said planar surface;
c) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said output actuator, wherein said output actuator is adapted to be in mechanical communication with an auditory component of a middle ear, and said output actuator is configured for attachment to a stapes; and
d) a spacer adapted to be positioned between said stapes and said output actuator;
said spacer comprising a flexible portion, where said flexible portion expands in size from a natural state and maintains an expanded state upon reaching body temperature, wherein said output actuator is secured within said middle ear when said spacer is in said expanded state.- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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37. An implantable hearing aid for placement substantially proximate to a middle ear or an inner ear comprising:
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a) at least one output actuator comprising a substrate having a first and second opposing surfaces, a thickness, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a material which changes in said thickness and said transverse size upon application of a voltage;
b) a first end cap having a first actuating surface, said first end cap fixedly attached to a portion of a first planar surface where a change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said first actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said planar surface;
c) a biocompatible material isolating at least a portion of said output actuator, wherein said output actuator is adapted to be in mechanical communication with an auditory component of said middle ear, and is configured for attachment to a stapes;
d) an axis along a long side of said stapes, a hole in a footplate of said stapes along said axis;
e) a portion of said output actuator located in said hole; and
f) a spacer adapted to be positioned between said stapes and said output actuator, said spacer comprising a flexible portion where said flexible portion expands in size from a natural state and maintains an expanded state upon reaching body temperature, and said output actuator is securable within said middle ear when said spacer is in said expanded state. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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52. An inner ear implant configured for direct mechanical stimulation of fluid in said inner ear comprising:
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a) at least one output actuator adapted to be in fluid communication with a fluid, each said output actuator comprises a substrate having a first and second substantially planar surfaces, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a material which changes in said transverse size upon application of a voltage;
b) a first end cap having a first actuating surface, said first end cap fixedly attached to a portion of said first planar surface where a change in said radial size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said fist actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said first planar surface;
c) a second end cap having a second actuating surface, said second end cap fixedly attached to a portion of said second planar surface where said change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said second actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said second planar surface; and
d) a biocompatible material encasing said output actuator. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A method of improving hearing comprising:
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a) providing at least one output actuator comprising i) a substrate having a substantially planar surfaces, and a transverse size, said substrate being comprised of a piezo material, and ii) at least one end cap having an actuating surface, said end cap fixedly attached to a portion of said planar surface where a change in said transverse size of said substrate produces a proportional movement in said actuating surface in a direction orthogonal to said first planar surface;
b) providing a voltage to said substrate to change said traverse size of said substrate and produce said proportional movement of said first actuating surface;
c) positioning said actuator in communication with a portion of an ear to directly transmit said proportional movement of said actuating surface to said portion of said ear. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification