Implantable transducer with transverse force application
First Claim
1. An implantable hearing aid transducer, comprising:
- a transducer body adapted for fixed positioning relative to a skull of a patient;
an elongated vibratory member extending from the transducer body along a long axis of said elongated vibratory member and having a distal end portion for stimulating an auditory component;
a first driver for displacing said distal end portion of said elongated vibratory member along a first movement path in response to transducer drive signals, wherein said first movement path has a displacement component that is at least partially transverse to said long axis of said elongated vibratory member; and
a second driver for displacing said elongated vibratory member along a second movement path that is substantially aligned with said long axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable hearing aid transducer is provided that allows providing movement for stimulation purposes in at least first and second directions. This allows for moving an auditory component in a direction that may be substantially aligned with a natural direction of movement for the auditory component. In one arrangement, a middle ear transducer having an elongated vibratory member that extends into a patient'"'"'s tympanic cavity is operative to move a tip of the vibratory member in at least first and second directions. A first direction may be along a long axis of the vibratory member while a second direction may be in a direction that is at least partially transverse to the long axis of the vibratory member. Further, the transducer may be positionable to provide alignment of the vibratory member such that the transverse direction of movement is substantially aligned with a direction of natural movement of a middle ear component (e.g. ossicles bone) to be stimulated.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An implantable hearing aid transducer, comprising:
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a transducer body adapted for fixed positioning relative to a skull of a patient; an elongated vibratory member extending from the transducer body along a long axis of said elongated vibratory member and having a distal end portion for stimulating an auditory component; a first driver for displacing said distal end portion of said elongated vibratory member along a first movement path in response to transducer drive signals, wherein said first movement path has a displacement component that is at least partially transverse to said long axis of said elongated vibratory member; and a second driver for displacing said elongated vibratory member along a second movement path that is substantially aligned with said long axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable hearing aid transducer, comprising:
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a transducer body; a vibratory member moveable relative to said transducer body for stimulating an auditory component; and a driver for selectively driving said vibratory member along at least one of first and second substantially transverse directions in response to transducer drive signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26)
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23. An implantable hearing aid transducer, comprising:
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a transducer body adapted for fixed positioning relative to a skull of a patient; a vibratory member extending from the transducer body along a first axis and having a distal end; a first driver suspended proximate to said distal end for displacing said distal end of said vibratory member along a movement path in response to transducer drive signals, wherein said movement path has a component that is at least partially transverse to said first axis; and a second driver for displacing said distal end of said vibratory member in a direction along said first axis, wherein said second driver is disposed proximate to a proximal end of said vibratory member. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A hearing aid comprising:
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an acoustic signal receiver to receive acoustic sound and generate acoustic response signals; a signal processor to process the acoustic response signals to generate transducer drive signals; an implantable transducer to process the transducer drive signals and stimulate a middle ear component, the transducer comprising; a transducer body; a vibratory member moveable relative to said transducer body for stimulating an auditory component; and a driver for selectively driving said vibratory member along first and second substantially transverse directions of movement in response to transducer drive signals, wherein said driver comprises a first driver for driving said vibratory member in said first direction and a second driver for driving said vibratory member in said second direction.
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Specification