Implantable hearing aid transducer with advanceable actuator to faciliate coupling with the auditory system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient;
aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component;
securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; and
manually advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component independent from operation of the hearing aid transducer after securing the transducer body.
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Abstract
A hearing aid transducer that includes an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer to couple with a middle ear component. In one aspect of the invention, the actuator is a separate structure from the transducer that is insertable into an aperture defined between a first and second end of the transducer. This permits separate connection of the actuator to the middle ear component and the transducer to improve coupling of the transducer to the middle ear component, e.g., minimizing loads on the middle ear component.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; and manually advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component independent from operation of the hearing aid transducer after securing the transducer body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component by axially advancing the transducer body relative to the desired interface point using a carrier assembly, and laterally positioning the transducer body relative to the desired interface point using a swivel assembly; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component; and
,coupling a distal end of the actuator to the middle ear component.
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6. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component by inserting a guide through the aperture, and aligning the aperture with the desired interface point on the middle ear component using the guide; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component; and
,coupling a distal end of the actuator to the middle ear component.
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7. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component; and
,coupling a distal end of the actuator to the middle ear component by coupling a first actuator member to the middle ear component, advancing a second actuator member through the aperture, and connecting the first and second actuator members.
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8. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component; coupling a distal end of the actuator to the middle ear component; and
,connecting the actuator to the transducer body within the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 19)
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13. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture extending through first and second sides of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component; and securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; and inserting an actuator through the aperture, wherein a proximal end of the actuator is accessible for advancement relative to the transducer body to couple a distal end of the actuator with the middle ear component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for operating an implantable transducer, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving transducer drive signals in the transducer; processing the drive signals to axially vibrate a tube movably connected within an aperture defined in the transducer between first and second sides thereof; and axially vibrating, with the tube, an actuator connected to the tube to stimulate a middle ear component.
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20. A method for implanting a hearing aid transducer within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting a transducer body subcutaneously within the patient; aligning an aperture in a first side of the transducer body with a desired interface point on a middle ear component, wherein the aperture extends through a second side of the transducer body; securing the transducer body in the aligned position relative to the desired interface point; using the aligned aperture to form an interface at the desired interface point on the middle ear component; and advancing an actuator through the aperture toward the middle ear component after the using step.
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Specification