Fully implantable hearing aid system
First Claim
1. A system for enhancing a patient'"'"'s ability to hear audible sound, said system comprising:
- a sound generator module including an output transducer responsive to an applied electric drive signal for producing sound energy;
said sound generator module comprising a housing configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the patient'"'"'s outer ear canal for projecting said sound energy into said outer ear canal;
a sound receiver module including an input transducer responsive to audible sound for producing an electric drive signal representative of said audible sound;
said sound receiver module comprising a case configured for implantation proximate to the patient'"'"'s pinna;
an electric cable connecting said sound receiver module to said sound generator module for applying said electric drive signal to said output transducer;
wherein said electric cable is configured for subcutaneous implantation extending between said sound receiver module and said sound generator module;
wherein said sound generator module housing includes a body portion and a projecting stud portion; and
whereinsaid stud portion is configured to project percutaneously through the patient'"'"'s skin surrounding said outer ear canal for projecting sound energy into said outer ear canal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully implantable hearing aid system comprised of an implantable sound generator module and an implantable sound receiver module connected by an implantable electric cable. The system includes: a) a sound generator module configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue to place an output electric/acoustic (E/A) transducer, e.g., a speaker, immediately adjacent to, or preferably, extending percutaneously into, a patient'"'"'s outer ear canal; b) a sound receiver module configured for implantation proximate to a patient'"'"'s pinna to place an input acoustic/electric (AJE) transducer, e.g., a microphone, so that it is acoustically isolated from the E/A transducer; and c) an electric cable configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue for directly electrically connecting said sound receiver module and said sound generator module.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for enhancing a patient'"'"'s ability to hear audible sound, said system comprising:
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a sound generator module including an output transducer responsive to an applied electric drive signal for producing sound energy; said sound generator module comprising a housing configured for implantation in subcutaneous tissue adjacent to the patient'"'"'s outer ear canal for projecting said sound energy into said outer ear canal; a sound receiver module including an input transducer responsive to audible sound for producing an electric drive signal representative of said audible sound; said sound receiver module comprising a case configured for implantation proximate to the patient'"'"'s pinna; an electric cable connecting said sound receiver module to said sound generator module for applying said electric drive signal to said output transducer; wherein said electric cable is configured for subcutaneous implantation extending between said sound receiver module and said sound generator module; wherein said sound generator module housing includes a body portion and a projecting stud portion; and
whereinsaid stud portion is configured to project percutaneously through the patient'"'"'s skin surrounding said outer ear canal for projecting sound energy into said outer ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for implanting a hearing aid system for projecting sound energy into a patient'"'"'s outer ear canal, said method comprising;
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providing a sound generator module operable to produce sound energy in response to an applied electric drive signal, the sound generator module comprising a housing implantable outside the ear canal including a stud portion projecting through the patient'"'"'s skin surrounding the ear canal and into the outer ear canal; implanting said sound generator module in a patient'"'"'s subcutaneous tissue for projecting said produced sound energy into said patient'"'"'s outer ear canal, with the stud portion projecting through the patient'"'"'s skin surrounding the ear canal and into the outer ear canal; providing a sound receiver module responsive to audible sound for producing an electric drive signal; implanting said sound receiver module proximate to said patient'"'"'s pinna; and subcutaneously implanting an electric cable extending between said sound receiver module and said sound generator module. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification