Simplified implantable hearing aid transducer apparatus
First Claim
1. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
- a transducer housing having an aperture extending through a first side thereof, and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion of the transducer housing is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus, and wherein during rotation a center of rotation of the rotatable portion of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed;
an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer housing through the aperture to couple with a middle ear component;
a driver comprising at least one magnet and at least one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and at least one coil is connected to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals, and wherein the actuator is advanceable through the aperture independent from operation of the driver; and
a seal disposed around the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil connected to the actuator to protect the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil from body fluids.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable hearing aid transducer apparatus provides a simplified approach for interface with a middle ear component. The transducer includes a transducer housing, an actuator for middle ear coupling, and a driver having a magnet or coil interconnected to the actuator to induce movement in response to driver signals. In one feature, the actuator may be advanceable through an aperture of the housing independent from operation of the driver. In another feature, a portion of the transducer may be rotatable. In another feature, a retention apparatus may function to selectively secure a rotatable portion of the housing in a selected position. In an additional feature, a seal may be disposed around a driver component and connected to the actuator.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer housing having an aperture extending through a first side thereof, and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion of the transducer housing is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus, and wherein during rotation a center of rotation of the rotatable portion of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed; an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer housing through the aperture to couple with a middle ear component; a driver comprising at least one magnet and at least one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and at least one coil is connected to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals, and wherein the actuator is advanceable through the aperture independent from operation of the driver; and a seal disposed around the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil connected to the actuator to protect the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil from body fluids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer housing having an aperture extending through a first side thereof, and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion of the transducer housing is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus, and wherein during rotation a center of rotation of the rotatable portion of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed; a retention apparatus to selectively secure the rotatable portion of the transducer housing relative to the mounting apparatus; an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer housing through the aperture to couple with a middle ear component; a driver comprising at least one magnet and at least one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and at least one coil is connected to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals, and wherein the actuator is advanceable through the aperture independent from operation of the driver; and a seal disposed around the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil connected to the actuator to protect the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil from body fluids. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer body having an aperture extending through a first side thereof; an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer housing through the aperture to couple with a middle ear component; a driver comprising at least one magnet and at least one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and at least one coil is connected to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals, and wherein the actuator is advanceable through the aperture independent from operation of the driver; and a seal disposed around the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil connected to the actuator to protect the one of the at least one magnet and the at least one coil from body fluids. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer housing having an aperture extending through a first side thereof, and a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion of the transducer housing is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus, and wherein during rotation a center of rotation of the rotatable portion of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed; a retention apparatus to selectively secure the rotatable portion of the transducer housing relative to the mounting apparatus; an actuator advanceable relative to the transducer housing through the aperture to couple with a middle ear component; and a driver comprising at least one magnet and at least one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and at least one coil is connected to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals, and wherein the actuator is advanceable through the aperture independent from operation of the driver. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An implantable hearing aid transducer mountable to a transducer mounting apparatus, the transducer comprising:
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a transducer housing having a rotatable portion, wherein the rotatable portion of the transducer housing is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus, and wherein during rotation a center of rotation of the rotatable portion of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed; an actuator supportably interconnected to said transducer housing and operable stimulate a middle ear component; a driver comprising at least one magnet and one coil, wherein one of the at least one magnet and one coil is connectable to the actuator to induce movement of the actuator relative to the transducer housing in response to transducer drive signals; and a seal disposed around the one of the at least one magnet and one coil connected to the actuator to protect the one of the one of the at least one magnet and one coil from body fluids. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification