Transducer for stapedius monitoring

• US 9,295,425 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Original Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Inventors: Ball, Geoffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US13/086,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 381/396, 381/312, 381/60, 381/320, 381/328, 381/23.1, 381/190, 381/191, 181/126, 181/135, 181/130, 600/25, 600/300, 600/559, 600/379, 600/459, 600/546, 735/85, 736/45, 736/49, 736/62, 735/76, 735/87, 73/10, 735/70, 335/213, 335/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/02 by magnetic means, e.g. reluctance
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/04 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2209/041 Voice coil arrangements comprising more than one voice coil unit on the same bobbin
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

An electro-magnetic transducer assembly includes a first component. The first component includes at least one magnet, and optionally a first attachment mechanism for attaching the first component to a vibrating structure. A coil assembly includes a second attachment mechanism for removably attaching the coil assembly to the first component. The coil assembly further includes at least one coil that produces a signal representative of the vibration of the at least one magnet. An output port provides the signal.

Claims

1. A method for measuring a vibration of a structure associated with an ear of a patient, the method comprising:

attaching a first component to the structure, the first component including a biocompatible housing, at least one magnet enclosed within the housing;

attaching a coil assembly to the first component, the coil assembly including a biocompatible coil housing, at least one coil enclosed within the coil housing, the at least one coil for producing a signal representative of the vibration of the at least one magnet;

providing the signal to an output port of the coil assembly; and

removing the coil assembly from the first component, leaving the first component attached to the structure.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the structure is a stapedius of the patient, the method including measuring a stapedius reflex of the patient.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one magnet includes a plurality of magnets arranged in an anti-parallel configuration.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each magnet is capable of turning in any direction within the housing, wherein translational movement of each magnet is substantially restricted to movement along a single axis, and wherein vibration of the housing causes vibration of the at least one magnet.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one magnet is substantially spherical.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the housing is male shaped, and the coil housing is female shaped housing, such that attaching the coil assembly to the first component includes inserting the male shaped housing into the female shaped coil housing.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising damping vibration of the at least one magnet.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

programming a hearing implant based, at least in part, on the signal.