Optically coupled active ossicular replacement prosthesis
First Claim
1. An ossicular replacement device, the device comprising:
- a lateral component comprising a first end configured to connect with a malleus of an ear, the lateral component comprising a first mass;
a medial component comprising a second end configured to connect with a stapes of the ear, the medial component comprising a second mass, the first end opposite the second end, the first end separated from the second end by a distance; and
at least one output transducer configured to vibrate at least the second end in response to an electromagnetic energy driving signal;
wherein the at least one output transducer, the lateral component and the medial component are discrete components, coupled to each other, and configured to provide a passive mode and an active mode, in the passive mode the device passively transmits vibration from the malleus to the stapes when no driving signal is transmitted to the at least one output transducer and in the active mode the device actively vibrates the stapes with an amplified energy from an energy sensing device when the driving signal is transmitted to the at least one output transducer in order to transmit the sound to a user; and
wherein the at least one output transducer is coupled to the lateral component and the medial component to vary the distance in order to vibrate the ear and wherein the first mass is greater than the second mass in order to move the second end more than the first end to decrease feedback when the at least one output transducer varies the distance and vibrates the stapes to transmit the sound to the user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An active ossicular replacement device is configured to couple the malleus to the stapes, and conduct sound through the vibratory structures of the ear in response to the transmitted electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic energy may comprise light so as to decrease interference from sources of noise external to the user. The prosthetic device may comprise an assembly that can be implanted in the middle ear in a manner that simplifies surgery. The assembly may comprise a narrow cross-sectional profile such that the assembly can be positioned in the middle ear through an incision in the eardrum, for example without cutting bone that defines the shape of the ear canal or the shape of the middle ear. The prosthetic device can be sized to the user based on a measurement of the ear.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An ossicular replacement device, the device comprising:
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a lateral component comprising a first end configured to connect with a malleus of an ear, the lateral component comprising a first mass; a medial component comprising a second end configured to connect with a stapes of the ear, the medial component comprising a second mass, the first end opposite the second end, the first end separated from the second end by a distance; and at least one output transducer configured to vibrate at least the second end in response to an electromagnetic energy driving signal; wherein the at least one output transducer, the lateral component and the medial component are discrete components, coupled to each other, and configured to provide a passive mode and an active mode, in the passive mode the device passively transmits vibration from the malleus to the stapes when no driving signal is transmitted to the at least one output transducer and in the active mode the device actively vibrates the stapes with an amplified energy from an energy sensing device when the driving signal is transmitted to the at least one output transducer in order to transmit the sound to a user; and wherein the at least one output transducer is coupled to the lateral component and the medial component to vary the distance in order to vibrate the ear and wherein the first mass is greater than the second mass in order to move the second end more than the first end to decrease feedback when the at least one output transducer varies the distance and vibrates the stapes to transmit the sound to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ossicular replacement device to transmit a sound to a user, the device comprising:
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at least one photodetector configured to receive a light signal; a lateral component configured to connect with a malleus of an ear, the lateral component comprising a first end configured to orient toward an eardrum; a medial component configured to connect with a stapes of the ear, the medial component comprising a second end configured to orient toward the stapes opposite the first end, the first end separated from the second end by a distance; and a transducer coupled to the at least one photodetector, the lateral component, and the medial component wherein the at least one photodetector, the lateral component and the medial component are discrete components, coupled to each other, and configured to provide a passive mode and an active mode, in the passive mode the device passively transmits vibration from the malleus to the stapes when no electromagnetic energy driving signal is transmitted to the at least one photodetector and in the active mode the device actively vibrates the stapes with an amplified energy from the at least one photodetector when the driving signal is transmitted to the at least one photodetector in order to transmit sound to the user. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A device to transmit sound to an ear of a user, the device comprising:
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a lateral component comprising a first end configured to connect with a malleus of the ear; a medial component comprising a second end configured to connect with a stapes of the ear; wherein said lateral and medial components are discrete components; means for a passive mode to passively transmit vibration from the malleus to the stapes wherein in the passive mode the device passively transmits vibrations when no electromagnetic energy driving signal is transmitted to at least one output transducer; and means for an active mode to actively vibrate the stapes with an amplified energy from an energy sensing device when the driving signal is transmitted to the at least one output transducer and moving the second end more than the first end to decrease feedback when the at least one transducer vibrates the stapes to transmit the sound to the user. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification