Middle ear implant
First Claim
1. A hearing actuator for implantation in a middle ear of a user, the actuator comprising:
- a transducer to convert electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations comprising changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis;
an attachment member fixedly attached to a first end of the transducer to directly attach the first end of the transducer to an incus; and
a piston element to extend away from an opposite second end of the transducer such that a longitudinal axis of the piston element is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the transducer, and such that, when the actuator is implanted in the middle ear with said first end of the transducer attached to the incus, the piston element contacts a stapes footplate, or extends through a hole formed in the stapes footplate,wherein the changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis cause the piston element to vibrate, thereby transmitting said mechanical vibrations of the transducer to the stapes footplate or through the hole in the stapes footplate via the piston element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing actuator (10) for implantation in the middle ear of a user. The actuator comprises transducer means (for example a piezoelectric device) (12) for converting electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations, and attachment means (16) for attaching one end of the transducer means to a first part of the middle ear. The actuator also comprises contacting means (14) which extends from an opposite end of the transducer means such that a longitudinal axis of the contacting means is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transducer means. The contacting means is for contacting a second part of the middle ear (to which it may be attached), so as to transmit the mechanical vibrations of the transducer means thereto.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hearing actuator for implantation in a middle ear of a user, the actuator comprising:
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a transducer to convert electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations comprising changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis; an attachment member fixedly attached to a first end of the transducer to directly attach the first end of the transducer to an incus; and a piston element to extend away from an opposite second end of the transducer such that a longitudinal axis of the piston element is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the transducer, and such that, when the actuator is implanted in the middle ear with said first end of the transducer attached to the incus, the piston element contacts a stapes footplate, or extends through a hole formed in the stapes footplate, wherein the changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis cause the piston element to vibrate, thereby transmitting said mechanical vibrations of the transducer to the stapes footplate or through the hole in the stapes footplate via the piston element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hearing actuator for implantation in a middle ear of a user, the actuator comprising:
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a transducer to convert electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations comprising changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis; a mounting member attachable to a site on a temporal bone within the middle ear of the user; an attachment member fixedly attached to a first end of the transducer to directly attach the first end of the transducer to the mounting member on said site on the temporal bone; and a piston element, which extends from an opposite second end of the transducer such that a longitudinal axis of the piston element is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the transducer, and such that, when the actuator is implanted in the middle ear with said first end of the transducer attached to said site on the temporal bone via the attachment member and the mounting member, the piston element contacts a round window, wherein the changes in the length of the transducer along a longitudinal axis cause the piston element to vibrate, thereby transmitting said mechanical vibrations of the transducer to the round window via the piston element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification