Dual coil floating mass transducers

• US 6,676,592 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symphonix Devices, Inc. (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Ball, Geoffrey R., Dietz, Timothy G., Jaeger, Eric M., Katz, Bob H., Julian, Christopher A., Pombo, August C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/286,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 387/68-69, 181/126-137, 607/55-57
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/502 using analog signal processing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/75 Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception

Abstract

A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person'"'"'s hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.

Claims

1. An apparatus for improving hearing, comprising:

a housing;

at least one coil coupled to an exterior of the housing;

a magnet positioned within the housing to that an electrical signal through the at least one coil causes the magnet to vibrate relative to the housing; and

a mounting mechanism adapted to mount the housing on a vibratory structure of the middle ear.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mounting mechanism comprises a clip attached to and extending away from said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said distal end of the clip comprises a first and a second pair of prongs, each pair of prongs being formed in a C-shape.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said distal end of the clip comprises a prong, the prong being rectangular shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said clip may be twisted up to 90°

from an initial clip position.