Surgery – Surgically implanted vibratory hearing aid
Patent
1996-12-23
1999-01-12
Lacyk, John P.
Surgery
Surgically implanted vibratory hearing aid
H04R 2500
Patent
active
058579583
ABSTRACT:
A floating mass transducer for improving hearing in a hearing impaired person is provided. The floating mass transducer (100) may be implanted or mounted externally for producing vibrations in a vibratory structure of an ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is fixed to an ossicle of a middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The vibrations of the housing are conducted to the oval window of the ear via the ossicles. In alternate embodiments, the floating mass transducer produces vibrations using piezoelectric materials.
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Ball Geoffrey R.
Culp James M.
Dietz Tim
Mar Craig
Salisbury John D.
Lacyk John P.
Symphonix Devices, Inc.
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