Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids

US5277694A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Implex Corporation · DE

Inventors

• Hans Leysieffer · Taufkirchen, DE
• Guenter Hortmann · Neckartenzlingen, DE
• Joachim Baumann · Borgo San Lazzaro, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 13, 1992
• Grant date: Jan 11, 1994
• Expiry date: Feb 13, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04R2225/67
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids. The transducer has a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing, in which a wall is designed as a membrane that can oscillate, and which forms a heteromorphic connecting element together with a piezoelectric ceramic disk. Mechanical oscillations of the housing membrane are coupled to the middle ear or inner ear of the user by a mechanically rigid element attached in the central area of the membrane. This element is configured as a bow, so that in positioning the transducer housing from the direction of the mastoid adjoining the tympanic cavity, it acts as an artificial anvil to which coupling elements can be attached for mechanically transmitting oscillations of this artificial ossicle to the inner ear. Various coupling elements can be used, which correspond to the respective individual pathological situation. The application of the entire transducer system can be performed the operating surgeon having an unobstructed view, without extensive, space-creating interventions in the anatomical conditions of the middle ear.