Partially or fully implantable hearing aid
US6123660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2225/67
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a transducer for partially or fully implantable hearing aids for direct mechanical excitation of the middle or inner ear. The transducer is provided with a housing fixedly mounted at the implantation site and a coupling element moveable with respect to the housing for transmitting vibration to the middle ear ossicle or directly to the inner ear. The housing accommodates a piezoelectric element with which the coupling element can be vibrated and an electromagnet arrangement including an electromagnetic component, such as an electromagnetic coil, fixedly mounted relative to the housing and a vibratory component, such as a permanent magnet, mechanically connected to the coupling element such that the vibration of the vibratory component is transferred to the coupling element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.