Device for mechanical coupling of an electromechanical hearing aid converter which can be implanted in a mastoid cavity

US6398717B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Phonak AG · CH

Inventors

• Hans Leysieffer · Taufkirchen, DE
• Gerd Muller · Falkensee, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 22, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2002
• Expiry date: May 22, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2002/183
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Device for mechanical coupling of an output-side converter part (15) of an electromechanical hearing aid converter (13), which can be implanted in an artificial mastoid cavity outside the region of the middle ear, the converter part having a capacity to be excited to mechanical vibrations, to a preselected coupling site (16) on one of the ossicular chain, the footplate of the stapes, the membrane which closes the round window, or an artificial window in the cochlea, in the vestibulum or in the labyrinth (equilibrium organ), the device comprising a biocompatible, mechanically passive coupling arrangement (17) which is connected to the output-side converter part and which reaches in the implanted state from the mastoid cavity into the tympanic cavity and adjoins the coupling site with the coupling end (18). The coupling end (18) of a coupling element (22, 29, 34, 37, 40, 46, 52, 59, 68, 71, 77, 81, 88, 95) is formed with a contact surface (32) which has a surface shape which is matched or which can be matched to the surface shape of the coupling site and has a surface composition and surface size such that by placing the coupling end against the coupling site dynamic tension-compress…