Hearing aid with internal acoustic middle ear transducer
US6726618B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R25/606
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hearing aid and method for stimulating the tympanic membrane of a patient via an input of acoustic signals into the middle ear cavity. The hearing aid includes an acoustic signal receiver, a signal processor, and an implantable transducer. In one aspect of the invention, the impedance of the implantable transducer is matched to a characteristic frequency range of the human tympanic membrane to acoustically couple the transducer with the tympanic membrane. In another aspect of the invention, the impedance of the implantable transducer is matched to a measured impedance of a patient's tympanic membrane to achieve the acoustic coupling. In either case, the acoustic signal receiver receives acoustic sounds and generates frequency response signals for the signal processor. The signal processor, in turn, processes the frequency response signals to generate transducer drive signals for the implanted transducer. The acoustically coupled transducer receives the drive signals to generate acoustic signals, e.g. acoustic sound, that are introduced into the middle ear cavity of the patient to stimulate the tympanic membrane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.