Totally implantable hearing prosthesis
US7442164B2 · kind B2 · utility
69Cited by
16References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04R2225/67
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention comprises a totally implantable hearing prosthesis for hearing impaired persons. An inertial vibrational element is hermetically sealed and implanted in bone between the lateral and superior semicircular canals without breaching the integrity of the canals. The vibrational element is adapted to vibrate the walls of the canals and the fluids contained therein, thereby vibrating contiguous fluids within the cochlea thus stimulating hair cells and creating a hearing percept. The invention can also be adapted to be a tinnitus masking system, and/or used in combination with a cochlear implant hearing system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.