Inductive signal and energy transfer through the external auditory canal

US9802043B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH · AT

Inventors

• Christoph von Ilberg · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Dominik Hammerer · Innsbruck, AT
• Martin Zimmerling · Patsch, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2010
• Grant date: Oct 31, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 3, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04R25/606
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An inductive coil arrangement is described for an ear canal of a recipient patient. An inner transmitter coil inserts into the ear canal for transmitting a communication signal through the skin of the outer wall of the ear canal. The transmitter coil includes transmission wire loops that lie substantially in a common plane which curves around the central axis of the ear canal conformal to the outer wall of the ear canal. An outer receiver coil is implantable under the skin of the outer wall of the ear canal for receiving the communication signal from the transmitter coil. The receiver coil includes receiver wire loops that lie substantially in a common plane which curves around the central axis of the ear canal substantially parallel to the transmitter coil.