摘要:
An implantable microphone comprises a hermetically-sealed, enclosed volume and an electret member and back plate disposed with a space therebetween and capacitively coupleable to provide an output signal indicative of acoustic signals incident upon at least one of the electret member and back plate. The back plate may be disposed to define a peripheral portion of the enclosed volume, e.g., the back plate may be defined as part of a flexible diaphragm that receives external acoustic signals. Vents may be provided to fluidly interconnect first and second portions of the enclosed volume that are located on first and second sides of the electret member. In another embodiment, the electret member may be flexible and spaced relative to a flexible outer diaphragm.
摘要:
An implanted microphone is provided that has reduced sensitivity to vibration and attendant acceleration forces to differentiate between desirable and undesirable components of a transcutaneously received signal. More specifically, the microphone utilizes an output that is indicative of acceleration forces acting on the implanted microphone to counteract and/or cancel the effects of acceleration-induced pressures in an output signal of a microphone diaphragm. In one arrangement, a microphone having two diaphragms pneumatically cancels acceleration pressures. In this arrangement, a first diaphragm receives and generates a response to commingled acoustic and acceleration forces and a second diaphragm is substantially isolated from the acoustic forces. That is, the second diaphragm generates a response to acceleration forces. The displacements of the first and second diaphragms are pneumatically combined. The result of such pneumatic combination is that the acoustic component of the first diaphragm is enhanced in a resulting output signal.
摘要:
An implantable hearing aid system that includes a transducer housing that is rotatable relative to a transducer mounting apparatus to orient the transducer for interfacing with an auditory component. According to one aspect of the invention, during rotation, a center of rotation of the transducer housing remains positionally fixed. In this regard, the transducer includes an actuator member that is advanceable relative to the transducer housing to interface with the auditory component, subsequent to orientation of the transducer housing.
摘要:
An implanted microphone is provided that has reduced sensitivity to vibration and attendant acceleration forces. In this regard, the microphone differentiates between the desirable and undesirable components of a transcutaneously received signal. More specifically, the present invention utilizes an output that is indicative of acceleration forces acting on the implanted microphone (e.g., an acceleration signal) to counteract and/or cancel the effects of acceleration induced pressures in an output signal of a microphone diaphragm. This may be done in a variety of ways, including but not limited to, pneumatically, mechanically, electrical analog, or digitally, or combinations thereof. In one arrangement, the generated output may be filtered to match the an acceleration response of the output signal of the microphone diaphragm such that upon removal of the motion signal from the microphone output, the remaining signal is an acoustic signal.
摘要:
An implantable hearing aid transducer apparatus provides a simplified approach for interface with a middle ear component. The transducer includes a transducer housing, an actuator for middle ear coupling, and a driver having a magnet or coil interconnected to the actuator to induce movement in response to driver signals. In one feature, the actuator may be advanceable through an aperture of the housing independent from operation of the driver. In another feature, a portion of the transducer may be rotatable. In another feature, a retention apparatus may function to selectively secure a rotatable portion of the housing in a selected position. In an additional feature, a seal may be disposed around a driver component and connected to the actuator.
摘要:
An implantable microphone comprises a hermetically-sealed, enclosed volume and an electret member and back plate disposed with a space therebetween and capacitively coupleable to provide an output signal indicative of acoustic signals incident upon at least one of the electret member and back plate. The back plate may be disposed to define a peripheral portion of the enclosed volume, e.g., the back plate may be defined as part of a flexible diaphragm that receives external acoustic signals. Vents may be provided to fluidly interconnect first and second portions of the enclosed volume that are located on first and second sides of the electret member. In another embodiment, the electret member may be flexible and spaced relative to a flexible outer diaphragm.
摘要:
A transducer mounting system including a retention apparatus to provide an efficient detachable interconnection between a pivotable member and the mounting system. According. to one aspect, the retention apparatus is configured to travel along a predetermined path between an unlocked position and unlocked position to secure a transducer in a desired orientation relative to an auditory component. According to this aspect, the retention apparatus may include a compressible member to frictionally capture and positionally fix the pivotable member relative to the mounting system.
摘要:
An implantable hearing aid transducer including a transducer housing, a driver, and an actuator movably connected to the transducer housing. The transducer driver includes at least one coil and one magnet. In one aspect of the present transducer, a seal is provided to seal transducer components that are located at a location other than at the movable connection between the actuator and the transducer housing. According to this aspect, the seal may be disposed around one of a magnet and a coil that is connectable to the actuator, to protect the same from body fluids. The other one of the magnet and the coil may include its own seal within the transducer housing.
摘要:
An implantable microphone is disclosed having an external diaphragm and housing that forming chamber capable of being pressurized by deformational movement of the diaphragm induced by pressure waves (e.g., acoustic signals) propagating through overlying tissue. The chamber is shaped such that the volume of the chamber upon deflection of the diaphragm is reduced compared to a static volume of the chamber (i.e., volume of the chamber with no diaphragm deflection). As a result, the change in pressure within the chamber for a given diaphragm displacement is greater than it would be within a chamber having a cylindrical volume, leading to greater microphone sensitivity. In one arrangement, the chamber is shaped such that it is deeper at its center than at its edges, for example, to form a conical or paraboloidal volume.
摘要:
A connection apparatus for coupling an implantable device, such as a hearing aid transducer, to a middle ear component. The connection apparatus includes a first joint member on the implantable device and a second joint member connectable to the middle ear component. The first and second joint members are themselves connectable during implantation of the device to couple the device and the middle ear component. In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second joint members may form a detachable connection to facilitate removal for repair and or replacement of the device