公开(公告)号：US20080004486A1

公开(公告)日：2008-01-03

申请号：US11763257

申请日：2007-06-14

申请人： Travis Andrews ,  James Kasic ,  William Simms ,  Jose Bedoya

发明人： Travis Andrews ,  James Kasic ,  William Simms ,  Jose Bedoya

IPC分类号： A61F11/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606 ,  A61F2002/183

摘要： Apparatus and methods are provided for maintaining a desired centered relationship between a vibratory actuator of an implantable hearing aid transducer and an auditory component post-implantation. In certain embodiments, at least two guide members may extend beyond a distal end of a vibratory actuator for positioning on opposing sides of an auditory component. The guide arms may be employed to restrict post-implantation auditory component movement, and additionally or alternatively, to apply a spring-loading force against an auditory component to reposition and thereby center such auditory component in the event of post-implantation auditory component movement. In certain embodiments, a distal end may be provided on a vibratory actuator, wherein the distal end has a plurality of differently-shaped concave surfaces. A selected one of the different concave surfaces may be positioned for contact engagement with an auditory component to optimize surface engagement. In one embodiment, a contact surface may be rotatably and pivotably disposed at the distal end of a vibratory actuator to facilitate positioning of the contact surface at an optimal orientation relative to an auditory component.

摘要翻译： 提供了设备和方法，用于在植入式助听换能器的振动致动器和植入后的听觉部件之间保持期望的中心关系。 在某些实施例中，至少两个引导构件可以延伸超过振动致动器的远端，以定位在听觉部件的相对侧上。 可以使用引导臂来限制植入后听觉部件移动，并且另外地或替代地，在植入后听觉部件移动的情况下，对听觉部件施加弹簧加载力以重新定位并由此使这种听觉部件居中。 在某些实施例中，远端可以设置在振动致动器上，其中远端具有多个不同形状的凹面。 可以将选定的一个不同的凹面定位成与听觉部件接触接合以优化表面​​接合。 在一个实施例中，接触表面可以可旋转地且可枢转地设置在振动致动器的远端处，以便于接触表面相对于听觉部件以最佳取向定位。

公开(公告)号：US20050197524A1

公开(公告)日：2005-09-08

申请号：US10983102

申请日：2004-11-05

申请人： Scott Miller ,  Bernd Waldmann ,  Travis Andrews ,  David Basinger ,  Jose' Bedoya ,  James Easter ,  James Kasic ,  Douglas Miller

发明人： Scott Miller ,  Bernd Waldmann ,  Travis Andrews ,  David Basinger ,  Jose' Bedoya ,  James Easter ,  James Kasic ,  Douglas Miller

IPC分类号： H04R20060101 ,  H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/604 ,  H04R19/016 ,  H04R25/606 ,  H04R2225/67

摘要： A system for reducing the vibration sensitivity of an implantable microphone without an equal or greater reduction in sound sensitivity. The system reduces non-ambient vibrations by placing at least one compliant member into the path of transmission for tissue-borne vibration, but not into the path for ambient sound-induced vibration. More particularly, a compliant member is interposed along the path between a source of non-ambient vibration and an implanted microphone. In one aspect, a compliant base member is disposed between an implanted microphone and an implant wearer's skull. In another aspect, a microphone is compliantly suspended relative to an implant housing using a support membrane. In either aspect, the compliant member (i.e., base member and/or membrane) and the supported member (i.e., housing and/or microphone) define a supported system having a natural or resonant frequency. This natural frequency may be set to a value to advantageously isolate the microphone against transmitted vibration.

摘要翻译： 一种用于降低可植入麦克风的振动灵敏度的系统，而声音灵敏度降低不大。 该系统通过将至少一个柔顺构件放置在用于组织传播的振动的传播路径中而不是进入环境声音引起的振动的路径中来减少非环境振动。 更具体地，柔性构件沿着非环境振动源和植入的麦克风之间的路径插入。 在一个方面，柔性基底构件设置在植入式麦克风和植入物佩戴者的头骨之间。 在另一方面，使用支撑膜，麦克风相对于植入物外壳顺应地悬挂。 在任一方面，柔顺构件（即，基底构件和/或膜）和被支撑构件（即壳体和/或麦克风）限定具有自然或共振频率的支撑系统。 这个固有频率可以被设置为一个值，以有利地将麦克风隔离成传播的振动。

公开(公告)号：US20070055092A1

公开(公告)日：2007-03-08

申请号：US10549686

申请日：2004-03-22

申请人： James Easter ,  James Kasic ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Robert Schneider

发明人： James Easter ,  James Kasic ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Robert Schneider

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606 ,  H04R2225/67

摘要： The invention is directed to a fixation apparatus and method for interfacing an implantable hearing aid actuator with the ossicular chain of a patient. The fixation apparatus may include one or more surface discontinuities to enhance tissue fixation and thereby yield enhanced mechanical coupling and vibratory response. Surface discontinuities may be in the form of surface pores, surface asperities and complex surface shapes such as grooves, slots, lips or openings formed in the fixation apparatus. The fixation apparatus may also and/or alternatively include a portion or component that is deflectable or that comprises a conditioned shape memory material that is activatable at bodily temperatures to yield a degree of lateral loading when the fixation apparatus is positioned within an opening defined within a bone of the ossicular chain of a patient, thereby yielding enhanced mechanical coupling.

摘要翻译： 本发明涉及一种用于将可植入助听器致动器与患者的小耳链连接的固定装置和方法。 固定装置可以包括一个或多个表面不连续性，以增强组织固定，从而产生增强的机械耦合和振动响应。 表面不连续性可以是表面孔，表面粗糙度和形成在定影装置中的凹槽，槽，唇或开口等复杂表面形状的形式。 固定装置还可以和/或可选地包括可偏转的部分或部件，或者包括调节形状记忆材料，该状态形状记忆材料可以在身体温度下激活以产生一定程度的横向负荷，当固定装置定位在限定在 从而产生增强的机械耦合。

公开(公告)号：US20060058819A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-16

申请号：US11224489

申请日：2005-09-12

申请人： James Kasic ,  William Simms ,  Dana Tompkins

发明人： James Kasic ,  William Simms ,  Dana Tompkins

IPC分类号： H04R25/00 ,  A61F2/18

CPC分类号： A61F11/00 ,  A61B17/8061 ,  A61B17/8085 ,  A61B17/86 ,  A61F2/2875 ,  A61F2002/30578 ,  H04R25/606

摘要： An improved apparatus and method is provided for supportably mounting an implantable hearing aid device to a patient's skull. The apparatus includes a support member adapted for supporting a hearing aid device and a plurality of mounting legs extending laterally from the support member in differing directions. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for use in conforming the mounting legs to the topology of a patient's skull. In one arrangement, the mechanism includes a plurality of guide legs having a reduced yield strength in comparison to the mounting legs. The reduced yield strength guide legs may be more readily conformed to the topology of the patient's skull to provide a mounting leg profile. Accordingly, the mounting legs may be deformed to match the profile of the guide legs such that a conformal fit between the apparatus and the patient's skull may be achieved.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种改进的装置和方法，用于将可植入助听器装置可支撑地安装到患者的头骨上。 该装置包括适于支撑助听装置的支撑构件和从支撑构件沿不同方向横向延伸的多个安装腿。 该装置还包括用于使安装腿符合患者头骨的拓扑结构的机构。 在一种布置中，该机构包括与安装腿相比具有降低的屈服强度的多个引导腿。 降低的屈服强度导向腿可以更容易地符合患者头骨的拓扑结构，以提供安装腿部轮廓。 因此，安装腿可以变形以匹配引导腿的轮廓，使得可以实现装置和患者头骨之间的共形配合。

公开(公告)号：US20070021647A1

公开(公告)日：2007-01-25

申请号：US11425284

申请日：2006-06-20

申请人： William Slattery ,  Robert Schneider ,  James Kasic

发明人： William Slattery ,  Robert Schneider ,  James Kasic

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606 ,  H04R2225/67

摘要： Provided herein are systems and methods where an implantable microphone of an implantable hearing system is positioned at a location spaced from the surface of the patient's skull. More specifically, the microphone is mounted to soft tissue of the patient to at least partially isolate the microphone from skull-borne vibrations. Accordingly, by utilizing a soft tissue mount, the microphone may be made more sensitive to ambient sounds with reduced concern to amplification of non-ambient vibrations caused by skull-borne vibrations including, for example, transducer feedback, talking and/or chewing. The system will further include an auditory stimulation device that is located proximate to the skull of the patient and which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of the patient in accordance with an output signal generated by the microphone. A subcutaneously routed signal wire may extend between the implanted microphone and the auditory stimulation device.

摘要翻译： 本文提供了系统和方法，其中可植入式听力系统的可植入麦克风位于与患者头骨的表面间隔开的位置。 更具体地，麦克风被安装到患者的软组织，以至少部分地隔离麦克风与头骨传播的振动。 因此，通过利用软组织支架，可以使麦克风对环境声音更敏感，同时减少对包括例如换能器反馈，说话和/或咀嚼的颅骨振动引起的非环境振动的放大的担忧。 该系统还将包括位于患者头骨附近的听觉刺激装置，该听觉刺激装置根据麦克风产生的输出信号来操作以刺激患者的听觉部分。 皮下路由信号线可以在植入的麦克风和听觉刺激装置之间延伸。

公开(公告)号：US20060183965A1

公开(公告)日：2006-08-17

申请号：US11356434

申请日：2006-02-16

申请人： James Kasic ,  James Easter

发明人： James Kasic ,  James Easter

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： A61N1/36032 ,  A61N1/36036 ,  A61N1/37223 ,  A61N1/3787 ,  H04R25/505 ,  H04R25/554 ,  H04R25/606 ,  H04R2225/021 ,  H04R2225/31 ,  H04R2225/67 ,  H04R2420/07

摘要： An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.