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：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：US20050101830A1

公开(公告)日：2005-05-12

申请号：US10703672

申请日：2003-11-07

申请人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Travis Andrews

发明人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Travis Andrews

IPC分类号： H04R20060101 ,  H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606

摘要： An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.

摘要翻译： 可植入助听器换能器接口，其在可植入换能器和安装装置之间一次性，并且具有响应于换能器运动的可预定范围而可位移的至少一部分。 根据本发明的一个方面，换能器运动的可预定范围包括响应于听觉组件的生理运动的运动，其导致可植入换能器的压力。 在这种情况下，适应接口允许可植入换能器响应于压力的自适应移动，以保持可植入换能器和听觉部件之间的期望的界面。 根据另一方面，换能器运动的可预定范围可以是由可植入换能器对听觉组件的声学刺激产生的换能器振动。 在这种情况下，兼容接口减少了通过助听器的麦克风的反馈路径的换能器振动的传输。

公开(公告)号：US20060281963A1

公开(公告)日：2006-12-14

申请号：US11406056

申请日：2006-04-17

申请人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Travis Andrews

发明人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya ,  Travis Andrews

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606

摘要： An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.

摘要翻译： 可植入助听器换能器接口，其在可植入换能器和安装装置之间一次性，并且具有响应于换能器运动的可预定范围而可位移的至少一部分。 根据本发明的一个方面，换能器运动的可预定范围包括响应于听觉组件的生理运动的运动，其导致可植入换能器的压力。 在这种情况下，适应接口允许可植入换能器响应于压力的自适应移动，以保持可植入换能器和听觉部件之间的期望的界面。 根据另一方面，换能器运动的可预定范围可以是由可植入换能器对听觉组件的声学刺激产生的换能器振动。 在这种情况下，兼容接口减少了通过助听器的麦克风的反馈路径的换能器振动的传输。

公开(公告)号：US20070083078A1

公开(公告)日：2007-04-12

申请号：US11245409

申请日：2005-10-06

申请人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya

发明人： James Easter ,  Jose Bedoya

IPC分类号： H04R25/00

CPC分类号： H04R25/606 ,  H04R2225/67

摘要： An implantable hearing aid transducer is provided that allows providing movement for stimulation purposes in at least first and second directions. This allows for moving an auditory component in a direction that may be substantially aligned with a natural direction of movement for the auditory component. In one arrangement, a middle ear transducer having an elongated vibratory member that extends into a patient's tympanic cavity is operative to move a tip of the vibratory member in at least first and second directions. A first direction may be along a long axis of the vibratory member while a second direction may be in a direction that is at least partially transverse to the long axis of the vibratory member. Further, the transducer may be positionable to provide alignment of the vibratory member such that the transverse direction of movement is substantially aligned with a direction of natural movement of a middle ear component (e.g. ossicles bone) to be stimulated.

摘要翻译： 提供了可植入式助听器换能器，其允许在至少第一和第二方向上提供用于刺激目的的运动。 这允许将听觉部件沿着可以与听觉部件的自然运动方向大致对准的方向移动。 在一种布置中，具有延伸到患者鼓室中的细长振动构件的中耳换能器可操作以在至少第一和第二方向上移动振动构件的尖端。 第一方向可以沿着振动构件的长轴线，而第二方向可以在至少部分地横向于振动构件的长轴线的方向上。 此外，换能器可以定位成提供振动构件的对准，使得横向移动方向基本上与待刺激的中耳组件（例如小骨骨）的自然运动的方向对齐。