EP0984663A2 - Transducer arrangement for partially or completely implanted hearing -aid - Google Patents
Transducer arrangement for partially or completely implanted hearing -aid Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0984663A2 EP0984663A2 EP98121495A EP98121495A EP0984663A2 EP 0984663 A2 EP0984663 A2 EP 0984663A2 EP 98121495 A EP98121495 A EP 98121495A EP 98121495 A EP98121495 A EP 98121495A EP 0984663 A2 EP0984663 A2 EP 0984663A2
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- arrangement according
- coupling element
- transducer
- converter arrangement
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
- H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
- H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2225/67—Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/55—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using an external connection, either wireless or wired
- H04R25/558—Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a converter arrangement for partially or fully implantable Hearing aids for direct mechanical excitation of the middle or Inner ear, provided with one at the implantation site with reference to the skull fixable housing and a movable with respect to the housing, mechanically rigid coupling element, with an electromechanical in the housing Transducer is housed with which the coupling element vibrate lets that after implantation of the transducer assembly on Middle ear ossicles or directly to the inner ear.
- Such a converter arrangement is known from EP 0 499 940. It is suggested that run a wall of the housing as a vibratable membrane, the with a piezoelectric ceramic disc attached on the inside represents electromechanically active heteromorph composite element. Although one hearing aid transducer arrangement constructed in this way can be easily implanted can and can generally achieve good results, but has shown that the coupling element driven via the piezoelectric ceramic disc with low to be transmitted to the middle ear ossicle or directly to the inner ear Frequencies deflections causes an adequate volume level may be insufficient for moderate and major hearing loss. This applies in particular to the low electrical values specified for an implant Tensions.
- the solution according to the invention has the advantage that the transducer arrangement accordingly simple and easy like the piezoelectric transducer EP 0 499 940 can be implanted because the transducer housing is related can be fixed on the bone structure of the skull. At the same time, however, because of Use of the electromagnetic converter principle also for low frequencies particularly favorable frequency response of the transducer can be achieved in the listening area, so that an adequate listening impression with sufficient volume level with the in the case of an implant necessarily enables low electrical voltages becomes.
- a wall of the housing can be designed as an oscillatable membrane be on the inside of which the vibratable component is attached and with whose outside the coupling element is connected.
- the housing is useful as a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing executed. It is advantageously cylindrical and has a peripheral wall and two circular end walls running essentially parallel to one another on one of which forms the vibratable membrane, while the others can be integrally connected to the peripheral wall of the housing.
- Both the vibratable component and the coupling element are preferred essentially in the center of the housing end face forming the vibratable membrane attached.
- the inside of the membrane is preferably a component that forms the oscillatable component Permanent magnet connected while an electromagnetic coil in the Housing is firmly attached to set the permanent magnet in vibration.
- the permanent magnet is advantageously designed as a magnetic pin, and the Coil is a ring coil with a central opening into which the magnetic pin is immersed. In this way, a converter arrangement with a particularly small size received moving mass, the changes in the applied to the solenoid electrical signal can follow quickly and faithfully.
- the invention also relates to a fully or partially implantable hearing aid is provided with a transducer arrangement of the type disclosed herein.
- Fig. 1 is an implantable transducer assembly 10 of a hearing aid for direct mechanical excitation of the middle or inner ear.
- For sound recording 2 serves as a microphone 58, preferably is also implantable.
- the converter arrangement 10 is with a hermetically sealed, biocompatible, cylindrical housing 14, preferably made of Metal, for example titanium, niobium, tantalum, iridium or their alloys.
- the housing 14 is filled with inert gas 16.
- a pin-shaped permanent magnet 30 attached, which in a central opening of the Immersed coil 32 and is slidable therein.
- the coil 32 is not shown in FIG shown firmly connected to the housing 14, for example with this glued.
- an electrically insulating, hermetically sealed Implementation 26 used in the end wall 12 . Lead wires 34 of the coil 32 are with the outside connected out of the housing 14 electrical connections 36.
- the coupling element 20 can in particular be used as a coupling rod trained and for example over a thin wire or hollow wire bracket or a bracket made of a carbon fiber reinforced composite material with the Ossicular chain connected. Suitable arrangements of this type are in the older one DE patent application 197 38 587.7 explained in more detail.
- Fig. 2 shows an implanted hearing aid designated 51, which with a Transducer arrangement 10 of the type explained above is equipped.
- the hearing aid 51 also has an accumulator unit 53, a charging / receiving coil 54 and an electronics module 55.
- Components 53, 54 and 55 are in one hermetically sealed housing 56 which is implanted in the mastoid 57 and is fixed with respect to the skull.
- To the electronics module 55 are the Transducer assembly 10 and microphone 58 via lines 59 and 60, respectively connected.
- the coupling element 20 is coupled to the ossicle chain 62.
- To a portable charging unit 63 includes a charging transmitter coil 64, which for transcutaneously charging the accumulator unit 53 with the charge receiving coil 54 can be coupled inductively.
- a remote control unit is indicated at 65.
- On such hearing aid is known for example from US Pat. No. 5,277,694 and therefore requires it no further description.
Abstract
Description
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Wandleranordnung für teil- oder vollimplantierbare Hörgeräte zur direkten mechanischen Anregung des Mittel- oder Innenohres, versehen mit einem am Implantationsort mit Bezug auf den Schädel fixierbaren Gehäuse und einem mit Bezug auf das Gehäuse beweglichen, mechanisch steifen Koppelelement, wobei in dem Gehäuse ein elektromechanischer Wandler untergebracht ist, mit dem sich das Koppelelement in Schwingungen versetzen läßt, die nach erfolgter Implantation der Wandleranordnung auf ein Mittelohr-Ossikel oder direkt auf das Innenohr übertragen werden.The present invention relates to a converter arrangement for partially or fully implantable Hearing aids for direct mechanical excitation of the middle or Inner ear, provided with one at the implantation site with reference to the skull fixable housing and a movable with respect to the housing, mechanically rigid coupling element, with an electromechanical in the housing Transducer is housed with which the coupling element vibrate lets that after implantation of the transducer assembly on Middle ear ossicles or directly to the inner ear.
Eine derartige Wandleranordnung ist aus EP 0 499 940 bekannt. Hierbei wird vorgeschlagen, eine Wand des Gehäuses als schwingfähige Membran auszuführen, die mit einer auf der Innenseite aufgebrachten piezoelektrischen Keramikscheibe ein elektromechanisch aktives Heteromorph-Verbundelement darstellt. Obschon eine derart aufgebaute Hörgeräte-Wandleranordnung problemlos implantiert werden kann und sich damit allgemein gute Ergebnisse erzielen lassen, hat sich jedoch gezeigt, daß das über die piezoelektrisch Keramikscheibe angetriebene Koppelelement bei niedrigen auf das Mittelohr-Ossikel oder direkt auf das Innenohr zu übertragenden Frequenzen Auslenkungen bewirkt, die für einen adäquaten Lautstärkepegel bei mittleren und größeren Hörverlusten unzureichend sein können. Dies gilt insbesondere bei den für ein Implantat vorgegebenen, geringen elektrischen Spannungen.Such a converter arrangement is known from EP 0 499 940. It is suggested that run a wall of the housing as a vibratable membrane, the with a piezoelectric ceramic disc attached on the inside represents electromechanically active heteromorph composite element. Although one hearing aid transducer arrangement constructed in this way can be easily implanted can and can generally achieve good results, but has shown that the coupling element driven via the piezoelectric ceramic disc with low to be transmitted to the middle ear ossicle or directly to the inner ear Frequencies deflections causes an adequate volume level may be insufficient for moderate and major hearing loss. This applies in particular to the low electrical values specified for an implant Tensions.
Aus US 5 624 376 ist ein auf dem elektromagnetischen Prinzip beruhender Wandler für teil- oder vollimplantierbare Hörgeräte bekannt, bei welchem ein Dauermagnet zusammen mit zwei zugeordneten Polstücken in einem zylindrischen Gehäuse lose aufgehängt ist, während eine mit dem Dauermagneten zusammenwirkende Induktionsspule in einem von den Polstücken begrenzten zylindrischen Luftspalt sitzt und mit einer Gehäusewand fest verbunden ist. Bei Beaufschlagung der Spule mit Wechselspannung wird die aus dem Dauermagneten und den Polstücken bestehende Masse in Schwingungen versetzt. Diese Masse ist mit dem Gehäuse mechanisch gekoppelt, und das Gehäuse ist seinerseits zur Anbringung an einer schwingfähigen Struktur des Ohres ausgelegt. Wird die Masse in Schwingungen versetzt, soll dies Trägheitsschwingungen des Gehäuses bewirken, um so die schwingfähigen Struktur des Ohres zu stimulieren. Die bei dieser Anordnung vorgesehene Lagerung des Gehäuses samt Wandler an einer schwingfähigen Struktur des Ohres, insbesondere auf der Ossikelkette, bringt besondere chirurgische Probleme mit sich.From US 5 624 376 is a transducer based on the electromagnetic principle known for partially or fully implantable hearing aids, in which a permanent magnet together with two associated pole pieces in a cylindrical Housing is suspended loosely, while one interacting with the permanent magnet Induction coil in a cylindrical, delimited by the pole pieces Air gap sits and is firmly connected to a housing wall. When applied the coil with alternating voltage is the permanent magnet and the Pole existing mass vibrated. This mass is with the Housing mechanically coupled, and the housing is in turn for attachment a vibrating structure of the ear. The mass will vibrate offset, this should cause inertial vibrations of the housing, so the stimulate vibratory structure of the ear. The one envisaged in this arrangement Storage of the housing together with the converter on a vibratable structure of the ear, especially on the ossicular chain, brings special surgical Problems with themselves.
In Fredrickson et al. Ongoing investigations into an implantable electromagnetic hearing aid for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss", Otolaryngolic Clinics of North America, Vol. 28, Nr. 1, Febr. 1995, ist ein implantierbarer Mittelohrwandler erwähnt, bei dem es sich um einen elektromagnetischen Motor handelt, der in einem hermetisch dichten Gehäuse aus rostfreiem Stahl untergebracht ist und der eine biokompatible Sondenspitze antreibt. Die Sondenspitze greift in eine mittels Laserstrahl ausgebildete Öffnung des Incus. Es ist weder erkennbar, wie der elektromagnetische Motor aufgebaut ist, noch wie Schwingungen von dem elektromagnetischen Motor auf die Sondenspitze übertragen werden.In Fredrickson et al. Ongoing investigations into an implantable electromagnetic hearing aid for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss ", Otolaryngolic Clinics of North America, Vol. 28, No. 1, Feb. 1995, mentions an implantable middle ear transducer, which is an electromagnetic motor , which is housed in a hermetically sealed housing made of stainless steel and which drives a biocompatible probe tip be transferred to the probe tip.
Es ist Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, eine Hörgeräte-Wandleranordnung der eingangs genannten Art zu schaffen, die auch relativ niederfrequente Schwingungen zur Übertragung auf ein mit der Wandleranordnung direkt mechanisch gekoppeltes Mittelohr-Ossikel oder direkt auf das Innenohr mit ausreichender Amplitude erzeugen kann, die gleichwohl mit relativ geringer Energie auskommt und die sich chirurgisch problemlos implantieren läßt.It is an object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid transducer arrangement to create the type mentioned, which also relatively low-frequency vibrations for transmission to a directly mechanically coupled to the transducer arrangement Middle ear ossicle or directly on the inner ear with sufficient amplitude can generate, which still manages with relatively low energy and which can be easily surgically implanted.
Diese Aufgabe wird bei einer Hörgeräte-Wandleranordnung der eingangs genannten Art erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, daß der elektromechanische Wandler als Elelctromagnetanordnung ausgebildet ist, die ein mit Bezug auf das Gehäuse fixiertes Bauteil sowie ein schwingfähiges Bauteil aufweist, welches mit dem Koppelelement derart in Verbindung steht, daß Schwingungen des schwingfähigen Bauteils auf das Koppelelement übertragen werden.This object is achieved in a hearing aid converter arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning Art solved according to the invention in that the electromechanical transducer as Electromagnetic arrangement is formed, the one with respect to the housing has fixed component and a vibratable component, which with the coupling element is connected in such a way that vibrations of the vibratable Component are transferred to the coupling element.
Die erfindungsgemäße Lösung hat den Vorteil, daß die Wandleranordnung entsprechend einfach und problemlos wie der piezoelektrische Wandler gemäß EP 0 499 940 implantiert werden kann, weil sich das Wandlergehäuse mit Bezug auf die Knochenstruktur des Schädels fixieren läßt. Zugleich kann aber wegen der Nutzung des elektromagnetischen Wandlerprinzips ein auch für niedrige Frequenzen des Hörbereichs besonders günstiger Frequenzgang des Wandlers erreicht werden, so daß ein adäquater Höreindruck bei ausreichendem Lautstärkepegel mit den bei einem Implantat notwendigerweise geringen elektrischen Spannungen ermöglicht wird.The solution according to the invention has the advantage that the transducer arrangement accordingly simple and easy like the piezoelectric transducer EP 0 499 940 can be implanted because the transducer housing is related can be fixed on the bone structure of the skull. At the same time, however, because of Use of the electromagnetic converter principle also for low frequencies particularly favorable frequency response of the transducer can be achieved in the listening area, so that an adequate listening impression with sufficient volume level with the in the case of an implant necessarily enables low electrical voltages becomes.
Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den Unteransprüchen.Advantageous refinements of the invention result from the subclaims.
Insbesondere kann eine Wand des Gehäuses als schwingfähige Membran ausgeführt sein, an deren Innenseite das schwingfähige Bauteil befestigt ist und mit deren Außenseite das Koppelelement verbunden ist.In particular, a wall of the housing can be designed as an oscillatable membrane be on the inside of which the vibratable component is attached and with whose outside the coupling element is connected.
Das Gehäuse ist zweckmäßig als hermetisch dichtes und biokompatibles Gehäuse ausgeführt. Es ist vorteilhaft zylindrisch ausgebildet, und weist eine Umfangswand sowie zwei im wesentlichen parallel zueinander verlaufende, kreisförmige Stirnwände auf von denen die eine die schwingfähige Membran bildet, während die andere mit der Umfangswand des Gehäuses einstückig verbunden sein kann.The housing is useful as a hermetically sealed and biocompatible housing executed. It is advantageously cylindrical and has a peripheral wall and two circular end walls running essentially parallel to one another on one of which forms the vibratable membrane, while the others can be integrally connected to the peripheral wall of the housing.
Vorzugsweise sind sowohl das schwingfähige Bauteil als auch das Koppelelement im wesentlichen im Zentrum der die schwingfähige Membran bildenden Gehäusestirnfläche befestigt.Both the vibratable component and the coupling element are preferred essentially in the center of the housing end face forming the vibratable membrane attached.
Mit der Innenseite der Membran ist bevorzugt ein das schwingfähige Bauteil bildender Dauermagnet verbunden, während eine elektromagnetische Spule in dem Gehäuse fest angebracht ist, um den Dauermagneten in Schwingungen zu versetzen. Dabei ist vorteilhaft der Dauermagnet als Magnetstift ausgebildet, und die Spule ist eine Ringspule mit einer Mittelöffnung, in welche der Magnetstift eintaucht. Auf diese Weise wird eine Wandleranordnung mit besonders kleiner bewegter Masse erhalten, die Änderungen des an die Magnetspule angelegten elektrischen Signals rasch und getreu folgen kann. Grundsätzlich ist es aber auch möglich, die Magnetspule an der schwingfähigen Membran zu befestigen und den Magneten mit Bezug auf das Gehäuse zu fixieren.The inside of the membrane is preferably a component that forms the oscillatable component Permanent magnet connected while an electromagnetic coil in the Housing is firmly attached to set the permanent magnet in vibration. The permanent magnet is advantageously designed as a magnetic pin, and the Coil is a ring coil with a central opening into which the magnetic pin is immersed. In this way, a converter arrangement with a particularly small size received moving mass, the changes in the applied to the solenoid electrical signal can follow quickly and faithfully. Basically, it is also possible to attach the solenoid to the vibratable membrane and the Fix magnets with respect to the housing.
Gegenstand der Erfindung ist ferner ein voll- oder teilimplantierbares Hörgerät, das mit einer Wandleranordnung der vorliegend offenbarten Art versehen ist.The invention also relates to a fully or partially implantable hearing aid is provided with a transducer arrangement of the type disclosed herein.
Bevorzugte Ausführungsformen der vorliegenden Erfindung werden nachstehend unter Bezugnahme auf die beigefügten Zeichnungen beschrieben. Dabei zeigen:
- Fig. 1
- eine schematische Schnittansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Wandlers in einer ersten Ausführungsform; und
- Fig. 2
- einen schematischen Schnitt durch ein menschliches Ohr mit einem implantierten Hörgerät, das mit einem Wandler gemäß Fig. 1 ausgestattet ist.
- Fig. 1
- a schematic sectional view of a transducer according to the invention in a first embodiment; and
- Fig. 2
- a schematic section through a human ear with an implanted hearing aid, which is equipped with a transducer according to FIG. 1.
In Fig. 1 ist eine implantierbare Wandleranordnung 10 eines Hörgeräts zur direkten
mechanischen Anregung des Mittel- oder Innenohrs dargestellt. Zur Schallaufnahme
dient gemäß Fig. 2 ein als Mikrofon 58 ausgebildeter Aufnehmer, der vorzugsweise
ebenfalls implantierbar ist. Die Wandleranordnung 10 ist mit einem
hermetisch dichten, biokompatiblen, zylindrischen Gehäuse 14, vorzugsweise aus
Metall, beispielsweise Titan, Niob, Tantal, Iridium oder deren Legierungen, versehen.
Das Gehäuse 14 ist mit Inertgas 16 gefüllt. Das Gehäuse 14 weist eine
Umfangswand 11 und zwei zu der Umfangswand 11 senkrecht verlaufende, kreisförmige
Stirnwände 12 und 18 auf Die eine Stirnwand des Gehäuses 14 ist als
dünne, schwingfähige Membran 18 ausgebildet, an deren Außenseite, vorzugsweise
im Zentrum der Außenseite, ein mechanisch steifes Koppelelement 20 zur
mechanischen Schwingungsankopplung an ein Mittelohr-Ossikel oder direkt an das
Innenohr angebracht, zum Beispiel angeschweißt oder angeklebt, ist. Die andere
Stirnseite 12 ist mit der Umfangswand 11 des Gehäuses einstückig verbundenIn Fig. 1 is an
An der Innenseite der Membran 18 ist mittig, zum Beispiel mittels einer Klebeverbindung,
ein stiftförmiger Dauermagnet 30 befestigt, der in eine Mittelöffnung der
Ringspule 32 eintaucht und darin verschiebbar ist. Die Spule 32 ist in nicht näher
dargestellter Weise mit dem Gehäuse 14 fest verbunden, beispielsweise mit diesem
verklebt. In die Stirnwand 12 ist eine elektrisch isolierende, hermetisch dichte
Durchführung 26 eingesetzt. Anschlußdrähte 34 der Spule 32 sind mit nach außen
aus dem Gehäuse 14 herausgeführten elektrischen Anschlüssen 36 verbunden.On the inside of the
Eine Erregung der Spule 32 durch Anlegen einer Wechselspannung an die
Anschlüsse 36 bewirkt eine Verschiebung des Dauermagneten 30 relativ zu der
gehäusefesten Spule 32 und damit eine Auslenkung der Membran 18. Diese Auslenkung
wird über das Koppelelement 20 auf ein Mittelohr-Ossikel bzw. direkt auf
des Innenohr übertragen. Das Koppelelement 20 kann insbesondere als Koppelstange
ausgebildet und beispielsweise über einen dünnen Draht- oder Hohldrahtbügel
oder einen Bügel aus einem kohlefaserverstärkten Verbundwerkstoff mit der
Ossikelkette verbunden sein. Geeignete Anordnungen dieser Art sind in der älteren
DE-Patentanmeldung 197 38 587.7 näher erläutert. Excitation of the
Fig. 2 zeigt ein insgesamt mit 51 bezeichnetes implantiertes Hörgerät, das mit einer
Wandleranordnung 10 der vorstehend erläuterten Art ausgestattet ist.Fig. 2 shows an implanted hearing aid designated 51, which with a
Das Hörgerät 51 weist ferner eine Akkumulatoreinheit 53, eine Ladeempfangsspule
54 und ein Elektronikmodul 55 auf. Die Komponenten 53, 54 und 55 sind in einem
hermetisch dichten Gehäuse 56 untergebracht, das im Mastoid 57 implantiert und
mit Bezug auf den Schädel fixiert ist. An das Elektronikmodul 55 sind die
Wandleranordnung 10 und das Mikrofon 58 über Leitungen 59 beziehungsweise 60
angeschlossen. Das Koppelelement 20 ist mit der Ossikelkette 62 gekoppelt. Zu
einer tragbaren Ladeeinheit 63 gehört eine Ladesendespule 64, die zum
transkutanen Laden der Akkumulatoreinheit 53 mit der Ladeempfangsspule 54
induktiv gekoppelt werden kann. Eine Fernsteuereinheit ist bei 65 angedeutet. Ein
solches Hörgerät ist beispielsweise aus US-PS 5,277,694 bekannt und bedarf daher
keiner näheren Beschreibung.The
Claims (11)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE19840212A DE19840212C2 (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1998-09-03 | Transducer arrangement for partially or fully implantable hearing aids |
DE19840212 | 1998-09-03 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0984663A2 true EP0984663A2 (en) | 2000-03-08 |
EP0984663A3 EP0984663A3 (en) | 2006-05-17 |
EP0984663B1 EP0984663B1 (en) | 2010-10-27 |
Family
ID=7879710
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98121495A Expired - Lifetime EP0984663B1 (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1998-11-12 | Transducer arrangement for partially or completely implanted hearing aids |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6162169A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0984663B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU760815B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2274211C (en) |
DE (2) | DE19840212C2 (en) |
DK (1) | DK0984663T3 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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EP1011295A2 (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2000-06-21 | IMPLEX Aktiengesellschaft Hearing Technology | Hermetically tight hearing aid transducer and hearing aid with this transducer |
DE10041726C1 (en) * | 2000-08-25 | 2002-05-23 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Implantable hearing system with means for measuring the coupling quality |
US6537199B1 (en) | 1999-07-26 | 2003-03-25 | Phonak Ag | Arrangement for mechanical coupling of a driver to a coupling site of the ossicular chain |
US6547715B1 (en) | 1999-07-08 | 2003-04-15 | Phonak Ag | Arrangement for mechanical coupling of a driver to a coupling site of the ossicular chain |
US7376563B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2008-05-20 | Cochlear Limited | System for rehabilitation of a hearing disorder |
Families Citing this family (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6364825B1 (en) | 1998-09-24 | 2002-04-02 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Method and apparatus for improving signal quality in implantable hearing systems |
DE19859171C2 (en) * | 1998-12-21 | 2000-11-09 | Implex Hear Tech Ag | Implantable hearing aid with tinnitus masker or noiser |
DE10015421C2 (en) | 2000-03-28 | 2002-07-04 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Partially or fully implantable hearing system |
DE10018334C1 (en) * | 2000-04-13 | 2002-02-28 | Implex Hear Tech Ag | At least partially implantable system for the rehabilitation of a hearing impairment |
DE10039401C2 (en) | 2000-08-11 | 2002-06-13 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | At least partially implantable hearing system |
DE10047388C1 (en) * | 2000-09-25 | 2002-01-10 | Implex Hear Tech Ag | Implantable hearing system, includes a detachable coupling for securing and locating a transducer and a micro-manipulator |
DE10114838A1 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-10 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Fully implantable hearing system |
US6875166B2 (en) * | 2001-09-06 | 2005-04-05 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Method for creating a coupling between a device and an ear structure in an implantable hearing assistance device |
US7278963B2 (en) * | 2003-01-27 | 2007-10-09 | Otologics, Llc | Implantable hearing aid transducer with advanceable actuator to facilitate coupling with the auditory system |
EP1422971B1 (en) * | 2002-11-20 | 2012-11-07 | Phonak Ag | Implantable transducer for hearing systems and method for adjusting the frequency response of such a transducer |
US7273447B2 (en) * | 2004-04-09 | 2007-09-25 | Otologics, Llc | Implantable hearing aid transducer retention apparatus |
US8602964B2 (en) * | 2004-11-30 | 2013-12-10 | Cochlear Limited | Implantable actuator for hearing aid applications |
WO2007011806A2 (en) * | 2005-07-18 | 2007-01-25 | Soundquest, Inc. | Behind-the-ear auditory device |
US20070127757A2 (en) * | 2005-07-18 | 2007-06-07 | Soundquest, Inc. | Behind-The-Ear-Auditory Device |
EP2255545A2 (en) | 2008-02-07 | 2010-12-01 | Advanced Bionics AG | Partially implantable hearing device |
EP2548380A1 (en) * | 2010-03-15 | 2013-01-23 | Advanced Bionics AG | Hearing aid and method of implanting a hearing aid |
JP2013539351A (en) | 2010-10-08 | 2013-10-17 | ソリダゴ ソシエテ ア レスポンサビリテ リミテ | Implantable actuators for hearing aid applications |
US9729981B2 (en) | 2011-05-12 | 2017-08-08 | Cochlear Limited | Identifying hearing prosthesis actuator resonance peak(s) |
US9900709B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2018-02-20 | Cochlear Limited | Determining impedance-related phenomena in vibrating actuator and identifying device system characteristics based thereon |
US10321247B2 (en) | 2015-11-27 | 2019-06-11 | Cochlear Limited | External component with inductance and mechanical vibratory functionality |
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DE4221866C2 (en) * | 1992-07-03 | 1994-06-23 | Guenter Hortmann | Hearing aid for stimulating the inner ear |
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US5772575A (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1998-06-30 | S. George Lesinski | Implantable hearing aid |
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- 1998-11-12 EP EP98121495A patent/EP0984663B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1998-11-12 DK DK98121495.0T patent/DK0984663T3/en active
- 1998-11-12 DE DE59814473T patent/DE59814473D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1999
- 1999-03-25 US US09/275,872 patent/US6162169A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-03-30 AU AU22508/99A patent/AU760815B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1999-06-11 CA CA002274211A patent/CA2274211C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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US5277694A (en) | 1991-02-13 | 1994-01-11 | Implex Gmbh | Electromechanical transducer for implantable hearing aids |
US5624376A (en) | 1993-07-01 | 1997-04-29 | Symphonix Devices, Inc. | Implantable and external hearing systems having a floating mass transducer |
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Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1011295A2 (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2000-06-21 | IMPLEX Aktiengesellschaft Hearing Technology | Hermetically tight hearing aid transducer and hearing aid with this transducer |
EP1011295A3 (en) * | 1998-12-17 | 2006-05-24 | Phonak Ag | Hermetically tight hearing aid transducer and hearing aid with this transducer |
US6547715B1 (en) | 1999-07-08 | 2003-04-15 | Phonak Ag | Arrangement for mechanical coupling of a driver to a coupling site of the ossicular chain |
US6537199B1 (en) | 1999-07-26 | 2003-03-25 | Phonak Ag | Arrangement for mechanical coupling of a driver to a coupling site of the ossicular chain |
US7376563B2 (en) | 2000-06-30 | 2008-05-20 | Cochlear Limited | System for rehabilitation of a hearing disorder |
DE10041726C1 (en) * | 2000-08-25 | 2002-05-23 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Implantable hearing system with means for measuring the coupling quality |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2274211C (en) | 2002-07-09 |
DE19840212C2 (en) | 2001-08-02 |
DE19840212A1 (en) | 2000-03-23 |
EP0984663B1 (en) | 2010-10-27 |
AU2250899A (en) | 2000-03-16 |
US6162169A (en) | 2000-12-19 |
AU760815B2 (en) | 2003-05-22 |
DE59814473D1 (en) | 2010-12-09 |
DK0984663T3 (en) | 2011-02-14 |
EP0984663A3 (en) | 2006-05-17 |
CA2274211A1 (en) | 2000-03-03 |
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