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Middle ear implant

A piezoelectric element and input signal technology, applied in ear implants, electrical components, sensors, etc., can solve problems such as performance and feasibility differences

Active Publication Date: 2013-07-24
MED EL ELEKTROMEDIZINISCHE GERAETE GMBH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

It is well known to those skilled in the art that in the design of actuators, small variations that may be substantially similar in appearance can make large and noticeable differences in performance and even feasibility for a particular application

Method used

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Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0034] The incorporation of a suitable electrode device in the actuator of the present invention is easy for those skilled in the art to understand, therefore, it will not be discussed in detail here.

[0035] General reference Figure 1 to 12 , First refer to figure 1 with 2 , Therein is shown an actuator 10 for a middle ear implant according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The middle ear implant is in the form of an electromechanical actuator 10, which includes a piezoelectric stack 12, which may desirably have a plurality of piezoelectric elements, which may include 40 by way of a non-limiting example. To 80, the cross-section of each piezoelectric element is advantageously but not necessarily approximately 0.4mm×0.9mm, and the thickness of each piezoelectric element is advantageously but not necessarily between 20μm and 40μm, preferably made of zirconate titanic acid Lead (PZT) or other piezoelectric materials whose conversion coefficient f...

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Abstract

A hearing actuator (10) for implantation in the middle ear of a user. The actuator comprises transducer means (for example a piezoelectric device) (12) for converting electrical input signals into mechanical vibrations, and attachment means (16) for attaching one end of the transducer means to a first part of the middle ear. The actuator also comprises contacting means (14) which extends from an opposite end of the transducer means such that a longitudinal axis of the contacting means is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transducer means. The contacting means is for contacting a second part of the middle ear (to which it may be attached), so as to transmit the mechanical vibrations of the transducer means thereto.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a device for assisting the hearing impaired. More specifically, the present invention relates to the arrangement of an electromechanical actuator that can be directly attached to the ossicular chain of the middle ear for amplifying vibrations generated by sound signals. Background technique [0002] Deafness affects 9 million people in the UK, of which over 80% suffer from sensorineural deafness (SD). This debilitating situation plagues about 10% of the population of the Western world. There are several reasons, aging is a very important reason, and it accounts for a large proportion of patients over 60 years old. Hearing impairment is the third most common long-term problem affecting the elderly population and the least diagnosed problem. Due to exposure to a lot of noise, it also tends to increase in some younger age groups. [0003] There is currently no effective means to repair the cochlea or the nerve pathways leading...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): H04R25/00
CPCA61F2002/183H04R17/00H04R25/606A61F2/18
Inventor 大卫·欧内斯特·扬埃里克·威廉·艾贝尔罗宾·罗里斯多佛·布罗迪
Owner MED EL ELEKTROMEDIZINISCHE GERAETE GMBH
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