109 results about "Middle ear structure" patented technology

A convenient and preferably wearable system and method for implementing the controlled and sustained delivery of a medical liquid through the tympanic membrane and into the middle ear including port structure that produces a minimal opening in the membrane, a wearable and fixated fluid-conduit structure coupleable to the port structure, a reservoir adapted to contain delivery fluid, and an operationally controllable pump system applied to the fluid conduit structure, and / or an iontophoretic electrode system applied within the fluid conduit structure and to the subject's body, and operable to effect the delivery of reservoir-held fluid or medically active ions through the fluid conduit and port structures to the middle ear.

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.

A hearing enhancement includes an audio processor that generates an electrical audio signal and transmits the signal to a coil. The coil is implanted into a patient in a position that results in transmission of mechanical stimulation to the inner ear when the coil is spatially displaced. A permanent magnet is placed in proximity to the coil so that when the coil receives the electrical audio signal form the processor, the induced coil magnetic field in the coil interacts with the magnetic field from the permanent magnet to spatially displace the coil and, as a result, transmit the mechanical stimulation to the inner ear.

A method and apparatus for minimizing or eliminating the transmission of vibration away from, as well as induction of vibration into, a middle ear driving or sensing structure of an at least partially implantable hearing aid system. A vibration damping intermediary layer may be positioned between an originating structure and its housing, and / or between a housing and its mounting to the surrounding. The intermediary layer may be formed of a structure having elastic and damping characteristics. The intermediary layer may also have a number of fluid flow paths for absorbing energy and damping vibration.

A floating mass transducer for assisting hearing in a person is provided. Inertial vibration in the floating mass transducer (100) produces vibrations in the inner ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is attached to bone within the middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The floating mass transducer may generate vibrations in the inner ear by being attached to the skull or through a mouthpiece.

Improved formulations of gacyclidine for direct administration to the inner or middle ear.

An apparatus for equalizing pressure in a middle ear includes a hand-held air source for providing a continuous flow of air at a predetermined rate and a tapered sealing nostril plug adapted to be sealed against a nostril. The tapered nostril plug has a channel there through for delivering the continuous flow of air. The channel of the tapered plug is adapted to be placed in communication with the air source through an adjustable valve assembly for selecting a pressure limit for the air in the channel of the nostril plug.

An electrophysiological measurement method and system is provided for positioning an implantable transducer of a hearing instrument relative to a middle ear component or inner ear of a patient. The method and system employ electrophysiological measurement signals obtained in response to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In one embodiment, the electrophysiological measurements are obtained by an electrocochleography measurement device that measures the cochlear summating potential and / or action potential responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In another embodiment, an auditory brainstem response measurement device is utilized to obtain electrical potential measurement signals responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer.

Methods and apparatus for identifying microbiological constituents in the middle ear. A spectrometer receives Raman-scattered light from the region of the tympanic membrane and resolves spectral features of the Raman-scattered light. A processor receives the interferometry signal and the Raman signal, and generates a Raman spectrum of the tympanic membrane and material adjacent thereto. In some embodiments of the invention, low-coherence light and substantially monochromatic excitation light are directed onto a tympanic membrane of the ear of a person via an otoscopic tip that abuts the ear canal. An interferometer combines scattered low-coherence light from the ear tissue with a reference signal to generate an interferometric signal.

A simple cochlear implant is provided that avoids excavation of the mastoid bone. The cochlear implant includes one or more modules for housing the active and passive electronics, and an electrode array for stimulating the nerves of the cochlea. The cochlear implant may include a single modular unit which houses all of the electronics including processor, power supply and microphone. The single modular unit is positioned within the soft tissue behind the ear pinna. Alternatively, the cochlear implant includes two modular units. The first module is implanted within the soft tissue between the ear pinna and mastoid bone. Meanwhile, the second unit is an external module which may be positioned at various external locations. The exterior module may transmit electrical signals to the implanted module through various communication connections including direct electrical contact or through an electromagnetic link. The electrode array is surgically routed from the implanted module in the soft tissue to the cochlea without entering the ear canal by positioning the electrode array between the mastoid bone and the skin of the auditory canal. The electrode array is then routed around the tympanic membrane and through the middle ear to the cochlea. In addition, may be routed along a channel formed in the mastoid bone or through a hole formed in the Spine of Henle for further supporting the electrode array.

There is provided hearing device (140) improvements using modulation techniques adapted to the characteristics of auditory and vestibular hearing. One embodiment provides for extending hearing to the infrasonic range and applying them to a carrier in the ultrasonic “quiet zone”. Further extension of hearing into the ultrasonic range is provided by a modulation scheme which uses a fluid conduction coupler to match impedance for a vibration transducer applied to the skin. A variation on this embodiment integrates this ultrasonic hearing extension with normal acoustic headphones. Another embodiment compensates for high frequency hearing loss by a modulation scheme which uses middle ear resonance as an amplifier. A further embodiment combines ultrasonic transposition with wireless modulation to obtain secure communication.

A middle ear prosthesis comprises a body of deformable material capable of retaining different shapes. The body comprises a slotted wall defining a cavity for receiving a bone of the middle ear. The wall is deformable proximate slots in the wall between an open position for receiving the bone and a closed position wherein the body is reshaped to grasp the bone.

An electrophysiological measurement method and system is provided for positioning an implantable transducer of a hearing instrument relative to a middle ear component or inner ear of a patient. The method and system employ electrophysiological measurement signals obtained in response to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In one embodiment, the electrophysiological measurements are obtained by an electrocochleography measurement device that measures the cochlear summating potential and / or action potential responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer. In another embodiment, an auditory brainstem response measurement device is utilized to obtain electrical potential measurement signals responsive to test signals applied to an implanted transducer.

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

Methods and apparatus for performing interferometric measurements on ear tissue within a person's ear, wherein the measurements are performed as a function of pressure within the ear canal. Measurements may be performed at a plurality of pressures, including pressures greater than, and less than, atmospheric pressure. Using an apparatus in accordance with the invention, methods are provided for characterizing a tympanic membrane, as well as a biofilm adjacent to the tympanic membrane, and an effusion in the middle ear. The tympanic membrane may be characterized as to geometrical features and mobility. Characterizations provided by the apparatus serve to diagnose ear pathology.

The invention relates to the polynucleotide sequence of a nontypeable stain of Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides and uses thereof. The invention also relates to NTHi genes which are upregulated during or in response to NTHi infection of the middle ear and / or the nasopharynx.

Methods and structures for placing sensing and driver assemblies in a middle ear of a patient are disclosed. Methods and structures according to various embodiments of the invention provide minimally invasive techniques and devices that facilitate placement of sensing / driver assemblies in a middle ear using a trans-canal implantation technique. Certain embodiments include placement of a longitudinal body through the ear canal for mounting in the middle ear, and for supporting a sensing / driving assembly subsequently coupled thereto.

A reference transmitter (602) and reference receiver (604) are provided for testing the performance of a semi-implantable hearing aid. In a calibration configuration, an audiometer (606) is used to provide a reference signal via a headphone jack output (608) to the reference transmitter (602). The reference transmitter (602) provides an RF transmit coil output via lead (610) and coil (612) to the reference receiver (604). The reference receiver (604) provides an output signal that is correlated to a microphone signal to a hearing aid analyzer (616). The transmitter (602) and receiver (604) can be separately used to analyze the internal and external portions of a semi-implantable hearing aid using conventional audiometers and hearing aid analyzers.

A noninvasive method and system are provided for assessing the performance of implanted actuators of semi or fully-implantable hearing aid systems. The invention utilizes an externally positioned measurement device to obtain a test measure of the electrical signal passing through an implanted actuator when driven by a test signal of predetermined characteristics. In one embodiment, the measurement device may comprise a pair of coils for measuring the magnetic field generated by an implanted actuator utilized to simulate the middle ear of a patient. The magnetic field strength is directly related to the amount of current passing through the actuator. In turn, such current is inversely related to the electrical impedance present at the implanted actuator. Such electrical impedance is directly related to the mechanical impedance present at the interface between the implanted actuator and middle ear of a patient. As such, by driving an implanted actuator at one or more predetermined frequencies the resultant magnetic field measures may be utilized to assess whether the implanted actuator is operative and whether a desired interface between the actuator and the middle ear of patient (e.g. the ossicular chain) is present.

A totally implantable hearing system having a sound processing device, a coil assembly, and a magnet assembly. The magnet assembly is implanted in the middle ear of a user and is in contact with at least a portion of an ossicle of the middle ear. The sound processing device receives and converts sound into an electrical signal. The coil assembly receives and converts the electrical signal from the sound processing device into an electromagnetic signal, and transmits the electromagnetic signal into the middle ear of the user such that the electromagnet signals interact with the magnet assembly, thereby causing the magnet assembly and the ossicle to vibrate thereby creating the perception of sound in the user. The coil assembly is preferably implanted within the bony canal wall adjacent the outer ear canal of the user such that at least a portion of the coil assembly extends into the middle ear space of the user. The system preferably has a spacer connected to the magnet assembly and / or the coil assembly to substantially maintain a spatial separation between the magnet assembly and the coil assembly, while allowing for the magnet assembly to vibrate the ossicle in response to the electromagnetic signal transmitted by the coil assembly.

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.

A device for obtaining an equalization of a negative pressure in the middle ear is disclosed. The device comprises a facemask, an air pump and an air reservoir, all of them connected to a connecting tube. An increased air pressure is created by expiration into the facemask and / or by activating the air pump. A sufficient rise in air pressure in the device makes the air reservoir to expand, and this creates an increased pressure in the mouth / nose cavity and opens the Eustachian tube and forces air into the middle ear for equalization of the negative pressure in the middle ear.

The present invention relates to the preparation of a membrane for use in the repair of the middle ear including perforations and damage to the tympanic membrane. More particularly, the invention provides for compositions and methods for preparing silk fibroin biocompatible polyurethane membranes using a solvent, which have improved biodegradation, mechanical and vibroacoustic properties.

An atmospheric pressure adjustment apparatus is disclosed. The atmospheric pressure adjustment apparatus comprises: a speaker; a microphone; an earplug of which a main body is made of an elastic material so as to seal the external auditory meatus when the earplug is worn on the ear of a user, and which comprises an atmospheric pressure adjustment part penetrating the main body; and atmospheric pressure adjustment device for adjusting the fluid volume of the atmospheric pressure adjustment part; and a processor for outputting a sound through the speaker when the earplug is worn, measuring the air pressure difference between the middle ear internal atmospheric pressure and the external auditory meatus atmospheric pressure of the user on the basis of the strength of a received echo when the echo of the sound reflected from the eardrum of the user is received through the microphone, and adjusting the atmospheric pressure difference by moving the atmospheric pressure adjustment device according to the measured atmospheric pressure difference.

Otologic materials and methods are provided. For example, a cell-adhesive, biodegradable hydrogel scaffold loaded with time-released drugs for repairing chronic tympanic membrane perforations is disclosed, methods of making same and administering same are provided. This hydrogel may promote vascular in-growth and epithelial cell growth of the tympanic membrane with the purpose of closing the perforation and providing a barrier between the external and middle ear. The hydrogel is initially a liquid polymer that only gels upon exposure to specific conditions, such as exposure to light. This scaffold may simultaneously induce repair of the tympanic membrane while preventing or alleviating middle ear infection, thus filling a void in current tympanic membrane perforation therapies.

The invention discloses a high-altitude operation car frame overlap welding tool. The high-altitude operation car frame overlap welding tool comprises main side plate positioning devices used for positioning main side plates of a high-altitude operation car frame, front ear plate positioning devices used for positioning front ear plates of the high-altitude operation car frame, first middle ear plate positioning devices used for positioning a first middle ear plate of the high-altitude operation car frame, second middle ear plate positioning devices used for positioning a second middle ear plate of the high-altitude operation car frame, a tail ear plate positioning device used for positioning a tail ear plate of the high-altitude operation car frame and a side ear plate positioning deviceused for a side ear plate of the high-altitude operation car frame. The high-altitude operation car frame overlap welding tool conducts accurate positioning, clamping and fixing on all the componentsof the high-altitude operation car frame through cooperation of all the positioning devices, then conducts welding assembly and is high in production efficiency, large in clamping force, accurate in positioning, stable in product quality and low in rejection rate.

A soft, ball-shaped middle-ear electrode is inserted and wedged into the natural cavity that exists in front of the round window. An electrical pulse generator connected to the soft, ball-shaped electrode provides electrical stimulation to the region surrounding the round window for the purpose of suppressing tinnitus or to improve hearing.

An electrode device is for implantation in a human ear. An implantable electrode carrier has one or more electrical contacts on its surface. The electrode carrier and the electrode contacts are adapted to interact with endosteum tissue when implanted in a human ear so as to develop current flow from the electrical contacts through the endosteum tissue toward sensory epithelium within the cochlea.