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US 2010/0246841 A1Published application
Soundbridge test system
AssigneeVibrant Med-El
InventorGeoffrey BALL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for improving testing of hearing devices, including soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants. In particular, the present invention provides a microphone system utilizing reverse transfer function to assess the operability of implanted hearing improvement devices, including but not limited to soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants.
Claims16
A method for monitoring an ear implant, comprising:
- a) placing a microphone into the external ear canal of a patient having an ear implant, wherein said ear implant comprises a transducer;
- b) supplying an input signal to said ear implant such that said transducer vibrates the ossicular chain which drives the tympanic membrane causing sound pressure to be generated by the tympanic membrane of said patient;
- and
- c) monitoring said sound pressure generated by said tympanic membrane of said middle ear with said microphone.
1 more element
A method for monitoring an ear implant, comprising:
- a) placing a microphone into the external ear canal of a patient having an ear implant, wherein said ear implant comprises a transducer in contact with an incus bone;
- b) supplying an input signal to said ear implant such that said transducer vibrates said incus bone which drives the tympanic membrane causing sound pressure to be generated by said tympanic membrane of said patient;
- and
- c) monitoring said sound pressure generated by said tympanic membrane with said microphone.
1 more element
A method for monitoring an ear implant, comprising:
- a) providing a patient having:
- i) an ear implant comprising a transducer, and
- ii) a microphone located in the external ear canal of said patient;
- b) supplying an input signal to said ear implant such that said transducer vibrates causing the ossicular chain which drives the tympanic membrane causing sound pressure to be generated by the tympanic membrane of said middle ear of said patient;
- and
- c) monitoring said sound pressure generated by said tympanic membrane with said microphone.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.