# US 2019/0356995 A1 · Middle Ear Implant Coupler for Mechanical Cochlea Stimulation via the Round Window

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- Number: US 2019/0356995 A1
- Document ID: US20190356995A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/482,319
- Filed: 2018-02-23
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27
- Assignees: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
- Applicants: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
- Inventors: Daniel Schurzig
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356995A1

## CPC

- H04R 25/606: {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}
- A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation}
- H04R 25/02: adapted to be supported entirely by ear
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A round window coupling device is described for a hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system. A rigid outer shell securely fits into a round window niche in a cochlear outer surface of a recipient patient. An electrode groove in the outer surface of the outer shell snuggly fits around a portion of a cochlear implant electrode array passing through the round window niche. A coupling filling is enclosed within the outer shell to couple mechanical vibrations from the proximal end to the distal end with minimal attenuation. A transducer receiver at the proximal end connects to and receives vibrations from a drive surface of a mechanical transducer. And a drive face at the distal end interfaces to perilymph fluid within the cochlea of the recipient patient to deliver vibrations from the coupling filling to the perilymph fluid with minimal attenuation for perception as sound.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A round window coupling device for a hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system, the device comprising:
a rigid outer shell having a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface, and configured to securely fit into a round window niche in a cochlear outer surface of a recipient patient;
an electrode groove in the outer surface of the outer shell configured to snuggly fit around a portion of a cochlear implant electrode array passing through the round window niche;
a coupling filling enclosed within the outer shell and configured to couple mechanical vibrations from the proximal end of the outer shell to the distal end of the outer shell with minimal attenuation;
a transducer receiver at the proximal end of the outer shell configured to connect to and receive vibrations from a drive surface of a mechanical transducer; and
a drive face at the distal end of the outer shell configured to interface to perilymph fluid within the cochlea of the recipient patient to deliver vibrations from the coupling filling to the perilymph fluid with minimal attenuation for perception as sound.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the drive face is comprises a drive membrane at the distal end of the outer shell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling filling comprises non-compressible material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the non-compressible coupling filling comprises a silicone material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the non-compressible coupling filling comprises a liquid coupling material enclosed within end membranes located at each end of the outer shell.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a cylindrical shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a frusto-conical shape configured to snuggly fit into the round window niche to securely fix the coupling device and the electrode lead at the round window niche.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical transducer is a floating mass transducer (FMT).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

A hybrid electric-mechanical stimulation hearing implant system having a round window coupling device according to any of claims 1-8.