Damping in contact hearing systems

A tympanic lens, comprising:

• a perimeter platform;
• a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring;
• a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element, and wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils;
• an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator;
• and
• a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire.

A tympanic lens, comprising:

• a perimeter platform;
• a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring;
• a damper separate from and attached to the at least one biasing element, wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element;
• an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator;
• and
• a current source mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire,
• wherein the viscoelastic material is configured to become stiffer or more viscous as a vibration frequency of the tympanic lens increases.