Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device

Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device characterized by the absence of electrodes entering the middle-ear and variability to meet a variety of pathological entities of the hearing impaired user;

• said device comprising:
• sound processing means for converting sound into an electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter adapted to be placed supercutaneously behind at least one ear of the user for transmitting the electromagetic signal transcutaneously;
• signal receiving and transmitting means adapted to be implanted subcutaneously and including electromagnetic signal receiving means for receiving the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said sound processing means transmitter and including means for attachment thereof subcutaneously to the mastoid area of the temporal bone of the user, electrodes connected at one end to said electromagnetic signal receiving means for subcutaneously conveying an electrical signal, and electromagnetic signal transmitting means connected to the other end of said electrodes and adapted to be implanted in the temporal bone of the user just outside of the middle-ear for transmitting an electromagnetic signal subcutaneously into the middle-ear of the user;
• and
• vibration generating means adapted to be implanted in any of the small bones of the ossicular chain in the middle-ear of the user and including magnetic means for receiving the subcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said signal receiving and transmitting means and for vibrating the ossicular chain in response to said electromagnetic signal to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound in the hearing impaired user.

Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, the absence of electrodes entering the middle-ear and variability to meet a variety of pathological entities of the hearing impaired user;

• said device comprising:
• sound processing means for converting sound into an electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter adapted to be placed supercutaneously behind at least one ear of the user for transmitting the electromagnetic signal transcutaneously and having magnetic means therein;
• signal receiving and transmitting means adapted to be implanted in the temporal bone of the user outside of the middle-ear for receiving the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said sound processing means transmitter and for transmitting an electromagnetic signal subcutaneously into the middle-ear of the user and including a bone screw for securing at least a portion thereof subcutaneously to the mastoid area of the temporal bone of the user and magnetic means in said portion thereof for cooperating with said magnetic means of said sound processing means transmitter to hold said sound processing means transmitter in position supercutaneously behind the ear of the user without a transcutaneous connection therebetween;
• and
• vibration generating means adapted to be implanted in the small bones of the ossicular chain in the middle-ear for receiving the subcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said signal receiving and transmitting means and for vibrating the ossicular chain in response to said electromagnetic signal to stimulate the inner ear to create the preception of sound in the hearing impaired user.

Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, the absence of electrodes entering the middle-ear and variability to meet a variety of pathological entities of the hearing impaired user;

• said device comprising:
• sound processing means for converting sound into an electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter adapted to be placed supercutaneously behind at least one ear of the user for transmitting the electromagnetic signal transcutaneously and having magnetic means therein;
• signal receiving and transmitting means adapted to be implanted in the temporal bone of the user outside of the middle-ear and including electromagnetic signal receiving means for receiving the transcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said sound processing means transmitter and including a bone screw for securing at least a portion thereof subcutaneously to the mastoid area of the temporal bone of the user and magnetic means for cooperating with said magnetic means of said sound processing means transmitter to hold said sound processing means transmitter in position supercutaneously behind the ear of the user without a transcutaneous connection therebetween, electrodes connected at one end to said electromagnetic signal receiving means for subcutaneously conveying an electrical signal, and electromagnetic signal transmitting means connected to the other end of said electrodes and adapted to be implanted in the temporal bone of the user just outside of the middle-ear for transmitting an electromagnetic signal subcutaneously into the middle-ear of the user;
• and
• vibration generating means adapted to be implanted in the small bones of the ossicular chain in the middle-ear of the user and including magnetic means for receiving the subcutaneous electromagnetic signal from said signal receiving and transmitting means and for vibrating the ossicular chain in response to the electromagnetic signal to stimulate normal functioning of the inner ear to create the perception of sound in the hearing impaired user.