Cochlear implant

Apparatus for producing an auditory response in the auditory nerves of a person's ear, comprising:

• a microphone adapted to produce an electronic signal corresponding to sounds impinging on the microphone;
• an amplifier connected to the microphone for amplifying the electronic signal;
• a speaker connected to the amplifier for transforming the amplified electronic signal into amplified sounds, the speaker comprising a housing adapted to be inserted into the ear to direct the amplified sounds into the external auditory canal of the ear;
• and,
• an implant comprising an elongate flexible strip of piezoelectric material dimensioned to be inserted into the scala tympani of the ear in general alignment with the spiral path of the scala tympani;
• whereby, in use, the amplified sounds cause vibrations to be conducted along the scala tympani thereby inducing a piezoelectric response in the material and stimulation of auditory nerve fibres.

Apparatus for producing an auditory response in the auditory nerves of a person's ear in response to sound received by the ear, comprising:

• an elongate flexible strip of piezoelectric material dimensioned for location within the scala tympani of the ear in general alignment with the spiral path of the scala tympani;
• an elongate flexible support for locating the strip within the scala tympani, the support being dimensioned for displacement lengthwise along the scala tympani and being sufficiently rigid that the support can be pushed along the scala tympani;
• and,
• securing means securing the strip to the support for displacement together and operable to release the strip from the support.