Biocompatible fully implantable hearing aid transducers

An improved hearing aid system that is adapted for implantation into a subject having a fluid-filled inner ear that is enclosed by a bony otic capsule;

• the improved hearing aid system including:
• a microphone adapted for subcutaneous implantation in the subject and for generating an electrical signal in response to impingement of sound waves upon the subject;
• signal processing means adapted for receiving the electrical signal from the microphone, for processing the electrical signal, and for re-transmitting a processed electrical signal, said signal processing means also being adapted for implantation in the subject;
• and
• a battery for supplying electrical power to said signal processing means, said battery also being adapted for implantation in the subject;
• wherein the improvement comprises a microactuator that includes:
• a hollow body having an open first end, an open first face that is separated from the first end, an open second face that is also separated from the first end and from the first face;
• a first flexible diaphragm sealed across the first end of said body, and adapted for deflecting outward from and inward toward the body, and for contacting the fluid within the inner ear;
• second and third flexible diaphragms respectively sealed across the first and the second faces of said body thereby hermetically sealing said body;
• and
• first and second plates of piezoelectric material that are mechanically coupled respectively to said second and third flexible diaphragms and that are respectively adapted for receiving the processed electrical signal, whereby upon application of the processed electrical signal to said first and second plates, said first and second plates indirectly deflect said first flexible diaphragm by directly deflecting said second flexible diaphragm and said third flexible diaphragm, which deflections are coupled by said liquid within the body from said second flexible diaphragm and said third flexible diaphragm to said first flexible diaphragm.

An improved hearing aid system that is adapted for implantation into a subject having a fluid-filled inner ear that is enclosed by a bony otic capsule;

• the improved hearing aid system including:
• a microphone adapted for subcutaneous implantation in the subject and for generating an electrical signal in response to impingement of sound waves upon the subject;
• signal processing means adapted for receiving the electrical signal from the microphone, for processing the electrical signal, and for re-transmitting a processed electrical signal, said signal processing means also being adapted for implantation in the subject;
• a battery for supplying electrical power to said signal processing means, said battery also being adapted for implantation in the subject;
• and
• a microactuator also adapted for implantation in the subject in a location from which a transducer included in said microactuator may mechanically generate vibrations in the fluid within the inner ear of the subject, the microactuator receiving the processed electrical signal from the signal processing means and producing vibrations in the fluid within the inner ear responsive to the received processed electrical signal;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a photo-voltaic cell adapted for implantation subdermally within the subject where ambient light impinges upon the photo-voltaic cell, and for coupling electrical power to said signal processing means, in conjunction with electrical power supplied by the battery, for energizing operation of the hearing aid system.