Promontory transmitting coil and tympanic membrane magnet for hearing devices
AssigneeResound Corporation
InventorRodney C. Perkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a hearing system, a transmitting coil is positioned on the promontory centered medial to the umbo of the tympanic membrane while securing the magnet to a surface of said tympanic membrane or to the manubrium of the malleus. The system does not require the permanent placement of components in the auditory canal which would otherwise interfere with normal hearing when the system is not in use.
Claims26
A hearing system, for imparting audio information to an individual by vibrating the tympanic membrane of the middle ear of the individual, that comprises:
- signal producing means for producing signals containing audio information which comprises a transmitting coil mounted on the promontory centered medial to the umbo of the tympanic membrane;
- and
- a transducer means responsive to said signal to cause mechanical vibrations representing said audio information, wherein said transducer means is attached to the manubrium of the malleus.
A method for imparting audio information to an individual by vibrating the tympanic membrane of individual, comprising the steps of:
- providing a signal producing means for producing signals containing audio information which comprises a transmitting coil mounted on the promontory of the middle ear;
- and
- securing a transducer means responsive to said signal to cause mechanical vibrations representing said audio information to a surface of the manubrium of the malleus.
A hearing system for imparting audio information to an individual that comprises:
- a first device for converting acoustic energy into first electrical signals, comprising a magnet that is attached to the manubrium of the malleus of the individual's first ear and a coil mounted on the promontory centered medial to the umbo of the middle ear of said first ear, said coil responsive to movement of the magnet to create a first current in said coil;
- and
- a second device for converting said first current into mechanical vibrations that correspond to said audio information wherein said second device is positioned in the first ear or in the individual's second ear.
A method of imparting audio information to an individual that comprises the steps of:
- providing a first device for converting acoustic energy into first electrical signals, comprising a magnet that is attached to the manubrium of the malleus of the individual's first ear and a coil mounted on the promontory centered medial to the umbo of the middle ear of said first ear, said coil responsive to movement of the magnet to create a first current in said coil;
- and
- providing a second device for converting said first current into mechanical vibrations that correspond to audio information wherein the second device is positioned in the first ear or in the individual's second ear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.