Direct tympanic drive via a floating filament assembly

A hearing device constructed and adapted to fit and be worn within the ear canal of a human subject for imparting audible vibrations to the tympanic membrane of the subject, comprising:

• a microphone for receiving the incoming signals representative of audio signals and converting them to electrical signals;
• an amplifier for processing and amplifying the electrical signal output of the microphone;
• a vibration force element responsive to said amplified signals for conversion thereof to dynamic forces representative of said incoming signals;
• and
• a vibrational filament assembly dynamically coupled to said vibration force element and responsive to said dynamic forces imparted by said vibration force element,
• said vibrational filament assembly being essentially free floating within an operable range in at least one degree of freedom with respect to said vibration force element, thereby allowing individual adjustment and positioning of said vibrational filament assembly for contacting the tympanic membrane and imparting audible vibrations without exerting essentially any static forces thereto.

A method of imparting audible vibration on the tympanic membrane of an individual comprising the steps of:

• (a) attaching a vibratory filament assembly at its medial end to the tympanic membrane;
• and
• (b) dynamically coupling said vibratory filament assembly to a vibration force element so that said vibrational filament assembly is essentially free floating within an operable range, in at least one degree of motion freedom, with respect to said vibration force element to allow individual adjustment and positioning of said vibrational filament assembly for contacting the tympanic membrane;
• and
• (c) imparting mechanical vibrations representative of audio signals on the lateral end of said vibratory filament assembly by means of said vibration force element so as to impart audible vibrations to the tympanic membrane without exerting essentially any static forces thereon.