Transcanal cochlear implant system

A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant surgically implantable into a human ear, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal, the auditory canal having inserted therein an audio signal processor, switching amplifier and at least one microphone for receiving and processing auditory signals and a middle ear space having a tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the magnetic field modulation system comprising:

• a) a transmitting coil to be positioned in said auditory canal adjacently space from said tympanic membrane:
• b) a receiving coil to be positioned in the middle ear adjacently spaced from the tympanic membrane;
• c) said transmitting coil having a constant thickness and a diameter derived from the space separating said receiving coil and said transmitting coil;
• d) said transmitting coil receiving auditory signals from said switching amplifier, said transmitting coil electromagnetically coupling said received audio signals to said receiving coil;
• and
• e) means connected to said receiving coil for demodulating and transmitting said electromagnetically coupled audio signals to the cochlea;
• wherein said receiving coil comprises:
• b1) a first C-shaped coil;
• b2) a second C-shaped coil juxtaposition said first C-shaped coil;
• b3) a pair of spaced apart transfer bridges connectively disposed to said first and said second C-shaped coil's open end points;
• and
• b4) means for operationally connecting said transfer bridges together thereby securing said receiving coil within the confines of the middle ear.

A magnetic field modulation system for a cochlear implant surgically implantable into a human ear, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal, the auditory canal having inserted therein an audio signal processor, switching amplifier and at least one microphone for receiving and processing auditory signals and a middle ear space having a tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the magnetic field modulation system comprising:

• a) a transmitting coil to be positioned in said auditory canal adjacently spaced from said tympanic membrane;
• b) a receiving coil to be positioned in the middle ear adjacently spaced from the tympanic membrane;
• c) said transmitting coil having a constant thickness and a diameter derived from the space separating said receiving coil and said transmitting coil;
• d) said transmitting coil receiving auditory signals from said switching amplifier, said transmitting coil electromagnetically coupling said received audio signals to said receiving coil;
• and
• e) means connected to said receiving coil for demodulating and transmitting said electromagnetically coupled audio signals to the cochlea;
• wherein said receiving coil comprises:
• b1) a C-shaped hub;
• b2) a C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil;
• b3) said C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil being slidably insertable into said C-shaped hub;
• and
• b4) means for operationally securing said C-shaped hub and C-shaped dual lobe receiving coil thereby securing said receiving coil within the confines of the middle ear.

A hearing aid external portion for use in a human ear and for use with a cochlear implant portion, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal and a middle ear space and having a tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the hearing aid external portion to be inserted into the auditory canal, the cochlear implant portion being surgically implantable into the middle ear space and having a receiving coil, the hearing aid external portion comprising:

• at least one microphone to receive sounds and convert the received sounds into electrical sound signals;
• an audio signal processor responsive to the electrical sound signals to provide processed electrical sound signals;
• a Class D switching amplifier responsive to the processed electrical sound signals to provide a switched electrical sound signal, the switching amplifier having a switching frequency;
• and
• a transmitting coil to be positioned in said auditory canal adjacently spaced from said tympanic membrane, and connected to the switching amplifier to receive the switched electrical sound signal, the transmitting coil having a low inductance at the switching frequency, the transmitting coil to be electromagnetically coupled to the receiving coil.