Implantable microphone for hearing systems
AssigneeMED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
InventorsThomas Zahnert, Gert Hofmann, Matthias Bornitz, Hannes Seidler, Karl-Bernd Hüttenbrink, Alexander Hellmuth
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Abstract
An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a back wall. The back wall has a recess (e.g., blind hole) configured to be coupled to an auditory ossicle. The implantable microphone also includes a membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and a vibration sensor adjacent to the membrane. The membrane is configured to move in response to movement from the auditory ossicle, and the vibration sensor is configured to measure the movement of the membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal.
Claims24
An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems comprising:
- a housing having a back wall and a recess in an exterior surface of the back wall, the recess configured to be coupled to an auditory ossicle;
- a membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing, the membrane configured to move in response to movement from the auditory ossicle or a second auditory ossicle and configured to be placed adjacent to the second auditory ossicle, the recess aligned with a center of the membrane;
- and
- a vibration sensor adjacent to the membrane, the vibration sensor configured to measure the movement of the membrane and convert the measurement into an electrical signal.
An implantable microphone configured to be coupled to an auditory ossicle comprising:
- a housing having a top portion, a back wall, a sidewall between the top portion and the back wall, and a recess in an exterior surface of the back wall, the recess configured to be coupled to the auditory ossicle;
- a membrane coupled to the top portion of the housing, the membrane configured to move in response to movement from the auditory ossicle or a second auditory ossicle and configured to be placed adjacent to the second auditory ossicle, the recess aligned with a center of the membrane;
- and
- a vibration sensor coupled to the sidewall and adjacent to the membrane, the vibration sensor configured to measure the movement of the membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.