IMPLANTABLE MIDDLE EAR TRANSDUCER HAVING IMPROVED FREQUENCY RESPONSE

摘要

Apparatus, systems, and methods having or using an improved implantable middle ear transducer for driving an ossicular chain bone to assist in aiding hearing. One embodiment of the present invention is a transducer assembly for converting electrical signals to mechanical vibrations which can be coupled, for example, to the stapes to provide audible frequency vibrations to the cochlea. One transducer assembly includes a pair of fins or gussets coupled to opposite sides of a transducer in the direction of unwanted movement of the transducer. The base of the transducer may be coupled to a base member while the fins have free edges that are near to but not coupled to the base member. Some fins are triangular shaped. The fins may not substantially inhibit vibration in the preferred plane, but can inhibit unwanted vibrations in a plane orthogonal to the preferred direction which can substantially include a plane containing the fins.

主权项

1. A method for aiding hearing, the method comprising: receiving an acoustic signal near a human ear; converting the acoustic signal to an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal to a vibratory transducer; vibrating the transducer in a first plane responsive to the received electrical signal, in which the vibration is attenuated in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane by a pair of fins disposed substantially in the second plane where the fins are operably coupled to the vibratory transducer.