Importance

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Abstract

An implantable microphone assembly for use with a hearing prosthesis, such as a fully implantable cochlear stimulation system, includes a diaphragm mounted to an outside surface of an hermetically sealed case. The mounting is made, in one of various embodiments, by way of an hermetic weld around the diaphragm circumference. A gap is created on the underside of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is lifted with internal pressure. An acoustic channel or groove is formed in the wall of the hermetic case to which the diaphragm is mounted. A first end of the channel or groove opens into the gap at a location that is at or near the center of the underside of the diaphragm. A second end of the channel or groove opens to the interior of the hermetic case at a location that is near the periphery of the diaphragm. An acoustic transducer is placed inside the hermetic case and coupled to the second end of the acoustic channel or groove so as to sense variations in pressure that occur in the gap due to deflections of the diaphragm caused, e.g., by external sound pressure. The interior space inside of the hermetic case directly underneath the diaphragm may be used to house and mount other components, such as a battery. The interior of the hermetic case, which interior includes the gap and acoustic channel, is pressurized in order to lift the diaphragm to form the gap and enable the diaphragm to move in response to external forces, such as forces created by sound impinging the skin above the area where the implantable microphone is implanted.

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First Claim