Implantable actuator for hearing aid applications

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8602964
APP PUB NO 20080188707A1
SERIAL NO

11719975

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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An electromechanical actuator (100) suitable, for example, in hearing aid applications is disclosed. Certain embodiments of the actuator comprise a hermetic titanium housing (1), a mechanical output structure (110) emulating the long process of incus (8), and means for efficiently generating movement in the audible frequency range. The electromechanical actuator (100) may be configured to be coupled to the inner ear fluids via a conventional stapes prosthesis. The implantable actuator (100), which may be considered to be operably equivalent to a loudspeaker of a conventional hearing aid, may bypass the outer and the middle ear in order to directly drive the inner ear fluids. As such, embodiments of the electromechanical actuator of the present invention may be used to remedy any source of conductive hearing loss. Additionally, certain embodiments of the electromechanical actuator may be configured to provide sufficiently high output levels to treat severe sensorineural hearing loss while being sufficiently small to completely fit into a human mastoid.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ADVANCED BIONICS AG8712 STAEFA

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bernhard, Hans Köniz, CH 29 344
Cauwels, Karen Kessel-Lo, BE 3 232
Fontannaz, Joel Bulle, CH 7 331
Haller, Markus Yens, CH 41 4438
Hausler, Rudolph Celigny, CH 3 232
Huybrechts, Karel Kapeele op den Bos, BE 3 232
Kaiser, Thomas Borgerhoot, BE 94 1110
Kloeck, Ben Edegem, BE 6 327
Peclat, Christian Neuchatel, CH 18 772
Stieger, Christof Bern, CH 7 282

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