Middle ear implant for otosclerosis

Abstract

A middle ear transducer arrangement is described for engaging a round window membrane of a patient cochlea. A mechanical transducer is surgically implantable into a fixed position in the round window niche of the patient cochlea adjacent to the round window membrane. A drive face on the outer surface of the transducer has a diameter less than half the diameter of the round window membrane. The fixed position of the transducer engages the drive face against a side section of the round window membrane without engaging the center point to generate an acoustic stimulation signal for perception as sound.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application 61 / 447,273, filed February 28, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference. technical field [0002] The present invention relates to hearing implants, and in particular to transducers for patients suffering from otosclerosis. Background technique [0003] Such as figure 1 As shown in , the normal ear transmits sound through the outer ear 101 to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) 102, which moves the ossicles of the middle ear 103 (malleus, incus, and stapes), which vibrate the cochlea 104 oval window and round window membranes. The cochlea 104 is a long, narrow organ that spirals about two and a half turns around its axis. It consists of an upper passage called the vestibule and a lower passage called the scala tympani, which are connected by the cochlear duct. The cochlea 104 forms an upright spiral cone, the center of which is called the modiolus, in which the spiral ganglion cells of the aud...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, these patients have severe conductive hearing loss

One problem associated with an ossified oval window membrane 201 is that the stapes floor cannot transmit incoming acoustic sounds in the form of pressure waves into the fluid within the cochlea 200

However, opening and maintaining a permanent hole in the stapes floor is dangerous because of the increased risk of infection

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