Patent Grant
11368802
Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types: conductive and sensorineural. Sensorineural hearing loss is due to the absence or destruction of the hair cells in the cochlea that transduce sound signals into nerve impulses. Various hearing prostheses are commercially available to provide individuals suffering from sensorineural hearing loss with the ability to perceive sound. For example, cochlear implants use an electrode array implanted in the cochlea of a recipient to bypass the mechanisms of the ear. More specifically, an electrical stimulus is provided via the electrode array to the auditory nerve, thereby causing a hearing percept.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways that provide sound to hair cells in the cochlea are impeded, for example, by damage to the ossicular chain or the ear canal. Individuals suffering from conductive hearing loss may retain some form of residual hearing because the hair cells in the cochlea may remain undamaged.
Individuals suffering from conductive hearing loss typically receive an acoustic hearing aid. Hearing aids rely on principles of air conduction to transmit acoustic signals to the cochlea. In particular, a hearing aid typically uses an arrangement positioned in the recipient's ear canal or on the outer ear to amplify a sound received by the outer ear of the recipient. This amplified sound reaches the cochlea, causing motion of the perilymph and stimulation of the auditory nerve.
In contrast to hearing aids, which rely primarily on the principles of air conduction, certain types of hearing prostheses, commonly referred to as bone conduction devices, convert a received sound into vibrations. The vibrations are transferred through the skull to the cochlea, causing generation of nerve impulses, which results in the perception of the received sound. Bone conduction devices are suitable to treat a variety of types of hearing loss and may be suitable for individuals who cannot derive sufficient benefit from acoustic hearing aids.
In accordance with one embodiment, there is a prosthesis, comprising an implantable component including an LC circuit, wherein a piezoelectric material forms at least a part of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts upon the application of a variable magnetic field to an inductor of the LC circuit, and the piezoelectric material forms part of an actuator configured to impart energy into tissue of a recipient in which the implantable component is implanted.
In accordance with another embodiment, there is an auditory prosthesis, comprising an external assembly, including a first inductance coil, and an active electronic device in signal communication with the first inductance coil, and an implantable component made up of passive electronic components including a transducer configured to output mechanical energy when an electrical current is applied thereto, and a second inductance coil that is part of a first LC resonant circuit tuned to a frequency in the audio spectrum, wherein the first and second inductance coils form a transcutaneous coupled link.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, there is a hearing prosthesis, including an implantable passive resonant component including a vibratory electrical capacitive apparatus and an inductance coil, wherein the vibratory apparatus and the inductance coil are encased in a titanium housing, and the implantable component is configured such that a transcutaneous signal received by the inductance coil through the titanium housing activates the vibratory apparatus to evoke a hearing percept.
Some embodiments are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
In a fully functional human hearing anatomy, outer ear 101 comprises an auricle 105 and an ear canal 106. A sound wave or acoustic pressure 107 is collected by auricle 105 and channeled into and through ear canal 106. Disposed across the distal end of ear canal 106 is a tympanic membrane 104 which vibrates in response to acoustic wave 107. This vibration is coupled to oval window or fenestra ovalis 210 through three bones of middle ear 102, collectively referred to as the ossicles 111 and comprising the malleus 112, the incus 113 and the stapes 114. The ossicles 111 of middle ear 102 serve to filter and amplify acoustic wave 107, causing oval window 210 to vibrate. Such vibration sets up waves of fluid motion within cochlea 139. Such fluid motion, in turn, activates hair cells (not shown) that line the inside of cochlea 139. Activation of the hair cells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be transferred through the spiral ganglion cells and auditory nerve 116 to the brain (not shown), where they are perceived as sound.
More particularly, sound input device 126 (e.g., a microphone) converts received sound signals into electrical signals. These electrical signals are processed by the sound processor. The sound processor generates control signals which cause the actuator to vibrate. In other words, the actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion to impart vibrations to the recipient's skull.
Alternatively, sound input element 126 may be subcutaneously implanted in the recipient, or positioned in the recipient's ear. Sound input element 126 may also be a component that receives an electronic signal indicative of sound, such as, for example, from an external audio device. For example, sound input element 126 may receive a sound signal in the form of an electrical signal from an MP3 player electronically connected to sound input element 126.
Bone conduction device 100 comprises a sound processor (not shown), an actuator (also not shown), and/or various other operational components. In operation, the sound processor converts received sounds into electrical signals. These electrical signals are utilized by the sound processor to generate control signals that cause the actuator to vibrate. In other words, the actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical vibrations for delivery to the recipient's skull.
In accordance with some embodiments, a fixation system 162 may be used to secure implantable component 150 to skull 136. As described below, fixation system 162 may be a bone screw fixed to skull 136, and also attached to implantable component 150.
In one arrangement of
In another arrangement of
In an exemplary embodiment, the vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342 is a device that converts electrical signals into vibration. In operation, sound input element 126 converts sound into electrical signals. Specifically, the transcutaneous bone conduction device 300 provides these electrical signals to vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342, or to a sound processor (not shown) that processes the electrical signals, and then provides those processed signals to vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342 converts the electrical signals (processed or unprocessed) into vibrations. Because vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342 is mechanically coupled to plate 346, the vibrations are transferred from the vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342 to plate 346. Implanted plate assembly 352 is part of the implantable component 350, and is made of a ferromagnetic material that may be in the form of a permanent magnet, that generates and/or is reactive to a magnetic field, or otherwise permits the establishment of a magnetic attraction between the external device 340 and the implantable component 350 sufficient to hold the external device 340 against the skin of the recipient. Accordingly, vibrations produced by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator 342 of the external device 340 are transferred from plate 346 across the skin to plate 355 of plate assembly 352. This can be accomplished as a result of mechanical conduction of the vibrations through the skin, resulting from the external device 340 being in direct contact with the skin and/or from the magnetic field between the two plates. These vibrations are transferred without penetrating the skin with a solid object, such as an abutment, with respect to a percutaneous bone conduction device.
As may be seen, the implanted plate assembly 352 is substantially rigidly attached to a bone fixture 341 in this embodiment. Plate screw 356 is used to secure plate assembly 352 to bone fixture 341. The portions of plate screw 356 that interface with the bone fixture 341 substantially correspond to an abutment screw discussed in some additional detail below, thus permitting plate screw 356 to readily fit into an existing bone fixture used in a percutaneous bone conduction device. In an exemplary embodiment, plate screw 356 is configured so that the same tools and procedures that are used to install and/or remove an abutment screw (described below) from bone fixture 341 can be used to install and/or remove plate screw 356 from the bone fixture 341 (and thus the plate assembly 352).
External component 441 includes a sound input element 126 that converts sound into electrical signals. Specifically, the transcutaneous bone conduction device 401 provides these electrical signals to vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452, or to a sound processor (not shown) that processes the electrical signals, and then provides those processed signals to the implantable component 451 through the skin of the recipient via a magnetic inductance link. In this regard, a transmitter coil 443 of the external component 441 transmits these signals to the implanted RF receiver coil 455 located in housing 458 of the implantable component 450. Components (not shown) in the housing 458, such as, for example, an RF receiver with an implanted sound processor, then generate electrical signals to be delivered to vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452 via electrical lead assembly 460. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452 converts the electrical signals into vibrations. In the embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component 451 contains an RF signal receiver with a diode envelope detector and/or various other electronic active circuits. In an exemplary embodiment, the vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452 is connected to the electronic circuit of the implantable component 451.
The vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452 is mechanically coupled to the housing 454. Housing 454 and vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452 collectively form a vibratory apparatus 453. The housing 454 is substantially rigidly attached to bone fixture 341.
External component 440 also includes a sound input element 126 that converts sound into electrical signals. Specifically, the transcutaneous bone conduction device 400 provides these electrical signals to vibrating electromagnetic actuator 452, or to a sound processor (not shown) that processes the electrical signals, and then provides those processed signals to the implantable component 450 through the skin of the recipient via a magnetic inductance link. In this regard, a transmitter coil 442 of the external component 440 transmits these signals to the implanted inductance current receiver coil 456 located in housing 458 of the implantable component 450. In this embodiment, the coils 442 and 456 are not RF coils, or, more accurately, the link established by these coils is not an RF link, but a link having a frequency of less than 20 kHz established by magnetic inductance.
In an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component 550 is used in the embodiment of
Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a hearing prosthesis, comprising an implantable component, such as implantable component 550 just detailed. In this exemplary embodiment, the implantable component includes a vibratory apparatus, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the vibrating actuator 552 just detailed, as well as an inductance coil 556. In an exemplary embodiment, the vibratory apparatus 552 and the inductance coil 556 are encased in the same housing (e.g., housing 554). In an exemplary embodiment, the housing numeral 554 is made out of titanium and/or a titanium alloy. In an exemplary embodiment, with respect to the outer surface area of the housing 554, over 90% of the surface area comprises a titanium and/or a titanium alloy material. In an exemplary embodiment, again with respect to the outer surface area of the housing, over 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99% of the surface area of the housing comprises a titanium and/or a titanium alloy material. In an exemplary embodiment, 100% of the outer surface area of the housing comprises a titanium and/or a titanium alloy material. Note that this is with regard to the housing. As can be seen in the embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment of the aforementioned arrangement, the implantable component 550 is configured such that a transcutaneous signal received by the inductance coil 556 through the titanium housing numeral 554 activates the vibratory apparatus 552 to evoke a hearing percept. In an exemplary embodiment, this entails vibratory bone conduction. That said, in an alternative embodiment, the vibratory apparatus 552 can be of a different configuration, and mechanically linked to a middle ear and/or the inner ear to evoke a mechanically induced hearing percept. That is, this general arrangement which has been described in terms of
As can be understood from the schematic of
It is briefly noted at this time that some and/or all of the components of the embodiment of
To this end,
That said, some embodiments can include a housing that includes a feedthrough. Such an embodiment can include a housing where less than 100% of the surface area comprises titanium and/or titanium alloy, as noted above.
Also as noted above, in an exemplary embodiment, the interior space of the housing numeral 554 is hermetically sealed from the outside/ambient environment this can have utilitarian value with respect to implantable components 550 that are implanted in a human being, as this can prevent body fluids from encroaching or otherwise entering into the space 559 inside housing 554. In this regard, in the embodiment of
It is noted that while various embodiments described herein have been described in terms of a piezoelectric actuator, in some alternate embodiments, different types of actuators and/or transducers can be utilized, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, an electromagnetic actuator, as will be described in greater detail below with respect to an exemplary embodiment. Also, it is noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the housing material in some alternate embodiments can be made out of other biocompatible materials such as PEEK, thus replacing the titanium and/or a titanium alloy. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing is made of any biocompatible material that can enable the teachings detailed herein and/or variations thereof. Still further, in an exemplary embodiment, it is the outer surfaces of the housing that is made of any biocompatible material. In an exemplary embodiment, portions of the housing located beneath the outer surfaces may not necessarily be biocompatible. The teachings detailed herein can enable such a cause the biocompatible outer surfaces establish a barrier between such non-biocompatible materials and the ambient environment of the implant.
Note further that in an exemplary embodiment, two separate housings that are joined to each other can correspond to a single housing providing that an outer surface thereof contiguously establishes a housing surface. For example, the embodiment of
It is briefly noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the entirety of the coil 556 is located within a titanium housing.
Note that the embodiments detailed above have been described in terms of the top portion of the housing 554 (554B) being welded to the bottom portion of housing 554 (554A). In such an exemplary embodiment, this establishes a monolithic housing. Conversely, in an alternate embodiment, bottom portion of housing 554 is screwed onto to the top portion of housing 554, or vice versa. Alternatively and/or in addition to this, bottom portion of housing numeral 554 is glued to the top portion of housing 554. In this regard, the two components are separate components, and thus housing 554 is not a monolithic component. Accordingly, embodiments include housings that are not monolithic as well as housings that are monolithic.
Keeping with respect to the embodiment where the implantable component 550 can be utilized in the device of
As noted above, the actuator 552 can utilize piezoelectric material to form element 555. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric material is biocompatible, while in other embodiments the piezoelectric material is not biocompatible. The latter scenario can still have utilitarian value with respect to embodiments where the housing numeral 554 hermetically isolates the inside thereof from the ambient environment of the implantable component 550. It is further noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the coil 556 can be made of copper and/or a copper alloy in an exemplary embodiment, the coil 556 is made of at least 50% copper by weight. In an exemplary embodiment, the coil 556 is made up of at least 55% copper by weight. In an exemplary embodiment, the coil 556 is made up of at least 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100% by weight, or any value or range of values therebetween in 0.1% increments (e.g., 85.3%, 94.1%, 66.6% to 99.9%, etc.). The aforementioned numbers are with respect to all coils in the implantable component that are utilized to establish the aforementioned inductance link. This is distinguished from, for example, leads between the coils and the actuator 552. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the aforementioned values are also applicable to all electrically conducting components of the circuit that includes the coils 556 that are not part of the piezoelectric material 555.
While the above embodiments have generally been described in terms of an actuator (a device that creates movement when subjected to an electrical current), it is noted that embodiments also include transducers that generate an electrical current or otherwise produce an electrical current when exposed to movement. In this regard, any disclosure of an actuator herein also corresponds to a disclosure of a transducer, unless otherwise specified. Thus, any disclosure of a piezoelectric actuator herein corresponds to a disclosure of the piezoelectric transducer.
Still with reference to the embodiments of
That said, in an alternate embodiment, the housings are made of PEEK or another type of biocompatible material. It is briefly noted that in the embodiment of
As noted above, embodiments of the teachings detailed herein are not limited to piezoelectric transducers. In this regard,
It is briefly noted that
Embodiments detailed above have generally focused on the so-called bone conduction device, where a mass moves in an oscillatory manner so as to result in the creation of vibrations that are then transferred from the housings containing the actuators to the bone of the recipient, which vibrations travel along the bone to the inner ear of the recipient, to evoke a hearing percept via bone conduction. That said, in some alternate embodiments, the teachings detailed herein are also applicable to other types of hearing prostheses, such as by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a middle ear implant or a direct acoustic cochlear stimulator, etc. In this regard, referring now to
While various embodiments detailed above have been described in terms of the transducer being an actuator, where electrical input is provided to the transducer so as to create vibrations and/or mechanical movement, in an alternate embodiment, the system is a passive system, which receives vibrations or otherwise accelerations from the recipient, and transduces those received vibrations/accelerations into an electrical signal output utilized for diagnostic purposes and/or other purposes and/or for the generation of electricity so as to power another implantable component or for any other reason that might have utilitarian value.
In an exemplary embodiment, component 1250 is an implantable passive resident component.
In an exemplary embodiment, sound that is captured by microphone 1226 (the voltage source) induces a current in the circuit 1292 that ultimately results in an inductance field being generated at coil 1242. This inductance field is transferred via the transcutaneous inductance link detailed above through skin 132 to circuit 1291.
Circuit 1291 includes an inductance coil 1266, which can correspond to the inductance coil 556 of
In an exemplary embodiment, circuit 1291 and/or circuit 1292 is an LC circuit that has an electrical self-resonant frequency of below 20 kHz. Additional ramifications of such will be described in greater detail below. That said, in an exemplary embodiment, circuit 1291 and/or circuit 1292 is an LC circuit that has an electrical self-resonant frequency of below 10,000 Hz. Still further, in an exemplary embodiment, circuit 1291 and/or circuit 1292 is an LC circuit that has an electrical self-resonant frequency of below 20 kHz, 19.5 kHz, 19 kHz, 18.5 kHz, 18 kHz, 17.5 kHz, 17 kHz, 16.5 kHz, 16 kHz, 15.5 kHz, 15 kHz, 14.5 kHz, 14 kHz, 13.5 kHz, 13 kHz, 12.5 kHz, 12 kHz, 11.5 kHz, 11 kHz, 10.5 kHz, 10 kHz, 9.5 kHz, 9 kHz, 8.5 kHz, 8 kHz, 7.5 kHz, 7 kHz, 6.5 kHz, 6 kHz, 5.5 kHz, 5 kHz, 4.5 kHz, 4 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 3 kHz, 2.5 kHz, 2 kHz, 1.5 kHz, 1 kHz or any value between any of these values in 0.1 kHz increments.
Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis, such as any of the prostheses detailed herein and/or variations thereof, that includes an implantable component, such as the implantable component represented by box 1250. The implantable component includes an LC circuit. Here, the LC circuit is established by the coil 1266 and the piezoelectric component 1251, where the piezoelectric material forms at least part of the capacitance portion of that LC circuit. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric material forms the entirety of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit, while in other embodiments, the piezoelectric material forms only a portion of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit. In this regard,
Consistent with the teachings detailed above where the piezoelectric material forms part of a piezoelectric transducer, in the exemplary embodiments of
It is noted that in the exemplary embodiment of
Consistent with the teachings of
Note further that while the embodiment of
Still with reference to
In an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component is completely devoid of semiconductor components, or at least this is the case with respect to the circuit of which the actuator is a part.
In an exemplary embodiment, no components are present that extract power to function in the implantable component, or at least with respect to the circuit of which the actuator is a part. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, the implantable component and/or the circuit of which the actuator is a part is completely devoid of such components as diodes. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component is a component that is completely devoid of integrated circuits therein. More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the circuit of which the actuator is a part is completely devoid of integrated circuits.
A passive electronic component is a component that does not require energy to operate, except for the available alternating current (AC) circuit that it is connected to. A passive component is not capable of power gain and is not a source of energy. Generally, passive components are not able to increase the power of a signal nor are they able to amplify the signal. However, they can increase current or voltage via storage of electrical energy from resonant frequencies or by a transformer that acts like an electrical isolator. In an exemplary embodiment, the passive circuit is a lossless circuit, in that it does not have an input or output net power flow.
Passive components that use circuit architecture would include inductors, resistors, voltage and current sources, capacitors, and transformers. Likewise, passive filter are comprised of four elementary linear elements that include an inductor, capacitor, resistor, and transformer. Some high-tech passive filters can have non-linear elements like a transmission line.
Corollary to the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis, such as any of those detailed herein and/or variations thereof, that includes an implantable component, such as implantable component 550, or that represented by the functional diagram in
Moreover, in view of the fact that at least some exemplary embodiments are made utilizing copper inductance coils (e.g., enameled copper wire), as opposed to, for example, platinum inductance coils or gold inductance coils, an exemplary embodiment includes an implantable component, such as implantable component 550 that is represented by functional diagram 1250, that is entirely devoid of precious metals. In an exemplary embodiment, all circuits that make up or otherwise include the actuator (transducer) and the coil are entirely devoid of precious metals. In an exemplary embodiment, all circuits that make up or otherwise include the actuator (transducer) and the coil include no more than as a percentage of total weight of the material making up such circuit, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.1%, or 0.05% precious metals. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an implantable component of a hearing prosthesis that utilizes a transcutaneous inductance link, where there is no platinum coil implanted in the recipient.
That said, in an alternate embodiment, it is the implantable inductance coil (e.g., represented by coil 1266 of
In an exemplary embodiment, the material that makes up the coils that make up the implantable inductance coil include no more than as a percentage of total weight of the material, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.1%, or 0.05% precious metals.
It is noted that in some exemplary embodiments, gold or platinum contacts of the circuit can be utilized. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, noncontact components of the circuit of the implantable component are entirely devoid of precious metals were at least substantially entirely devoid of precious metals. In this regard, the aforementioned percentages can apply to such an embodiment.
It is noted that while these teachings have been directed towards the implantable component, these teachings are also applicable to the external component. Accordingly, it is noted that in at least some exemplary embodiments, any disclosure of the features associated with the circuit of the implantable component also corresponds to a disclosure of the circuit of the external component.
It is noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the external inductance coil 1242 and/or 1266 is a 500 turn copper coil of 200 micrometers in diameter (diameter of the wire of the coil). In an exemplary embodiment, coils are more than 100 turns, more than 200 turns, more than 300 turns, more than 400 turns, more than 500 turns, more than 600 turns, more than 700 turns, more than 800 turns, more than 900 turns, or more than 1000 turns.
Embodiments that utilize the above-noted LC circuit can have utilitarian value with respect to the establishment of a transcutaneous link at certain frequencies relative to other frequencies but are typically utilized in the art. By way of example only and not by way of limitation, hearing prostheses typically utilize transcutaneous links that operate in the megahertz frequency range. Conversely, according to at least some exemplary embodiments, there is a hearing prosthesis that comprises an external component, such as external component 440 detailed above with respect to
In an exemplary embodiment, the hearing prosthesis is configured to establish a transcutaneous electromagnetic link between the implantable component and the external component at frequencies of no more than 1 kHz, 1.5 kHz, 2 kHz, 2.5 kHz, 3.0 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 4.0 kHz, 4.5 kHz, 5 kHz, 5.5 kHz, 6 kHz, 6.5 kHz, 7 kHz, 7.5 kHz, 8.0 kHz, 9 kHz, 10 kHz, 11 kHz, 12 kHz, 13 kHz, 14 kHz, 15 kHz, 16 kHz, 17 kHz, 18 kHz, 19 kHz or 20 kHz or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 kHz increments. In some such exemplary embodiments, the implantable component includes an actuator that is driven by the link to evoke a hearing percept at those frequencies. It is further noted that in some embodiments, the circuit 1292 and/or 1291 is an LC resonant circuit tuned to one of the aforementioned frequencies. In this regard, in an exemplary embodiment, one or both of these circuits 1291 and/or 1292 are tuned to a frequency in the audio spectrum.
In an exemplary embodiment, the current that is induced in the coil 1266 is an alternating coil that has a frequency of the aforementioned frequencies. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator of the implantable component (e.g., actuator 552, etc.), represented by piezoelectric material component 1251 in
In view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is an auditory prosthesis, comprising an external assembly, including a first inductance coil, such as coil 1242, and an active electronic device, such as the Vaudio 1226 of
As will be described in greater detail below, in an exemplary embodiment, the first inductance coil (coil 1242) is energized by a signal outputted by active electronic device (e.g., a smartphone or another hand-held consumer electronics device (e.g., an MP3 player, etc.) to generate an alternating magnetic field. Still further, in view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned second inductance coil 1242 is configured to receive an alternating magnetic field having frequencies in the audio spectrum (e.g., below 20 kHz). Still further, the aforementioned transducer (element 1251) is configured to vibrate at the frequencies and amplitudes of the alternating magnetic field received by the second inductance coil (e.g., 1266) (thus evoking a hearing percept based on output at those frequencies and amplitudes). Thus, as will be understood, in at least some exemplary embodiments, the aforementioned second inductance coil is configured to receive an electromagnetic radiated field having frequencies in the audio spectrum, and the transducer 1251 is configured to vibrate at the frequencies and amplitudes of the electromagnetic radiated field received by the second inductance coil 1266 and the transcutaneous coupled link 1203 operates to supply the electromagnetic radiation received by the second inductance coil 1266.
With respect to embodiments that utilize a piezoelectric actuator that expands and/or contracts when exposed to an electrical current, in an exemplary embodiment, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts at a frequency and/or amplitude corresponding to a frequency and/or amplitude of the electromagnetic field to which the coil 1266 is exposed. For example, if the transcutaneous link is operating at a frequency of 1100 Hz, the piezoelectric material will expand and/or contract at 1100 Hz. Also by way of example, if the transcutaneous link is operating at a magnitude of 3, the piezoelectric material will expand and/or contract with a corresponding magnitude. In at least some exemplary embodiments, this will output a vibration by the implantable component of 1100 Hz so as to evoke a hearing percept at that frequency and/or amplitude. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis according to the teachings detailed herein where the piezoelectric material thereof expands and/or contracts at a frequency and/or amplitude corresponding to a frequency and/or amplitude of a magnetic field to which the inductor of the LC circuit is exposed.
In view of the above, it is to be understood that in an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis that includes an implantable component that includes an inductance coil configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having frequencies in the audio spectrum. The inductance coil is part of a circuit that includes a transducer, wherein the transducer configured to vibrate at the frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation received by the inductance coil.
It is noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic field and/or electromagnetic field generated by coil 1242 is an alternating magnetic field and/or electromagnetic field. In an exemplary embodiment, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts due to direct application of the current induced at the inductor by the alternating magnetic field and/or electromagnetic field generated by coil 1242.
In at least some exemplary embodiments, the actuator of the implantable component (represented by element 1251 of
In at least some exemplary embodiments, the actuator of the implantable component has at least one resonant frequency at a value less than 4000 Hz. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator of the implantable component has at least one resonant frequency at a value less than 1000 Hz, 1250 Hz, 1500 Hz, 1750 Hz, 2000 Hz, 2250 Hz, 2500 Hz, 3000 Hz, 3500 Hz, 4000 Hz, 4500 Hz, 5000 Hz, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 Hz increments.
As noted above, in an exemplary embodiment, the coil 1266 of the implantable component 1250 is a copper coil in this regard, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the coil 1266 has a weight percent by copper of at least 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% or any value or range of values therebetween in 1% increments.
In an exemplary embodiment, the titanium implantable component of the hearing prostheses detailed herein is protected from electromagnetic interference (EMI) at frequencies above 50 kHz. In an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component of the hearing prostheses detailed herein is protected from electromagnetic interference (EMI) at frequencies above 10 kHz, 15 kHz, 20 kHz, 25 kHz, 30 kHz, 35 kHz, 40 kHz, 45 kHz, 50 kHz, 55 kHz, 60 kHz, 65 kHz, 70 kHz, 75 kHz, 80 kHz, 85 kHz, 90 kHz, 95 kHz, or 100 kHz, or any value or range of values therebetween in 1 kHz increments. In an exemplary embodiment, there is perfect EMI shielding for frequencies above 50 kHz. That said, in at least some exemplary embodiments, one or two or three or more transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes or transorbs may be located in the circuits to protect the actuator from over voltages.
In view of the above, in an exemplary embodiment, there is a transcutaneous bone conduction device such as any of those described herein that includes a single implanted housing (i.e., there is only one housing). In an exemplary embodiment, there are only one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven electronic components located in that housing and no more. Instead of platinum wiring and/or platinum coils, non-precious metals are utilized for the internal wiring and the internal coils of the implanted component. In an exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned transcutaneous bone conduction device with the single implanted housing is a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device. In an exemplary embodiment, the aforementioned transcutaneous bone conduction device with the single implanted housing is an active transcutaneous bone conduction device.
Is briefly noted that while element 1414 is a smart phone, in an alternate embodiment, that device can be an MP3 player, or some other type of body worn device that outputs a voltage based on audio/sound content, etc.
It is noted that in an exemplary embodiment, there is an external component corresponding to that of
With respect to the embodiments of
In an exemplary embodiment, the coil 1242 is a passive headpiece coil, and the implanted coil is a passive implanted coil. In at least some exemplary embodiments, the headpiece coil 1242 can be connected to a class D audio amplifier which, in some exemplary embodiments, includes energy recovery, PWM, or S/D, and thus in an exemplary embodiment, there is an external component of a prosthesis that includes these components. In an exemplary embodiment, the amplifier is utilized to amplify the incoming audio signals from the voltage source 1226 a level that can drive the coil 1242 so as to achieve a current that will establish a viable inductance link/in inductance link that has utility with respect to the practicing teachings detailed herein and/or variations thereof. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the circuit 1292 would include active electronic devices. Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, only circuit 1291 is devoid of such active devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the passive headpiece coil 1242 can be connected to any audio source having a headphone line output (e.g., such as the smart phone 1440 of
As will be understood from the diagrams of
It is noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the inductance coil of the headpiece can be part of a series tank circuit. In an exemplary embodiment, any low ohmeric output that can deliver sufficient current to the implantable component by way of the inductance link can be utilized. In at least some exemplary embodiments, the series tank circuit just noted would operate at 2 or 3 volts. Again, as noted above, some exemplary embodiments do not utilize a tank circuit in the external component. In at least some exemplary embodiments, a vibrating external magnet can be utilized to create the external portion of the link 1203. In an exemplary embodiment, the external component to utilize any alternating magnetic field that will generate an inductance field sufficient to energize the implantable coil 1266.
Is briefly noted that in an exemplary embodiment, the implantable component 450 in general, or the circuit 1291 in particular, is devoid of any diode envelope detector. This is as contrasted to the embodiment of
In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator is a vibratory apparatus. As detailed above, in an exemplary embodiment, the actuator and the coil of the second LC circuit are encased in a titanium housing. In this exemplary method, the transcutaneous signals that are received through the titanium housing by the second LC circuit, or, more accurately, the coil of the second LC circuit, activate the vibratory apparatus to evoke a hearing percept.
It is noted that any method detailed herein also corresponds to a disclosure of a device and/or system configured to execute one or more, or all of the method actions associated therewith detailed herein. In an exemplary embodiment, this device and/or system is configured to execute one, or more, or all of the method actions in an automated fashion. That said, in an alternate embodiment, the device and/or system is configured to execute one, or more, or all of the method actions after being prompted by the recipient.
It is further noted that any device and/or system detailed herein also corresponds to a disclosure of a method of operating that device and/or using that device. Furthermore, any device and/or system detailed herein also corresponds to a disclosure of manufacturing or otherwise providing that device and/or system.
It is also noted that at least some embodiments include a combination of one or more of the teachings detailed herein with one or more of the other teachings detailed herein. In this regard, any feature of any embodiment can be combined with any other feature of any other embodiment providing that the art enable such unless otherwise specified.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis, comprising an implantable component including an LC circuit, wherein a piezoelectric material forms at least a part of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the piezoelectric material forms the entirety of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the piezoelectric material forms part of an actuator configured to output a force to tissue of a recipient in which the implantable component is implanted. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts upon the application of an electromagnetic field to the inductor of the LC circuit. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts due to direct application of the current induced at the inductor by the magnetic field to the piezoelectric material. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts at a frequency corresponding to a frequency of an electromagnetic field to which the inductor exposed. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the LC circuit is entirely contained and hermetically sealed in a titanium housing without openings through the titanium housing. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the prosthesis is a hearing prosthesis, and wherein the piezoelectric material is configured to generate vibrations to evoke a hearing percept.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis, comprising an implantable component including a transducer configured to output a mechanical force when an electrical current is applied thereto, wherein a circuit of which the transducer is apart is entirely made up of passive electronic components. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component is an implantable component of an active transcutaneous bone conduction device. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric actuator. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component includes a copper coil that is part of the circuit, the copper coil being an inductance coil of a transcutaneous link. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component includes an inductance coil configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having frequencies in the audio spectrum, and the transducer is configured to vibrate at the frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation received by the inductance coil. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the circuit is an LC circuit that comprises only an inductance coil and one or more components corresponding to capacitance components. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, further comprising:
an external component including a first inductance coil;
a smart phone in signal communication with the first inductance coil, wherein
the implantable component includes a second inductance coil,
the transducer is configured to vibrate based on an inductance field subjected to the second inductance coil generated by the first inductance coil to evoke a hearing percept, and
the first inductance coil is energized by a signal outputted by the smartphone to generate the inductance field.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis, comprising an implantable component including a vibratory apparatus and an inductance coil, wherein the vibratory apparatus and the inductance coil are encased in a titanium housing, and the implantable component is configured such that a transcutaneous signal received by the inductance coil through the titanium housing activates the vibratory apparatus to evoke a hearing percept. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component is devoid of any integrated circuits. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the housing entirely and completely encompasses the coil and the vibratory apparatus, thus being devoid of any feedthrough passages. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component is entirely devoid of precious metals. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, further comprising an external component including a second electrical coil, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to establish an electromagnetic link entirely at audio frequencies to operate the vibratory apparatus to evoke a hearing prosthesis.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is a hearing prosthesis, comprising an external component, and an implantable component, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to establish a transcutaneous electromagnetic link between the implantable component and the external component at very low frequencies and or lower, and the implantable component includes an actuator that is driven by the link to evoke a hearing percept. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the actuator is configured to vibrate when the transcutaneous link is present at the very low frequencies and lower. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the actuator has at least one resonant frequency at a value less than 4000 Hz. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the link is established in part by a copper coil in the internal component. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the actuator is powered entirely and solely by the electromagnetic link. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component includes a single housing encompassing the actuator and a coil that forms part of the link. In an exemplary embodiment, there is a prosthesis as detailed above and/or below, wherein the implantable component is impervious to EMI at frequencies above 50 kHz.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/328,233, entitled IMPLANTABLE VIBRATORY DEVICE USING LIMITED COMPONENTS, filed on Apr. 27, 2016, naming Werner MESKENS of Mechelen, Belgium as an inventor, the entire contents of that application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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