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A method and apparatus for improving a frequency response of a piezoelectric input or output transducer in an implantable hearing system. Multiple input or multiple output transducers obtain optimized mechanical-to-electrical or electrical-to-mechanical frequency response. Output mechanical coupling is directly to the inner ear, or through an ossicular element such as the malleus, stapes, or incus. Input mechanical vibrations are obtained from an auditory element such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, or incus. Substantially nonidentical frequency responses are obtained such as using transducers of different dimensions, different number of transducer elements, different material properties, different mounting techniques, or different auditory elements for coupling.

Inventors: Theodore P. Adams, Kai Kroll
Original Assignee: St. Croix Medical, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Samuel Gilbert
Current U.S. Classification: 600/25
International Classification: H04R 2500

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Citations

Cited PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
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Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US58998477 Aug 19974 May 1999St. Croix Medical, Inc.Implantable middle-ear hearing assist system using piezoelectric transducer film
US59933767 Aug 199730 Nov 1999St. Croix Medical, Inc.Electromagnetic input transducers for middle ear sensing
US621604017 Aug 199910 Apr 2001Advanced Bionics CorporationImplantable microphone system for use with cochlear implantable hearing aids
US62646037 Aug 199724 Jul 2001St. Croix Medical, Inc.Middle ear vibration sensor using multiple transducers

Claims

1. A method for transducing at least one input electrical signal to an output mechanical vibration in an ear, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrical-to-mechanical transducers comprising a first and second transducer having substantially nonidentical respective first and second electrical-to-mechanical frequency responses;
transducing a first input electrical signal received at the first transducer into a first mechanical vibration;
coupling the first mechanical vibration to an inner ear;
transducing a second input electrical signal received at the second transducer into a second mechanical vibration; and
coupling the second mechanical vibration to the inner ear, thereby forming the output mechanical vibration comprising a superposition of the first and second mechanical vibrations.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the coupling of at least one of the first and second mechanical vibration components of the output mechanical vibration to the inner ear is through an ossicular element in a middle ear.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the coupling of at least one of the first and second mechanical vibration components of the output mechanical vibration to the inner ear is to an oval window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

4. The method of claim 2, in which the coupling of at least one of the first and second mechanical vibration components of the output mechanical vibration to the inner ear is to a round window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the coupling of at least one of the first and second mechanical vibration components of the output mechanical vibration to the inner ear is to an oval window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the coupling of at least one of the first and second mechanical vibration components of the output mechanical vibration to the inner ear is to a round window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the first and second input electrical signals are provided by a single electronic amplifier circuit.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the first and second input electrical signals are provided by different first and second electronic amplifier circuits.

9. An apparatus for improving hearing, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrical-to-mechanical transducers adapted to be placed in a middle ear, including a signal driver for producing a first signal and a second signal, first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers having respective first and second mechanical vibration frequency responses the first electrical-to-mechanical transducer having a different mechanical vibration frequency response than the second electrical-to-mechanical transducer, the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers producing mechanical vibration frequency responses in response to said first signal and said second signal, the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers including means for coupling said transducers to an inner ear, thereby forming a combined output mechanical vibration comprising a superposition of the first and second mechanical vibration frequency responses.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers are adapted to be coupled to the inner ear through an ossicular element in the middle ear.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the ossicular element comprises one of the malleus, incus, and stapes bones in the middle ear.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the ossicular element comprises a prosthesis in the middle ear.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the mechanical coupling of at least one of the first and second vibrations to the inner ear is to an oval window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the mechanical coupling of at least one of the first and second vibrations to the inner ear is to a round window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the mechanical coupling of at least one of the first and second vibrations to the inner ear is to an oval window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the mechanical coupling of at least one of the first and second vibrations to the inner ear is to a round window portion of a cochlea in the inner ear.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, in which at least one of the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers comprises at least one ceramic piezoelectric element.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, in which at least one of the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers comprises a film piezoelectric element.

19. The apparatus of claim 9, in which at least one of the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers comprises a ceramic piezoelectric bi-element transducer.

20. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers have at least one substantially nonidentical physical dimension.

21. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

an electronic amplifier circuit coupled to each of the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers, in which the amplifier circuit provides the input electrical signals to each of the first and second electrical-to-mechanical transducers.

22. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the signal driver further comprises:

a plurality of electronic amplifier circuits, each electronic amplifier circuit of the plurality of electronic amplifier circuits coupled to at least one electrical-to-mechanical transducer of the plurality of electrical-to-mechanical transducers.