Title :
Partially implantable vibrating ossicular prosthesis
Author :
Dietz, Timothy G. ; Ball, Geoffrey R. ; Katz, Bob H.
Author_Institution :
Symphonix Devices Inc., San Jose, CA, USA
Abstract :
A partially implantable hearing prosthesis for sensorineural hearing loss patients has been developed using a novel electromagnetic actuator. The system is designed to couple acoustic frequency, vibrational energy into the ossicular structure of the middle ear. The complete system includes external signal processing and a transdermal telemetry system. The focus of this paper is to describe the transducer used to convert electrical energy into vibrational energy. This paper includes transducer design, transducer performance, initial reliability estimates generated from accelerated life testing, and in vitro test results
Keywords :
acoustoelectric transducers; bone; frequency response; hearing aids; life testing; prosthetics; reliability; accelerated life testing; acoustic frequency coupling; electromagnetic actuator; external signal processing; in vitro test results; middle ear; ossicular structure; partially implantable vibrating ossicular prosthesis; reliability estimates; sensorineural hearing loss patients; transdermal telemetry system; transducer design; transducer performance; vibrational energy; Acoustic signal processing; Acoustic transducers; Actuators; Auditory system; Deafness; Ear; Frequency; Life estimation; Life testing; Prosthetics;
Conference_Titel :
Solid State Sensors and Actuators, 1997. TRANSDUCERS '97 Chicago., 1997 International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Chicago, IL
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3829-4
DOI :
10.1109/SENSOR.1997.613678
