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Arnand P Neukermans

S George Lesinski

A implantable sealed microphone ( ) includes a diaphragm ( ) having a thin central region ( ) surrounded by a thicker rim ( ). One side of sheet electret material ( ) is bonded to the diaphragm ( ) while the other side contacts a roughened plate ( ). The rim ( ) is bonded to a housing ( ) thereby hermetically enclosing the electret ( ) and the plate ( ). The microphone ( ) also includes an electrical connector ( ) that couples both the plate ( ) and the electret ( ) to an input of an amplifier ( ) included in an implantable hearing aid system ( ). Preferably, the microphone ( ) is incorporated into a sealed electronics module ( ) together with the amplifier ( ) and an energy storage device such as a battery that energizes operation of the implantable hearing aid system ( ). In such a configuration, the microphone's diaphragm ( ) forms a surface of the electronics module's housing ( ). An electrical connector ( ) couples an output signal from the amplifier ( ) to a microactuator ( ) of the implantable hearing aid system ( ).

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Arnand P Neukermans