Medtronic, Inc.

Cochlear Limited

Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches

Christian Peclat

John Louis Parker

James Martin Haase

Scott A Sarkinen

Ronald L Mezera

Hans Jaeger

Marcus Andersson

Mark S Lent

Steven R Christenson

Hans Bernhard

Kristian Åsnes

Kaspar Trumpy

Christof Stieger

Markus Haller

Thomas Kaiser

Ben Kloeck

Patrik Wilhelm Strömsten

Christoph Kissling

Karen Cauwels

Karel Huybrechts

Rudolph Hausler

Hans M Wind

The present invention relates to a bone conduction device for enhancing a recipient's hearing. The device may include an input configured to receive sound signals and generate a plurality of signals representative of the sound signals, an electronics module configured to receive the plurality of signals and having a first control setting configured to control a first characteristic of at least one of the plurality of signals and a second control setting configured to control a second characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of signals, a vibrator configured to receive the plurality of signals representative of the sound signals and transmit vibrations to the recipient's bone, and a user interface having a first interface control configured to interface with the first control setting and alter the first characteristic and a second interface control configured to interface with the second control setting and alter the second characteristic.

Bone conduction device with a user interface

Detection of end of stroke for an electromagnetic pump may be performed using, for example, a calculated first flux derivative. Further, inductance of a coil that can be energized to produce a pump stroke may be calculated (e.g., the pump may include an actuator moveable in response to the energization of the coil). For example, the inductance may be calculated as a function of sense coil current and source electrical potential when the actuator is not moving for use in determining position of the actuator.

End of stroke detection for electromagnetic pump

An electromechanical actuator () suitable, for example, in hearing aid applications is disclosed. Certain embodiments of the actuator comprise a hermetic titanium housing (), a mechanical output structure () emulating the long process of incus (), and means for efficiently generating movement in the audible frequency range. The electromechanical actuator () may be configured to be coupled to the inner ear fluids via a conventional stapes prosthesis. The implantable actuator (), which may be considered to be operably equivalent to a loudspeaker of a conventional hearing aid, may bypass the outer and the middle ear in order to directly drive the inner ear fluids. As such, embodiments of the electromechanical actuator of the present invention may be used to remedy any source of conductive hearing loss. Additionally, certain embodiments of the electromechanical actuator may be configured to provide sufficiently high output levels to treat severe sensorineural hearing loss while being sufficiently small to completely fit into a human mastoid.

Implantable actuator for hearing aid applications

A bone conduction device including a coupling configurable to form a coupling with a bone, a transducer module configurable to vibrate in accordance with one or more operational characteristics of the device; and a sensor module configurable to adjust the one or more operational characteristics in response to one or more of a reorientation of a portion of the device and a movement of the portion relative to the coupling.

Bone conduction device with a movement sensor

A piezoelectric transducer having a component therein for amplifying the deformation of the piezoelectric element so as to increase the available transducer stroke. This amplification of the piezoelectric element may be provided by a mechanical amplifier coupled to the piezoelectric element. The mechanical amplifier is configured to exert a preloading force on the piezoelectric element.

Mechanically amplified piezoelectric transducer

A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal and an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal. The device further comprises a piezoelectric transducer comprising at least one piezoelectric element configured to deform along at least one axis in response to an application of the electrical signal thereto, the transducer configured to generate an transducer stroke based on the deformation, the stroke having a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the deformation, wherein the transducer stroke is utilized to generate a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull.

Piezoelectric bone conduction device having enhanced transducer stroke

Detection of end of stroke for an electromagnetic pump is performed using, for example, a calculated first flux derivative.

An implantable drug delivery device includes a pump motor that is driven by electrical energy from a storage capacitor. At the end of each pump delivery cycle, electrical energy stored in the pump motor is recovered and returned to the storage capacitor, so that it can be used in subsequent delivery cycles.

Residual energy recovery in a drug delivery device

A medical device known as an implantable infusion device is configured for implanting in humans to deliver a therapeutic substance such as pharmaceutical compositions, genetic materials, and biologics to treat a variety of medical conditions such as pain, spasticity, cancer, and many other conditions. The infusion device incorporates a motor coil connector and mechanical sealing system between the clean motor compartment and the potentially corrosive pump compartment that provides a reliable electrical connection between the motor coil and the motor drive electronics. The motor coil connector provides for bonding of a very small diameter coil wire to one end of the connector and a highly corrosion resistant connection at the other end of the connector. Additionally, the motor coil connector and mechanical sealing system provides a seal against harmful corrosion materials that could emanate from the pump compartment and reach the motor compartment and cause malfunction of the motor. The infusion device has a housing, a power source, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a therapeutic substance pump, and electronics.

Implantable infusion device with motor connection and seal system

The invention is a peristaltic pump having a particularly simple construction and a low axial bulk. The pump (1) includes a rotor (20) having rollers (21,22,23) which roll against a tube (14) containing the liquid to be pumped. The compression of the tube presses the rollers against the circular peripheral surface (35) of a central vibrating stator (32) in the form of a disc or ring, which guides the rollers and causes them to turn. The stator (32) is set in vibration by piezoelectric means and vibrates by extension in its radial plane following a progressive wave. The chassis (24) of the rotor is devoid of a central drive shaft. Such a peristaltic pump is notably useful in the medical domain, in machines to be worn by a patient or implanted in the body of a human being or animal.

Peristaltic pump

Along the inner lying rotor trailing surface (21) of an annular rotor (20) are successively provided regions (26a-c) of small wall thicknesses (29) and regions (25a-c) of larger wall thicknesses, which differ with respect to the acoustic impedance spectrum. During the state of operation, i.e. when the rotor (20) turns, the mentioned regions (24a-c; 25a-c) are excited alternately by the piezoelectric excitor (15) of the stator (13). The acoustic impedance spectrum which changes periodically, influences the electrical impedance spectrum of the motor (10) in an analog manner. These changes are measured via the voltage supply connections of the motor (10) and are interpreted as relative positional changes between the stator (13) and the rotor (20).

Piezoelectric motor having an arrangement which provides information

This motor of the piezo-electric type comprises a stator (1) and a rotor (15) intended to effect relative movement to one another. The stator (1) comprises a plate (17) of generally planar form and means for generating therein vibratory waves at an ultrasonic frequency. Such waves enable the imparting of an elliptic motion to at least one active point (17c) on the periphery of the plate in the plane of the latter, said active point being in engagement with a motion transmission surface (22) of the rotor (15) in order to bring about movement of the rotor (15) relative to the stator (1) by virtue of the elliptic motion. The plate (17) of generally planar form includes a central circular portion (17a), to one of the faces of which are attached the means for generating the vibratory waves. From this central portion extend at least two lobes (17b) on the edges (17d) of which are arranged said active points (17c). The lateral edges (17d, 17e) of lobes (17b) are profiled so as to concentrate the vibratory energy emanating from the central portion (17a) within the active points (17c). Thus one of these edges preferably exhibits an elliptical profile. The invention is applicable to motors intended to furnish a low couple with a high yield, in particular in the horological domain.

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Neuchatel, Switzerland

Christian Peclat