Storz Instrument Co.

John Fredrickson

A Maynard Engebretson

The acoustical coupler has a closed-bottom containment with compliant diaphragm attached to the containment periphery to form an acoustic chamber. A length of tubing is connected through the side or bottom or the containment of the chamber for conveying sound pressure between the chamber and an electroacoustic transducer connected at the other end of the tubing. The transducer may be either a microphone or a hearing aid receiver. The electroacoustic transducer, being too large for direct placement within the middle ear cavity may be located elsewhere in the skull, such as behind the ear adjacent to the surface of the skin. When connected to a microphone, the coupler may be placed within the middle ear cavity behind the tympanic membrane and may be attached to the malleus with a wire hook secured to the coupler diaphragm. When attached to a vibration sending unit the coupler may transfer the generated vibration directly to the incus end of the stapes. In one embodiment, this transfer is effected by means of a hollow tube having a generally hollow member therein and containing a quantity of low loss material. The member defines one end connected to the vibration sending unit and a second end connected directly to the stapes.

Implantable hearing aid coupler device

The acoustical coupler has a closed-bottom containment with compliant diaphragm attached to the containment periphery to form an acoustic chamber. A length of tubing is connected through the side or bottom of the containment to the chamber for conveying sound pressure between the chamber and an electroacoustic transducer connected at the other end of the tubing. The transducer may be either a microphone or a hearing aid receiver. The electroacoustic transducer, being too large for direct placement within the middle ear cavity may be located elsewhere in the skull, such as behind the ear adjacent to the surface of the skin. When connected to a microphone the coupler may be placed within the middle ear cavity behind the tympanic membrane and may be attached to the malleus with a wire hook secured to the coupler diaphragm. When attached to a receiver or vibration sending unit the coupler may be attached to the incus end of the stapes using a porous disc secured to the coupler diaphragm, the porosity of the disc permitting tissue growth and infusion whereby the stapes becomes permanently attached to the disc. The acoustic couplers may be used with a wide range of electronic signal processing and amplification circuitry tailored to the particular patient's hearing loss.

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Clayton, MO, United States of America

John Fredrickson