Cochlear Limited

Karel Huybrechts

Christian Peclat

Hans Bernhard

Christof Stieger

Markus Haller

Thomas Kaiser

Ben Kloeck

Karen Cauwels

Rudolph Hausler

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

Growing community of inventors

Kapeele op den Bos, Belgium

Karel Huybrechts