St. Croix Medical, Inc.

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Clean Shield Enterprises, Inc.

Rice Creek Medical, LLC

Scott C Meyerson

Kai K Kroll

Donald J Bushek

Paul J Urbanski

Theodore P Adams

Bruce A Brillhart

Keith R Maile

William J Linder

Jeffery M Eliason

Robert Willeke, Jr

Dale A Severson

Paul Alexandre Avan

Bela Buki

A method and apparatus assists a hearing impaired person by introducing and maintaining a mechanical feedback barrier between a microphone and a transducer of an implantable hearing assistance system. In this method, mechanical sound vibrations impinging on the person's body habitus are received with an electromechanical device (e.g. microphone) disposed at a body habitus sound reception site. The body habitus sound reception site can be located within the external auditory canal, or external of the external auditory canal either subdermally or external of the scalp. The mechanical sound vibrations are converted with the electromechanical device to an amplified electrical signal. Next, the amplified electrical signal is delivered to the inner ear with a transducer operatively coupled between the electromechanical device and the middle ear or the inner ear. Finally, a mechanical feedback barrier is introduced and maintained between the sound reception site and the transducer to minimize acoustic feedback therebetween. Preferably, this feedback barrier is established by removing, separating, or fixing, or combinations thereof, a portion of the hearing impaired person's ossicular chain (e.g malleus, incus, or stapes).

Method and apparatus for reduced feedback in implantable hearing assistance systems

An intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring system and method for using such is disclosed. The system stimulates and interprets predictable external effects of elevated ICP. In one embodiment, the system non-invasively and continuously monitors ICP by stimulating and interpreting predictable changes measured in the otoacoustic emission (OAE) signal of the patient. The system may alternately non-invasively and continuously monitor ICP by stimulating, measuring, and interpreting other responses which rely on the transmission of vibrations through the middle ear cochlear interface, such as tympanograms (TGRAMs), ocular-acoustic reflex, auditory brainstem response (ABR), or cochlear microphonics.

Non-invasive method and apparatus for monitoring intracranial pressure

Systems and sub-systems for supplying squeegee buckets with automobile windshield washer fluid. Some systems include a fluid containing reservoir elevated above the squeegee buckets so as to gravity feed the buckets. One system includes a fluid quantity sensor coupled to a squeegee bucket for indicating a predetermined low fluid quantity in the squeegee bucket, calling for the addition of fluid. The fluid quantity sensor can be coupled directly or indirectly to a controllable fluid supply source to add fluid into the squeegee bucket interior. Some systems have continuous or analog fluid quantity sensor outputs while other systems have discreet fluid quantity sensors indicating that a low limit has been reached. Some systems utilize level sensors while other systems utilize weight sensors. One system includes a level sensor in the form of a float adapted to trigger an electrical switch upon reaching a low level. When the low level limit is reached, a valve in fluid communication with a fluid supply source is opened to allow fluid flow into the squeegee bucket interior. Some systems allow a predetermined time flow of fluid or a predetermined volume flow of fluid. Other systems terminate flow into the squeegee bucket when a high level fluid quantity is indicated, for example, by a high level limit being reached by a level switch. Systems can also include logic within controllers to detect leakage and/or pilferage and further logic to limit or stop excessive fluid usage through pilferage or leakage. The invention allows continuous replenishing of windshield washer squeegee buckets, not requiring frequent human action to refill the buckets. The present invention can be used in lightly staffed or completely unstaffed, 24-hour gasoline service stations and convenience stores, providing windshield washer fluid with minimal personnel costs.

Squeegee bucket fluid fill device and system

A method and apparatus assists a hearing impaired person by introducing and maintaining a mechanical feedback barrier between a microphone and a transducer of an implantable hearing assistance system. In this method, mechanical sound vibrations impinging on the person's body habitus are received with an electromechanical device (e.g. microphone) disposed at a body habitus sound reception site. The body habitus sound reception site can be located within the external auditory canal, or external of the external auditory canal either subdermally or external of the scalp. The mechanical sound vibrations are converted with the electromechanical device to an amplified electrical signal. Next, the amplified electrical signal is delivered to the inner ear with a transducer operatively coupled between the electromechanical device and the middle ear or the inner ear. Finally, a mechanical feedback barrier is introduced and maintained between the sound reception site and the transducer to in mimize acoustic feedback therebetween. Preferably, this feedback barrier is established by removing, separating, or fixing, or combinations thereof, a portion of the hearing impaired person's ossicular chain (e.g malleus, incus, or stapes).

The invention discloses a programmable implantable hearing aid including built-in electronics being in wireless communications with a hand-held programmer. The programmer transmits digital code signals of the type including RF, infrared and ultrasonic, based on selected parameter settings. A receiver accepts the signals for transmission to an input transducer in the middle ear. The input transducer collects the middle ear's response to the signals and transmits it to a circuit in the implanted hearing aid. The circuit searches for specific programming patterns and decodes the signals to effectuate the desired adjustment in the hearing aid. The conditioned signals are then transferred to an output transducer to operate the device at the adjusted signal level and condition. The invention enables both a patient and doctor to make unlimited number of adjustments in the implanted hearing aid without invasive surgery.

Method and apparatus for a programmable implantable hearing aid

A support shaft for use in supporting a universal connector for use in an implantable hearing assistance system. The support shaft provides an implantation surgeon with several features designed to secure a support shaft within the air cell-filled portion of a temporal bone. The support shaft is further configured to allow the secure attachment of the universal connector, the connector configured to support transducers and other components of an implantable hearing assistance system.

Air cell mountable support shaft

A total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) or partial middle ear implantable (PMEI) hearing assistance system provides a transient middle ear mechanical vibration stimulus, and senses emissions from the cochlea. The sensed cochlear emissions include mechanical vibrations (&ldquo;otovibratory emissions&rdquo;) and sound pressure waves (&ldquo;otoacoustic emissions&rdquo;). Based on the sensed emissions, diagnostic information is provided to the physician at an external programmer, allowing easier positioning and coupling of an electrical-to-mechanical output transducer. Diagnosis of auditory system or hearing assistance system malfunctions is effectively implemented using the data communicated from the implantable hearing assistance device. Signal processing parameters are adjusted based on the sensed cochlear emissions for improved hearing assistance. Otovibratory emission sensing is likely more sensitive than otoacoustic emissions, providing improved audiometric screening data.

Hearing assistance device sensing otovibratory or otoacoustic emissions evoked by middle ear vibrations

An improved partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing assistance system includes a device and method of providing between a vibrating auditory element and a transducer that senses or provides such mechanical vibrations adjustably positionable contact at a controllable, adjustable, or calibrated force. A screw adjusts a spacing between first and second members of the transducer mount to position the transducer and obtain the desired coupling force between the transducer and the auditory element. A spring provides an adjustable coupling force. A spacer limits further compression of the spring, providing additional force. A calibrated coupling force is obtained by compressing the spring by a known amount, such as by observing visual demarcations, or by reducing the spacing between the first and second members until the spacing is almost limited by the length of the spacer. Optimal ranges of forces for sensing malleus vibrations are disclosed.

Hearing system with middle ear transducer mount

An electromechanical transducer for an implantable hearing aid, such as a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid system. The invention comprises at least one piezoelectric element proportioned for mechanically coupling to a middle ear only through an auditory element in the middle ear, such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, stapes, or in the inner ear, such as the oval window, round window, vestibule, or semicircular canals. The invention need not be secured to a temporal bone. Inertial masses and a carrier are optionally provided to assist in sensing or producing mechanical vibrations. The carrier is optionally hermetically sealed. Superpositioned individual frequency responses optimize an overall frequency bandwidth.

Middle ear transducer

An accelerometer based rate adaptive pacemaker generating an acceleration output signal corresponding to sensed acceleration of a patient's body. Apparatus for providing a sensor determined interval is coupled to the acceleration sensor and the sensor determined interval is proportional to the acceleration output signal. Apparatus for determining an actual pacing interval is coupled to an apparatus for determining a generated pacing interval. The generated pacing interval is a function of both the sensor determined interval and the actual pacing interval.

Growing community of inventors

Mounds View, MN, United States of America

Scott C Meyerson