The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 29, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2000
Janusz A. Kuzma, Englewood, CO (US);
Thomas J. Balkany, Coral Gables, FL (US);
William Vanbrooks Harrison, Valencia, CA (US);
Advanced Bionics Corporation, Sylmar, CA (US);
Abstract
An implantable microphone system, usable with a cochlear implant system or other hearing aid prosthesis, detects sound pressure waves (acoustic waves) at a movable member within the middle ear, e.g., the tympanic membrane or the stapes, through a fluid communication channel ( ) established between the middle ear movable member and a microphone capsule ( ). The microphone capsule ( ) includes two compartments ( ) separated by a flexible diaphragm ( ). One compartment ( ) is in fluid communication with a thin-walled balloon, filled with a suitable fluid ( ), positioned in contact with the movable member within the middle ear. The other compartment ( ) is mechanically coupled through a suitable mechanical linkage ( ) to a microphone sensor ( ). The microphone sensor, in turn, is electrically connected to the cochlear implant system or other hearing aid prosthesis.