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:
Feb. 04, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2000
Peter G. Berrang, Victoria, CA;
Stacey D. Jarvin, Brentwood Bay, CA;
Alan J. Lupin, Victoria, CA;
Sean A. McNiven, Victoria, CA;
Epic Biosonics Inc., Victoria, CA;
Abstract
A totally implantable microphone for use with an implanted hearing aid comprises a cylindrical bio-inert housing having a bio-inert metallic membrane at the acoustic sensing end and a bio-inert plate containing electrical lead-throughs at the other end. The cylindrical housing is implanted in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, with the thin auditory canal skin overlaying the microphone membrane surface. Surface features on the housing ossiointegrate it to the auditory canal bone, and a flange on the housing posterior end prevents post-operative migration into the auditory canal. A support plate beneath the membrane limits inward flexing and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. A protruding rim around the membrane perimeter acts to protect the membrane from rupturing during outward flexure. Lithographically formed wires laminated in a thin inert polymer and connected to the lead-throughs enable the overall length of the encapsulated microphone to be very short.