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:
Sep. 07, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 03, 2002
Albert A. Maltan, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Alfred E. Mann, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
James P. McGivern, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Philip H. Lee, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Advanced Bionics Corporation, Valencia, CA (US);
Abstract
A hearing aid module ( ) is shaped for insertion into a tunnel ( ) made through the soft tissue that connects the retro-auricular space ( ) with the ear canal ( ). A hollow tube ( ) may first be chronically or acutely implanted in such tunnel, and the hearing aid module inserted into the tube. The tube or hearing aid module may have a coating ( ) containing a steroid or drug adapted to minimize infection and/or inflammation. The hearing aid module contains a speaker ( ), a battery or other power source ( ) powering the module, signal processing circuitry ( ), and a microphone ( ). Telemetry circuitry ( ) within the module allows the signal processing circuitry to be programmed with a desired frequency response or signal processing strategy using an external programming unit ( ). A remote control unit ( ) permits the user to make simple adjustments, such as volume and/or tone control.