Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject who, if anatomically normal, possesses a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibrations in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate mechanical vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear; wherein the ossicular chain is interrupted to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear of the subject and an implant is surgically interposed within the ossicular chain to form an independent link between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, which implant is comprised of a transducer for converting mechanical signals generated at the tympanic membrane into electrical signals for direct electrical stimulation of the inner ear.

Other References

• Jako, "Biomed Eng. in Ear Surgery", Otolaryngolic Clinics of N. America, vol. #5, Feb./72
• T. Ono--Implantable Hearing Aid (Pt 1), Audecibal, Fall '84
• Audiological Assessment of Vibratory Hearing, 17th Int. Congress of Audiology, Aug. '84, Santa Barbara, Calif
• Sako et al., "Conservative Tympanoplasty", Amer. Academy of Opthalmology & Otolarynology, Course 319, Oct. 1, 1966
• Article from The American Journal of Otology/vol. 5, No. 4, 4/84 entitled "Sound Pickup Utilizing an Implatable Piezoelectric Ceramic Bimorph Element--Application to the Cochlear Implant"
• Article from "Hearing Instruments" vol. 32, No. 9, 1981/13 entitled "The Cochlear Implant: Performance of Deaf Patients"/Dr. House et al
• Copy of "Hearing Instruments" Jun. 1985 devoted to The Cochlear Implant--1985; Copies of all excerpts included