Damping in contact hearing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017195801-A1
Application number	US-201615385395-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invent include a method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, the method comprising the step of: damping the motion of the at least one biasing element. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one biasing element is a spring. In embodiments of the invention, the at least one bias spring is coated in a damping material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tympanic lens, comprising:
a chassis; a perimeter platform connected to the chassis; a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring positioned at a proximal end of the microactuator; a damper attached to the at least one bias spring; and an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator.

2 . A tympanic lens according to claim 1 , further comprising a photodetector mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire.

3 . A tympanic lens according to claim 2 , wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one bias spring.

4 . A tympanic lens according to claim 3 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises silicone.

5 . A tympanic lens according to claim 3 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises a silicone gel.

6 . A tympanic lens according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils.

7 . A tympanic lens according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one wire passes through the center of the series of coils at a right angle to the series of coils.

8 . A method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a chassis, a perimeter platform connected to the chassis and a microactuator connected to the chassis through at least one bias spring, the method comprising the step of:
moving at least one element of the microactuator, wherein movement of the at least one element results in movement of the at least one bias spring; damping the movement of the at least one bias spring.

9 . A method according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one bias spring is coated in a damping material.

10 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the damping material is a silicone material.

11 . A method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the damping material fills the center of the coils.

12 . A tympanic lens, comprising:
a perimeter platform; a microactuator connected to the perimeter platform through at least one biasing element positioned between the microactuator and the perimeter platform; a damper attached to the at least one biasing element; and an umbo platform attached to a distal end of the microactuator.

13 . A tympanic lens according to claim 12 , wherein the perimeter platform is connected to the microactuator at a proximal end of the microactuator.

14 . A tympanic lens according to claim 12 , further including a chassis connected to the perimeter platform and the microactuator.

15 . A tympanic lens according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring.

16 . A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , further comprising a photodetector mounted on said chassis and electrically connected to the microactuator through at least one wire.

17 . A tympanic lens according to claim 16 , wherein the damper comprises a viscoelastic material in contact with the at least one biasing element.

18 . A tympanic lens according to claim 17 , wherein the viscoelastic material comprises silicone.

19 . A tympanic lens according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one bias spring comprises a series of coils and the viscoelastic material fills the center of the coils.

20 . A tympanic lens according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one wire passes through the center of the series of coils at a right angle to the series of coils.

21 . A method of controlling unwanted vibration in a tympanic lens, wherein the tympanic lens comprises a perimeter platform connected to a microactuator through at least one biasing element, the method comprising the step of:
moving at least one element of the microactuator, wherein movement of the at least one element results in movement of the at least one biasing element; and damping the motion of the at least one biasing element.

22 . A method according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one biasing element is at least one spring.

23 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one spring is coated in a damping material.

24 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the damping material is a silicone material.

25 . A method according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a series of coils and the damping material fills the center of the coils.

Assignees

• Earlens Corp

Inventors

• Rucker Paul
• Puria Sunil
• Wenzel Stuart
• Olsen Jake L
• Shaquer Cem
• Khaleghimeybodi Morteza
• Fay Jonathan
• Rosen Micha

Classifications

• H04R2225/51

  Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R2225/31

  Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H04R25/606 Primary

  acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window · CPC title

• H04R2225/67

  Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606 · CPC title

• H04R25/305

  Self-monitoring or self-testing · CPC title