Implantable middle ear transducer having diagnostic detection sensor

Inventors

Glumac, Daniel E.

Assignees

Envoy Medical Inc

Abstract

Methods and devices for measuring vibration of an implanted driven vibrating elongate body coupled to a bone of the middle ear, for example using an accelerometer coupled to the vibrating body. The measured vibration can be taken during implantation and long again after implantation to check for possible decoupling, disease, or additionally impeded vibratory driving of the middle ear bone. An accelerometer signal can be converted to a displacement value and used to check for an under impeded or over impeded vibratory body. An implanted device can be used to periodically check the vibration of the vibratory body. Methods and devices can be used in conjunction with implanted devices which receive vibratory signals from a middle ear bone and use the signals to drive a disarticulated middle ear bone closer to the ear drum.

Core Innovation

Implantable middle-ear transducer systems are disclosed in which a vibrational device coupled to a middle ear bone drives vibration of the middle ear bone while an accelerometer is coupled to the middle ear bone for sensing. A signal indicative of acceleration from the accelerometer is measured at a first time after the coupling, with the sensed signal used for determining proper coupling of the accelerometer to the middle ear bone.

In embodiments, the coupling of the accelerometer and the first time signal measuring are performed during a surgery, and a second measuring of the acceleration-indicative signal is performed at a second time after the coupling. The second measuring time is at least one month after the coupling, and the first time and second time measuring signals are compared.

The measured acceleration-indicative signals are used to detect decoupling and/or impeded vibration and to assess vibratory driving characterized by under-imped or over-imped vibratory driving. The document also describes coupling and sensing via electrical or optical signal communication to an implanted electronic device, including embodiments with varying accelerometer placement and with self-powered accelerometers.

Claims Coverage

Two independent method claims are identified. Each claim centers on coupling an accelerometer to a middle ear bone and measuring an acceleration-indicative signal, with timing and comparative determinations distinguishing the claims.

Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage lies in using an accelerometer to sense vibrational driving of a middle ear bone, determining proper coupling based on an initial post-coupling measurement, and, when measurement occurs during surgery, performing a later repeat measurement and comparing signals over time.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications