Abstract: An implantable receptacle for receiving a hearing aid component includes a body having a proximal portion, a distal cylindrical portion and a joining portion joining the proximal portion to the distal cylindrical portion. First flexible tines extending from an outer wall of the distal cylindrical portion in the general direction of the proximal portion are configured to engage with and lock the distal cylindrical portion to a wall of a fenestration in a bone of the patient in a permanent fashion in response to pressing the sleeve into the fenestration. Second flexible tines extending from an outer wall of the distal cylindrical portion in a direction generally tangential to the circumference of the distal cylindrical portion are configured to engage with and prevent rotation of the distal cylindrical portion within the wall of the fenestration.

Abstract: A hearing aid microphone assembly is configured for implantation into a subject and includes a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion with one or more ports configured to receive a microphone and acoustically coupled to the distal end. A diaphragm is disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber. The microphone assembly is configured with either: (1) at least a first and a second port each coupled to a microphone; or (2) at least a first port coupled to a microphone and an accelerometer coupled to the housing. Each of the ports is configured to communicate acoustically with the first chamber. Any unused ports are sealed.

Abstract: A fenestration piercing the otic capsule bone of the cochlea receives a therapeutic appliance, such as a microactuator, plug, micropump for drug or therapeutic agent delivery, electrode, and the like. Several different ways of achieving a ‘water tight’ seal between the otic capsule bone and the therapeutic appliance are provided. The therapeutic appliance may be implanted with or without a sheath or sleeve lining the wall of the fenestration formed using specialized surgical burrs. The burrs permit safely fenestrating the otic capsule bone adjacent to the scala tympani of the cochlea without damaging the basilar membrane or organ of corti. This approach may also be adopted for safely fenestrating other areas of the inner ear such as the scala vestibuli, bony labyrinth of semicircular canals, or walls of the vestibule, or the oval or round windows thereof.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment the hearing of a patient may be improved by providing the patient with a wearable package having a microphone, a wireless transmitter circuit responsive to the microphone to transmit a wireless transducer signal, a power storage device configured to provide power to the transmitter circuit; and a wireless power transmission circuit configured to transmit a wireless power signal and implanting into the patient an electrically powered microactuator having: a wireless receiver circuit to receive the wireless transducer signal; a transducer drive circuit coupled to the wireless receiver circuit to convert the received transducer signal into a transducer drive signal; a transducer coupled to the transducer drive circuit to convert the transducer drive signal into motion; and a wireless power reception circuit configured to receive the wireless power signal to power the transducer drive circuit.

Abstract: A cochlear fenestration burr includes a shaft oriented along a longitudinal axis of rotation of the burr, a cylindrical depth stop member oriented along the axis, the depth stop member having a thickness dimension, a diameter dimension and a contact surface, an extension member extended outward from the contact surface and coaxial with the axis, a cutting member having a cutting surface supported by the extension member, and a cutting tip at the end of the cutting member in the center of the cutting surface and coaxial with the axis. A maximum cutting depth is defined by a distance along the axis between an end of the cutting tip and the contact surface. A cutting grit is disposed on the cutting tip and cutting surface.

Abstract: A method for increasing the acoustic impedance of the round window membrane of the cochlea in a human patient includes surgically opening access to the round window membrane and placing a packing layer over the round window membrane. Optionally a layer of collagen graft may be obtained from the patient and placed between the round window membrane and the packing layer. Optionally the packing layer may be enclosed within the collagen graft. Optionally bone paté may be obtained from the patient and used to form at least a portion of the packing layer. Optionally a silastic buttress may be placed under compression between the packing layer and the bone of sinus tympani of the patient.

Abstract: An implantable receptacle for receiving a hearing aid component includes a body having a proximal portion, a distal cylindrical portion and a joining portion joining the proximal portion to the distal cylindrical portion. First flexible tines extending from an outer wall of the distal cylindrical portion in the general direction of the proximal portion are configured to engage with and lock the distal cylindrical portion to a wall of a fenestration in a bone of the patient in a permanent fashion in response to pressing the sleeve into the fenestration. Second flexible tines extending from an outer wall of the distal cylindrical portion in a direction generally tangential to the circumference of the distal cylindrical portion are configured to engage with and prevent rotation of the distal cylindrical portion within the wall of the fenestration.

Abstract: A hearing aid microphone assembly is configured for implantation into a subject and includes a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion with one or more ports configured to receive a microphone and acoustically coupled to the distal end. A diaphragm is disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber. The microphone assembly is configured with either: (1) at least a first and a second port each coupled to a microphone; or (2) at least a first port coupled to a microphone and an accelerometer coupled to the housing. Each of the ports is configured to communicate acoustically with the first chamber. Any unused ports are sealed.

Abstract: A hearing aid microphone assembly is configured for implantation into a subject and includes a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion with one or more ports configured to receive a microphone and acoustically coupled to the distal end. A diaphragm is disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber. The microphone assembly is configured with either: (1) at least a first and a second port each coupled to a microphone; or (2) at least a first port coupled to a microphone and an accelerometer coupled to the housing. Each of the ports is configured to communicate acoustically with the first chamber. Any unused ports are sealed.

Abstract: A microactuator has a proximal end configured to receive an electrical signal and a distal end configured to be inserted into a fenestration of an otic bone to provide access through the lateral wall of the cochlea of a subject. The microactuator includes a piezoelectric transducer assembly having a piezoelectric transducer disposed on a membrane (the piezoelectric transducer having a smaller dimension than a corresponding dimension of the membrane), a hermetically sealed fluid cavity filled with a fluid sealed at a first end to a first side of the piezoelectric transducer assembly and at a second end to a diaphragm, a second cavity containing a vacuum or a gas sealed at a first end to a second side of the piezoelectric transducer assembly and at a second end to an end cap.

Abstract: A cochlear fenestration burr includes a shaft oriented along a longitudinal axis of rotation of the burr, a cylindrical depth stop member oriented along the axis, the depth stop member having a thickness dimension, a diameter dimension and a contact surface, an extension member extended outward from the contact surface and coaxial with the axis, a cutting member having a cutting surface supported by the extension member, and a cutting tip at the end of the cutting member in the center of the cutting surface and coaxial with the axis. A maximum cutting depth is defined by a distance along the axis between an end of the cutting tip and the contact surface. A cutting grit is disposed on the cutting tip and cutting surface.

Abstract: A fenestration piercing the otic capsule bone of the cochlea receives a therapeutic appliance, such as a microactuator, plug, micropump for drug or therapeutic agent delivery, electrode, and the like. Several different ways of achieving a ‘water tight’ seal between the otic capsule bone and the therapeutic appliance are provided. The therapeutic appliance may be implanted with or without a sheath or sleeve lining the wall of the fenestration formed using specialized surgical burrs. The burrs permit safely fenestrating the otic capsule bone adjacent to the scala tympani of the cochlea without damaging the basilar membrane or organ of corti. This approach may also be adopted for safely fenestrating other areas of the inner ear such as the scala vestibuli, bony labyrinth of semicircular canals, or walls of the vestibule, or the oval or round windows thereof.

Abstract: A set of fenestration burrs, for fenestrating otic capsule bone (34), includes an initial burr (150) and a sequence of fenestration polishing burrs (180). A polishing burr (152, 1521), of each of the burrs (150, 180), carries at least one spiraling flute (166, 166?). Fenestrations (36) piercing the bone (34) formed using the burrs (150, 180) exhibit uniform diameters while excluding bone dust from the inner ear. An implantable casing (72) includes a hollow collar (76) from which projects a hollow sleeve (74) receivable into the fenestration (36). The casing (72) is secured there by at least one prong (92, 102) jutting from the sleeve (74). A therapeutic appliance (134) is insertable into the casing (72). A flange (116) extending from one end of the sleeve (74) carries at least one L-shaped slot (122) open at one end and extending circumferentially around the flange (116).

Abstract: A fenestration (36) piercing the otic capsule bone of the cochlea (34) receives a therapeutic appliance, such as a microactuator (78), plug (92), micropump for drug or therapeutic agent delivery, electrode (102), etc. Disclosed are several different ways of achieving a “water tight” seal between the otic capsule bone and the therapeutic appliance. Also disclosed are specific ways of implanting the therapeutic appliance both with and without a sheath (72) lining the wall of the fenestration (36) formed using specialized surgical burrs (122, 124, 162, 164).