Patents Examined by Kevin Shafer
  • Patent number: 6482144
    Abstract: A mechanical coupling for an output-side driver of an active or passive implantable hearing system. The driver is adapted to vibrate a preselected site on a member selected from the group comprising the ossicular chain, the footplate of the stapes and a membrane which closes a window in one of the cochlea, the vestibulum and the labyrinth (equilibrium organ), via a first coupling which has a coupling rod, which can be caused to vibrate mechanically by the driver, and a coupling element which can be connected to the preselected coupling site. The coupling rod and the coupling element are interconnected by at least one coupling. The first coupling half of the coupling has a roughly cylindrical outside contour that can be accommodated in the inside contour of a second coupling half, i.e. a contour which is at least partially complementary to the outside contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Gerd M. Müller