Abstract: An implantable hearing prosthesis for a recipient patient is described. An implantable signal transducer includes one or more electromagnetic drive coils for receiving an electrical stimulation signal and a cylindrical transducer magnet arrangement including an inner disk magnet having a first magnetic field direction, and an outer annular magnet surrounding the inner rod magnet and having a second magnetic field direction opposite to the first magnetic field direction. Current flow through the one or more electromagnetic drive coils from the electrical stimulation signal creates a coil magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic fields of the transducer magnet arrangement to create vibration in the transducer magnet which is developed by the signal transducer as a mechanical stimulation signal for audio perception by the patient.

Abstract: An implantable hearing prosthesis for a recipient patient is described. An implantable receiving coil transcutaneously receives an externally generated communication data signal. An implantable signal processor is in communication with the receiving coil and converts the communication data signal into an electrical stimulation signal. An implantable transducer housing is fixedly attachable to skull bone of the patient. An implantable drive transducer is in communication with the signal processor and removably engageable with the transducer housing for applying to the transducer housing a mechanical vibration signal based on the electrical stimulation signal for audio perception by the patient.

Abstract: An implantable hearing prosthesis for a recipient patient is described. An implantable signal transducer includes one or more electromagnetic drive coils for receiving an electrical stimulation signal and a cylindrical transducer magnet arrangement including an inner disk magnet having a first magnetic field direction, and an outer annular magnet surrounding the inner rod magnet and having a second magnetic field direction opposite to the first magnetic field direction. Current flow through the one or more electromagnetic drive coils from the electrical stimulation signal creates a coil magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic fields of the transducer magnet arrangement to create vibration in the transducer magnet which is developed by the signal transducer as a mechanical stimulation signal for audio perception by the patient.

Abstract: Devices with both electrical and mechanical signal transducers can be used for improving sound perception by individuals with severe to profound hearing loss or tinnitus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for improving testing of hearing devices, including soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants. In particular, the present invention provides a microphone system utilizing reverse transfer function to assess the operability of implanted hearing improvement devices, including but not limited to soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for improving testing of hearing devices, including soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants. In particular, the present invention provides a microphone system utilizing reverse transfer function to assess the operability of implanted hearing improvement devices, including but not limited to soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants.

Abstract: An implantable hearing prosthesis for a recipient patient is described. An implantable receiving coil transcutaneously receives an externally generated communication data signal. An implantable signal processor is in communication with the receiving coil and converts the communication data signal into an electrical stimulation signal. An implantable transducer housing is fixedly attachable to skull bone of the patient. An implantable drive transducer is in communication with the signal processor and removably engageable with the transducer housing for applying to the transducer housing a mechanical vibration signal based on the electrical stimulation signal for audio perception by the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for improving testing of hearing devices, including soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants. In particular, the present invention provides a microphone system utilizing reverse transfer function to assess the operability of implanted hearing improvement devices, including but not limited to soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices for improving sound perception by individuals with severe to profound hearing loss or tinnitus. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for stimulating structures of the ear via multiple signal transducers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices for improving sound perception by subjects with conductive or mixed conductive/sensorineural hearing loss. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for vibrating the skull of a hearing impaired subject.

Abstract: A receiver front end is provided capable of receiving electromagnetic wave signals having frequencies in the range of substantially 35 GHz to substantially 40 GHz, and having a gain of substantially 24 dB or above and a noise figure of substantially 4 dB or below, and comprising one or more multifunction monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). The receiver front end preferably has a noise figure of substantially 4 dB or below over an output signal frequency range of substantially 1 to 10 GHz, and a size in the region of 30 mm2 or less. The reveiver front end may comprise a receiver MMIC, and a doubler/buffer amplifier MMIC. The receiver MMIC may comprise a low noise amplifier (3), a mixer (5), a filter (4) and an intermediate frequency amplifier (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates to implantable medical devices for improving sound perception by individuals with severe to profound hearing loss or tinnitus. In particular, the present invention provides methods and devices for stimulating structures of the ear via multiple signal transducers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devices and methods for improving testing of hearing devices, including soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants. In particular, the present invention provides a microphone system utilizing reverse transfer function to assess the operability of implanted hearing improvement devices, including but not limited to soundbridges and direct drive middle ear implants.

Abstract: A compact, gas-fired water heater in which a reservoir of bulk water is indirectly heated by a gas burner-fired immersion tube and directly heated by mutual contact between the hot flue gases from the immersion tube outlet and feed water droplets as they pass each other in contra-flow through the apertures in a plurality of plates and through a packed bed of graded solid particles or Rashig rings. The packed bed may also include suitable chemicals for modifying the quality of the stored water. One or more calorifiers may be located in the reservoir with limited direct heat conduction contact with the immersion tube.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a series-connected combination of two-terminal semiconductor devices on a common substrate comprising: forming a layer of high quality semiconductor material, 4, on the surface of a temporary substrate, 2 and 3, to provide active areas for the devices, forming first contact pattern conductors, 6, 9, 10, on the free surface of the high quality semiconductor layer to provide a separate first contact to this layer for each of the devices, bonding an insulating support substrate, 12, to the first contact pattern, removing the temporary substrate, forming second contact pattern conductors, 17, 18, 19, on the other surface of the high quality layer to provide a separate second contact to this layer for each of the devices, removing regions, 8, of the high quality layer separating the conductors of a pattern at any stage after beginning formation of the first contact pattern in order to define the device active areas so that parts of the first contact pattern are exposed when both the tempora