Abstract: An implantable hearing aid transducer is easily mounted within a middle ear region by the force of attraction between two permanent magnets. The transducer is preferably coupled to one of the magnets prior to implantation. The transducer is coupled to the magnet by an adhesive, by a transducer case containing both the magnet and the transducer, or by being encompassed by the magnet.

Abstract: An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. Forcing fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.

Abstract: A support for input and output transducers of a hearing aid is implanted in the middle ear. The support, which is attached to the mastoid bone, can be a single component or comprise two adjustable components. In one embodiment, an arm extends from the proximal end of the support towards an access hole created behind the outer ear, where the arm is attached for further stability. In another embodiment, the arm extends outside the access hole, where it is mounted subcutaneously to the mastoid bone with a mechanical fastener. The support provides positional adjustability, stability, and is invisible externally.

Abstract: A dual path implantable hearing assistance system transduces sound vibrations of the malleus in one or both ears into electrical signals, processes the electrical signals to provide one or more resulting output electrical signals, and transduces the output signals into mechanical vibrations provided to the stapes in one or both ears. Communication between an electronics device and at least one ear is either wireless or through subcutaneous lead wires. The system may have two input paths and two output paths, programmable to provide the function of two separate single path systems, but capable of combining the signals such as by weighted summing. The system may have also have two input paths and one output path; or, one input path and two output paths; or, one input path and one output path, each associated with a different ear.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer for an implantable hearing aid, such as a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid system. The invention comprises at least one piezoelectric element proportioned for mechanically coupling to a middle ear only through an auditory element in the middle ear, such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, stapes, or in the inner ear, such as the oval window, round window, vestibule, or semicircular canals. The invention need not be secured to a temporal bone. Inertial masses and a carrier are optionally provided to assist in sensing or producing mechanical vibrations. The carrier is optionally hermetically sealed. Superpositioned individual frequency responses optimize an overall frequency bandwidth.

Abstract: A support for input and output transducers of a hearing aid is implanted in the middle ear. The support, which is attached to the mastoid bone, can be a single component or comprise two adjustable components. In one embodiment, an arm extends from the proximal end of the support towards an access hole created behind the outer ear, where the arm is attached for further stability. In another embodiment, the arm extends outside the access hole, where it is mounted subcutaneously to the mastoid bone with a mechanical fastener. The support provides positional adjustability, stability, and is invisible externally. The support can be a single bracket. The transducers are connected to an electronics unit. The electronics can be programmed or reprogrammed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a frequency response of a piezoelectric input or output transducer in an implantable hearing system. Multiple input or multiple output transducers obtain optimized mechanical-to-electrical or electrical-to-mechanical frequency response. Output mechanical coupling is directly to the inner ear, or through an ossicular element such as the malleus, stapes, or incus. Input mechanical vibrations are obtained from an auditory element such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, or incus. Substantially nonidentical frequency responses are obtained such as using transducers of different dimensions, different number of transducer elements, different material properties, different mounting techniques, or different auditory elements for coupling.

Abstract: An electrical method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac cells causing contraction to force hemodynamic output during fibrillation, hemodynamically compromising tachycardia, or asystole. High level electrical fields are applied to the heart to give cardiac output on an emergency basis until the arrhythmia ceases or other intervention takes place. The device is used as a stand alone external or internal device, or as a backup to an ICD, atrial defibrillator, or an anti-tachycardia pacemaker. The method and apparatus maintain some cardiac output and not necessarily defibrillation.

Abstract: An atrial arrythmia sensor and drug dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a multiphase, multistage intelligent system to monitor and treat atrial fibrillation. The apparatus includes atrial rate sensing means, cardiac pacing and antitachycardia pacing means, drug delivery means including a self-cleaning catheter line with multi-drug dispensing capability preferably operated using a dual pump arrangement and an iontophoretic device. The drug delivery system may also include a porous catheter to discharge drug into the atrium. The intelligent system includes a memory implemented logic (software) to continuously monitor the atrial rate and initiate a response of either cardiac pacing, antitachycardia pacing or drug dispensing based on preset cardiac activity parameters. The system also includes a medical history recording feature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus transduces between mechanical and electrical signals within a middle ear to improve hearing. An electromechanical transducer film, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), is carried by a mount secured to the middle ear. The film is constrained by the mount, or by the mount and an auditory element. The invention includes substantially straight, bow-shaped, hoop-shaped, and bi-element transducer film embodiments. The film transduces between mechanical vibrations of an auditory element, such as the malleus or stapes, and electrical signals for use with an electronics unit of a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a frequency response of a piezoelectric input or output transducer in an implantable hearing system. Multiple input or multiple output transducers obtain optimized mechanical-to-electrical or electrical-to-mechanical frequency response. Output mechanical coupling is directly to the inner ear, or through an ossicular element such as the malleus, stapes, or incus. Input mechanical vibrations are obtained from an auditory element such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, or incus. Substantially nonidentical frequency responses are obtained such as using transducers of different dimensions, different number of transducer elements, different material properties, different mounting techniques, or different auditory elements for coupling.

Abstract: A novel backup approach for tachycardia patients is taught. This approach uses the application of electrical cardiac output forcing to maintain a partial cardiac contraction in the event that antitachycardia therapy accelerates the patients' rhythm into a fibrillation. The partial contraction forces cardiac output at a level sufficient to maintain life.

Abstract: An implantable hearing aid system for the middle ear utilizes pairs of permanent magnets to engage transducers with auditory elements in a middle ear. At least one transducer is supported within the middle ear cavity by a support. A transducer is magnetically-engaged with a malleus in one embodiment and another transducer is magnetically-engaged with a stapes in other embodiments. When using two contactless transducers, a permanent magnet is attached to each transducer. A permanent magnet is also attached to the malleus and to the stapes. The permanent magnet on each transducer is situated such that its polarity acts in repulsion to the permanent magnet on the adjacent auditory element.

Abstract: A support for input and output transducers of a hearing aid is implanted in the middle ear. The support, which is attached to the mastoid bone, can be a single component or comprise two adjustable components. In one embodiment, an arm extends from the proximal end of the support towards an access hole created behind the outer ear, where the arm is attached for further stability. In another embodiment, the arm extends outside the access hole, where it is mounted subcutaneously to the mastoid bone with a mechanical fastener. The support provides positional adjustability, stability, and is invisible externally.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating biphasic waveforms uses an implantable cardioverter defibrillator having two capacitor systems and a switching network. A first phase of the biphasic waveform is produced by configuring the two capacitor systems to selectively discharge first in a parallel combination, and then in a series combination. The second phase of the biphasic waveform is produced by reconfiguring the two capacitor systems in a parallel combination. By reverting to a parallel configuration for the second phase of the biphasic waveform, the output characteristics of the second phase of a biphasic waveform of the present invention more closely match a new model for understanding the effectiveness of the biphasic.

Abstract: An implantable device for, in the event of ventricular fibrillation, temporarily electrically forcing cardiac output to maintain life and consciousness in a patient until the patient is rescued by an external defibrillator. The device uses moderate voltage output pulses of 30-200 V which are sufficient to cause a partial contraction of the heart even if it is fibrillating. These pulses are not typically sufficient to defibrillate the heart and this device cannot substitute as a defibrillator. However, the moderate voltage pulsing will generate enough cardiac output to keep the patient alive. The system is designed with sufficient battery power for years of monitoring and hours of cardiac output forcing operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus transduces between mechanical and electrical signals within a middle ear to improve hearing. An electromechanical transducer film, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), is carried by a mount secured to the middle ear. The film is constrained by the mount, or by the mount and an auditory element. The apparatus includes substantially straight, bow-shaped, hoop-shaped, and bi-element transducer film embodiments. The film transduces between mechanical vibrations of an auditory element, such as the malleus or stapes, and electrical signals for use with an electronics unit of a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI) or total middle ear implantable (T-MEI) hearing aid.

Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) apparatus produces a capacitive-discharge cardioversion/defibrillation countershock to be delivered through defibrillation electrodes adapted to be implanted in a human patient. The ICD apparatus is a self-contained human implantable device including a pulse-generating capacitor system, a battery system, a sensing system, and a control system. In response to a detected cardiac dysrhythmia, the ICD apparatus selectively charges and discharges the capacitor system through the defibrillation electrodes to generate the capacitive-discharge cardioversion/defibrillation countershock. Circuitry is added to the ICD apparatus to deliver a back-charging pretreatment pulse to the defibrillation electrodes immediately prior to delivery of the cardioversion/defibrillation countershock. The back-charging pretreatment pulse is a low-energy pulse having a polarity opposite from an initial polarity of the cardioversion/defibrillation countershock.

Abstract: An implantable device for temporarily maintaining cardiac output through the use of electrical forcing fields in the event of an atrial defibrillation shock causing ventricular fibrillation. The device includes an atrial defibrillator. In the event that an atrial defibrillation shock causes a ventricular fibrillation the apparatus and method then delivers a continuous train of modest voltage pulses to force partial cardiac contractions to maintain life and consciousness until the patient can receive external defibrillation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a frequency response of a piezoelectric input or output transducer in an implantable hearing system. Multiple input or multiple output transducers obtain optimized mechanical-to-electrical or electrical-to-mechanical frequency response. Output mechanical coupling is directly to the inner ear, or through an ossicular element such as the malleus, stapes, or incus. Input mechanical vibrations are obtained from an auditory element such as the tympanic membrane, malleus, or incus. Substantially nonidentical frequency responses are obtained such as using transducers of different dimensions, different number of transducer elements, different material properties, different mounting techniques, or different auditory elements for coupling.