Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a head plate as a first fastening element, a second fastening element for the mechanical connection to the ossicular chain, or to the inner ear, and a connecting element. The head plate has a central coupling region and radially outward extending bridging elements which are connected to the coupling region via a radially inner end region and each transition into an outer free end section. The bridging elements are connected to the coupling region so that they fold together upon introduction of a force component parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein their end sections are pivoted radially closer to the longitudinal axis and thereby also execute an axial movement. The bridging elements, without this force, extend from the coupling region at a predefined, fixed angle. The prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of the patient more easily and through a much smaller artificial opening.

Abstract: An insertion system for inserting an implantable electrode carrier includes an insertion instrument having a housing with a proximal end and a distal end, and a vibration generator coupled adjacent to the housing. The proximal end is configured to hold the implantable electrode carrier. The vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in at least a portion of the electrode carrier.

Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a head plate as a first fastening element, a second fastening element for the mechanical connection to the ossicular chain, or to the inner ear, and a connecting element. The head plate has a central coupling region and radially outward extending bridging elements which are connected to the coupling region via a radially inner end region and each transition into an outer free end section. The bridging elements are connected to the coupling region so that they fold together upon introduction of a force component parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein their end sections are pivoted radially closer to the longitudinal axis and thereby also execute an axial movement. The bridging elements, without this force, extend from the coupling region at a predefined, fixed angle. The prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of the patient more easily and through a much smaller artificial opening.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a sidewall, a first membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and configured to move in response to movement from an auditory ossicle, and a second membrane coupled to the sidewall such that an interior volume of the housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume. The first volume has an opening that permits fluid to flow out from the first volume. The implantable microphone also includes a vibration sensor coupled to the second membrane and configured to measure the movement of the second membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal. The vibration sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor and/or a MEMS sensor.

Abstract: An active hearing aid implant is formed in an arrangement for the adjustment and fixation of the relative position between an axially extended actuator end piece of the hearing aid implant and the surrounding middle-ear bone. Arrangement coupling elements anchor the actuator end piece on the surrounding bone and a sliding ring designed to slide over the cylindrical actuator end piece holds this actuator end piece in a radial direction while the sliding ring remains linearly displaceable in the axial direction of the actuator end piece. Radially protruding coupling elements are fastened radially outwardly on the sliding ring for anchoring the sliding ring on surrounding bone after the arrangement has been surgically inserted into the middle ear.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a back wall. The back wall has a recess (e.g., blind hole) configured to be coupled to an auditory ossicle. The implantable microphone also includes a membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and a vibration sensor adjacent to the membrane. The membrane is configured to move in response to movement from the auditory ossicle, and the vibration sensor is configured to measure the movement of the membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a sidewall, a first membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and configured to move in response to movement from an auditory ossicle, and a second membrane coupled to the sidewall such that an interior volume of the housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume. The second membrane has an opening that permits fluid to flow from the first volume to the second volume. The implantable microphone also includes a vibration sensor adjacent to the second membrane and configured to measure the movement of the second membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal. The vibration sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor and/or a MEMS sensor.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a sidewall, a first membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and configured to move in response to movement from an auditory ossicle, and a second membrane coupled to the sidewall such that an interior volume of the housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume. The first volume has an opening that permits fluid to flow out from the first volume. The implantable microphone also includes a vibration sensor coupled to the second membrane and configured to measure the movement of the second membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal. The vibration sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor and/or a MEMS sensor.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for inserting an implantable electrode carrier includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is configured to hold the implantable electrode carrier. The instrument also includes a vibration generator positioned within the housing. The vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in at least a portion of the electrode carrier.

Abstract: An insertion system for inserting an implantable electrode carrier includes an insertion instrument having a housing with a proximal end and a distal end, and a vibration generator coupled adjacent to the housing. The proximal end is configured to hold the implantable electrode carrier. The vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in at least a portion of the electrode carrier.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a sidewall, a first membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and configured to move in response to movement from an auditory ossicle, and a second membrane coupled to the sidewall such that an interior volume of the housing is divided into a first volume and a second volume. The second membrane has an opening that permits fluid to flow from the first volume to the second volume. The implantable microphone also includes a vibration sensor adjacent to the second membrane and configured to measure the movement of the second membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal. The vibration sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor and/or a MEMS sensor.

Abstract: An implantable microphone for use in hearing systems includes a housing having a back wall. The back wall has a recess (e.g., blind hole) configured to be coupled to an auditory ossicle. The implantable microphone also includes a membrane coupled to a top portion of the housing and a vibration sensor adjacent to the membrane. The membrane is configured to move in response to movement from the auditory ossicle, and the vibration sensor is configured to measure the movement of the membrane and to convert the measurement into an electrical signal.

Abstract: An ossicle prosthesis includes, at one end, a first fastening element designed as a top plate for mechanical connection with the tympanic membrane, and, at the other end, a second fastening element for mechanical connection with a component or parts of a component of the ossicular chain or with the inner ear, and a connecting element that connects the two fastening elements with each other in a sound-conducting manner; the top plate includes a radially outward annular region, a radially inward attachment region for mechanically attaching the top plate to the connecting element, and several segment elements for radially connecting the annular region with the attachment region, characterized by the fact that the segment elements are geometrically designed such that they locally emulate any localized medial motions made by the tympanic membrane, but they do not transmit the motion to distant regions of the top plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable electromechanical converter for receiving oscillations from an ear ossicle and for converting them into an electrical voltage, for use as a microphone for a cochlea implant or an implantable hearing aid, consisting of one or more piezoelectric converter elements (11) housed in a hermetically sealed hollow body (2) made of a biocompatible material. The converter is characterized in that the hollow body has a thin shell (9) which is connected with its interior side to the piezoelectric converter elements and which can be coupled with its exterior side to an ear ossicle, and which is held by a stable edge (10), whereby the stable edge can be coupled to a counter-support in the middle ear space.

Abstract: An ossicle prosthesis includes, at one end, a first fastening element designed as a top plate for mechanical connection with the tympanic membrane, and, at the other end, a second fastening element for mechanical connection with a component or parts of a component of the ossicular chain or with the inner ear, and a connecting element that connects the two fastening elements with each other in a sound-conducting manner; the top plate includes a radially outward annular region, a radially inward attachment region for mechanically attaching the top plate to the connecting element, and several segment elements for radially connecting the annular region with the attachment region, characterized by the fact that the segment elements are geometrically designed such that they locally emulate any localized medial motions made by the tympanic membrane, but they do not transmit the motion to distant regions of the top plate.

Abstract: An auditory ossicles prostheses has a head plate adapted to be placed on an ear drum, a base part formed so as to receive a rising bracket or to be placed in an oval window of a rising bracket foot plate, and an element for movably connecting said head part with said base part, the element for movably connecting the head part with the base part being formed as a flexible wire.