Implantable hearing assistance device with remote electronics unit

Abstract

An implantable hearing assistance system has a subcranially implantable electronics unit that is remotely situated from the ear, such as implanted in the pectoral region, rather than in the mastoid portion of the temporal bone. The increased volume available in the remote electronics unit allows it to carry a power source of increased energy capacity. This improves longevity, allows higher power consumption signal processing capability, and simplifies battery replacement. The hearing assistance system is coupled to a middle ear input transducer and a middle or inner ear output stimulator. The hearing assistance system is capable of use in a partial middle ear implantable (P-MEI), total middle ear implantable (T-MEI), or cochlear implant hearing assistance system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hearing assistance system comprising: 
 an electromechanical input transducer, proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, for converting a mechanical sound vibration into an input electrical signal;    an output stimulator, proportioned for disposition within the middle ear region or an inner ear region of a second ear;    an electronics unit, proportioned for subcutaneous subcranial implantation, that provides an output electrical signal in response to the input electrical signal;    an input link capable of communicating the input electrical signal between the input transducer and the subcranially implanted electronics unit; and    an output link capable of communicating the output electrical signal between the output stimulator and the subcranially implanted electronics unit.    
     
     
         2 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the first ear and the second ear are the same ear.  
     
     
         3 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the first ear and the second ear are different ears.  
     
     
         4 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the output stimulator is an electromechanical transducer for converting an electrical signal into a mechanical sound vibration.  
     
     
         5 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the output stimulator is a cochlear implant for delivering electrical stimuli to the inner ear.  
     
     
         6 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the each of the input and output links includes an implantable lead.  
     
     
         7 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 6   , wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links is longer than approximately 2 inches.  
     
     
         8 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 6   , wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises first and second lead wires.  
     
     
         9 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 6   , wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises first and second lead wires that are twisted with each other.  
     
     
         10 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 6   , wherein at least one implantable lead of the input and output links comprises at least one shielded lead wire.  
     
     
         11 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein at least one of the input and output links includes AC coupling.  
     
     
         12 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the volume of the electronics unit exceeds approximately 10 cubic centimeters.  
     
     
         13 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the electronics unit includes a power source.  
     
     
         14 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 13   , wherein the power source includes a battery having capacity exceeding 1 ampere-hour.  
     
     
         15 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the electronics unit includes a digital signal processor.  
     
     
         16 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the electronics unit includes a telemetry device for communicating with an external telemetry unit.  
     
     
         17 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the electronics unit is proportioned for pectoral implantation.  
     
     
         18 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 1   , wherein the middle ear region in which the input transducer and output stimulator are proportioned for disposition is a naturally present cavity.  
     
     
         19 . A method of assisting hearing, comprising: 
 receiving a mechanical sound vibration from an electromechanical input transducer that is proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, and providing an input electrical signal in response thereto;    communicating the input electrical signal to a subcranially implanted electronics unit that provides an output electrical signal in response thereto;    communicating the output electrical signal to an output stimulator that is proportioned for disposition within the middle ear region or an inner ear region of a second ear; and    providing output stimuli to the middle or inner ear by the output stimulator in response to the output electrical signal.    
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the first ear and the second ear are the same ear.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the first ear and the second ear are different ears.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the output stimuli include a mechanical vibration provided to the middle ear.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the output stimuli include electrical stimuli provided to the inner ear.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the steps of communicating the input and output electrical signals is over a distance exceeding approximately two inches.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the steps of communicating the input and output electrical signals includes AC coupling.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein the step of providing output stimuli comprises: 
 digitizing the input electrical signal to produce a digital input signal;    digitally processing the digital input signal to produce a digital output signal; and    converting the digital output signal into the output electrical signal.    
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein at least one of the middle ear regions of the first and second ear is a naturally present cavity.  
     
     
         28 . A hearing assistance system comprising: 
 an electromechanical input transducer, proportioned for disposition within a middle ear region of a first ear, for converting a mechanical sound vibration into an input electrical signal;    an output stimulator, proportioned for disposition within the middle ear region or an inner ear region of a second ear;    an electronics unit, proportioned for subcutaneous implantation remotely located from the input transducer and the output stimulator, that provides an output electrical signal in response to the input electrical signal;    an input link capable of communicating the input electrical signal between the input transducer and the remotely implanted electronics unit; and    an output link capable of communicating the output electrical signal between the output stimulator and the remotely implanted electronics unit.    
     
     
         29 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 28   , wherein the electronics unit is located away from the middle ear region of each of the first and second ears.  
     
     
         30 . The hearing assistance system of    claim 28   , wherein the electronics unit is located away from a mastoid portion of a temporal bone.