Implantable microphone for an implantable hearing prosthesis

Abstract

An implantable microphone for a hearing prosthesis. The microphone comprises: a housing having a diaphragm chamber formed therein, and an aperture extending from the exterior surface of the housing to the chamber; a diaphragm disposed on the exterior of the housing so as to seal the aperture, and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals; a sensor positioned adjacent an end of the chamber opposing the diaphragm, and configured to detect vibration of the diaphragm, and to generate electrical signals based thereon; and a stiffening material substantially filling the regions of the housing external to the sensor and the diaphragm such that that air gaps within the filled regions of the housing are substantially eliminated, wherein the stiffening material has an elastic modulus that enables the housing to substantially resist deformation there of in response to body-noise.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An implantable microphone comprising:
 a housing having a chamber;   a diaphragm disposed so as to provide a boundary of the chamber and to vibrate in response to air-conducted sound;   a sensor coupled to the chamber and configured to detect vibration of the diaphragm, and to generate electrical signals based thereon; and   a stiffening material substantially filling the regions of the housing external to the sensor and the chamber such that that air gaps within the filled regions of the housing are substantially eliminated.   
     
     
         3 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the implantable microphone, when considered without the stiffening material substantially filling the otherwise filled regions, has a first value of resistance to deformation thereof in response to at least one of body noise, implantable vibration sensor noise and unidentifiable acoustical noise; and   the stiffening material has an elastic modulus such that the implantable microphone, when considered with the stiffening material substantially filling the filled regions, has a second deformation resistance greater than the first deformation resistance.   
     
     
         4 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the sensor is positioned in the chamber at a location opposite to a location of the diaphragm.   
     
     
         5 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an isolation member disposed on, and configured to dampen transmission of vibrations to, surfaces of the sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the isolation member has a greater damping factor than a damping factor of the stiffening material.   
     
     
         7 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , wherein the stiffening material is selected from the group comprising:
 a biocompatible epoxy;   a thermoset polymer;   a thermoplastic polymer; and   an elastomer.   
     
     
         8 . The implantable microphone of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of the following:
 a deflection detector to detect deflection of the diaphragm; and   a pressure detector to detect pressure changes in the chamber.   
     
     
         9 . An implantable microphone comprising:
 a housing having a chamber;   a diaphragm disposed so as to provide a boundary of the chamber and to vibrate in response to air-conducted sound;   a sensor coupled to the chamber and configured to detect vibration of the diaphragm, and to generate electrical signals based thereon; and   a stiffening material substantially filling the regions of the housing external to the sensor and the chamber, wherein the stiffening material reduces sensitivity of the implantable microphone to one or more of body noise, implantable vibration sensor noise and unidentifiable acoustical noise.   
     
     
         10 . The implantable microphone of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the sensor is positioned in the chamber at a location opposite to a location of the diaphragm.   
     
     
         11 . The implantable microphone of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an isolation member disposed on, and configured to dampen transmission of vibrations to, surfaces of the sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The implantable microphone of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the isolation member has a greater damping factor than a damping factor of the stiffening material.   
     
     
         13 . The implantable microphone of  claim 9 , wherein the stiffening material is selected from the group comprising:
 a biocompatible epoxy;   a thermoset polymer;   a thermoplastic polymer; and   an elastomer.   
     
     
         14 . The implantable microphone of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of the following:
 a deflection detector to detect deflection of the diaphragm; and   a pressure detector to detect pressure changes in the chamber.   
     
     
         15 . An implantable vibration sensor comprising:
 a component including first and second cavities;   a diaphragm configured to vibrate in response to air-conducted sound;   a transducer responsive to vibration of the diaphragm;   first boundaries of the first and second cavities being formed by the transducer, respectively;   a second boundary of the first cavity being formed by the diaphragm; and   a stiffening material substantially filling the second cavity such that air gaps therein are substantially eliminated.   
     
     
         16 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the transducer is configured to generate electrical signals responsive to the vibration of the diaphragm such that the implantable vibration sensor is operable as an implantable microphone.   
     
     
         17 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the implantable vibration sensor, when considered without the stiffening material substantially filling the second cavity, has a first value of resistance to deformation thereof in response to at least one of body noise, implantable vibration sensor noise and unidentifiable acoustical noise; and   the stiffening material has an elastic modulus such that the implantable vibration sensor, when considered with the stiffening material substantially filling the second cavity, has a second deformation resistance greater than the first deformation resistance.   
     
     
         18 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the transducer includes:
 a deflection detector configured to detect deflection of the diaphragm; and   an isolation member disposed on, and configured to dampen transmission of vibrations to, surfaces of the deflection detector.   
     
     
         19 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the deflection detector is a pressure sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the isolation member has a greater damping factor than a damping factor of the stiffening material.   
     
     
         21 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the stiffening material is selected from the group comprising:
 a biocompatible epoxy;   a thermoset polymer;   a thermoplastic polymer; and   an elastomer.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable vibration sensor of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a position of the transducer, relative to the first cavity, is located substantially opposite to a position of the diaphragm.