Compact hearing aids

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hearing aid for insertion through a user's tympanic membrane, the hearing aid comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 a first portion configured to be disposed on a medial side of a tympanic membrane of a user, the first portion having a conical shape; 
 a second portion configured to be disposed on a lateral side of the tympanic membrane of the user; and 
 a connecting portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and configured to be disposed through the tympanic membrane of the user; and 
   an actuation assembly comprising:
 at least one mass disposed within the first portion of the housing or the second portion of the housing; and 
 an actuator coupled to the at least one mass, the actuator configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical motion to actuate the mass to modulate the tympanic membrane of the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is configured as a dilator to dilate an incision in the tympanic membrane of the user and facilitate passage of the first portion through the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one of silicon, a fluoropolymer, polyethylene, stainless steel, or titanium. 
     
     
         4 . The hearing aid of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor in communication with the actuator and disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing, the processor configured to be wirelessly controlled.   
     
     
         5 . The hearing aid of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled to turn the hearing aid on and off. 
     
     
         6 . The hearing aid of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled to change an intensity of actuation by the actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The hearing aid of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide diagnostic feedback to the user as a response tone. 
     
     
         8 . The hearing aid of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled via optical, acoustic, or RF signals. 
     
     
         9 . The hearing aid of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is operably coupled to one or more coils disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing for facilitating wireless control of the processor or wireless recharging of the hearing aid. 
     
     
         10 . A hearing aid for insertion through a user's tympanic membrane, the hearing aid comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 a first portion configured to be disposed on a medial side of a tympanic membrane of a user, the first portion having a conical shape; 
 a second portion configured to be disposed on a lateral side of the tympanic membrane of the user, the second portion having a cylindrical shape; and 
   an actuation assembly comprising:
 a first mass disposed within the first portion of the housing; 
 a second mass disposed within the second portion of the housing; and 
 an actuator coupled to at least one of the first mass or the second mass, the actuator configured to actuate the first mass or the second mass to modulate the tympanic membrane of the user. 
   
     
     
         11 . The hearing aid of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion is configured as a dilator to dilate an incision in the tympanic membrane of the user and facilitate passage of the first portion through the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The hearing aid of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a processor in communication with the actuator and disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing, the processor configured to be wirelessly controlled and provide diagnostic feedback to the user.   
     
     
         13 . The hearing aid of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled to turn the hearing aid on and off. 
     
     
         14 . The hearing aid of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled to change an intensity of actuation by the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The hearing aid of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is operably coupled to one or more coils disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing for facilitating wireless control of the processor and wireless recharging of the hearing aid. 
     
     
         16 . A hearing aid for insertion through a user's tympanic membrane, the hearing aid comprising:
 a housing, comprising:
 a first portion configured to be disposed on a medial side of a tympanic membrane of a user; 
 a second portion configured to be disposed on a lateral side of the tympanic membrane of the user; 
   an actuation assembly comprising:
 at least one mass disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing; and 
 an actuator coupled to the at least one mass, the actuator configured to actuate the at least one mass to modulate the tympanic membrane of the user; and 
 a processor in communication with the actuator and disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing, the processor configured to be wirelessly controlled and provide diagnostic feedback to the user, wherein the diagnostic feedback is provided as one or more audible response tones via modulation of the tympanic membrane of the user by the actuator and the at least one mass. 
   
     
     
         17 . The hearing aid of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled to perform at least one of the following:
 turn the hearing aid on and off; and   change an intensity of actuation by the actuator.   
     
     
         18 . The hearing aid of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled via transmission of one or more acoustic tones to the processor. 
     
     
         19 . The hearing aid of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to be wirelessly controlled via transmission of one or more optical, acoustic, or RF signals to the processor. 
     
     
         20 . The hearing aid of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is operably coupled to one or more coil arrays disposed within the first portion or the second portion of the housing for facilitating wireless control of the processor and wireless recharging of the hearing aid.