| abstract |
Partially implantable hearing device having easily replaceable components. Outer ear canal units contain the microphone, power source and electronics for receiving acoustic energy or sound waves and converting them into a responsive and variable magnetic field. Magnetic fields of magnets implanted onto bones in the ossicular chain in the ear interact with the variable magnetic field to cause the bones in the ossicular chain to vibrate in response to received sound waves. The variable magnetic field can be created directly via electrical signals or indirectly wherein intermediate radio frequency waves are transmitted and received between external and implanted components. |