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EP1123635A2 - Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids - Google Patents

Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids

Info

Publication number
EP1123635A2
EP1123635A2 EP99953416A EP99953416A EP1123635A2 EP 1123635 A2 EP1123635 A2 EP 1123635A2 EP 99953416 A EP99953416 A EP 99953416A EP 99953416 A EP99953416 A EP 99953416A EP 1123635 A2 EP1123635 A2 EP 1123635A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
optical sensor
receptor according
implantable sound
sound receptor
implantable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99953416A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1123635B1 (en
Inventor
Aleksandar Vujanic
Robert Pavelka
Helmut Detter
Milos Tomic
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1123635A2 publication Critical patent/EP1123635A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1123635B1 publication Critical patent/EP1123635B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
    • H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/67—Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an implantable sound receptor for hearing aids, especially for implants. animal hearing aids.
  • a transducer is used in such hearing aids with which sound waves can be converted into electrical signals.
  • Such transducers are known in the form of microphones and require a corresponding membrane, the vibration of which can be converted into electrical signals.
  • the location of the attachment and, above all, the size of the membrane are of great importance for the sensitivity of such microphones.
  • Sound vibrations can be recorded by pressure-sensitive membranes, as is common in the construction of microphones, or can be detected by vibrometers, with which vibrations are recorded as acceleration signals or as strain measurement signals when vibrating components are deformed.
  • US Pat. No. 5,531,787 proposes accelerometers in the form of piezo-resistive vibration sensors.
  • capacitive acceleration sensors for scanning sound vibrations are known.
  • Such miniaturized sensors have already been proposed for implantation in the area of the middle ear, acoustic pressure waves which arise in the area of the middle ear being sensed in the form of mechanical vibrations.
  • microphone constructions are relatively insensitive, since an exact match to the acoustic impedance between the sensor and the tympanic cavity of the middle ear cannot be easily achieved.
  • sounds that are heard are caused by sound waves, the pitch increasing with increasing frequency and volume increasing with increasing amplitude.
  • tones and sounds which represent mixtures of tones
  • the sound waves are perceived, which are directed from the ear cup to the outer auditory canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate.
  • the hammer handle has grown together with the eardrum, with further transmission via the ossicles through the stirrup plate to the perilymphatic fluid, which causes the Cortic organ to vibrate.
  • the excitation of the hair cells in the cortic organ generates nerve impulses that the auditory nerve directs into the brain, where they are consciously perceived.
  • the eardrum acts as a pressure receiver and has a diameter of approximately 1 cm. If microphones with such large membranes are to be used for recording sound waves, such microphones are hardly suitable for implantation, since the space required for this is not available in the area of the ear.
  • the miniaturization of microphones leads to a reduction in sensitivity, which is due not least to the lack of matching of the acoustic impedance between the microphone and the ambient air. Even if this effect can be improved by implanting the microphone under the skin, this leads to a change in the frequency range that can be scanned, in particular higher frequencies being more strongly attenuated.
  • Other mechanical sound wave receptors such as, for example, tubes filled with fluid, also lead to damping due to the viscosity of the fluid used, rigid acoustic couplers being generally unsuitable for implantation.
  • the invention now aims to provide a small-scale implantable sound receptor in which the disadvantages of the known sound receptors are avoided and the acoustic sensitivity can be kept at a consistently high level over the entire frequency range essential for hearing from about 100 Hz to over 10 kHz .
  • the invention further aims to keep the dimensions so small that the implantation in the middle ear and / or in the adjacent mastoid cavity is possible.
  • the surgical intervention should preferably be reversible, and if the sound receptor fails, there should be no significant deterioration in the pre-existing hearing. However, depending on the actuator used and its point of application, an operational interruption of the formwork cable chain may be necessary to avoid feedback.
  • an operational interruption of the formwork cable chain may be necessary to avoid feedback.
  • In addition to these requirements for one implantable sound receptor should naturally also keep the energy consumption of the sound receptor and a subsequent evaluation circuit so low that the miniaturization enables a total implantation.
  • the implantable sound receptor according to the invention for implantable hearing aids essentially consists in the sound sensor being designed as an optical sensor for vibration or distance measurements and being arranged in the ear at a distance from the surface of a part of the sound transmission which can be excited by acoustic vibrations.
  • the contactless design prevents undesirable side effects of damping such vibrating ossicles or the eardrum and allows the relatively large vibration absorption area of the eardrum to be used unhindered for the measurement, so that a much higher sensitivity can actually be achieved than would be possible with correspondingly smaller membranes.
  • the fact that the optical sensor is arranged or can be arranged at a distance from the surface of a part of the vibration transmission which can be excited to vibrate ensures that damping of the vibration of such parts of the vibration transmission which can be excited by vibration can be excluded with certainty and the use of optical sensors allows the use of extremely small sensors.
  • Optical sensors are to be understood here as sensors which do not necessarily use visible light.
  • electromagnetic waves can be used in a relatively wide frequency range, which goes beyond the spectrum of visible light.
  • Transmitter laser diodes are used in the infrared and ultraviolet range of the radiation as well as in the visible range, as long as the vibrating surface to be measured is sufficiently reflective in the range of the incident wavelength.
  • Optical sensors are therefore primarily used to measure the optical parameters of the reflected components of the emitted signal, with an advantageous procedure for evaluating the signals of the sound receptor such that the optical sensor is used with an interferometer for evaluating the amplitude, frequency and / or the relative phase position of the vibration of the scanned part is connected.
  • the use of the interferometer principle allows contactless detection of even small amplitudes of natural vibrations in the area of the ossicles.
  • the range to be recorded here ranges from amplitudes of 10 -11 m to about 10 -5 m, amplitudes higher than about 5x10 "5 m, as can be observed with sound radiation of about 120 dB, generally not for further measurements come into consideration, since they are already likely to damage the inner ear.
  • the vibration of the ossicles and the eardrum, as observed when stimulated by acoustic waves, is however also superimposed on the ear by a low-frequency, quasi-static or slow displacement of the eardrum membrane and the ossicles, which can be attributed to differences in air pressure or pressure in the inner ear .
  • Such low-frequency shifts are caused, for example, by changing the air pressure when driving in elevators, cable cars or airplanes, with significant low-frequency fluctuations being observed by the sudden opening of the Eustachian tube even when blowing.
  • Such low-frequency shifts can be at least 10 ⁇ higher in amplitude than the maximum amplitudes that occur in physiological sound.
  • Optical sensors must now be arranged so that even with such displacements there is no contact with the part to be scanned and the design according to the invention is therefore such that the optical sensor is arranged at a distance from the scanned part which is greater than the maximum displacement of the scanned part in the direction of the sensor and / or at a collision-preventing distance.
  • the use of an adjustable holder to maintain a defined distance can comprise a servo motor, the control signals of the control motor being used for the determination of the acoustic vibrations, and the control movements themselves being triggered by the optical sensor.
  • Optical scanning is achieved in a particularly simple manner in that the optical sensor interacts with at least one light or laser diode and the reflected signals are fed to an electronic evaluation circuit via fibers of waveguides, in particular optical fibers, of at least one optoelectronic coupling component, for example a photodiode.
  • the part of the sensor to be implanted in the middle ear or the epitympanon or parapet is restricted to the relatively small free end of the optical waveguide, via which the optical signals are fed in and the reflected signals are removed.
  • one or more optical systems such as, for example, lenses, beam splitters, prisms, mirrors or the like, can of course also be arranged in the beam path in order to precisely specify or localize the measurement.
  • the evaluation circuit must subsequently provide a correspondingly amplified signal for the stimulus of the auditory nerve, the training here being advantageously made such that the evaluation circuit signals for electromechanical vibration generator and / or for the electrical stimulation of the cortic organ and / or the auditory nerve and / or the brain stem and has connections for corresponding signal lines.
  • the design is advantageously made such that the free ends of the optical sensor are provided with a coating which inhibits cell growth are.
  • the evaluation circuit is supplied with at least two signals for determining the phase position, the determination of the phase position in a known manner depending on the type of interferometer used and the selected circuit arrangement of the evaluation circuit enabling corresponding active or passive stabilization.
  • a working point specified by a defined distance from the surface to be measured applies to the optimal sensitivity of the optical sensor.
  • Low-frequency displacements of the parts to be scanned can of course lead to the fact that this optimum working point is left or even a phase shift or phase reversal occurs.
  • These undesirable side effects, which result in a "fading" of the measured signal can advantageously be eliminated in that the evaluation circuit contains a stabilizer circuit to compensate for the shift in the operating point of the interferometer by low-frequency shifts in the scanned part.
  • appropriate compensation can be ensured by additionally providing a sensor for determining the distance of the part to be scanned from the optical sensor.
  • Interferometric signals can be stabilized in a particularly simple manner by comparison with a reference signal or by measuring a plurality of signals, with polarizing beam splitters being switched on in the beam path can and the signals can be detected independently and by different photodiodes.
  • Conclusions about the correct phase position can also be derived from a mathematical analysis of the measurement signal form, for which purpose frequency comparisons and in particular the evaluation of higher-order vibrations in the stabilizer circuit can be used.
  • the design is made in a particularly simple manner so that the free end of the optical sensor is adjustably fixed in a bearing block and / or is connected to an adjusting drive, as a result of which an exact orientation and exact positioning relative to the surface of that part can be ensured, the vibration of which is to be measured.
  • Interferometers can be of any design, such as Michelson, Fabry-Perot or Fizeau interferometers, with suitable stabilization algorithms, for example, in the article by KP Koo, AB Tveten, A. Dandridge, "Passive stabilization scheme for fiber interferometers using (3x3) fiber directinal couplers ", in Appl.Phys.Lett. , Vol. 41, No .7, pp. 616-618, 1982, G. Schmitt, W. Wenzel, K.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross section through the human ear, in which the arrangement of the sensor in the middle ear area or in the attic is shown
  • FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for a totally implantable hearing aid
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated holder for the waveguide or for the waveguide encased in a rigid sleeve in the mastoid cavity.
  • Fig. 1 the ear of an ear is designated 1. Sound vibrations subsequently reach the membrane labeled 2, namely the eardrum with which the ossicles interact. The ossicles are referred to together with the reference number 3.
  • the ossicles are located in the middle ear.
  • the cochlea is labeled 4.
  • the non-contact sensor for sensing the vibrations from the ossicle 3 is implanted in the mastoid cavity and its tip protrudes into the attic space or into the middle ear via the drilled chorda-facial angle. It has a free end 5 which is inserted in a stable sleeve (casing) which is held in a bearing block 6 so that it can be oriented.
  • the bearing block 6 can be fixed in the mastoid cavity or the surrounding cranial bone, the free end of the optical sensor essentially consisting of the free end of an optical fiber or waveguide 7.
  • the tip advantageously contains an optical system, for example lenses, beam guides, prisms, mirrors or the like.
  • the optical waveguide 7 is connected to an optoelectronic evaluation circuit 8, in which an interferometer 9 is arranged.
  • the optoelectronic evaluation circuit 8 can additionally contain an energy supply in the form of a battery in its housing, the circuit arrangement containing corresponding input-output circuits, correspondingly containing hearing aid electronics for signal processing, noise suppression, acoustic limitation, etc. or these circuits required for the actuator are housed in their own implantable part, which is coupled with an electrical cable. The electrical signals thereof can be transmitted to the cochlea 4 via the lines 10.
  • this optoelectronic evaluation circuit can also be completely implanted.
  • the type of forwarding of the evaluated signals to the inner ear or the auditory nerve is of secondary importance for the type of scanning of the vibrations.
  • the actuator can be one that sets auditory ossicles or the perilymph directly in acoustic vibrations or a cochlear implant that electrically irritates the auditory nerve or a brainstem implant that directly irritates the brain stem.
  • FIG. 2 A block diagram of the circuit arrangement selected in this context can be seen in FIG. 2.
  • the skin that covers the implant is indicated schematically by 11, the evaluation circuit and, in all cases, the energy supply being accommodated subcutaneously in the region of the middle ear, the mastoid cavity or on the skull bone.
  • the battery is shown schematically with 12, the optical sensor and the interferometer with 13, the evaluation electronics with 14 and the actuation component, via which the signals after processing in the hearing aid electronics to an electromechanical amplifier of the perilymph vibrations or to a cochlear implant or a brain stem implant (with 15 designated) arrive.
  • the energy supply by the battery 12 can preferably be provided by a rechargeable battery, for which additional inputs are provided for an induction coil 17, via which an external charging or control unit 18 enables the battery to be recharged and, if appropriate, the programming of the electronics.
  • the transmission can be carried out contactlessly via an induction coil 19 of the control and charging unit 18 which can be coupled to the subcutaneous induction coil 17.
  • the displaceable slide 21 carries a ball pin 22, on which a clamp with jaws 23 and 24 is fixed by means of a clamping screw 25.
  • the jaws 23 and 24 here have spherical bearing surfaces which can be pivotably oriented on the circumference of the ball 26 of the ball pin 22, so that an exact adjustment in different spatial coordinates is made possible.
  • an optical waveguide 27 is brought into a defined position, the free end 28 of which is oriented such that it can receive the reflected radiation from a vibrating part of the inner ear.
  • optical systems, prisms, mirrors or the like can be accommodated for deflecting the beam path, if this is desired.
  • the signals pass through the optical waveguide 27 to the optoelectronic evaluation circuit, which contains the interferometer.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Mechanical Vibrations Or Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
  • Electrostatic, Electromagnetic, Magneto- Strictive, And Variable-Resistance Transducers (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

Abstract

In an implantable sound receptor for hearing aids, the sound sensor is designed as an optical sensor (5) and arranged within the ear at a distance from the surface of a sound transmission part (3) capable of being excited to acoustic vibrations.

Description

Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor für Hörhilfen Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids
Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf einen implantierbaren Schallrezeptor für Hörhilfen, insbesondere für implar. tierbare Hör- hilfen.The invention relates to an implantable sound receptor for hearing aids, especially for implants. animal hearing aids.
Der überwiegende Teil der bekannten Hörhilfen ist ungeeignet für eine Implantation. Prinzipiell wird bei derartigen Hörhilfen ein Wandler eingesetzt, mit welchem Schallwellen in elektrische Signale umgewandelt werden können. Derartige Wandler sind in Form von Mikrofonen bekannt und bedürfen einer entsprechenden Membran, deren Schwingung in elektrische Signale umgesetzt werden kann. Für die Empfindlichkeit derartiger Mikrofone ist der Ort der Anbringung und vor allem die Größe der Membran von hoher Bedeutung. Schallschwingungen können von druckempfindlichen Membranen aufgenommen werden, wie dies bei der Konstruktion von Mikrofonen üblich ist, oder aber von Vibrometern erfaßt werden, mit welchen Schwingungen als Beschleunigungssignale oder aber als Dehnungsmeßsignale bei Verformung von schwingenden Bauteilen aufgenommen werden.The majority of the known hearing aids are unsuitable for implantation. In principle, a transducer is used in such hearing aids with which sound waves can be converted into electrical signals. Such transducers are known in the form of microphones and require a corresponding membrane, the vibration of which can be converted into electrical signals. The location of the attachment and, above all, the size of the membrane are of great importance for the sensitivity of such microphones. Sound vibrations can be recorded by pressure-sensitive membranes, as is common in the construction of microphones, or can be detected by vibrometers, with which vibrations are recorded as acceleration signals or as strain measurement signals when vibrating components are deformed.
In der US-A 5 531 787 werden Accelerometer in Form von piezo- resistiven Vibrationssensoren vorgeschlagen. Alternativ sind kapazitive Beschleunigungssensoren für die Abtastung von Schall- Schwingungen bekannt. Derartige miniaturisierte Sensoren wurden bereits für die Implantation im Bereich des Mittelohres vorgeschlagen, wobei akustische Druckwellen, welche im Bereich des Mittelohres entstehen, in Form von mechanischen Vibrationen abgetastet werden. Prinzipiell sind derartige Mikrofonkonstruk- tionen aber relativ unempfindlich, da eine exakte Abstimmung auf die akustische Impedanz zwischen Sensor und der Paukenhöhle des Mittelohres nicht ohne weiteres erzielt werden kann.US Pat. No. 5,531,787 proposes accelerometers in the form of piezo-resistive vibration sensors. As an alternative, capacitive acceleration sensors for scanning sound vibrations are known. Such miniaturized sensors have already been proposed for implantation in the area of the middle ear, acoustic pressure waves which arise in the area of the middle ear being sensed in the form of mechanical vibrations. In principle, however, such microphone constructions are relatively insensitive, since an exact match to the acoustic impedance between the sensor and the tympanic cavity of the middle ear cannot be easily achieved.
Auch andere Literaturstellen, wie beispielsweise die US-A 3 557 775, beschreiben Mikrofone, welche unterhalb der Haut zurOther references, such as, for example, US Pat. No. 3,557,775, also describe microphones which are located beneath the skin
Aufnahme von Audiosignalen implantiert werden können, wobei dieRecording audio signals can be implanted, the
Übertragung in das Mittelohr erfolgt. Auch derartige Anordnungen sind im Bezug auf ihre Empfindlichkeit einer Reihe von nicht ohne weiteres kontrollierbaren Fremdeinflüssen wie beispielsweise der Hautdicke und einer unvorhersehbaren Narben- und Granula- tionsgewebsbildung bei der Einheilung unterworfen, sodaß die Empfindlichkeit bei den für das Hören wichtigen Frequenzen unterschiedlich und unkontrollierbar gedämpft ist.Transmission takes place in the middle ear. Such arrangements too In terms of their sensitivity, they are subject to a number of external influences that are not easily controllable, such as skin thickness and unpredictable scar and granulation tissue formation during healing, so that the sensitivity at the frequencies that are important for hearing is different and uncontrollably damped.
Prinzipiell werden Töne, welche gehört werden, durch Schallwellen hervorgerufen, wobei mit steigender Frequenz die Tonhöhe und mit steigender Amplitude die Lautstärke zunimmt. Neben Tönen und Klängen, welche Tongemische darstellen, entstehen auch eine Vielzahl von nicht regelmäßig zusammenklingenden Tönen verschiedener Frequenz und Höhe, welche als Geräusche wahrgenommen werden. Beim natürlichen Gehörvorgang werden die Schallwellen wahrgenommen, die von der Ohrmuschel zum äußeren Gehörgang geleitet werden und das Trommelfell in Schwingung versetzen. Mit dem Trommelfell ist der Hammerstiel verwachsen, wobei die weitere Übertragung über die Gehörknöchelchen durch die Steigbügel- platte auf die perilymphatische Flüssigkeit erfolgt, die das Cortische Organ in Schwingungen versetzt. Durch die Erregung der Haarzellen im Cortischen Organ werden Nervenimpulse erzeugt, die der Hörnerv in das Gehirn leitet, wo sie bewußt wahrgenommen werden.In principle, sounds that are heard are caused by sound waves, the pitch increasing with increasing frequency and volume increasing with increasing amplitude. In addition to tones and sounds, which represent mixtures of tones, there are also a multitude of tones of different frequencies and heights that do not regularly sound together, which are perceived as noises. In the natural hearing process, the sound waves are perceived, which are directed from the ear cup to the outer auditory canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. The hammer handle has grown together with the eardrum, with further transmission via the ossicles through the stirrup plate to the perilymphatic fluid, which causes the Cortic organ to vibrate. The excitation of the hair cells in the cortic organ generates nerve impulses that the auditory nerve directs into the brain, where they are consciously perceived.
Das Trommelfell fungiert hierbei als Druckempfänger und weist einen Durchmesser von etwa 1 cm auf . Wenn für die Aufnahme von Schallwellen Mikrofone mit derartig großen Membranen eingesetzt werden sollen, eignen sich derartige Mikrofone kaum für eine Implantation, da der dafür erforderliche Platz im Bereich des Ohres nicht zur Verfügung steht.The eardrum acts as a pressure receiver and has a diameter of approximately 1 cm. If microphones with such large membranes are to be used for recording sound waves, such microphones are hardly suitable for implantation, since the space required for this is not available in the area of the ear.
Hörschwächen können auf unterschiedliche Ursachen zurück geführt werden. Bei einem erheblichen Teil von Hörstörungen ist der mechanische Teil der Schwingungsübertragung vom Trommelfell über die Gehörknöchelchen auf die Flüssigkeit in der Vorhoftreppe intakt. Daher wurde bereits vorgeschlagen, Schwingungsaufnehmer unmittelbar mit der Membran oder den Gehörknöchelchen zu ver~ binden, um die, durch den Schall hervorgerufenen Schwingungen entsprechend in elektrische Signale umzusetzen und zu verstärken. Nachteilig bei derartigen Eingriffen ist zum Einen der relativ hohe operative Aufwand für die Anordnung derartiger Sen- soren und zum Anderen der Umstand, daß jede mechanische Beeinflussung von schwingenden Teilen, und insbesondere die Dämpfung derartiger schwingender Teile, das Schwingungsverhalten der Teile empfindlich beeinflußt, sodaß auch hier korrekte Signale, wie sie beim natürlichen Hörvorgang gebildet werden, nicht er- halten werden. Prinzipiell führt die Miniaturisierung von Mikrofonen zu einer Verringerung der Empfindlichkeit, wobei dies nicht zuletzt auf die fehlende Abstimmung der akustischen Impedanz zwischen Mikrofon und der Umgebungsluft zurückzuführen ist. Selbst wenn dieser Effekt durch Implantation des Mikrofons unter der Haut verbessert werden kann, führt dies zu einer Veränderung des abtastbaren Frequenzbereiches, wobei insbesondere höhere Frequenzen stärker gedämpft werden. Auch andere mechanische Schallwellenrezeptoren, wie beispielsweise mit Fluid gefüllte Röhrchen, führen zu einer auf die Viskosität des verwendeten Fluids zurückzuführende Dämpfung, wobei starre Akustikkuppler für eine Implantation generell ungeeignet sind.Hearing impairments can be attributed to different causes. In the case of a significant proportion of hearing disorders, the mechanical part of the vibration transmission from the eardrum through the ossicles to the fluid in the atrial staircase is intact. It has therefore already been proposed to connect vibration sensors directly to the membrane or the ossicles bind in order to convert and amplify the vibrations caused by sound into electrical signals. Disadvantages of such interventions are, on the one hand, the relatively high operational expenditure for the arrangement of such sensors and, on the other hand, the fact that any mechanical influence on vibrating parts, and in particular the damping of such vibrating parts, has a sensitive influence on the vibration behavior of the parts, so that correct signals such as those formed during the natural hearing process cannot be obtained here. In principle, the miniaturization of microphones leads to a reduction in sensitivity, which is due not least to the lack of matching of the acoustic impedance between the microphone and the ambient air. Even if this effect can be improved by implanting the microphone under the skin, this leads to a change in the frequency range that can be scanned, in particular higher frequencies being more strongly attenuated. Other mechanical sound wave receptors, such as, for example, tubes filled with fluid, also lead to damping due to the viscosity of the fluid used, rigid acoustic couplers being generally unsuitable for implantation.
Die Erfindung zielt nun darauf ab, einen kleinbauenden implantierbaren Schallrezeptor zu schaffen, bei welchem die Nachteile der bekannten Schallrezeptoren vermieden werden und die akustische Empfindlichkeit über den gesamten für das Hören wesentlichen Frequenzbereich von etwa 100 Hz bis über 10 kHz auf gleichbleibend hohem Niveau gehalten werden kann. Die Erfindung zielt weiters darauf ab, die Baumaße so klein zu halten, daß die Implantation im Mittelohr und/oder in der benachbarten Mastoid- höhle möglich ist. Der operative Eingriff soll hierbei bevorzugt reversibel sein, wobei bei Funktionsausfall des Schallrezeptors keine wesentliche Verschlechterung des vorbestehenden Gehörs eintreten soll. Einschränkend kann allerdings in Abhängigkeit vom verwendeten Aktor und dessen Angriffspunkt eine operative Unterbrechung der Schalleitungskette zur Vermeidung von Rückkopplungen erforderlich sein. Neben diesen Vorgaben für einen implantierbaren Schallrezeptor soll naturgemäß auch der Energieverbrauch des Schallrezeptors sowie einer nachfolgenden Auswerteschaltung so gering gehalten werden, daß die Miniaturisierung eine Totalimplantation ermöglicht.The invention now aims to provide a small-scale implantable sound receptor in which the disadvantages of the known sound receptors are avoided and the acoustic sensitivity can be kept at a consistently high level over the entire frequency range essential for hearing from about 100 Hz to over 10 kHz . The invention further aims to keep the dimensions so small that the implantation in the middle ear and / or in the adjacent mastoid cavity is possible. The surgical intervention should preferably be reversible, and if the sound receptor fails, there should be no significant deterioration in the pre-existing hearing. However, depending on the actuator used and its point of application, an operational interruption of the formwork cable chain may be necessary to avoid feedback. In addition to these requirements for one implantable sound receptor should naturally also keep the energy consumption of the sound receptor and a subsequent evaluation circuit so low that the miniaturization enables a total implantation.
Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe besteht der erfindungsgemäße implantierbare Schallrezeptor für implantierbare Hörhilfen im wesentlichen darin, daß der Schallsensor als optischer Sensor für Vibrations- bzw. Abstandsmessungen ausgebildet ist und in Abstand von der Oberfläche eines zu akustischen Schwingungen anregbaren Teiles der Schallübertragung im Ohr angeordnet ist. Dadurch, daß abweichend von den bisherigen physikalischen Prinzipien von Schallrezeptoren für Hörhilfen eine berührungslose Abtastung durch einen optischen Sensor vorgeschlagen wird, gelingt es tatsächlich diejenigen Schwingungen zu messen, die von dem Trommelfell und den Gehörknöchelchen physiologischer- weise übertragen werden. Die berührungslose Ausbildung verhindert hierbei unerwünschte Nebeneffekte einer Bedämpfung derartiger schwingender Gehörknöchelchen bzw. des Trommelfells und erlaubt es die relativ große Schwingungsaufnahmefläche des Trommelfelles ungehindert für die Messung heranzuziehen, sodaß tatsächlich eine weit höhere Empfindlichkeit erzielt werden kann, als dies mit entsprechend kleineren Membranen möglich wäre. Dadurch, daß der optische Sensor in Abstand von der Ober- fläche eines zu Schwingungen anregbaren Teiles der Schwingungsübertragung im Ohr angeordnet bzw. anordenbar ist, wird sicher gestellt, daß eine Bedämpfung der Schwingung derartiger zu Schwingungen anregbarer Teile der Schwingungsübertragung mit Sicherheit ausgeschlossen werden kann und die Verwendung von optischen Sensoren erlaubt die Verwendung überaus kleinbauender Sensoren.To achieve this object, the implantable sound receptor according to the invention for implantable hearing aids essentially consists in the sound sensor being designed as an optical sensor for vibration or distance measurements and being arranged in the ear at a distance from the surface of a part of the sound transmission which can be excited by acoustic vibrations. The fact that, contrary to the previous physical principles of sound receptors for hearing aids, a contactless scanning by an optical sensor is proposed, it is actually possible to measure those vibrations that are transmitted physiologically by the eardrum and the ossicles. The contactless design prevents undesirable side effects of damping such vibrating ossicles or the eardrum and allows the relatively large vibration absorption area of the eardrum to be used unhindered for the measurement, so that a much higher sensitivity can actually be achieved than would be possible with correspondingly smaller membranes. The fact that the optical sensor is arranged or can be arranged at a distance from the surface of a part of the vibration transmission which can be excited to vibrate ensures that damping of the vibration of such parts of the vibration transmission which can be excited by vibration can be excluded with certainty and the use of optical sensors allows the use of extremely small sensors.
Unter optischen Sensoren sind hierbei Sensoren zu verstehen, welche nicht notwendigerweise sichtbares Licht verwenden. Für optische Sensoren sind elektromagnetische Wellen in einem relativ weiten Frequenzbereich verwendbar, welcher über das Spektrum des sichtbaren Lichtes hinausgeht. Insbesondere können als Sender Laserdioden im infraroten und ultravioletten Bereich der Strahlung ebenso eingesetzt werden, wie im sichtbaren Bereich, solange die zu messende vibrierende Fläche im Bereich der eingestrahlten Wellenlänge hinreichend reflektiv ist. Gemessen werden somit mit optischen Sensoren in erster Linie die optischen Parameter der reflektierten Anteile des ausgesendeten Signals, wobei mit Vorteil für die Auswertung der Signale des Schallrezeptors so vorgegangen wird, daß der optische Sensor mit einem Inter- ferometer zur Auswertung der Amplitude, der Frequenz und/oder der relativen Phasenlage der Schwingung des abgetasteten Teiles verbunden ist. Die Verwendung des Interferometerprinzips, für welches verschiedene Bauarten bekannt sind, erlaubt berührungs- frei auch geringe Amplituden natürlicher Schwingungen im Bereich der Gehörknöchelchen sicher zu erfassen. Der zu erfassende Bereich reicht hierbei von Amplituden von 10-11 m bis etwa 10~5 m, wobei höhere Amplituden als etwa 5x10" 5 m, wie sie bei einer Schalleinstrahlung von etwa 120 dB beobachtet werden können, in der Regel für weitere Messungen nicht in Betracht kommen, da sie bereits geeignet sind, das Innenohr zu schädigen.Optical sensors are to be understood here as sensors which do not necessarily use visible light. For optical sensors, electromagnetic waves can be used in a relatively wide frequency range, which goes beyond the spectrum of visible light. In particular, as Transmitter laser diodes are used in the infrared and ultraviolet range of the radiation as well as in the visible range, as long as the vibrating surface to be measured is sufficiently reflective in the range of the incident wavelength. Optical sensors are therefore primarily used to measure the optical parameters of the reflected components of the emitted signal, with an advantageous procedure for evaluating the signals of the sound receptor such that the optical sensor is used with an interferometer for evaluating the amplitude, frequency and / or the relative phase position of the vibration of the scanned part is connected. The use of the interferometer principle, for which different types are known, allows contactless detection of even small amplitudes of natural vibrations in the area of the ossicles. The range to be recorded here ranges from amplitudes of 10 -11 m to about 10 -5 m, amplitudes higher than about 5x10 "5 m, as can be observed with sound radiation of about 120 dB, generally not for further measurements come into consideration, since they are already likely to damage the inner ear.
Der Schwingung der Gehörknöchelchen und des Trommelfells, wie sie bei Anregung durch akustische Wellen beobachtet wird, überlagert sich im Ohr allerdings auch eine niederfrequente, quasistatische bzw. langsame Dislozierung der Trommelfellmembran und der Knöchelchen, welche auf Unterschiede im Luftdruck oder im Druck im Innenohr zurückzuführen sind. Derartige niederfrequente Verschiebungen werden beispielsweise durch Veränderung des Luftdruckes beim Fahren in Aufzügen, Seilbahnen oder Flugzeugen hervorgerufen, wobei bedeutende niederfrequente Schwankungen durch die plötzliche Öffnung der Eustachischen Röhre auch beim Schneuzen beobachten werden. Derartig niederfrequente Verschiebungen können in ihrer Amplitude um einen Faktor von wenigstens 10^ höher liegen, als die maximalen bei der physiologischen Beschallung auftretenden Amplituden. Optische Sensoren müssen nun so angeordnet werden, daß auch bei derartigen Verschiebungen eine Berührung mit dem abzutastenden Teil nicht erfolgt und es ist daher die Ausbildung erfindungsgemäß so getroffen, daß der optische Sensor in einem Abstand von dem abgetasteten Teil angeordnet ist, welcher größer ist als die maximal auftretende Verschiebung des abgetasteten Teiles in Richtung zum Sensor und/oder in einem Kollision verhindernden Abstand justierbar gehalten ist. Die Verwendung einer justierbaren Halterung zur Aufrechterhaltung eines definierten Abstands kann hierbei einen Servomotor umfassen, wobei die Stellsignale des Stellmotors für die Ermittlung der akustischen Schwingungen herangezogen werden, und die Stellbewegungen selbst wiederum vom optischen Sensor getriggert sind.The vibration of the ossicles and the eardrum, as observed when stimulated by acoustic waves, is however also superimposed on the ear by a low-frequency, quasi-static or slow displacement of the eardrum membrane and the ossicles, which can be attributed to differences in air pressure or pressure in the inner ear . Such low-frequency shifts are caused, for example, by changing the air pressure when driving in elevators, cable cars or airplanes, with significant low-frequency fluctuations being observed by the sudden opening of the Eustachian tube even when blowing. Such low-frequency shifts can be at least 10 ^ higher in amplitude than the maximum amplitudes that occur in physiological sound. Optical sensors must now be arranged so that even with such displacements there is no contact with the part to be scanned and the design according to the invention is therefore such that the optical sensor is arranged at a distance from the scanned part which is greater than the maximum displacement of the scanned part in the direction of the sensor and / or at a collision-preventing distance. The use of an adjustable holder to maintain a defined distance can comprise a servo motor, the control signals of the control motor being used for the determination of the acoustic vibrations, and the control movements themselves being triggered by the optical sensor.
In besonders einfacher Weise gelingt die optische Abtastung dadurch, daß der optische Sensor mit wenigstens einer Lichtoder Laserdiode zusammenwirkt und die reflektierten Signale über Fasern von Wellen-, insbesondere Lichtwellenleitern wenigstens einem optoelektronischen Koppelbauteil, beispielsweise einer Photodiode, einer elektronischen Auswerteschaltung zugeführt sind. Der im Mittelohr oder dem Epitympanon oder Attikraum zu implantierende Teil des Sensors beschränkt sich bei der der- artigen Ausbildung auf das relativ kleine freie Ende des Lichtwellenleiters, über welchen die optischen Signale eingespeist und die reflektierten Signale abgenommen werden. Im Strahlengang können naturgemäß, je nach Orientierung und Aufbau der Einrichtung, auch ein oder mehrere optische Systeme, wie beispielsweise Linsen, Strahlenteiler, Prismen, Spiegel oder dgl. angeordnet sein, um die Messung entsprechend zu präzisieren oder zu lokalisieren.Optical scanning is achieved in a particularly simple manner in that the optical sensor interacts with at least one light or laser diode and the reflected signals are fed to an electronic evaluation circuit via fibers of waveguides, in particular optical fibers, of at least one optoelectronic coupling component, for example a photodiode. The part of the sensor to be implanted in the middle ear or the epitympanon or parapet is restricted to the relatively small free end of the optical waveguide, via which the optical signals are fed in and the reflected signals are removed. Depending on the orientation and structure of the device, one or more optical systems, such as, for example, lenses, beam splitters, prisms, mirrors or the like, can of course also be arranged in the beam path in order to precisely specify or localize the measurement.
Die Auswerteschaltung muß in der Folge ein entsprechend ver- stärktes Signal für den Reiz des Gehörnervs zur Verfügung stellen, wobei hier mit Vorteil die Ausbildung so getroffen ist, daß die Auswerteschaltung Signale für elektromechanische Schwingungserzeuger und/oder für die elektrische Stimulation des Cortischen Organs und/oder des Hörnervs und/oder des Hirnstammes generiert und Anschlüsse für entsprechende Signalleitungen aufweist . Um nun zu verhindern, daß das freie, vorzugsweise im Mittelohr, implantierbare Ende des optischen Sensors durch Trübungen Fehl- messungen oder Empfindlichkeitschwankungen unterworfen ist, wird mit Vorteil die Ausbildung so getroffen, daß die freien Enden des optischen Sensors mit einer das Zellwachstum hemmenden Beschichtung versehen sind.The evaluation circuit must subsequently provide a correspondingly amplified signal for the stimulus of the auditory nerve, the training here being advantageously made such that the evaluation circuit signals for electromechanical vibration generator and / or for the electrical stimulation of the cortic organ and / or the auditory nerve and / or the brain stem and has connections for corresponding signal lines. In order to prevent the free, preferably in the middle ear, implantable end of the optical sensor from being subjected to incorrect measurements or fluctuations in sensitivity due to turbidity, the design is advantageously made such that the free ends of the optical sensor are provided with a coating which inhibits cell growth are.
Für die Unterdrückung von bei interferometrischer Auswertung und Überlagerung von niederfrequenten Verschiebungen zu beobachten- den "Fading" -Effekten ist es besonders vorteilhaft zusätzlich zur Auswertung der Amplitude und der Frequenz auch die relative Phasenlage der Schwingung des abgetasteten Teiles zu erfassen. Zu diesem Zweck kann mit Vorteil so vorgegangen werden, daß der Auswerteschaltung wenigstens zwei Signale zur Ermittlung der Phasenlage zugeführt sind, wobei die Ermittlung der Phasenlage in bekannter Weise je nach verwendetem Interferometertypus und gewählter Schaltungsanordnung der Auswerteschaltung eine entsprechende aktive oder passive Stabilisierung ermöglicht. Je nach Anordnung gilt für die optimale Empfindlichkeit des opti- sehen Sensors ein durch einen definierten Abstand zur zu messenden Oberfläche vorgegebener Arbeitspunkt. Niederfrequente Verschiebungen der abzutastenden Teile können naturgemäß dazu führen, daß dieser optimale Arbeitspunkt verlassen wird oder sogar eine Phasenverschiebung bzw. Phasenumkehr auftritt. Diese unerwünschten Nebeneffekte, welche sich in einem "Fading" des gemessenen Signals auswirken, können mit Vorteil dadurch ausgeschaltet werden, daß die Auswerteschaltung eine Stabilisatorschaltung zur Kompensation der Verschiebung des Arbeitspunktes des Interferometers durch niederfrequente Verschiebungen des abgetasteten Teiles enthält. Alternativ oder zusätzlich kann eine entsprechende Kompensation dadurch gewährleistet werden, daß zusätzlich ein Sensor für die Ermittlung des Abstandes des abzutastenden Teiles vom optischen Sensor vorgesehen ist. Die Stabilisierung interferometrischer Signale kann durch Vergleich mit einem Referenzsignal oder durch Messung einer Mehrzahl von Signalen in besonders einfacher Weise erfolgen, wobei in den Strahlengang polarisierende Strahlenteiler eingeschaltet werden können und die Signale unabhängig und von voneinander verschiedenen Photodioden erfaßt werden können. Rückschlüsse auf die korrekte Phasenlage lassen sich auch aus einer mathematischen Analyse der Meßsignalform ableiten, wobei zu diesem Zweck Fre- quenzvergleiche und insbesondere die Auswertung von Schwingungen höherer Ordnung in der Stabilisatorschaltung herangezogen werden kann.For the suppression of "fading" effects that can be observed in interferometric evaluation and superimposition of low-frequency displacements, it is particularly advantageous to also record the relative phase position of the oscillation of the scanned part in addition to evaluating the amplitude and frequency. For this purpose, it can be advantageously carried out in such a way that the evaluation circuit is supplied with at least two signals for determining the phase position, the determination of the phase position in a known manner depending on the type of interferometer used and the selected circuit arrangement of the evaluation circuit enabling corresponding active or passive stabilization. Depending on the arrangement, a working point specified by a defined distance from the surface to be measured applies to the optimal sensitivity of the optical sensor. Low-frequency displacements of the parts to be scanned can of course lead to the fact that this optimum working point is left or even a phase shift or phase reversal occurs. These undesirable side effects, which result in a "fading" of the measured signal, can advantageously be eliminated in that the evaluation circuit contains a stabilizer circuit to compensate for the shift in the operating point of the interferometer by low-frequency shifts in the scanned part. As an alternative or in addition, appropriate compensation can be ensured by additionally providing a sensor for determining the distance of the part to be scanned from the optical sensor. Interferometric signals can be stabilized in a particularly simple manner by comparison with a reference signal or by measuring a plurality of signals, with polarizing beam splitters being switched on in the beam path can and the signals can be detected independently and by different photodiodes. Conclusions about the correct phase position can also be derived from a mathematical analysis of the measurement signal form, for which purpose frequency comparisons and in particular the evaluation of higher-order vibrations in the stabilizer circuit can be used.
Zur exakten Positionierung des Schallrezeptors ist die Ausbil- düng in besonders einfacher Weise so getroffen, daß das freie Ende des optischen Sensors in einem Lagerbock justierbar festgelegt und/oder mit einem Justierantrieb verbunden ist, wodurch eine exakte Orientierung und exakte Positionierung relativ zur Oberfläche desjenigen Teiles sichergestellt werden kann, dessen Schwingung gemessen werden soll.For the exact positioning of the sound receptor, the design is made in a particularly simple manner so that the free end of the optical sensor is adjustably fixed in a bearing block and / or is connected to an adjusting drive, as a result of which an exact orientation and exact positioning relative to the surface of that part can be ensured, the vibration of which is to be measured.
Die tatsächliche Ausgestaltung des Interferometers bedingt jeweils in der Folge bevorzugte Algorithmen für die Auswertung. Interferometer können hierbei von beliebiger Bauweise, wie bei- spielsweise als Michelson- , Fabry-Perot- oder Fizeauinterferometer ausgebildet sein, wobei geeignete Stabiliserungsalgo- rhytmen beispielsweise im Artikel von K.P. Koo, A.B. Tveten, A. Dandridge, "Passive stabilization scheme for fiber interferometers using (3x3) fiber directinal couplers", in Appl.Phys.Lett. , Vol. 41, No .7 , pp. 616-618, 1982, G.Schmitt, W. Wenzel, K. Dolde, " Integrated optical 3x3-coupler on LiNb03 : comparison between theory and experiment", Proc.SPIE, Vol.1141 5th European Conference on Integrated Optics: ECIO 89, pp.67-71, 1989, R. Fuest, N. Fabricius, U. Hollenbach, B. Wolf, "Inter- ferometric displacement sensor realized with a planar 3x3 direc- tional coupler in glass" , Proc.SPIE, Vol.1794 Integrated Optical Circuits II, pp. 352-365, 1992, L. Changchun, L. Fei, "Passive Interfermetric Optical Fiber Sensor Using 3x3 Directional Coupler" , Proc.SPIE, Vol.2895, pp . 565-571, 1995 beschrieben sind. Weitere Vorschläge finden sich u.a. in A. Dandridge, A.B. Tveten, T.G. Giallorenzi, "Homodyne Demodulation Scheme for Fiber Optic Sensors Using Phase Generated Carrier" , IEEE J.Quantum Elec . , Vol.QE-18, No.10, pp . 1647-1653, 1982, J.H. Cole, B.A. Danver and J.A. Bucaro, " Syntetic-Heterodyne Inter- ferometric Demodulation" , IEEE J.Quantum Elec, Vol.QE-18, No.4, pp. 694-697, 1982.The actual configuration of the interferometer in each case results in preferred algorithms for the evaluation. Interferometers can be of any design, such as Michelson, Fabry-Perot or Fizeau interferometers, with suitable stabilization algorithms, for example, in the article by KP Koo, AB Tveten, A. Dandridge, "Passive stabilization scheme for fiber interferometers using (3x3) fiber directinal couplers ", in Appl.Phys.Lett. , Vol. 41, No .7, pp. 616-618, 1982, G. Schmitt, W. Wenzel, K. Dolde, "Integrated optical 3x3-coupler on LiNb03: comparison between theory and experiment", Proc.SPIE, Vol.1141 5th European Conference on Integrated Optics: ECIO 89 , pp.67-71, 1989, R. Fuest, N. Fabricius, U. Hollenbach, B. Wolf, "Interferometric displacement sensor realized with a planar 3x3 directional coupler in glass", Proc.SPIE, Vol. 1794 Integrated Optical Circuits II, pp. 352-365, 1992, L. Changchun, L. Fei, "Passive Interfermetric Optical Fiber Sensor Using 3x3 Directional Coupler", Proc.SPIE, vol. 2895, pp. 565-571, 1995. Further suggestions can be found, inter alia, in A. Dandridge, AB Tveten, TG Giallorenzi, "Homodyne Demodulation Scheme for Fiber Optic Sensors Using Phase Generated Carrier", IEEE J. Quantum Elec. , Vol.QE-18, No.10, pp. 1647-1653, 1982, JH Cole, BA Danver and JA Bucaro, "Syntetic-Heterodyne Interferometric Demodulation", IEEE J. Quantum Elec, Vol.QE-18, No.4, pp. 694-697, 1982.
Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellten Ausführungsbeispieles näher erläutert. In dieser zeigen Fig. 1 einen Querschnitt durch das menschliche Ohr, in welchem die Anordnung des Sensors im Mittelohrbereich oder im Attik dargestellt wird, Fig. 2 ein Blockschaltbild für eine totalimplantierbare Hörhilfe und Fig. 3 eine schematisch dargestellte Halterung für den Wellenleiter bzw. für den von einer starren Hülse ummantelten Wellenleiter in der Mastoid- höhle.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. 1 shows a cross section through the human ear, in which the arrangement of the sensor in the middle ear area or in the attic is shown, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram for a totally implantable hearing aid and FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated holder for the waveguide or for the waveguide encased in a rigid sleeve in the mastoid cavity.
In Fig. 1 ist die Ohrmuschel eines Ohres mit 1 bezeichnet. SchallSchwingungen gelangen in der Folge an die mit 2 bezeichnete Membran, nämlich das Trommelfell, mit welcher die Gehörknöchelchen zusammenwirken. Die Gehörknöchelchen werden hierbei ge- meinsam mit dem Bezugszeichen 3 bezeichnet.In Fig. 1, the ear of an ear is designated 1. Sound vibrations subsequently reach the membrane labeled 2, namely the eardrum with which the ossicles interact. The ossicles are referred to together with the reference number 3.
Die Gehörknöchelchen befinden sich im Bereich des Mittelohres. Die Cochlea ist mit 4 bezeichnet.The ossicles are located in the middle ear. The cochlea is labeled 4.
Der berührungslose Sensor für die Abtastung der Schwingungen vom Gehörknöchelchen 3 ist in der Mastoidhöhle implantiert und ragt mit seiner Spitze in den Attikraum bzw. über den aufgebohrten Chorda-Facialis-Winkel in das Mittelohr. Er weist ein freies Ende 5 auf, das in einer stabilen Hülse (Ummantelung) steckt, die in einem Lagerbock 6 orientierbar gehalten ist. Der Lagerbock 6 kann hierbei in der Mastoidhöhle oder dem umgebenden Schädelknochen festgelegt sein, wobei das freie Ende des optischen Sensor im wesentlichen aus dem freien Ende eines Lichtleiters bzw. Wellenleiters 7 besteht. Die Spitze enthält vorteilhafterweise ein optisches System, beispielsweise Linsen, Strahlenleiter, Prismen, Spiegel oder dgl . oder eine Biegung der Faserspitze zur Umlenkung des optischen Strahlenganges um die Registrierung aus der optimalen Richtung zu ermöglichen. Der Lichtwellenleiter 7 ist an eine optoelektronische Auswerteschaltung 8 angeschlossen, in welcher ein Interferometer 9 angeordnet ist. Die optoelektronische Auswerteschaltung 8 kann in ihrem Gehäuse zusätzlich eine Energieversorgung in Form einer Batterie enthalten, wobei die Schaltungsanordnung entsprechende Input- Output-Schaltungen enthält, zur Signalverarbeitung, Störschallunterdrückung, akustischen Begrenzung etc. entsprechend eine Hörgeräteelektronik beinhaltet oder diese für den Aktor erfor- derlichen Schaltungen in einem eigenen implantierbaren Teil, der mit einem elektrischen Kabel gekoppelt ist, untergebracht sind. Davon werden die elektrischen Signale über die Leitungen 10 zur Cochlea 4 übertragen werden können. Bei entsprechend kleiner Dimensionierung der optoelektronischen Auswerteschaltung 8 kann auch diese optoelektronische Auswerteschaltung zur Gänze implantiert werden. Für die Art der Abtastung der Schwingungen ist die Art der Weiterleitung der ausgewerteten Signale an das Innenohr bzw. den Gehörnerv von untergeordneter Bedeutung. Der Aktor kann einer sein, der Gehörknöchelchen oder die Perilymphe direkt in akustische Schwingungen versetzt oder ein Cochlear- implantat, das den Hörnerv elektrisch reizt oder ein Hirnstammimplantat, das den Hirnstamm direkt elektrisch reizt.The non-contact sensor for sensing the vibrations from the ossicle 3 is implanted in the mastoid cavity and its tip protrudes into the attic space or into the middle ear via the drilled chorda-facial angle. It has a free end 5 which is inserted in a stable sleeve (casing) which is held in a bearing block 6 so that it can be oriented. The bearing block 6 can be fixed in the mastoid cavity or the surrounding cranial bone, the free end of the optical sensor essentially consisting of the free end of an optical fiber or waveguide 7. The tip advantageously contains an optical system, for example lenses, beam guides, prisms, mirrors or the like. or a bend of the fiber tip to deflect the optical beam path around the Allow registration from the optimal direction. The optical waveguide 7 is connected to an optoelectronic evaluation circuit 8, in which an interferometer 9 is arranged. The optoelectronic evaluation circuit 8 can additionally contain an energy supply in the form of a battery in its housing, the circuit arrangement containing corresponding input-output circuits, correspondingly containing hearing aid electronics for signal processing, noise suppression, acoustic limitation, etc. or these circuits required for the actuator are housed in their own implantable part, which is coupled with an electrical cable. The electrical signals thereof can be transmitted to the cochlea 4 via the lines 10. With a correspondingly small dimensioning of the optoelectronic evaluation circuit 8, this optoelectronic evaluation circuit can also be completely implanted. The type of forwarding of the evaluated signals to the inner ear or the auditory nerve is of secondary importance for the type of scanning of the vibrations. The actuator can be one that sets auditory ossicles or the perilymph directly in acoustic vibrations or a cochlear implant that electrically irritates the auditory nerve or a brainstem implant that directly irritates the brain stem.
Ein Blockschaltbild der in diesem Zusammenhang gewählten Schal- tungsanordnung ist in Fig. 2 zu ersehen. Die Haut, welche das Implantat abdeckt ist schematisch mit 11 angedeutet, wobei subkutan im Bereich des Mittelohres, der Mastoidhöhle oder auf dem Schädelknochen die Auswerteschaltung und gegebenen alls die Energieversorgung untergebracht ist. Die Batterie ist hierbei schematisch mit 12, der optische Sensor und das Interferometer mit 13, die Auswerteelektronik mit 14 und der Betätigungsbauteil, über welchen die Signale nach Bearbeitung in der Hörgeräteelektronik an einen elektromechanischen Verstärker der Perilymphschwingungen bzw. an ein Cochlearimplantat oder ein Hirnstammimplantat (mit 15 bezeichnet) gelangen. Die Energieversorgung durch die Batterie 12 kann hierbei bevorzugt durch eine wiederaufladbare Batterie erfolgen, wofür zusätzliche Eingänge für eine Induktionsspule 17 vorgesehen sind, über welche mit einer externen Lade- bzw. Kontrolleinheit 18 das Wiederaufladen der Batterie und gegebenenfalls die Programmierung der Elektronik ermöglicht wird. Die Übertragung kann hierbei kontaktlos über eine mit der subkutanen Induktionsspule 17 koppelbare Induktionsspule 19 der Kontroll- und Ladeeinheit 18 vorgenommen werden.A block diagram of the circuit arrangement selected in this context can be seen in FIG. 2. The skin that covers the implant is indicated schematically by 11, the evaluation circuit and, in all cases, the energy supply being accommodated subcutaneously in the region of the middle ear, the mastoid cavity or on the skull bone. The battery is shown schematically with 12, the optical sensor and the interferometer with 13, the evaluation electronics with 14 and the actuation component, via which the signals after processing in the hearing aid electronics to an electromechanical amplifier of the perilymph vibrations or to a cochlear implant or a brain stem implant (with 15 designated) arrive. The energy supply by the battery 12 can preferably be provided by a rechargeable battery, for which additional inputs are provided for an induction coil 17, via which an external charging or control unit 18 enables the battery to be recharged and, if appropriate, the programming of the electronics. The transmission can be carried out contactlessly via an induction coil 19 of the control and charging unit 18 which can be coupled to the subcutaneous induction coil 17.
Bei der Darstellung nach Fig. 3 ist schematisch eine mögliche Ausbildung des Lagerbockes 6 näher erläutert. Im Mastoidraum wird eine Basisplatte 20 festgelegt, an welcher ein verschiebbarer Schlitten 21 gelagert ist. Der verschiebbare Schlitten 21 trägt einen Kugelzapfen 22, an welchem eine Klemme mit Backen 23 und 24 mittels einer Spannschraube 25 orientierbar festgelegt ist. Die Backen 23 und 24 weisen hierbei ballige Lagerflächen auf, welche am Umfang der Kugel 26 des Kugelzapfens 22 schwenkbar orientierbar sind, sodaß eine exakte Justierung in verschiedenen Raumkoordinaten ermöglicht wird.3, a possible design of the bearing block 6 is schematically explained in more detail. A base plate 20, on which a displaceable slide 21 is mounted, is fixed in the mastoid space. The displaceable slide 21 carries a ball pin 22, on which a clamp with jaws 23 and 24 is fixed by means of a clamping screw 25. The jaws 23 and 24 here have spherical bearing surfaces which can be pivotably oriented on the circumference of the ball 26 of the ball pin 22, so that an exact adjustment in different spatial coordinates is made possible.
Durch die Backen 23 und 24 wird ein Lichtwellenleiter 27 in definierte Lage gebracht, dessen freies Ende 28 so orientiert ist, daß es die reflektierte Strahlung von einem vibrierenden Teil des Innenohres aufnehmen kann. Im freien Ende 28 des Lichtwellenleiters 27 können hierbei optische Systeme, Prismen, Spie- gel oder dgl. zur Umlenkung des Strahlenganges untergebracht werden, sofern dies gewünscht ist. Die Signale gelangen über den Lichtwellenleiter 27 zur optoelektronischen Auswerteschaltung, welche das Interferometer enthält.Through the jaws 23 and 24, an optical waveguide 27 is brought into a defined position, the free end 28 of which is oriented such that it can receive the reflected radiation from a vibrating part of the inner ear. In the free end 28 of the optical waveguide 27, optical systems, prisms, mirrors or the like can be accommodated for deflecting the beam path, if this is desired. The signals pass through the optical waveguide 27 to the optoelectronic evaluation circuit, which contains the interferometer.
Die Anordnung eines derartigen, zur Justierung des freien Endes 28 eines Lichtwellenleiters geeigneten Bauteiles, kann im relativ großen Mastoidhohlraum einfach erfolgen. Die Feinjustierung dient hierbei der Erzielung des gewünschten Abstandes und der gewünschten Orientierung zur Oberfläche des zu messenden vibrie- renden Teiles des Mittelohres. Prinzipiell kann aber bei entsprechender Orientierung und entsprechend höherer Strahlungsleistung auch ein größerer Abstand für die Abtastung heran-gezogen werden, wobei auch der optische Aufwand erhöht werden kann. Es kann auch beispielsweise aus dem Mastoidhohlraum direkt in den Attik gemessen werden und die Abtastung beispielsweise am Ambosskopf erfolgen. Bedingt durch die Art der Schwingungsüber- tragung muß allerdings hier berücksichtigt werden, daß die einzelnen Gehörknöchelchen bezogen auf die Schwingung des Trommelfelles teilweise mit zueinander entgegengesetzter Phase schwingen. Die Abtastung an Stellen mit geringerer quasistatischer Verschiebung hat den Vorteil, daß das Ausmaß einer linearen Ver- Schiebung durch Druckunterschiede im Vergleich zum Meßabstand wesentlich geringer wird, sodaß der Aufwand für die Stabili- sation der Phasenlage und für das Eliminieren des "Fading "- Effektes verringert werden kann. The arrangement of such a component, which is suitable for adjusting the free end 28 of an optical waveguide, can be carried out simply in the relatively large mastoid cavity. The fine adjustment serves to achieve the desired distance and the desired orientation to the surface of the vibrating part of the middle ear to be measured. In principle, however, with a corresponding orientation and correspondingly higher radiation power, a larger distance can be used for the scanning be, the optical complexity can also be increased. It can also be measured, for example, from the mastoid cavity directly into the attic and the scanning can take place, for example, on the anvil head. Due to the type of vibration transmission, it must be taken into account here that the individual ossicles, in relation to the vibration of the eardrum, sometimes vibrate in opposite phases. Scanning at locations with a smaller quasi-static shift has the advantage that the extent of a linear shift due to pressure differences becomes significantly smaller compared to the measuring distance, so that the effort for stabilizing the phase position and for eliminating the "fading" effect can be reduced.

Claims

Patentansprüche : Claims:
1. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor für Hörhilfen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schallsensor als optischer Sensor für Vibra- tions- bzw. Abstandsmessungen ausgebildet ist und in Abstand von der Oberfläche eines zu akustischen Schwingungen anregbaren Teiles der Schallübertragung im Ohr angeordnet ist.1. Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids, characterized in that the sound sensor is designed as an optical sensor for vibration or distance measurements and is arranged in the ear at a distance from the surface of a part of the sound transmission which can be excited by acoustic vibrations.
2. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch ge- kennzeichnet, daß der optische Sensor mit wenigstens einer2. Implantable sound receptor according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical sensor with at least one
Licht- bzw. Laserdiode zusammenwirkt und die reflektierten Signale über Fasern von Wellen-, insbesondere Lichtwellenleitern (7), wenigstens einem optoelektronischen Koppelbauteil, beispielsweise einer Photodiode, einer elektronischen Auswerte- Schaltung zugeführt sind.The light or laser diode interacts and the reflected signals are fed to an electronic evaluation circuit via fibers of waveguides, in particular optical waveguides (7), at least one optoelectronic coupling component, for example a photodiode.
3. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der optische Sensor in einem Abstand von dem abgetasteten Teil angeordnet ist, welcher größer ist als die maximal auftretende Verschiebung des abgetasteten Teiles in Richtung zum Sensor und/oder in einem eine Kollision verhindernden Abstand justierbar gehalten ist.3. Implantable sound receptor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical sensor is arranged at a distance from the scanned part which is greater than the maximum displacement of the scanned part in the direction of the sensor and / or in a collision preventing Distance is kept adjustable.
4. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der optische Sensor mit einem4. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the optical sensor with a
Interferometer (9) zur Auswertung der Amplitude, der Frequenz und/oder der relativen Phasenlage der Schwingung des abgetasteten Teiles verbunden ist.Interferometer (9) for evaluating the amplitude, the frequency and / or the relative phase of the vibration of the scanned part is connected.
5. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Auswerteschaltung (8) Signale für elektromechanische Schwingungserzeuger und/oder für die Stimulation des Cortischen Organs und/oder des Hörnervs und/oder des Hirnstammes generiert und Anschlüsse für entsprechende Signalleitungen (10) aufweist. 5. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (8) generates signals for electromechanical vibration generators and / or for the stimulation of the cortic organ and / or the auditory nerve and / or the brain stem and connections for corresponding signal lines (10).
6. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis6. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to
5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Auswerteschaltung (8) wenigstens zwei Signale zur Ermittlung der Schwingungsparameter des abgetasteten Teiles zugeführt sind.5, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (8) at least two signals for determining the vibration parameters of the scanned part are supplied.
7. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis7. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to
6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die freien Enden (5) des optischen Sensors mit einer das Zellwachstum hemmenden Beschichtung versehen sind.6, characterized in that the free ends (5) of the optical sensor are provided with a coating which inhibits cell growth.
8. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis8. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to
7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das freie Ende (5) des optischen Sensors in einem Lagerbock (6) justierbar festgelegt ist und/oder mit einem Justierantrieb verbunden ist.7, characterized in that the free end (5) of the optical sensor is adjustably fixed in a bearing block (6) and / or is connected to an adjusting drive.
9. Implantierbarer Schallrezeptor nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Auswerteschaltung (8) eine Stabilisatorschaltung zur Kompensation der Verschiebung des Arbeitspunktes des Interferometers (9) durch niederfrequente Ver- Schiebungen des abgetasteten Teiles enthält. 9. Implantable sound receptor according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the evaluation circuit (8) contains a stabilizer circuit for compensating for the displacement of the working point of the interferometer (9) by low-frequency displacements of the scanned part.
EP99953416A 1998-10-23 1999-10-20 Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids Expired - Lifetime EP1123635B1 (en)

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AT178798 1998-10-23
AT0178798A AT408607B (en) 1998-10-23 1998-10-23 IMPLANTABLE SOUND RECEPTOR FOR HEARING AIDS
PCT/AT1999/000253 WO2000025550A2 (en) 1998-10-23 1999-10-20 Implantable sound receptor for hearing aids

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