Donald Schaefer

US Patent:

47293667, Mar 8, 1988

Filed:

Aug 11, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/895156

Inventors:

Donald W. Schaefer - Belleville WI

Assignee:

Medical Devices Group, Inc. - Madison WI

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

128 16

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject who, if anatomically normal, possesses a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibration in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate mechanical vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear; wherein the ossicular chain is interrupted to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear of the subject and an implant is surgically interposed to bridge the interruption in the ossicular chain to form an independent link between the tympanic membrane and the ear, which implant is comprised of input and output transducers for mediating mechanical/electrical signals to constitute that independent link.

US Patent:

48509620, Jul 25, 1989

Filed:

Mar 8, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/165594

Inventors:

Donald W. Schaefer - Belleville WI

Assignee:

Medical Devices Group, Inc. - Madison WI

International Classification:

H04R 2500

US Classification:

600 25

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving the hearing of a hearing-impaired subject who, if anatomically normal, possesses a tympanic membrane intended for generating mechanical tympanic vibrations in response to sound waves impinging thereon, an inner ear responsive to mechanical vibrations, and an ossicular chain intended to communicate mechanical vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear; wherein the ossicular chain is interrupted to preclude transmission of mechanical vibrations between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear of the subject and an implant is surgically interposed within the ossicular chain to form an independent link between the tympanic membrane and the inner ear, which implant is comprised of a transducer for converting mechanical signals generated at the tympanic membrane into electrical signals for direct electrical stimulation of the inner ear.