Implantable Microphone
A hearing aid microphone assembly is configured for implantation into a subject and includes a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion with one or more ports configured to receive a microphone and acoustically coupled to the distal end. A diaphragm is disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber. The microphone assembly is configured with either: (1) at least a first and a second port each coupled to a microphone; or (2) at least a first port coupled to a microphone and an accelerometer coupled to the housing. Each of the ports is configured to communicate acoustically with the first chamber. Any unused ports are sealed.
1 . A hearing aid microphone assembly configured for implantation into a subject, comprising:
a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion acoustically coupled to the distal end;
a diaphragm disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber;
the microphone support portion configured with at least a first and a second port, each of the first and second port configured to receive a microphone, and each of the ports configured to communicate acoustically with the chamber; and
a first and a second microphone fixed respectively to the first and second ports.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the microphones are MEMS microphones.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a maximum cross-sectional diameter of no more than about 13 mm.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises titanium.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the diaphragm has a thickness in a range of about 5 um to about 100 um.
6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises titanium.
7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distance from the outer side of the diaphragm to the center of the ports is less than about 4 mm.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ports have a cross-sectional circular shape having a diameter in a range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the generally conical sound gathering portion is provided with a contoured surface.
10 . A hearing aid microphone assembly configured for implantation into a subject, comprising:
a microphone housing, the housing having a generally conical sound gathering portion with a proximal end and a distal end and a microphone support portion acoustically coupled to the distal end;
a diaphragm disposed over the proximal end of the housing to hermetically seal the sound gathering portion of the housing and create a first chamber;
the microphone support portion configured with at least a first port, the at least a first port configured to receive a microphone and configured to communicate acoustically with the chamber;
the housing configured to receive an accelerometer;
a microphone fixed to the at least a first port and an accelerometer fixed to the housing.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the microphone is a MEMS microphone.
12 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing has a maximum cross-sectional diameter of no more than about 13 mm.
13 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the diaphragm comprises titanium.
14 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the diaphragm has a thickness in a range of about 5 um to about 100 um.
15 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises titanium.
16 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein a distance from the outer side of the diaphragm to the center of the ports is less than about 4 mm.
17 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ports have a cross-sectional circular shape having a diameter in a range of about 0.2 mm to about 2 mm.
18 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the generally conical sound gathering portion is provided with a contoured surface.