Wireless Microactuator
According to an exemplary embodiment the hearing of a patient may be improved by providing the patient with a wearable package having a microphone, a wireless transmitter circuit responsive to the microphone to transmit a wireless transducer signal, a power storage device configured to provide power to the transmitter circuit; and a wireless power transmission circuit configured to transmit a wireless power signal and implanting into the patient an electrically powered microactuator having: a wireless receiver circuit to receive the wireless transducer signal; a transducer drive circuit coupled to the wireless receiver circuit to convert the received transducer signal into a transducer drive signal; a transducer coupled to the transducer drive circuit to convert the transducer drive signal into motion; and a wireless power reception circuit configured to receive the wireless power signal to power the transducer drive circuit.
1 . An electrically powered microactuator apparatus configured for implantation into a cochlear wall of a patient, the microactuator comprising:
a wireless receiver circuit configured to receive a wireless transducer signal;
a transducer drive circuit configured to convert the received transducer signal into a transducer drive signal;
a transducer coupled to the transducer drive circuit and configured to convert the transducer drive signal into motion; and
a wireless power reception circuit configured to receive a wireless power signal and convert the power signal into electrical power for powering the transducer drive circuit.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit includes at least one power storage device configured to power the transducer drive circuit for a period of time in the absence of the wireless power signal.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one power storage device includes a rechargeable battery.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one power storage device includes a capacitor.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive energy wirelessly from a source at a distance from the apparatus.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive a wireless power signal comprising electromagnetic energy.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive a wireless power signal comprising magnetic energy.
8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive a wireless power signal comprising radio frequency energy.
9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive a wireless power signal comprising optical energy.
10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit is configured to receive a wireless power signal comprising acoustic energy.
11 . A hearing aid system comprising:
a hearing aid electronics package configured to be worn by a patient, the package including:
a microphone to detect sound in the vicinity of the patient and produce a microphone signal in response thereto;
a wireless transmitter circuit responsive to the microphone signal configured to transmit a wireless transducer signal;
a first power storage device configured to provide power to the transmitter circuit;
a wireless power transmission circuit configured to transmit a wireless power signal;
an electrically powered microactuator configured for implantation into a cochlear wall of the patient, the microactuator comprising:
a wireless receiver circuit configured to receive the wireless transducer signal;
a transducer drive circuit configured to convert the received transducer signal into a transducer drive signal;
a transducer coupled to the transducer drive circuit and configured to convert the transducer drive signal into motion; and
a wireless power reception circuit configured to receive the wireless power signal and convert the power signal into electrical power for powering the transducer drive circuit.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the first power storage device is rechargeable.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless power reception circuit includes at least one second power storage device configured to power the transducer drive circuit for a period of time in the absence of the wireless power signal.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second power storage device includes a rechargeable battery.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one second power storage device includes a capacitor.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the package further includes a wireless power transmission circuit configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless power signal to the wireless power reception circuit.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using electromagnetic energy.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using magnetic energy.
19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using radio frequency energy.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using optical energy.
21 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using acoustic energy.
22 . A hearing aid apparatus configured to be worn by a patient and to wirelessly communicate with an implanted microactuator within the patient, the apparatus comprising:
a microphone configured to detect sound in the vicinity of the patient and produce a microphone signal in response thereto;
a wireless transmitter circuit responsive to the microphone signal, the transmitter circuit configured to transmit a wireless transducer signal to the microactuator; and
a power storage device configured to provide power to the transmitter circuit.
23 . The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the power storage device is rechargeable.
24 . The apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a wireless power transmission circuit configured to transmit a wireless power signal.
25 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using electromagnetic energy.
26 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using magnetic energy.
27 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using radio frequency energy.
28 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using optical energy.
29 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the wireless power transmission circuit is configured to transmit the wireless power signal using acoustic energy.
30 . A method for improving the hearing acuity of a patient comprising:
providing the patient with a wearable hearing aid electronics package including:
a microphone to detect sound in the vicinity of the patient and produce a microphone signal in response thereto;
a wireless transmitter circuit responsive to the microphone signal configured to transmit a wireless transducer signal;
a power storage device configured to provide power to the transmitter circuit; and
a wireless power transmission circuit configured to transmit a wireless power signal;
implanting into a cochlear wall of the patient an electrically powered microactuator, the microactuator including:
a wireless receiver circuit configured to receive the wireless transducer signal;
a transducer drive circuit coupled to the wireless receiver circuit and configured to convert the received transducer signal into a transducer drive signal;
a transducer coupled to the transducer drive circuit and configured to convert the transducer drive signal into motion; and
a wireless power reception circuit configured to receive the wireless power signal and convert the power signal into electrical power for powering the transducer drive circuit;
detecting sound with the microphone;
generating a microphone signal in response to the detected sound;
transmitting the wireless transducer signal with the wireless transmitter circuit;
receiving the wireless transducer signal with the wireless receiver circuit;
driving the transducer with the transducer drive circuit; and
powering the wireless receiver circuit and the transducer circuit with power transmitted wirelessly from the wireless power transmission circuit to the wireless power reception circuit.