Patent ID: 7120501
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: A61F,A61N

Abstract:
1. A hearing aid for use in a human ear, the ear consisting in part of an auditory canal and a middle ear space and having a tympanic membrane disposed therebetween, the hearing aid comprising: an external portion to be inserted into the auditory canal, the external portion comprising: a Class D switching amplifier responsive to the processed electrical sound signals to provide a switched electrical sound signal, the switching amplifier having a switching frequency; a cochlear implant portion surgically implantable into the middle ear space, the cochlear implant comprising: a receiving coil electromagnetically coupled to the transmitting coil to receive the switched electrical sound signal and to provide a coupled switched electrical sound signal, the receiving coil to be positioned in the middle ear adjacently spaced from the tympanic membrane; and first and second electrodes connected to the receiving coil, the first electrode to be inserted into the cochlea to provide substantially the coupled switched electrical sound signal to the cochlea, and the second electrode to provide a signal return path for the coupled switched electrical sound signal.