Simulations of an electromagnetic microsystem intended to be used in a microactuator which serves as an ear implant to overcome amblyacousia were conducted. Using the ANSYS TM simulation software, the design and optimization of the electromagnetic microsystem were accomplished by Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses. The design process contained 2-D and 3-D simulations. 2-D simulations served as parametric studies of the system. Afterwards, a 3-D simulation was carried out to fine-tune the results of the 2-D simulation. Comparing the 3-D with the 2-D simulation, the resulting force-air gap data were very close. With respect to the simulations, the designed electromagnetic system fulfils the requirements to drive the microactuator.
Figure I : Conceptual design of the MEMS type inner ear hearing implantThe design goal of the micro actuator is to accomplish a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) of 110 dB in a frequency range from 100 Hz to 6 kHz. The main goal of the i.e. a hearing loss due to damaged hair cells, but still a functional auditory nerve , neither approach described presents a solution. In such a case, a Cochlea Implant (CI) is required. It stimulates the nerve cells electrically [2]. This paper describes the simulations conducted to design an inner ear implant in Micro Electro-mechanical System (MEMS) technology. The system is driven electromagnetically and excites the cochlea's perilymph through the round window. Using mechanical and thermal FEM analyses the microactuator was designed. Using FEM simulations to design a microactuator is a common approach at the Institute for Microtechnology (imt) . Several designs using FEM simulations were carried out at the imt [4,5]. The simulation results of the electromagnetic device were described previously [6]. Figure I depicts the conceptual design of the MEMS type inner ear hearing implant. The system is driven electromagnetically and features a membrane with a boss at its center. The boss carries a plunger. A system excitation results in a vibration of boss and plunger. The plunger penetrates the cochlea through the round window and excites its perilymph. The system's active part contains a coil system , soft magnetic flux guides, and a flux closure located underneath the mechanical system. Due to the absence of hard magnetic materials, the system will vibrate with double the frequency of the exciting signal. Concept and System Requirements Electromagnetic device Spacer AbstractThe design of a microactuator serving as an implantable hearing aid to overcome ambylacousia was conducted by executing mechanical and thermal Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses using the ANSYS® software simulation tool. To do so, the deflection conditions to be fulfilled by the system were determined. The two challenges were to achieve a sufficiently high resonance frequency and to accommodate the physiological restrictions in the middle ear and the cochlea defining the maximal size of the micro actuator. A model of the mechanical system was created and modal analyses were carried out. In the next step, the force required to deflect the membrane in the static case and under damping of the cochlea was simulated. In a last step, a 3-D thermal model of the complete system including the micromagnetics was created to investigate the temperature rise in the system. This is important with respect to the implantation of the actuator into the human body, avoiding a necrosis of the human tissue.
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