Piezoelectric Actuator with Frequency Characteristics for a Middle-Ear Implant

Shin, Dong-Hwa; Cho, Jin‐Ho

doi:10.3390/s18061694

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Considering the small space in the human middle ear cavity, where the transducer is implanted, the size of the transducer should be restricted. For comparison, the piezoelectric stack used in this study is the same as that used by Shin et al [19]. Specifically, this piezoelectric stack is made of lead zirconate titanate ceramics (PZT-8) with dimensions of 0.9 mm × 0.9 mm × 1.6 mm, which is small enough for this application.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to high output variability, reports also show that using the FMT for RW stimulation has a considerably low output at lower frequencies (< 1 kHz) [17,18]. To address this issue, Shin et al designed a novel piezoelectric transducer specifically for RW stimulation [19]. In comparison with the widely used electromagnetic transducer, that is, the FMT, their experimental results demonstrated that their transducer has excellent low-frequency output.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Numerical Study and Optimization of a Novel Piezoelectric Transducer for a Round-Window Stimulating Type Middle-Ear Implant

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Round window (RW) stimulation is a new application of middle ear implants for treating hearing loss, especially for those with middle ear disease. However, most reports on it are based on the use of the floating mass transducer (FMT), which was not originally designed for round window stimulation. The mismatch of the FMT’s diameter and the round window membrane’s diameter and the uncontrollable preload of the transducer, leads to a high variability in its clinical outcomes. Accordingly, a new piezoelectric transducer for the round-window-stimulating-type middle ear implant is proposed in this paper. The transducer consists of a piezoelectric stack, a flextensional amplifier, a coupling rod, a salver, a plate, a titanium housing and a supporting spring. Based on a constructed coupling finite element model of the human ear and the transducer, the influences of the transducer design parameters on its performance were analyzed. The optimal structure of the supporting spring, which determines the transducer’s resonance frequency, was ascertained. The results demonstrate that our designed transducer generates better output than the FMT, especially at low frequency. Besides this, the power consumption of the transducer was significantly decreased compared with a recently reported RW-stimulating piezoelectric transducer.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Study and Optimization of a Novel Piezoelectric Transducer for a Round-Window Stimulating Type Middle-Ear Implant

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The stiffness coefficient of two vibrational membranes (top and bottom) connected in parallel can be calculated by Eq. (1) [19,20].…”

Section: Design Of the Dual-coil Electromagnetic Actuatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a dual-coil type electromagnetic actuator for implantable bone conduction hearing devices

Shin

Seong

Jung

et al. 2019

THC

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the design and implementation of a dual-coil type electromagnetic actuator for implantable bone conduction hearing devices. OBJECTIVE: The structure of the proposed actuator was designed to generate maximum Lorentz force via the dual-coil method with a closed magnetic circuit. To satisfy the indications required by implantable bone conduction hearing devices, high output was generated within a specific frequency range using a vibrational membrane with a cantilever. METHODS: The structure of the membrane consists of a fixed ring, a circular plate, and two cantilevers connected symmetrically. Variable elements of the vibrational membrane affecting the actuator frequency characteristics were analyzed through mathematical modeling and finite element analysis, based on the analysis used to derive the optimum structure of the vibrational membrane. The components of the actuator were fabricated through chemical etching and computer numerical control process, and the bone conduction actuator was fabricated through the precision assembly process. RESULTS: The output characteristics of the implemented actuator were measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer. As a result of measurement, the proposed actuator generated mechanical resonance at 1.2 kHz. CONCLUSIONS: By comparing the measured results with the finite element analysis results, we confirmed the validity of the proposed actuator design.

show abstract

“…Middle-ear implants that transmit vibrations using small transducers have been widely employed to compensate for conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss [1]- [9]. Middleear implants allow high-quality speech discrimination, and many reports have indicated that patients favor implants over conventional hearing aids [10]- [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Piezoelectric Bellows Round-Window Driver (PBRD) for Middle-Ear Implants

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We describe a new implantable hearing-aid output device, a piezoelectric bellows roundwindow driver (PBRD), which is expected to be unaffected by external magnetic fields. The core elements of the PBRD are a piezoelectric element and a gold-coated copper bellows of low stiffness that transmits piezoelectric displacements, without significant attenuation, to the round window (RW). We analyzed structural and mechanical vibrations when confirming bellows transmission efficiency using a finite element model simulation. The PBRD was bench-tested under no-load conditions to determine its frequency response characteristics. We compared the outputs of the PBRD and a commercial floating-mass transducer in situ in human cadaveric temporal bones with responses measured using a laser Doppler vibrometer. PBRD outputs were excellent at both low (0.1-0.7 kHz) and high (2-16 kHz) frequencies; thus, the PBRD has the potential to compensate for conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss. The frequency-response performance of the PBRD is better than that of conventional RW drivers (actuators or transducers). INDEX TERMS Piezoelectric bellows round-window driver (PBRD), Middle-ear implants, Finite element analysis, Human temporal bone, Conductive or sensorineural hearing loss

show abstract

Piezoelectric Actuator with Frequency Characteristics for a Middle-Ear Implant

Cited by 13 publications

References 22 publications

Numerical Study and Optimization of a Novel Piezoelectric Transducer for a Round-Window Stimulating Type Middle-Ear Implant

Numerical Study and Optimization of a Novel Piezoelectric Transducer for a Round-Window Stimulating Type Middle-Ear Implant

Design of a dual-coil type electromagnetic actuator for implantable bone conduction hearing devices

A Piezoelectric Bellows Round-Window Driver (PBRD) for Middle-Ear Implants

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About