Hearing Enabler

The Vibrant soundbridge is designed to improve the hearing of otherwise healthy individuals with a sensorineural hearing loss. Unlike a hearing aid that takes acoustic sound and makes it louder as it comes to the middle ear, the device converts acoustic sound to vibrations inside the middle ear. These vibrations are amplified by the device electronics to make the vibrations stronger than the patient would normally get with sound transmitted through the ear canal and across the ear drum.

The device is divided into an external portion and an internal portion. The external portion is called the Audio Processor and remains outside the body. It contains the microphone, the battery, and the electronics to convert sound to a signal that is transmitted to the internal portion of the soundbridge. The Audio Processor is held onto the head with a magnet.

The internal portion of the consists of an internal receiver, conductor link, and the Floating Mass Transducer (FMT). A signal from the Audio Processor is transmitted across the skin to an internal receiver. The internal receiver then relays the signal via the conductor link to the FMT. The FMT converts the signal to vibrations that move the bones of the middle ear similar to the way normal sounds move them.

The microphone in the Audio Processor picks up sounds in the environment. These sounds are converted to an electrical signal within the Audio Processor and this signal is then transmitted across the skin to an internal receiver. The conductor link conveys the signal to the Floating Mass Transducer that in turn vibrates the ossicles.

The device is a medical prosthesis—not a hearing aid. Hearing aids take sounds and make them louder. The device takes sound and converts it to mechanical vibrations inside the middle ear. Because the soundbridge does not sit in the ear canal, many problems associated with conventional hearing aids, such as soreness and feedback are potentially avoided. Also, the soundbridge can be worn under most hair styles making it possible for the system to be hidden from casual observers.

Symphonix Devices, Inc., 2331 Zanker Rd., San Jose, CA 95131-1109. Tel: 408-232-0710; Fax: 408-232-0720.