US 11,956,581 B2
Microphone unit having a pressurized chamber
Joris Walraevens, Mechelen (BE); Patrik Kennes, Herent (BE); Vicente Osorio, Mechelen (BE); Stijn Eeckhoudt, Mechelen (BE); and Koen Erik Van den Heuvel, Hove (BE)
Assigned to Cochlear Limited, Macquarie University (AU)
Filed by Cochlear Limited, Macquarie University (AU)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/902,239.
Application 17/902,239 is a continuation of application No. 15/669,359, filed on Aug. 4, 2017, granted, now 11,470,411.
Prior Publication US 2023/0047075 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); H04R 1/02 (2006.01); H04R 1/08 (2006.01); H04R 1/22 (2006.01); H04R 25/00 (2006.01); H04R 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 1/08 (2013.01) [A61N 1/0541 (2013.01); A61N 1/36038 (2017.08); H04R 1/02 (2013.01); H04R 1/222 (2013.01); H04R 25/405 (2013.01); H04R 25/604 (2013.01); H04R 25/606 (2013.01); H04R 31/003 (2013.01); H04R 2201/003 (2013.01); H04R 2225/41 (2013.01); H04R 2225/67 (2013.01); H04R 2410/05 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microphone unit configured to be implanted in a recipient, comprising:
an implantable hermetically-sealed housing;
a first chamber disposed in the implantable hermetically-sealed housing and comprising a first end and a second end;
a second chamber disposed in the implantable hermetically-sealed housing and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second chamber is adjacent the second end of the first chamber;
a first flexible membrane disposed across the first end of the first chamber;
a microphone element disposed between the second end of the first chamber and the first end of the second chamber;
a coupling member in communication with the first chamber and configured to generate an input signal based on vibration of a vibrating structure of the recipient, wherein the coupling member is disposed external to the implantable hermetically-sealed housing; and
a pressurized fluid filling the first chamber and maintaining a first chamber pressure therein that is greater or less than an ambient pressure.