LATERAL COUPLING OF AN IMPLANTABLE HEARING AID ACTUATOR TO AN AUDITORY COMPONENT

摘要

An apparatus and method is provided for lateral contact loading of an implantable transducer relative to an auditory component. The apparatus may include a contact tip for directly contacting a lateral aspect of an auditory component, and a vibratory actuator adapted for axial displacement in response to the operation of an interconnected implantable hearing aid transducer. At least a portion of the vibratory actuator may be deflectable, wherein the contact tip is laterally displaceable upon lateral deflection of the vibratory actuator to apply a lateral loading force to an auditory component. In operation, the contact tip may be positioned to apply the lateral loading force upon initial placement and then automatically moved to maintain contact with the auditory component by virtue of deflection of the vibratory actuator, (e.g., responsive) post-implantation auditory component movement.