Designing the Vibrating Implantable Middle Ear Transducer Using Planar Coils and Finite Element Analysis

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop an ideal electromagnetic vibration transducer designed for implantable middle ear device with the following characteristics: small in size and high-energy efficiency.Materials and MethodsIn order to find the output of electromagnetic force and to predict the frequency-amplitude characteristics, a finite element middle ear biomechanical model was used to derive the optimal magnetic force of the actuator in this study. First, the electromagnetic transducer was created using computer-aided design. The air gap between the magnet and planar coil, input current and vibration force were calculated using finite element analysis simulation.ResultsThe simulated results showed that the electromagnetic forces under 0.2 mm air gap were about 2–6 dyne depending on the layers of the planar coils under the input current of 20–60 μA. By increasing the layers of the planar coil, the electromagnetic forces can be increased.ConclusionThis designed actuator could be used as transducers in middle ear implants.