[go: up one dir, main page]

EP1224840A2 - Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille - Google Patents

Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille

Info

Publication number
EP1224840A2
EP1224840A2 EP00982822A EP00982822A EP1224840A2 EP 1224840 A2 EP1224840 A2 EP 1224840A2 EP 00982822 A EP00982822 A EP 00982822A EP 00982822 A EP00982822 A EP 00982822A EP 1224840 A2 EP1224840 A2 EP 1224840A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
actuator
hearing aid
implant according
drive converter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00982822A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Christoph Hans Schmid
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Publication of EP1224840A2 publication Critical patent/EP1224840A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
    • H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an hearing aid implant mounted in the ear according to the preamble of claim 1 and a hearing aid implant according to that of claim 16.
  • implants of the type mentioned are targeted at one or more of the organs mentioned mechanical vibrations are forced in accordance with the auditory signals received by a microphone arrangement in or outside the ear canal.
  • Such implants are also used when there is damage to the inner ear: in this case, mechanical vibrations are applied to the oval window, compared to those with normal hearing, or if the frequency spectrum is changed. This is an attempt to compensate the inner ear damage as optimally as possible.
  • people with normal hearing generally also wear an implant, especially if the application intervention is only minimal.
  • audio signals from electrical audio sources could be fed directly as electrical signals to the individual and finally to the implant.
  • desired hearing characteristics such as directional characteristics, can also be used with implants and ear-side microphones for normal hearing as well as hearing impaired, preferably adjustable in situ.
  • No. 5,906,635 also proposes the provision of a permanent magnetic disk on an ossicle and its vibration excitation via a coil mounted in a contactless manner in its immediate area.
  • These implants which act on organs in the middle ear, have the major disadvantage that they require extensive surgical interventions in the middle ear area itself and in the transition area from the outer ear to the middle ear, i.e. in the area of the eardrum, by means of which the respective areas are adapted to the specifically selected implant techniques , In many cases, switching from one implant technique to another is extremely problematic because the outer and middle ear areas had to be specifically adapted to the previously installed implant technique.
  • the hearing aid implant of the above-mentioned type mounted in the ear in that the housing is fastened on the outer ear side of the eardrum area and the actuator has an end facing away from the housing and effective in the middle ear.
  • the housing is mounted directly on the auditory canal wall or immediately adjacent to the tissue of the auditory canal wall.
  • the electro-mechanical drive converter has an electrical input stage which is fixed to the housing.
  • This has the advantage that electrical connecting lines from an acoustic-electrical converter not forming the subject of the invention, for example mounted outside the ear, are mechanically stationary. This avoids the alternating load problem for such extremely thin electrical feed lines, and thus also secondary acoustic interference signals caused by such mechanical vibrations.
  • electrodynamic drive transducers can be used as electromechanical drive transducers, if appropriate for their size, in the preferred embodiment today the electromechanical drive transducer is designed as an electromagnetic or possibly as a piezoelectric drive transducer.
  • the housing is preferably of tubular design and has an opening on at least one of its end faces, from which the actuator is led out to the middle ear.
  • a coil arrangement is preferably provided stationary on the housing, and the actuator with a permanent magnet part is slidably mounted in the coil.
  • Permanent magnet material can be used, for example, neodymium, which allows extremely strong permanent magnets to be built with a small construction volume, for example Nd-Fe-B material.
  • the electrical supply lines are led to the implant or to its electromechanical drive transducer along the ear canal wall or in the tissue or bone adjacent to the ear canal.
  • its actuator is mounted so as to be resiliently movable with respect to the housing.
  • the housing in its aforementioned tubular configuration with the actuator guided from an end opening has a portion which tapers in diameter towards the aforementioned opening.
  • the housing continues to be tubular, preferably as
  • Body of rotation i.e. essentially cylindrical, possibly with continuous conical tapered parts.
  • anchoring members such as ribs or knobs
  • Body tissue or in bone material. 1 denotes the length of the implant in the transmission direction between the effective end of the actuator on the one hand and the end of the housing facing away from this end, this is preferably in the range:
  • the maximum diameter of the housing D is preferably selected as follows:
  • the hearing aid implant according to the invention itself is distinguished for achieving the above-mentioned object according to the wording of claim 16, with preferred embodiments according to claims 17 to 21.
  • the invention is subsequently explained, for example, with reference to figures. Show it:
  • FIG. 1 shows an implant according to the invention, partially sectioned and schematized, in a first preferred embodiment
  • FIG. 2 in a representation analogous to that of FIG. 1, a further embodiment of an implant according to the invention
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 yet another embodiment of an implant according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows an implant according to the invention with anchoring organs for soft tissue
  • FIG. 6 shows, analogously to FIG. 5, an implant according to the invention with anchoring organs for bone tissue; 7 shows a hearing aid implant installed in the ear according to the invention with terminal actuator coupling to the hammer;
  • Fig. 8e another actuator guide and hammer coupling.
  • the implant 10 has an essentially cylindrical housing 1 with an A axis.
  • a relatively large-diameter section 3 is followed by strongly tapered actuator guide sections 5 via transition sections 7 tapering substantially in the shape of a truncated cone.
  • the housing 1 is tubular and has a coaxial guide bore 9 for an actuator 11. The bore extends from one end
  • Housing opening 12 practically through the entire housing 1.
  • the rod-shaped actuator 11 is slidably mounted and is spring-loaded with respect to the housing 1 and according to FIG. 1 by means of a spring 14.
  • the housing part 3 there is a coaxial with the axis A.
  • Coil arrangement 16 installed, the magnetic field of which is operatively connected to a permanent magnet region 18 on the actuator 11. Electrical connections 20 are guided towards the outside against the end of the housing 1 remote from the opening 12.
  • the protruding from the opening 12 end of the Actuator 11 is provided with a coupling device, as shown, a clip 22, for example if it is to be coupled to an ossicle in the middle ear.
  • a biocompatible material such as titanium, platinum, tantalum, plastics such as polyethylene, hydroxylapatite, ceramics or glasses, is used as the material, in particular the housing parts to be embedded in or on the body tissue, as will be explained below.
  • the aim is to minimize the stray field of the coil arrangement 16, for example by embedding the coil arrangement in a (not shown) jacket made of ferromagnetic material.
  • the actuator it should be taken into account that it should transmit mechanical vibrations in the longitudinal direction with as little distortion as possible, so great rigidity is required in this direction.
  • the actuator can be exposed to shear forces perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which is why it should have a certain elasticity and a relatively high breaking strength in this direction.
  • At least that part of the actuator that is exposed to body tissue should also be made from biocompatible material. Metals such as titanium, tantalum, nitinol, etc. are therefore most likely to be used as materials for the production of the actuator or of its parts.
  • the Coil arrangement 16 is excited and the magnetic field concentrated in the area of axis A displaces actuator 11 via the permanent magnet section 18 into the corresponding vibrations.
  • FIG. 7 denote:
  • the actuator and possibly the provided reduced-diameter guide section 5, which faces the opening 12 according to FIG. 1, is passed through the eardrum area so that the end of the actuator 11 projects into the middle ear and there, as in FIG. 7 shown, for example, with one of the ossicles, preferably the
  • Extension of the anvil 25, is operatively connected.
  • the electrical supply lines 20, not shown in FIG. 7, are guided outside in the auditory canal along the wall thereof or embedded slightly deep into the tissue surrounding the auditory canal. Because of the low 1 for the actuator 11 according to FIG. 1, from the outer to the middle ear and the coupling of the actuator end there, for example to one of the ossicles, and furthermore the small-volume, longitudinally extended shaping of the implant housing with the drive, it is possible for the implant to be carried out with only slight invasive interventions install.
  • FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of an implant according to the invention, which differs only with respect to the arrangement of the spring 14a described with reference to FIG. 1.
  • a spring 14 which - according to FIG. 1 - acts on one end of the actuator 11, according to FIG. 2, a spring 14a is provided acting along the actuator between the latter and the housing 1, in a specially recessed one in the housing part 3 Spring receiving chamber 29.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of an implant according to the invention. This differs from that explained with reference to FIG. 1 only in that the permanent magnet section 18a of the actuator 11 has a larger diameter than, in particular, the actuator part led out of the opening 12 of the housing 1.
  • the permanent magnet part 18a lies in a transmission chamber 31 adapted to its enlarged diameter in the housing part 3. This makes it possible, irrespective of the geometrical configuration of the actuator 11 guided outwards into the middle ear, to dimension the permanent magnet part 18a in accordance with the desired magnetic transmission conditions. 4 is on the housing 1 of the invention
  • Implants not an electromagnetic drive, but a piezoelectric built in.
  • the housing of the implant is shaped essentially the same, as has already been explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
  • the piezoelectric drive 33 is installed in the drive part 3 of the housing 1 and - as shown at 35 - directly coupled to the actuator 11.
  • anchoring formations 35 for soft tissue or in FIG. 6 anchoring formations 37 for bone tissue are preferred on an implant 10 according to the invention, as was explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
  • FIGS. 8a to 8e show terminal sections of the tapered housing part 5 with the opening 12 from which the respective actuator 11 projects into the middle ear MO.
  • the ear canal 21, eardrum 22, hammer 23, anvil 25 and stirrup 40 with an oval window 42 are also shown schematically here.
  • the actuator 11 is guided coaxially out of the part 5, for example with a clip or in another known manner and way, with the hammer 23 coupled in motion, according to FIG. 8b with the anvil 25, while the actuator 11 according to FIG. 8c is bent at the end and is coupled in motion with the stirrup 40.
  • FIGS. 8d and 8e it is easily possible to use the tapered end region
  • the implant according to the invention is dimensioned in a preferred embodiment as follows:
  • the length 1 between the coupling end 22 of the actuator 11 and this end of the housing 1 facing away from this is selected in the following range:
  • Implant housing and middle ear side for anchoring the actuator at the intended location.
  • the transmission of motion from the outer ear side housing to the middle ear side actuator end requires only a small opening through the eardrum area.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de correction auditive (10) implanté dans l'oreille, présentant un boîtier qui comporte un transducteur de commande électromécanique agissant sur un actionneur. Ce boîtier est fixé sur le côté oreille externe de la zone (22) du tympan, tandis que l'actionneur présente une extrémité agissant dans l'oreille moyenne (25).
EP00982822A 2000-12-29 2000-12-29 Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille Withdrawn EP1224840A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CH2000/000691 WO2001028288A2 (fr) 2000-12-29 2000-12-29 Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille
US09/752,342 US6620110B2 (en) 2000-12-29 2000-12-29 Hearing aid implant mounted in the ear and hearing aid implant

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1224840A2 true EP1224840A2 (fr) 2002-07-24

Family

ID=25705672

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00982822A Withdrawn EP1224840A2 (fr) 2000-12-29 2000-12-29 Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6620110B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP1224840A2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001028288A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (47)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6940988B1 (en) 1998-11-25 2005-09-06 Insound Medical, Inc. Semi-permanent canal hearing device
US7664282B2 (en) * 1998-11-25 2010-02-16 Insound Medical, Inc. Sealing retainer for extended wear hearing devices
US7379555B2 (en) * 1999-06-08 2008-05-27 Insound Medical, Inc. Precision micro-hole for extended life batteries
US7016504B1 (en) * 1999-09-21 2006-03-21 Insonus Medical, Inc. Personal hearing evaluator
US6940989B1 (en) 1999-12-30 2005-09-06 Insound Medical, Inc. Direct tympanic drive via a floating filament assembly
US6914994B1 (en) 2001-09-07 2005-07-05 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing device with transparent mode
US20030229262A1 (en) * 2001-11-20 2003-12-11 Easter James Roy Apparatus and method for ossicular fixation of implantable hearing aid actuator
US7278963B2 (en) * 2003-01-27 2007-10-09 Otologics, Llc Implantable hearing aid transducer with advanceable actuator to facilitate coupling with the auditory system
US7273447B2 (en) * 2004-04-09 2007-09-25 Otologics, Llc Implantable hearing aid transducer retention apparatus
WO2004100608A2 (fr) * 2003-04-03 2004-11-18 Sonic Innovations, Inc. Systeme de pose d'un appareil auditif extensible par ballonnet et appareil auditif a deploiement automatique
US8457336B2 (en) * 2004-02-05 2013-06-04 Insound Medical, Inc. Contamination resistant ports for hearing devices
US8401212B2 (en) 2007-10-12 2013-03-19 Earlens Corporation Multifunction system and method for integrated hearing and communication with noise cancellation and feedback management
US7867160B2 (en) 2004-10-12 2011-01-11 Earlens Corporation Systems and methods for photo-mechanical hearing transduction
US8295523B2 (en) 2007-10-04 2012-10-23 SoundBeam LLC Energy delivery and microphone placement methods for improved comfort in an open canal hearing aid
US7668325B2 (en) 2005-05-03 2010-02-23 Earlens Corporation Hearing system having an open chamber for housing components and reducing the occlusion effect
US20070003081A1 (en) * 2005-06-30 2007-01-04 Insound Medical, Inc. Moisture resistant microphone
WO2009023738A2 (fr) * 2007-08-14 2009-02-19 Insound Medical, Inc. Ensemble microphone et récepteur combiné pour des dispositifs auditifs de canal à port étendu
EP2301262B1 (fr) 2008-06-17 2017-09-27 Earlens Corporation Dispositifs auditifs électro-mécaniques optiques présentant une architecture combinant puissance et signal
US8396239B2 (en) 2008-06-17 2013-03-12 Earlens Corporation Optical electro-mechanical hearing devices with combined power and signal architectures
BRPI0915203A2 (pt) 2008-06-17 2016-02-16 Earlens Corp dispostivo, sistema e método para transmitir um sinal de áudio, e, dispostivo e método para estimular um tecido alvo
CN102301747B (zh) 2008-09-22 2016-09-07 依耳乐恩斯公司 用于听觉的平衡电枢装置和方法
WO2010141895A1 (fr) 2009-06-05 2010-12-09 SoundBeam LLC Systèmes d'implants acoustiques d'oreille moyenne optiquement couplés et procédés associés
US9544700B2 (en) 2009-06-15 2017-01-10 Earlens Corporation Optically coupled active ossicular replacement prosthesis
US10286215B2 (en) 2009-06-18 2019-05-14 Earlens Corporation Optically coupled cochlear implant systems and methods
US8401214B2 (en) 2009-06-18 2013-03-19 Earlens Corporation Eardrum implantable devices for hearing systems and methods
WO2011005479A2 (fr) 2009-06-22 2011-01-13 SoundBeam LLC Systèmes et procédés de conduction osseuse à couplage optique
EP2446646B1 (fr) 2009-06-22 2018-12-26 Earlens Corporation Dispositif d'audition de couplage à la fenêtre ronde
WO2010151636A2 (fr) 2009-06-24 2010-12-29 SoundBeam LLC Dispositifs et procédés de stimulation cochléaire optique
US8715154B2 (en) 2009-06-24 2014-05-06 Earlens Corporation Optically coupled cochlear actuator systems and methods
WO2012088187A2 (fr) 2010-12-20 2012-06-28 SoundBeam LLC Appareil auditif intra-auriculaire anatomiquement personnalisé
US8761423B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2014-06-24 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
US8682016B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2014-03-25 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
US8808906B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2014-08-19 Insound Medical, Inc. Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
US9604325B2 (en) 2011-11-23 2017-03-28 Phonak, LLC Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same
WO2015077786A1 (fr) * 2013-11-25 2015-05-28 Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Capteurs piézoélectriques pour prothèses auditives
US10034103B2 (en) 2014-03-18 2018-07-24 Earlens Corporation High fidelity and reduced feedback contact hearing apparatus and methods
WO2016011044A1 (fr) 2014-07-14 2016-01-21 Earlens Corporation Limitation de crête et polarisation coulissante pour dispositifs auditifs optiques
WO2016018200A1 (fr) 2014-07-27 2016-02-04 Sonova Ag Batteries et des procédés de production de batteries
US9924276B2 (en) 2014-11-26 2018-03-20 Earlens Corporation Adjustable venting for hearing instruments
US20170095202A1 (en) 2015-10-02 2017-04-06 Earlens Corporation Drug delivery customized ear canal apparatus
US10492010B2 (en) 2015-12-30 2019-11-26 Earlens Corporations Damping in contact hearing systems
US10178483B2 (en) 2015-12-30 2019-01-08 Earlens Corporation Light based hearing systems, apparatus, and methods
US11350226B2 (en) 2015-12-30 2022-05-31 Earlens Corporation Charging protocol for rechargeable hearing systems
CN112738700A (zh) 2016-09-09 2021-04-30 伊尔兰斯公司 智能镜系统和方法
WO2018093733A1 (fr) 2016-11-15 2018-05-24 Earlens Corporation Procédure d'impression améliorée
WO2019173470A1 (fr) 2018-03-07 2019-09-12 Earlens Corporation Dispositif auditif de contact et matériaux de structure de rétention
WO2019199680A1 (fr) 2018-04-09 2019-10-17 Earlens Corporation Filtre dynamique

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3882285A (en) * 1973-10-09 1975-05-06 Vicon Instr Company Implantable hearing aid and method of improving hearing
US4729366A (en) * 1984-12-04 1988-03-08 Medical Devices Group, Inc. Implantable hearing aid and method of improving hearing
US5338287A (en) * 1991-12-23 1994-08-16 Miller Gale W Electromagnetic induction hearing aid device
US5460593A (en) * 1993-08-25 1995-10-24 Audiodontics, Inc. Method and apparatus for imparting low amplitude vibrations to bone and similar hard tissue
DE19758573C2 (de) * 1997-11-26 2001-03-01 Implex Hear Tech Ag Fixationselement für ein implantierbares Mikrofon
EP0936840A1 (fr) * 1998-02-16 1999-08-18 Daniel F. àWengen Prothèse auditive implantable
US6137889A (en) * 1998-05-27 2000-10-24 Insonus Medical, Inc. Direct tympanic membrane excitation via vibrationally conductive assembly
US6077215A (en) * 1998-10-08 2000-06-20 Implex Gmbh Spezialhorgerate Method for coupling an electromechanical transducer of an implantable hearing aid or tinnitus masker to a middle ear ossicle
DE19923403C2 (de) * 1999-05-21 2002-11-14 Phonak Ag Staefa Vorrichtung zum mechanischen Ankoppeln eines in einer Mastoidhöhle implantierbaren elektromechanischen Hörgerätewandlers

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0128288A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2001028288A3 (fr) 2002-05-10
WO2001028288A2 (fr) 2001-04-19
US20020087094A1 (en) 2002-07-04
US6620110B2 (en) 2003-09-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1224840A2 (fr) Appareil de correction auditive implante dans l'oreille
EP1073313B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le couplage mécanique d'un vibreur à une place de couplage de la chaîne ossiculaire
EP1067820B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le couplage mécanique d'un vibreur à un place de couplage du chaîne ossicullair
DE19948375B4 (de) Anordnung zum mechanischen Ankoppeln eines Treibers an eine Ankoppelstelle der Ossikelkette
DE19882589B3 (de) Wandler mit piezoelektrischem Film
EP1179969B1 (fr) Système auditif au moins partiellement implantable
DE10047388C1 (de) Mindestens teilweise implantierbares Hörsystem
EP1054573B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le couplage mécanique d'un transducteur électromécanique de prothèse auditive implantable dans une cavité dans la mastoidite
EP1094687B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le couplage mécanique d'un vibreur à un place de couplage du chaîne ossicullair
DE10018334C1 (de) Mindestens teilimplantierbares System zur Rehabilitation einer Hörstörung
EP0984665B1 (fr) Dispositif transducteur pour prothèse auditive partiellement ou totalement implantée
EP1011295B1 (fr) Transducteur hermétiquement étanche pour prothèse auditive et prothèse auditive avec ce transducteur
DE19840212C2 (de) Wandleranordnung für teil- oder vollimplantierbare Hörgeräte
EP1017337A1 (fr) Prothese de l'oreille moyenne
EP1422971B1 (fr) Transducteur implantable pour des systèmes auditifs et procédé d'ajustement de la réponse en fréquence d'un tel transducteur
EP1439737B1 (fr) Transducteur électromécanique implantable
CN112533123A (zh) 一种初始压力变刚度调节的圆窗激振式人工中耳作动器
EP0544677B1 (fr) Prothese auditive electromagnetique de l'oreille moyenne
DE102014114494A1 (de) Aktives Hör-Implantat mit einstellbarer Fixierung des Aktor-Endstücks im Mittelohr
DE102015117272B4 (de) Knochenleitungs-Hörgerät und Head-Set mit einem derartigen Knochenleitungs-Hörgerät
DE102007031114B4 (de) Hörimplantat mit multidirektional wirkendem Aktor
AU782322B2 (en) Hearing aid implant which is arranged in the ear
DE102009016843B3 (de) Magnetofluidisches Hörhilfesystem
DE202014104794U1 (de) Aktives Hör-Implantat mit einstellbarer Fixierung des Aktor-Endstücks im Mittelohr

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20020429

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK FR GB IT LI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20081223

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20130116