Optimized flextensional transducers for an implantable hearing aid

Relaxor single crystal based flextensional transducers were investigated for an implantable hearing aid application. Oval shape cymbal structure, adopted due to anatomic requirement, was simulated using finite element analysis (FEA). The optimum lateral orientation was determined to be <100> along the longer direction of oval cap. The simulation results suggest that optimized single crystal transducers offer 100% improved performance over the analogous PZT transducers, adequate for implantable hearing aid device applications.