ALTERNATIVE MASS AMJ4NG1MENTS FOR BONE CONDUCTION DEVICES

[SGS-I The preset application, claims the benefit of US Provisional Pateat AppHc&tkm e]/ϋ-1i JS5:; fifed March 31, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference hersis-

HsM øfϊhs Invention

\ Ths preset kivsrsϋiosa relates generally to prosthetic hearing device sad ϊ∑sor ^g jsardctmrty, to sksrnatrve mass arra&gersezds for botte coadαerJos devices.

\mg} Thsts are three basic types of hearing toss: sensorineural,, αmdαctive, and mixed hearing losses. Sensorineural hearing loss s^sults fern damage to itie Inner ear or S3 the ΏSγVS pathways from j&e i∑Jiser ssr to ξise braia. TIJS atajcsriiy «f hutaaa ssBSoriseural Uear>ng loss is caused by abωoππalities or siasisags in the hssr ceEs in the cochlea. Hair cells is the cochlea an; the seiisory receptors thai traasdisee souod to serve mψ'aises. . Acoustic hearing aϊds may be appropriate &r those who Sisifer Sam. xaild so moderate seasonneural hearing loss, in cases δf severs or pr«ibυτκi sesssormeisra! hesrisg loss, a cochlear asp feat may be the appropriate choice. Cochlear implants bypass the hair cells is the cochlea and directly stimulate lbs sudiϊory senro Sbsrs in 5i^e cochlea by as electrode array that Js asφlasted ia the cochlea. Simulation, of Use auditory fterws SeK creates the ^essatio∑s of fiearissg in She rectpsest.

UMM) Cosώictive hεarmg toss occurs when there is a problem ψnk the coδώϊcfcbα of sousid from the externa! or middle ear έo the ixiiisr esr. This loss may be caused by a∑sythmg ilmt άn»e<les the πsotioB of die ossicles, the three boses of the middle ess: that conduct sound ϊO the cochlea, it may also bε caissεd fey & feilurs of ihe eardπiia to vibrate is response so souad or ilsid Ia the ϊsiddla ssr. Conductive hearing loss may be treated by &can&ϊic hearssg .aids, middle ear mipl&aέs, aad the like.

{im$ι Still other mdividaais suffer fern rrJxeά hearing losses, that i% conductive hearing kiss in coaj ^j ϊϊctϊori with, hearing. Is oώer -words, there sisy be damage in, both the cn&er or Twiddle aar «sd ihe Inner ear (cochlss) or auditory nervs.

i®m$ WIdIe many vadmάua\$ sufferiag from conductive hearing loss sites use &soi3Stic hearing aids, such hearing sids suiy sot be su&abk for &U indlviduals, such ss those syiTei"Jng troπi ciuc-sic ear mfsctio-as or from sύigle-skk-ά deafiisss, As alternative -re&tirsεnt Ls the use of bo.se c-OBductϊQii hesusg aids, or simply cαnducdøfi devices bersia. ,

δ~] Boss coiidactbB iseaπsg aids ϊ∑tiike ώe 1x>τies of ss individual's sfciϊli to trassrr-k acxsastic signals to the cochlea.. GsBsrMly, most boas oosducdon hearing aids ikrs.ction by coϊϊvertϊag & received ssisad sigssl mto a ϊ&≥chsssiea! vibrsdoα. This vibrdtioa is th&ύ trajisierrsά to ths botϊe stTϊsctiϊrs of tte skill This ύmύ vibratios yesuits In øsαtkm of the fluid of the cochlea, thereby stlmulating the oocMear b&ir ceils sad cssising the parseptioa of sanmά is the rccspiest.

sj Bono otmancUQ-n devices may be attached to a. iitasium JJBplaisr f»ψl-«aed sa a recipient's skull, via as sxiem&l aba^msnt. The tstsnium impks.t is surgically impkmeά intø the part of the skuG bone that Is beMsd the ear sad allowed to ssku-aity isitegrats with the ifcoil bose over time. Tkϊ boas otjssi-uctioa dcλce is coupled to the titE^suiu implasi via the sstcm&l abutssest. >1schsϊ3ical vfbrstioss from the k>ts« conduction, device are th«u itansmitted Io ths skull through the extesiial abutmem: and the dssniuis iaipiant to stimulate txerw fibers of the is.ner eat of the rscipiesi.

swesi Soiϊie teas coαdtictioxs devices gssersUy haw a bulky profile, ss rbere axs a large number of cosspo&ests within, the devices, each cosψonsst tskiag yp s subβtasrisl saooiuu αf spsca and. position.. BOBS eoaductba devices having bulky profiles may isφact daily per&rsssasee or use by the recipieis, siace a balky device attached to tfes bs&ά ar øthsr body parts of ώs recipient may ssterfcrc wiϊfe rise recipient's rrssvejnesjs or activftiss.

iwiϋi In ose aspecs of ϊhe p reseat invention, s boss eoaductba device is provided. The. device comprises: s soτmd ixψύt. demeat ossfϊgured to receive an soouλlic scum! signal; ose or ϊΏOπ; functional eoπ^oaorats, wfierds at least oo.e of said one or saore feicfioπal corϊψoϊϊgsts is SJJ dectrosics module uooiigurcd to gssier&te as electπo&l signal rεpresestfag said acoustic sound ssgrsat asd a trsπsckcsr ooϋfigured. t& generate raoHoa of s. ws&s oompoiitzni based on said, elecrricai sigml so as to generate oss or πssre mechanical forces resBifeg iα ose or more of motion aa<! vibrs?i«τs of s recipient's skull thereby caysiag somsd percsplion, wlisisis said muss cmτφotmnt comprises aέ least Das of said or*s or more fuactioϊiai compoaenis,

ϊδδϊϊj IΏ another aspect of the presest mvsaiion, hearing rehabiHtatkm systers is ptsvidsd. The .hearing rsliabiHtatiosi systs?πi ooπψπses: a Ixme condtjctioji device, cotsaptisisg: & sound snpst eleinest c-oπfigiϊred to receive ss acotwic sewn sigaai OϊSS or πxsr« &sctioπal co∑iψosests, w&ereiϊ! as fea^t OBC of said one or tsore fanctiona! components is as. electro aiss module eoBiigsred ge∑?«raie sn electrical signal representing said acoustic soυ&ά άgxisl Msά a trsBsduεsr conitgiired to geser&έe øsoϋon of a tisass C43iϊψorseπt based OΏ sakl electrical signal so ss t» geaeraie «ms or more mechatjlcai forces tssultxag is ø<ie or ∑πore of xEsoϋbn arid -vik-atiots. of a sxtcipie^t's SXILO thereby csusiag s&u&d perception, whereis said tnass composes! comprises at teist ose of said one or rmr-s &ueticaal sonspoαests, &s4 as aachαr coaSgured to ha attached to tbs recψieisj's sfcssil and .mrther coaβgisrsd to tra sfer ;>sid jπechssk-a! forces fesss said trsωsdaces ¹ so ϊlie recipient ^' s skaJL

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

{mi2} Illustrative esiboάfsneats of she preseB* isventbs are described herein wkh rexsrsncs to &s acsxsnψanyrαg drawings, is wlilch;

JMISj FIG. I is a perspective view of a boss eøsάuctioω device impi&rϊled bcMad a recipient's oar;

[«4f FIG. 2A is a high.~?ewi .msedoπal block diagram of a bens yoaaisctiotj device, such ss ώe boBe conduction device of FIG. ! ;

X@os.5i FlG. 2B is detailed ik&etios&I block diagram of she bone cosductios device iϋu^ratsd in

I8S5SJ FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an erahodkaeat of a boas coBductioa device k acεordϊfflec with embødlϊnesϊs of tke pressat sj.veϊitiθω;

{ffliTt FTG. 4 is a iiswchart iiksstrsting the convsrsioTi of an Ispssi ^" so usd iεsto skull vibratba is sccordaϊϊcs with srobsdtrmniis »f the jsrsseπs iaveauoa;

FIG. S is s csoss-seodoxϊκi view of componsms of a boss eosduetion device is which tbώ aiιas4iϊC«x is ccssorciy postnoacd from & battery;

imi9} FIG. -6 Ls a eπsss-sesύoRsI view of eompoaeaϊs of & bass cosduabn device Is accordance with ήmoodimeαϊs af the present isveruiosi;

(8620] FϊG. 7 is a crøss-ssctibaai view of eoπspasαats of a bans coadisctioa device m accordance wiϊh em^odiøieaϊs sf the present isvcsstbn;

iwzii FIG. SA Ls s cress-scetbϊta! view of cαπspossnts of a bot5s co-sductiss dsvsce is accordaacs with o∑πbodsπisrsts of the press-ai ioveation; and

19022] FiG. SS is a ero&s-sxrkm&l view of coπjpousats of a bone cosdiictkm device is accordance with eπibodlmests of the present inventsca.

DETAILED FiJESCMPTION

[80231 Emhodisietsts of the preseat mvemiøϊi srs generally directed to s bone conduction, device for converting a received acoustic soursd signal into a sssehadcaϋ fores delivered vis a rscs ^' p seal's skull to the recipient's hearing orgam. The bone conduction device receives the acemstjc sotmd sigsal and generates an. electrical stgaal representing the acoustic -smssd signal His bone cosduαios device includes a transducer which co&vsrts the electrical signal fee tnmlos of a i∑-ass so as to ge&er&Jε one or Biota mecbaaisal ibrees resulting in one or more of Tωωtbϊi and -vibrstioH of a recipient's skyil causing perception of said acoustic signal by the recipient,

iWZA\ IR csjtals embodssen-s of s.be pressnl snveπtiors, raώsr tbaα haviag a dedicated ^j ∑mss mounted thereto, the transducer ^' has s fcxcikmal component attached thereto which is used by the transducer to gerisrsJs the jaschaaicsl fbrcas, m addition to pertorming its swi Is søsϊe αsbodimemX in additba to ths femtϊøsa! somponest acting as sa alternative mass, supplsmsnuil mass may be sse-uated to the trassdαcer or ώε sltcmsϊϊve mass.

im2Si Ia other embodiments of ths prsseat invention, a dedicated mass or & functional compoaem actfcg as a saass jssy fcnmied into ssy ose of maay differeaέ sizes, shapes snd oosiϋgisratioss, based on, for sxsjnpte, the desired mechanical tores, recipient characteristics, asid/or the assds of a specific rscipsent. In omt such emkfdicjejis: øf ^' tlie prescss: invsωtioa, the mass may be ferrasd as two bOatsrsl extensions, IΏ yet fkrtbar sinbodimsBts of fee present mvsstiorr, s. pair of additsoaai dedicated masses or fimdiossi cαtspoaeists may be eoiψisd at the axi&sr ends of bilssieral exϊessioas Sxsd to the transducer at the ceatε? of the bilateraϊ exsensions,

ρ*l2«f| Is vsrsoiJS embodiments of the present mveadoπ, the transducer rsaj* comprise s piezoeiectrfc eleaisin ihsi dgfexns in response to application of the electrical sigaal tfectstωj thereby geaeradag xsechasieal fcrces, or vibrsϊioss. wMck arc txϊmsferred to the recipient's skyi! to produce bone cond^ctios of the xnεchaascai totces which repseserst the acoustic soυad signal, Ths ajϊsoiuaj or<lsfbπs&tioa of a piezoelectric element in response to aa applied elecaical signal dopemls OΏ 3S58tcπal propcrifes of the clement, o-πmtatibs of the electric S«id wM respect to the øαkrk&tϊøB. dlrectksa of the eletfieat, asometrvof the cleπiest, etc.

\mzfi HG. 1 is a perspective view of ex&bαdlmsB-s of a bosie conduction device 100 in which embodsmests of ths presetst lavestiors may be advantageously impleme&ted. Ia a MIy fimcdonal human hssπsg anatomy, outer ear 101 comprises at. amide 105 and an ear cassl 106. A sound wave or acoustic pressure 10? is collected by auricle 105 and channeled into and through ear ean&i 106. Disposal across the distal end of ear caaai 106 Is a tyrBpanie membrane 104 which vibrates in rxssposse so acoustic wave 307. This vibra&oa is soiφled to ov&f window or fenestra ovaiis 1 10 ϊbrougts three bones of middle sat 102, collectively raierrεd to as the ossicles 1 .11 and εompr-si-ϊg the mallsus 1I2 _? the ϊscus 113 and ϊbs stapes 114. Sosεs H 2, 113 asid 114 of middle ear 102 ssrvs? io filter aad amplify acossSc wave 107, ca-αsiπg ova! wi&άow HD to εstlculaϊe, &r vibrste, Suci vibraison sets up waves of fluid rsotfos. wkhin cockles 115, Ssch ikid siotioa, is turn, aotiv&tss tiny hak ceils (uoi shovra) that iise the ϊssids of cochlea 115. Activatioϊs øf the h&k Ό&ϊϊ& causes appropristε asrvs impulses to be trassfsrrcd thrcsisgli the spiral gssgiioϊi cells sad auditory serve 116 to th& braia (aoi shows), where they are perceived as

!<srø| FIG. 1 also ϊlk&tϊBtss &e poskiotsisg of hoss conduction device 100 rclstivs m oxstet ear 101, xύάάlo <^^ 102 sn.d sm«r SSγ Iδ3 of s. recipient of device 100. As shøwa, txrae csadϋctios device Ii)O msy be positioned behind outer ear 101 of fee recipient Ia the embαdiπsest: lik _& tt-atixl ia FlCi I ₅ boss e-o^ductioB dsvics U)Q comprises a bsusmg 125 having s ϊ∑iierophone (not shown) posifbaod or thereof. Houslsg 125 is coupled to t&e body of the recipieut via GQupliag 140 asd an asdsor sysrtεm (not shows). As described below, bom cosdsictioa device IQQ may comprise a souad processor, a t∞ssducer, transducer drive corsposcπts arsd/or various other skciitstsic circulis/devicss. Is accordance wrύi esibodJmsriis of ths prescat ss sjβch.αr systems (not sbowϊi) m&y be implasϊβd m ths recipient. /Vs descnbcd below, the anchor system may be fixed to boas 136 asd rsay extend fern boas 136 throsigb πsiscie 134, fat 128 asd skin 132 so tls&t coupling 140 πsay be coupled to the anchor systssa.

isesin A fesct5Ot>ai block diagram, of one embodlsiesl of tsoae cotjjfucfbs 100, referred ta as boϊse casduoπos device 200, is shows in FlG. 2A. Ia the tliustrsssd smbodkaejst, s sotaid 207 is received by a soimd input eiexsenJ 202. TB. some et∑ώodϊss^κs, souad mpuϊ elsmsat 202 is a microijkone cositlφ.ired to receive soϊmd 207, and •» convert sound. 207 ^j uto sn. electrical sigsal

222. As described ^' below, In other asibodJnisBls søusά 20? may received by souse, input element 202 ss SIϊ electrics! signal

As shows in HCL 2A ₅ electrical signal 222 is output by sound irψut element 202 to an ft I!:sotropics rπøάulε 204. Eiectetsics module 204 is configured to convssi electrical signal 222 iαtcs as adjusted eleeiri.cs.1 sigs&i 224. As described below Is more detail electronics rsαdule 204 assy iπeliide s stmad processor, control electronics, transducer drive corsposetss, and a variety of αtbsr ebmssts.

^SQSiJ AB shown, in. FKJ, 2A, transducer 206 receives adjusted electrical sϊgasl 224 sad generates s rssckarieal output fbrce thai is delivered to ϊlsβ skull of the -recipient via coupling 140, shows La FIG. 2λ ss asichcr system 208, th&l is coupled to boas coωϊhictisϊϊ device 200. OssHvery of this outpaϊ force cajjϋes cme or more of siotios or vfbrstiøB of tbe recipieat' ^g sknϊl, thszdhy a&iivatisg the kair ceils Is the cochlea via cochlea fhiϊd αsstsαru

jδ»32: FIG. 2λ also illustrates s power tm^dde 210. Power module 210 provides dectrksi power m one or tπors corsponests of botis cαnductsou device 200. For ease of Ilki&trafeoa, powsf ϊaødαk 210 has lx«s abov^ coss©cted oτύy i® mtsxf&cs module 212 ss.d «!εcto3islcs ■ssβdxjic 204, However, it should bs appreciated that power SKϊcttiie 210 may fos used to supply power ta assy electrically sircaits/eosipoafisits of bone caodisctjos device 2C)0.

ϊ§θ33i Bois; conduction device 200 farther includes as isterlkce module 212 that alfows Uie recφiest ts iateracϊ with ά&vics 20(1 For exasnpk, fetsdsce module 23.2 may allow the recipient to adjust the volumo _s alter the speeds proeessϊEg strstsgies, power as/of? the device, sic. i&ierfsos sjsoduϊe 212 oosiatuaucaies with. eIectTosics siødtiic 204 via sigssl lac 228.

I§B4] In the STsbαdirnent iLlustrated is FlG. 2A, sotssd pickup device 202, eieciiosscs module 204, trstisdue©r 206, power modsle 210 and iπierfaes irsødulø 212 have si! bees sliαws as integrated is a siagle lioasϊsg, referred Io as hoαsiag 225. However, it should be appreciated that ia cenasi esiboditsssπts of the prssest invassfiott, osc or more of the illustrated cxsrsposssts may be housed is separate or diSereπt .housings. Similarly, it should also be appreciated ihaϊ is such sx ^ή hoάλixssωts, direct cαosscαoπs between, the various xxsαdώes snd devicas are mat necessary asd that the cαtripoaests may consmαnicale, fer exaϊϊψle, vis wireless coisisectsoss.

13835] IK smboάiϊssuis of ibs present ixwsstkm, transducer 206 ns&y be oac af maay types and eo∑ύϊguratioss of transducers, tϊow kaowa or later developed. Ia one embαάirssst of the pressst mvealioii, irsssducsr 206 may comprise a piezoelectric βlarπeπi which is configured fc defbrm m rsspoose to the application of electrical signal 22.4. Piezoelectric elements xh&t may be used In em ^' bodiraetds of the present fcveαikm may comprise, fbt exaraρle ₅ piezoelectric crystals, piezoelectric ser&mies, or soxtss other material exhibiting a deibrmatson is rsspossε to sn appUsd ebctrical signal Bssrαplary ptezoekctdc crystab mciade quartz (SiOl) ₁ Berlisite (A1PO4). G&lliajs θ:rthoøhosphate (GsFO4) asd Tourmaline. Exemplsry pjesoclcctnc esterases iaciade baπuπi titøtsste (Sa-TiOSO), lead zsrconate titassste (PZT), or sireomum (Zr),

iδsβδ] Some pifi2»electris materials, such as bsrium tstβastc sjid PZT, sre polarized ssstsrials, Whώa aa electric lisid is applied across Ussse siaterial% the polarized molecules siigs tbems«hes with the electric SsId ₁ rssuhmg is induced dipolss within tlie ssϊϊfecuiar or csystal siPicάsre of the materia!. This alignment of nsolecul«s causes the defctmsϊios of the sssterki.

ISfBTl Ia other embodiments of εh« present mveation. _f other types of transducers may be sised. For ssasrφle, various ϊϊsϊfeis coaSgurs4 κ> operate ϊn response to elecέr ^j csϊ sigtisl 224 may be used.

\m&l Is one smbodimeM sf the prsssst bvεatiøsi, tj-aasducer 206 generates aa output force that causes ^s siovc.ssent of the. eoehks tlns-d so that a sousd may be perceived by tshe recipient. The βvtyuk force nay result in. ϊnechajϊicsl vibratfeα of the recφieωt's gkullj or k physical of ih<$ skxάl about the aeck of th& recipient. AB mat&ά abovs, is certain, smbodimeats, bone oεssdiicHon device 3ϋO delivers tkts outpist force io lite skull of fee resφiest via an. anchor syst«πi 2OS. Is oae enbodimsst of slie preθeπr ϊsivesiioω, anchor sys∑sm 208 comprises one or -more externa! magnets 260 which xnag∑istieally couples to one or ISOi ¹ O ϊmpl&ϊϊted msgss±ϊ 262, as ϋhistrated In FIG. 2B. IB fee embodiment illustrated in FIG ₁ 2A, βxieπsa! BiagaKS 260 are- cssfigured to fee attached in beusiδg 225, As suck, m this embodimest vibrados fem magset^ 260 through housing 225,

\m&) In cerεais ombodfesαils of the present mvsstbπ, eisεtsOBics a-odule 2S4 mcfudes & pnxϊtsd cixcisit board (PCB) to slecirkally connect aid raechsrsieaUy .support the- compoaeiss of

ciec-rssi.es module 204. Sotmd input element 202 ixs&y comprise oue or πa>?e microphones (not shows) asd is attached to the FCB.

i _™ «] FlG. 2B provides a more detailed view of bose esaductios device 200 of FiG. 2A. is the illustxafsά 5sibodlrnsBi ₅ skctromes module 204 cσnsprsscs a sotmd processor 24O ₅ transducer drive composersts 242 aαd cotstrsi eseetraajcs 246. As explained above, in certain embodiments smmά mput sl&msnt 202 socapπ&es a mlcropaoue configured to convert a received acoustic signs! into dεctrksl signs! 222. la other ejnbodinjents, as detailed below, soxmd input olsmssi 202 receives sousd 20? as as electrical signal

p*ui Ir ₄ etϊibαdimεaJs of the prsssol iuveatioa. electrical signal 222 Ia output SΏTπ. soυsd input eletssm 202 to sou&d ptscessor 24D. Sound processor 240 >jses ons or more of a plurality of iechϋiqyss to selectively process, amplify and/or filter dectrieal signal 222 to generate a processed signs! 224A. Jn csstam embodiments, .«>srid processor 340 may sosφrise sabstaatislsy xh& same sssuad processor m is used to. an sir conduction hearing aid. In turthex smbodimeirts,, souad processor 240 caπψrises s digital sigϊKJl processor.

imm Proceed siga&l 224A is provided to tr&a&ducsr dήvs sompossots 242, Traaaducer drive cosψosesls 242 output a drive signal 224E, to frasisάuesr 206. Based osi driva signal 224B, trarsMuscs ¹ 2S6 provides tfcø OiϊJpui S>ree so tbδ skxάl øtthg. recipiesj,

IS4U3I Fox ease of description the ©bctricsl sgsial suppHsd by irsϊxsd^cer drive co∑aponssts 242 to trsssdiicsr 206 has beesϊ rsferrsd to as drive signal 2248. However, it shs>uM be appreciateti thst pfoossaed sϊgα&i 224B may comprise as jsjsnodised version csf processsd sigsmi 224A.

ξδ044) As aoted sbovs, transducer 206 generates as output feres to ώe skall of the reeipϊsst vis anchor system 208, As zhsswxi in FTG. 2S ₁ ts. one embodύnest of the pressst (nventiott. aockαr system 208 comprises sn sxteπial s-agαat 260 which magπdxally couples to an iaspisstsd magnet 262. £?.tεmsi magset 260 may ^" be aitsefeed to OBC or πSJγC of fesssdacsr 206 or housing 225. For cx&mpk, io. csriaiB embc-diiiiεMs, astssual magast 260 is stlaelsed io trsuashicsr 2δδ sxiά -vibrHϊioa 'is rsceivsd directly tlϊersfejts. Ia other sπsfoodirπetiεs, exteκ∑s.1 msgnst 2δS is attached to housing 225 ssd -yibmiios b applied Sots transdweer 206 through housing 225 to external maguet 260, Ascor-ikig Jo ess embodiment of the present invent∑on. is which, coupling

148 comprises external πsagnet 260, the vibraikm received by externa? x&agset 268 Irβm transducer 206 causes external ssagnst 260 to vibrate. Since, acαsrditig to ibis embαdimsaϊ of th-ϊ present ksveatiosj external isag&et 260 is inagsgtieaily coupled to kπpiaated ∑sagrtet 262, the tsagBctic iorcss ooaplisig sxtsrπai msg&ei 260 asd impi&med raagnst 262 vibrates aecordsagiy. The vibration, soπsnunieated from external .εaagnet 260 to implanted tπsgnet 262 smgaeticaHy, is then trsπsismsd fitstrs issplaπtesl τnagset 262 to fee recipiesfs bone 136,

[m4$) As aoisd above, a rsc-^sisat rπay control vario s fuscribss of the device via miεr&ce module 212. fsieriacs isαφαie 212 incfcd<ss oae or π»rs conipoBents that allow the reoipiesϊ to provide iiiputs to, or receive mfoπsstioϊi foffi, elsraeπts ofbons c-oscuctios devios 200.

[WW ₁ As shown, control siectrosάs 246 may be cosaected to one or more of interface module 212, souTid pickup devise 202, &msά processor 240 and/ar transducer drive cαmpoaaats 242. & embodimesas of the present SSYSπUOS, based oa isputs received st ϋsterfece module 212, comrol cieetrsnias 246 XΏ&J provide attractions to, or request δom. other compoaerx ^έ s sf boss cαsάuctios device 200. In eerεsia aεnbodiϊseπts, in άas sbseace of sisεr ύipists, oosaol clcctroafcβ 246 soϊifcrøi the opc?stba of boss CQϊidactioa device 200.

ro«H7] FlG. 5 illustrates m. exploded view of oris emtadimsst of bone cosductiαri 200 of FiG-S. 2A said 2B, referred to herein, as boas cotidisctba device 300. As shows, boac coadαetioa device 500 coπφriscβ an. embodiment of electromcs suoduls 204, referred to as eiectsxstiics _ω -soώsic 304., λs expkiύisd above, included wήhai electronics module 304 aπs a sousd processor, tπuKsdiscer drive cosψøseϊits asd costrø! electrsrics. For ease of iiiastratbs, these coπψoseats hsve &oϊ, besTs. iiiustisted ia HCi 3.

I ₈ CM8) Is tks ϋl^cδraiεd ssibodsrssnt, electrodes usodule 304 includes a printed circuit ^" board 314 (PCB) io electrically eoxmeet aαd meoh&mcaUy support the oompooe»t$ of ekctromcs ϊixjduls 304. Att&chδd to PCB 314 are oae or mors satmd ϊsput «lemests, shσvm as aikropfcoπes 302 to receive s sound.

[S04S? ϊa tlie embodiment iliastrated is FlG. 3, bons sondxsetlδø device 300 &∑t!ser tschuks a tvvo-psrt Isoa-skig 325, caxs _j jrisisg tϊrst hotssing poitioa 32SA ssd secosd hossώg portios 325B. Bεmsi&g poϊtfess 325 axe coiiπgursd to male wife one ssoikar to sisbsϊaωϊiaily ssa! boae

conduction device 300. Microphotse covers 372 are rdcasabiy attached to fesέ housing pinion 325A. Microphone covers 372 provide a barrier over -idcrsphαses 302 to protect xrxscrophones 302 S'osi dust, dirt or other debris.

fδOSOf Bans conduction device 300 further includes as embcdsneαf of Interface module 212 _* referred io mmin as iπisri&cs module 312, interface module 3] 2 is configured to provide or rsceive user inputs frora the reeψiesϊ. A power supply or battery (not shown) ss&y ba inehϊded in. boac eo:sdυetis$ SOO to supply powsr to lhs various components.

(δδsπ Also as sh&ws hi FlG. 3, bone conduction dsvfce 300 comprises s transducer 306. Tmssducer 306 gsssrates an ou^xit iorcε thst causes rsovemeαt of the cochlea fluid so that a soϊmd may Ije percdv«d by the tesIpiesL The oatput farce results k. mechaisscal yϊbrϊstiojϊ of the recipient's sks.ύ.1 sr ύa physical movemsπt of the skull abotst the neck of the recψjeϊϊt. As noted above, in csrt&ϊs em ^" bodiBiesϊs _s bδϊi$ coadxsctioa device 300 delivers the output fetes to the skull of rb« recipisϊit vis an srs.cter systess 30S. Anchor sjfstem 3DS comprises a coupsasg 360, asicbor 366 am! abutsnsM 364. Jn the embodimeπr, iHusεrated ai FIG. 3, coupling 360 is configured $ύ be attached to secoed hoxssijig poπioϋ 325B. As su.ch, m this etnboclsmeiitj vibration .Irons tramducsx 306 b provided to oεaφϋsg 360 thrøugk housing 325B, Ia lbs emiwdϊiaeat shows. Ia FIO. 3, asi opesjsg 368 is provided is. second bousing pernios 3258. A screw (sot shown) saay be isserfed ϊ&rcnϊgh opsakig 36S to attadϊ trassdycer 306 to soυpiisg 360. Ir _* such erabodimeats, aa O-rώg 3SO may he provided to βssi opεakg 368 srøuad the screw.

SMsS; As noivά abovs^ isschor sysεem 308 mcladss kspSatsϊed sachor 366. Irsψi&ated stschor 366 πuy comprise a boss scr-ev 366 lm?ϊaatsά ύj the skull of ths reojpierst. IU an isψ lasted cotsfigurat ^j on, aerew 366 prosrudss from the πxlpussf s skall fsrougli the skm. Atiutmeo?; 354 Is ai^scbsd to scrsw 366 above the ϊesiøiessϊ's $kin _r Ia esibodlsie-als, abiiteϊeπέ 364 and screw 366 may be istsgraiεd into a single implantable sompø&e&L CθupMsg 360 is ooaSgured to be re!ea,sabh? aέt&cfed to abutsiδsε 36^4 to create a vibratory patfew&y between traasdscer 306 aad ϊlis slcuU of the rccistsnt-

Iϊ5 alteπsaαvK sxπbodϊrϊisnϊs of the present &vesiio:n-, bone coadαctios device 300 isay comprise oϊϊe or rsorε sddiJiosial sons.d mptst element For exaiBple, bcαe cosductsos device 300 may comprises sπ electrical i&pυt 3 lβ, hx sush βiϊibodimsπts, the etectrica! input is configured to

connect device 300 to externa! equipment asd receive, as elecixisal smssd sϊgsa? directly dsereirom. Ekctrical. rnput 316 nay penisii bø&e conduction, devise 308 to be competed to, tor exaπxple, AM/FM radios, MP3 pkyers, tabviskπis.. mobile phases, etc.

[8βS4? Ia sέili other emoodisiems, s fhrther soysd hxpni desiest in the ibrm of s tdecolf m&y be iπxegrsied m, or cosrsseted to, bose conduction device 300, Such, a felecoO permits bone c-osd'JCϊioa device 300 to receive signals Irom,. fer esarspie, & telephoae or oώer siϊialax device.

[sessξ FiCi 4 ϋlsistmss th& oonversioa of as mput acoustic so nd sigusi sito & mtchamesl fbreε for ddivgry to iiss reeipknt's skall m aecorάasee with etabodfmeωts of bone coriducdoa device 300, At block 4ϋ2 _s boae conάuctios device 301) receives sn sεotistic soissd sigBsi Ia cert&is smbodϊrssξsstS _s the aansslic so^ad signal is received via sserop&csses 302. IB otbsr aτsibodiH5Sωts _s the HφisC SQimά h receive4 via ss dec?ricM ^" atρ«t Is still other embodimess^, & ϊebcoil istegrsied is, or ccsrsiscted to, boss conduction device 300 may be sisεd te recdve fee acoustic sound signal

[88S^| At. block 404. the acoustic soitad sigaai received by boss cosdssctba device 3 OO is processed by the speech procsssof IB elestmsics module 3δ4. A^ exp.sioed above, the speech psoevsmt πiay 1>ε similar to speech procssaofS used Ia acoustic headsg aids. Ia such embodiments, iψsscli processor zm.y solsctivεiy amplify, Slter and/or s>©dixy aco^stk sound sigsaL For example, speech processor may be used to sSiaanats backgrsjusd or ΏUJSγ uuwsuted soise signals received by boae eas,dαc&s device 300.

{80S?! At block 404 Lbs processed smmd sigmύ is provided to traasdncer 306 as sis slecJricai signal At block 408, £rass<lucer 30-5 converts the dectrka! signal b&a s mecls&asea! force ctsiligtsred to be ^eiiversd to the rec-φisat's .skull via aacbor systsss 368 m as to illicit s kaamg perception of the acoustic soiisd sigs&l

{W5&\ FiG. § is a cross-ssctesal "visw of cotspoaeMs of a ^" bone c-Gsductios device is which a ϊ∑sπsducer is rsastdy pδS.ϊtϊθϊ5S;d from a battετ> ^r . Boas cosductioa device .500 cotπprisss jxassducsr SOShavmg housiag 530 having disposed thercitϊ & magβ«t 540 having s primary πxagrs^ extension arm 566 asd secββdary tisagssϊic sxtesskju arπis 562 ₅ ≤64 as ^j ifustated.

Magnet 540 is soaϋgured such that when cail 542 is esergtsed with ss adjusted electrical signal, such, as described above, magnet 540 and its primary and secondary extension arms 566., 562, 564 move hi the direction of viferadoπ output elsrnssrrt 544. By varymg ihs adjusted electrical sigxjal a rapid movsrasst towards and aw&y Srorrs ιh& recipient (as indicated by direction axrow 538) is generated, thereby providing eouεrølled siedi&niεai forces is the direction of the recipient.

IfSSsS) Primary springs S46A and S46B (e-oitetiveiy referred to as primary springs 546) mechanically ccrupb πrngnat 540 to vibration, output elesieat 544. Eieraeut 544 its turn, is coυpfed to transducer support element 54S, vthick is ϊϊseif mechajsicsUy coxspbd fx> bousing 530 by messis of secondary sprisgs 552A ssd 552B (coUectiveiy referred to as secondary ^" springs 552), Although sot shown ia FIG. 5, ose end αf ^bratioEi output siemest 544 is issehaaically «oupϊed ro as sπshoτ systessi, as dβscπbed above with rsferssce to FIG, 2. ϊt siiouki fϊarthεr be iϊoted tkit sktougs secondary springs 552 eoupte trsssώicer support elssasat 548 to hoxssmg 530, xhα spπsgs are selected ms/αt sm^sged such that the majorfty of the generated vibratory forces SΌSI msgseϊ 540 aαd vibration output siesaeat 544 arc directed towards the recipϊeBt rsJher thm to housing 530. Ia other words, primary sprirsgs 546 allow &r the tsscfessxica! forces to be generated, as πmgust 540 and vibration omput element 546 i&id rapidly ea^issd to asovc towards assi a^v&y from each other, while .ϊecoωdaTy spiiags 552 allow She ge&ersted πsec-hssseal ferc-ss to be- substastώlly dhxctsd to tlio s-ecipieat's boss by releasing txansducer support ekδieot 548 so ires S-QSS housing 530. As CEΏ be seea in. the boas cosdαctioa device illssϊxstsd Hi FIG. 5, ms^iet 540 is a dedicated aaagtsetlc mass element while hattery 510 is separate team rssgaet 540 and does sot act as a mass for transducer 506.

&\ FIG. 6 is a cross-seeuoa&l 'view of eompsnemx of a bans co duction device is ascordsiscs with sπώodiϊϊienϊs of the present tsvestios. The varkjiis coϊtφotistϊts ilføstraϊed is FIG, 6 are largely sitϊiilsr to those ds«crifee<l is. corijtmctioTi with rhs device illustrated is HG. 5. However, m the cmbodkjisB-t ς-f the prcsetss xnveaHoa shmvB is HG. 6, the mass provided by iaagagt 64D sαbstsntiaϊLy sidudes the mass fern one or mors othsr fiϊscϊksBsI. cøi3|X>3.eκts, jssxisely bsxt&y retention, slement 614 and fcattexy 610 which are attached to magnet 640. . Uslϊke the dsrvics -llustrsisd m. FIG. 5, whers battery 510 _* ®d magnet 540 were physically s«parsϊs ssid opcratioϊmily JBdepesdeBt of one snothsr, m tlie smbodύxseπt illastrsϊδd In FlG. 6,

by being attached tα -Bagsst 648» battery 610 adds its own mass Io that of magnet 640 sack that during operation, αxssduεet 60? generates mechanical forces based OB She combsied raass of m&gnssi 640 ss well as battery 610, Sy sddbg the rsass of battery 6.10 to traasάueer 6G? _> lfc mass of ωsgseϊ 640 may be substantially reduced. Durisg operation, battery 610 coBtiaues io perform its own Bisαkm of providing power to imsducer 60? ssd other cøsφotiests of tfee bone cosductioss device. It is to be uaderstood that various aiismative masses may be used m ambodlrsents tsf the presαst iaveMion asd that such sliemative masses should sot be limited to battery 610. Furthsmsαre» k Is to be understood that; vsrbus ssesliaβisms &r retafckg aiteraaiive ϊϊiaεs^s ss&y be sssd, as wsli be obvious to persons havisg skill k ih& art. Far sxittøpis, tabs, clips, cicrsws., adhesivfss, cosφresston St aad mssxy ofe.e?s may be used to- securely retain battery 610 k batiαy rctenfcfeu eleaseπ! 614.

[δ&sη Furtherm&rc, altkasgb. the embodiajcst depicted in FICJ. 6 includes secondary tπagisctic e∑ctøsion anas 662, 664^ tn. ofee? εtsbodaxsents of lhs present kveαitiosij iaagaet 640 may comprise ody & ρritϊs.ar> ^r jπagastic; extension arm 666. Purtbsnmns, ia other srabftdimssts of the present isλ-'estioB, sccosdsry siagsetic sxteajsbn ar∑BS 662 _» 664 may coπψfiss additional arias ar tπay liave a disi^rerxt søsϋgur&ϋbtL For exaπiple, in. such sfmbodimeiits, secosslary magtietic ejςte-asioa sπns may comprise & substantially cylindrical ext≤tsxkm (sot shows) disposed srouad primary siagastic extemsαn srxa 666. As described in conjssctioE wafe FlG. S, aside trosj as afeerssϊive mass bsiϊig sjsed _t coil 642 Is repeatedly aaβrgked to cause tπagsst 640 asλ vibration ourp-ώt elomcat §44 to be attracted to one another. The tsorrseπtuxsi of those attraction forces gesst ales mechaaica! ibrcss Ia tbs ibraα of vϊbrsdos, wkioh is transferred to trsδSfkcsr support eieiTseat €4§, As described above, sec«ndssy springs 652 A ssd 652B (coHes^ivsiy referred to as secoαdsry springs 652) allow ϊrsnsducer suppoπ eleisεsit 638 to tbea coraraunicate tbe Tsbrsikm tnechasicsl tbre«s Io tls.erecψierα's k>ns.

lϋ®6Z\ FXCi 7 is a cross-sesikϊaal view of cottφoϊieats of a boas coixductioa devfeδ is aeoorάsacs wiih embodiπssats of tb.e present asveuiisB, Ixs. xks. eoifeodtπiest illuslssted m FIO. T ₅ a first høϊjsiβg portion 73 D is πiousled or otbsrwisc coupled to irsagsεt 740 such feat fest housiag portion. 730 sets aa a xrmss fer the transducer. As such, first boosing portion 730 is ^sed by the vrsjsducer to generate the output forcsa S>r deilver>' to έtsε recipient's skull Ey adding the tsass ofSrst hoxϊsbg porlioa 730, the SϊSSS of magαet 740 may be substantially reduced.

IdMZ) Irs ife embodimεsi shows si FIG. 7, flexible boasuig portions 732A ssd 732B (csikctively referred to ss flexible housing portions 732) may be provided to allow m&gset 740 arid first housing portion 730 to xsκ>ve towards vibratjos output densest 744 as coil 742 is cnergώsd, as previously described. Second bossing portkms 734A &sά 734B (collectively referred to as secoad housing portions 734) are coupled ia Srst bousing portion 730 via flesibb housing portions 732.

i«4? ki sϊϊibodkacϊiis of the presesi iaveatios, flexible housing portions 732 rssy be tsade efs variety of amt«riais sjjid ααeohaiώtϊss, JϊOW krsowrx or later developed, as will be obvious to persons having skill is the art. For exarspie, compressible mMsrials such as foass αr sillcαas say bs used to cojsstruct Oexiblε bousfcg poitions- 732. Fffitktrτjiøn.% the cotrspressibie πssteriais may be shaped, far exasnple lske aa accordiotj, to fisrώer facilitate coEspresskm and decosφrcssϊDa of flexible hoasisg portions 712 tn tegpoase to saagaet 740 sssd vfDr&tios. output sisrasnt 744- ^" beiag attracted $0 oae asotker whsa coil 742 enssrgizes magnet 740, Ts eertaks sϊcαtsodkscαls of the prasest JsYsasiioπ, flexible housing psrtϊoas 732 couples first .housirjg p-orts ^' oϊj 730 fsxsά second hoiisitϊg |κ;πiθ£is 734 >o as to pnsvide a sealed, esvirøamess for t%c eomposeats housed therein.

FIGS. EA asd 8B are cross-sectiofial visw of eotspoaej&s of feoae soaduetksa trsssdtjcsr mod^as 806A, 806B (coEsetJvely referred io as transducer inodoles 806) πsspsetively is accoκisa,ce with eπxbodimests of the present mvcBtioB, IQ tke illustrated emboάimeftts, txaasdiscsr aiodαles S06 each comprise a piezoelectric transducer 807 configured to convert sis deetrie&i ss ^' gisa! represestative of a sotsnd sigsal received by the boas coadαctioB dsvic© into a ϊsiβdsasica! feree. Delivery of tiis iSechaoicai fcrcs to tbs skull caasss rπschasical vibration ma ^j or movύϋxmrl of tie recψiest's skail sues feat the recjpteat perceives a h.eariag scπsatioa of the sound signal

Ia Mis sπibodimests of FIGS, SA asd 8B _; piezoelectric transducer 807 cotπprises a piezoelectric eis∑πem S4g and a taschauϊεsi axspHϊlsr 828 which, converts a determatios of the psesoelsctj-sc efcSietit iato a rs«chssical deflection of ose orpo∑tioas of the mecba∑sical smplifer. hi the illustrative embodlmss^s, pjezoeiectric efetseat S48 comprises a plurality of layers of

H

.rødcεd piezoelectric material, referred to herein as a piezoelectric stack 848. Piezoelectric tra _* JSclvicsr %Q1 may farther ooπψriss pre-load eoBipossst S39.

[ ⁽ MT] Mechanical amplifier S28 comprises two esdpkrβs 824 each coupled to a separate end of piezoelectric « ^; tack 848. Mechanical asBpHfkr 82 B fbsτher eoπψrises exposing binge sππs 822, extending between cMpIstes 824. Hinge amis 822 are posxtiαsed on. opposing sates of piezoskctiic stask 848, Each opposing liisgε røn 822 and piezoelectric stack 848 άδfee a Ihjsio-csπic&l shape there betwees.. Fanhcrrtaoi« ₅ is the smbodaπ&st of the present iaveation iilsistratsd in FIG. SB, piezoelectric trds&ducer SO? ferther comprises extsmioa artπs 896 wkich extsαd -frora piezoelectric stss± 84S by a ds&tasee that exceeds the reπmkidcr of each of pissD«leεtπc tπ^sducer 807 and its sxidpkies 824.

^8j Foikwksg dslivsry of ss slsctricai signs! to piεzoε1ec-τic stack 84S, the stack deibrπss isloϊig an axi$ extending there tbr-ougb. sabstmniially pasalle! to extsssion arms B96 _» illustrs∑sd as axis SH, As shGωω, pissoelectπc stack 84S dsfersss by cotstrsctfng aloag axis 811, This eostractbo of pieaoeiectrio sέack 84S afosg axis SIl caaiss extension SXSSB 896 to dsilect oiϊtwards fro-ϊxs pkϊzoskstric stack S48 along an axis substantially perpendicular to axis 811, iUmttated&s sxis 813.

{δ»j Dsϋection of aurss 896 abtsg axis 813 generates an cmiput force in the dsϊectbri B3S of ths to ^brate ard/of ssove me recipient's skali so as io ca«se s hsadjig perception sdditis>iust ssass must be coupled to smpitSer 828 sacis tliat ths additional mass moves whes esteasbxi amis E96 άefket sioϋg axis Bl 3. Movement of fes sddittααal mass increases the iorc« output by transducer 807. As dsscrlbsd bebw, this additiojsal mass saav tsk& a variety of Srøis arsd πisy fee cøupled to hiiigs arrx^ 822 irs sny nuaώer of tossneta.

lϋ®?8\ FiG. SA iXlustraϊss ss& 22ϊbodirssπ.t of ϊhe presetsl iisvssitkss whsre ihis sdditioijsl mass is provided by coispii&g a mεss eisra<stit SSO U> portion S2δA of aϊsφisϋer 828. Because ihs force output by lrsnsducsr SS? is άepeαdaai an only tas mass of mass slesisωt 850, the shape, ska sxkάfm pGsstksn sf mass 850 js sot irsportsut and generally ueesi sot take o& asy particuisr c-oτ5tlguratioα. For exaϊϊψle, as SEO >VϊI m FlG. SA, mass eiessssi 850 asay easnpriss a this masa

extending the kssgth of amplifier 828. In oiher embodkossts, ssass dieisem 850 may comprise a block, cylinder or any other gessrrsetric shape, optionally centered at portion 826.

i§0?i] As ∑sofeci, the force output by tr&ssctaeer 80? SBSJ be altered depending OΏ. the mass of mass clement 850. As sack, in c≤stass embodiments of the presesi iavesLksa, mass element SSO is ecaφieά to pordoϋ B26A via s rxHesssbls coupling 8S>0. E.ε£easab!e couplktg 890 is configured ts permit a surgtxm, clinician, secipiexit, etc., (collectively referred tø herein as "user) to easily diseosaect and/or exchange miϊss eiesisnt S50 wttb. s diflersat efcmeat having a different, nsax®, shape, etc, Rsleasabk coupling B90 tπay comprise various msehasisins S>r coupling raass sϊeπs^st 850 sad pieeoeiectrks trajisdiicer 807. For example, reieas&bk co«ρHn.g may comprise a magnetic coispikg aiecliSBism. a sπap-.bck mechanism, a coπxprestSjbs St-mechasisss _* a screw- m aάάkhn is othtsr issykaaisms, sow known or later developed, as will be sjjpaπmt to a pssϊsϊs havmg skili is. tbs TQϊsvnril art.

[§o?S| Ey sxchajtgixig mass slsiπcst 850 m this fr _f aaner, the ϊisεr ϊ!5is.y ciistotπke the force oυ∑p«t by tαujscxscsr SO? &r a psrdcuisr recipϊss.1. For example, It may be useful to chssgs the xaass coupled tø sϊjxψlifer S28 depending on the skull of a recψsess, «r based on &e hsariisg bss suffered by a recipient, ladivicfeials s^Sεriϋg from different levels or types of hearing loss; (i.e. bilateral desfhess vs. sisgle δldsd dsafacss) may require <MHsreM output feces to adequately compeasafe for thsnr hsarbg loss. As sack, attachment of .mass eierssBt SSO to reksssbis muplmg S90 has the bstϊcil that a transducer isoduls asd/or a boms coαdαdioa device ssay coBlprsse all gsaeric εosψooests and the device may be oiistoxmzed lbr a specific patierst by sβiectTsg a specifsc shsped asd-'r sissd πϊUSS ekasssr wMck is best stilted Sϊ;r ths reeψkst's c-bϊπicterstscs aad hearing loss.

[&8T3] £τsbodimersts of the prssesl mveatios. ibrώsr tsclude a procedure is which a ^" boss cαπ.ductiθω dsvics bavisg traasdsjcer module S06A therein πsay be futed to a recipient. Dtϋing Such a pmeεdurs, s sur gees .may select a specific sasped assd-'or siεed iiϊaβs sleoiess which js besϊ Sϋiisd fbτ Use rseipieϊsi:. Is sυcs sxerapfery procedure, a surgeon attaches a msss ebme&t to &xxφliB&τ WIM ssid the hesrmg rs^xsπse of &ig recipient. Ls msas-area ai pluraisy of frequencies and signal presss-tstioa levels by, Ssn exaitφte, subjective user .feedback, or objeciive rsEseasuretstetsis such as rseiiml response telemetry messatemeats. A surgeoa may fύrdser test a

\τ

variety sf rrsass dements is. the above jπssner until a mass element resukisg is the desired output (btce is ibϋisd. It should be appreciated that vaπotis ofksr fitting ωisifcαds are w ^ή h ^ή i the scops of she present StVcntion.

As uøfed above, in. order to gsaerats sufRcie&t fees to vibrate snd/σr s ^j ove the recipient's skull so as to cause a hearing perception, additional mass must be αrøpied to ssφlitier 82S such that the addiiioαai mass raoves when extension sππs 396 deflect sfoiig axis 813. Movement of the additions! øuss increases the force oυiptd by transducer SO?. FIG ^, 8B uføsεn&es oris embodiment of the present ύrveatkm where this additions! sπass is provided by Koapliag ose or isor« fu&eibBsi corxjpsE&ats to portios S26A. The functional ocπφose ^j xts m&y b"S coupled io postioa S26A is any of a sumbcr ofrtmsn&ts.

IWfSl For exaaϊpk\ in. certain smbodim«tϊt _s ss sha^m is FIG. SB, QBS ar -nmra sxtsnsioti arms H% xmy sxiznά torn rsleasabis coiφ&g S90. At the extreϋxities of exiesskm snrss S96, &ncdoτϊ&! coϊϊψo-nents 892, 894 m&y be suspcaded sush. that jmsvrøjetst «sf exieaskm arms 896 slso csuse movetseaέ of the fuactiossi coiBposests. His sddmoaal mass sddsd by the fuucrbsss compαssnus afbw trassdυcer 807 to generate sufiidestt foroo Io repress&i a received søimd. Fuπctioaal composstiis issay cssψαse, &r example, aoe or mors bakeries, a portion si hotssϊsg B33, sigasl pxvc-sssiag electronics, Qtc,

_{ mm Sitniϊm- so ths eτnix>di _B ieist$ described above with rqfe-etsce to FIG. 8 A, sxtsssion aπsss m&γ be coupled to portion 826B vk a releassfefe eoaplkg, SISøWE as coupling S9CL Rebsssble _G QiipEαg 890 is essfigsred to peπsϋ a surgeoa, a&idsi, r-ecipieat, stc, (csUectivsiy rsferred to herein as ^{N 1} Us^r) t-o easily di^JOωnect aad ^? or exebaage ssteasioπ. arms 896 stsd or jϋmctioRsl so333pojae_3t5 892, 894 with dϋTsresst arms, asd/'or coi^poπssriB hsvmg differest masses, shapes,

StC.

1907?} By exchanging extensions arsss 896 aad/or compoasωts k this sisuaer, the user may c^icnsize tbs fen;« output by irass<Sie«r 807 for a psr&ulsi' recspiest. Far exauψle, it may be iLsefu! to ch&sge ihs type or sώs of feaotfesai cos^poacsats 892, 894 coupled, to amplifier 828 depending on ths skull eh&ractsristics of a rscjpiejtt, or based on the tesrhig loss suffered by a i-ecipsest. lαdtvidaals suiϊsrkg &om dϊHsrest levels or types of hearing ioss {i.e., bilateral dεa.δϊsss vs. single sided deafeess) may require differcst output &rces to adaqasteiy coπips∑ssste

28

for tiseir hearing bss. As such, attadsrasπt αf dϊffsrsnl coiiψoueats via exteasfon anss Sθδ and rsk&s&bk? coupling 890 has the benefit that a transducer module asid/or a boss couductiosi device may comprise all generic eonsfxssssis and the device nosy be eiistorsissd fer a specific pssrøt by selecting a specific shape, size, assd/or type of the Smctiøsal componeias.

[§ø?S| Ia sther c-rabsdiraesis. oas or rsαre functional coπψonsats niay be reisassbly sσaplsd to pαrtiδs 826 A In the αsarssers described above with reference to FIGS. 6 aad ?. For exstnplε, ilitictjoris! eomposest §92 and/or 894 vx&y ccsψrise a power πsodisl© (act shovm; or axtother iUsctϊoδal compoaetit of transducer 8Clβ. F«τtheπnore ₅ iknctionsi coαspϋsests 892 sad 894 nzsά -sot cotspriije cosspotisuts having idcnϊies! mass. StLIi iurthsr, one or siore masses,, whieli ha-vc no mactiαa other tbaa acting ss a mass, πmy bs coupled to ϊxausώicer 106 by cotipliag the one or jϊiore nsass.es to rekrs&able coup&g §90 or io extsasios anas 896A. For ex&πψle, one or snore rs&sses msy be sdded 5.0 a partfcdsir extension arts. S96 is order to cosimerbalasce extcssϊoB anas 896 where the opposite end ass a fuactiosa! eotsposerit attached thereto, WMIe em.b<;κSmsϊ}.t3 of the prosssst iπvenlbs. ϋkstr&ted m FIGS. SA and 8B have bec:a described hsviag pte3sj«Jsctπc mtssducers 807, k is to oe tϊsderstsxxi that otter embodimeais of ύxc present isVKSifion assy soroprise otter types of ttsπsduoers whiώ geaeraie mechaεdcs! force-s,

Wbiis varkyus smijodimsasts of the prβsεat savεπϊioa have beea dessrϊbsd above, it should he lissdsrs&sod that they h&vg bees prasesϊed by way of example only, asd sst !iϊκitatkm. It will fee spi^arest to persoBS skilled is. tbs relevant art that various changes in fbrsi and detail caa be iπade th«rem without departing fern tke spiπϊ asd scope of ώs mvestiors. Thus, the breadth and scope of the pies&stt .kvcatioϋ should not hε lim.iE5ϊd by any of the above-described exsx&pl&ry embodiments, baϊ should b≤s defssad only is accotdsace with the ibllowisg ekkss asd thek- cquivalejits. AU psteats sad publjcsiioαs discussed herein, are iϊjcoτρorsjec ra tb&ir entirety by refceπcs therats.