A EONE CONDUCTION DEVICE. HAVING A PIJJRA.LITY OS? SOOMB ϊN'PW BEVICES

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEF) APPLICATIONS rsβoj] Tlse presBϊst sppUcatkm claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application

6 s /04] J S 5; Okxi March 33 , 2008, which is hereby sKcorpoiated by reference herein.

SACKGROOHB

KϊS82- The posers! iro/eϊUioβ is generally directed So a bone conduction device, and snore parlicussrly, JO a bone conduction device havisa a plurality of soand input devices.

J8MJ$ Hes ^ή ng loss, which may be due to many different C3.vjses _} is generally of two types, conductive or sensorineural IH many people who ars profoundly deaf, Ehe rεasos for ths.it deafness s s sensorineural heariag loss. 'This type of hearing loss is due to the absence or destreciion of the hώr csύk in the cochlea which traosclticc scois-lic signals into nerve iπψuSscs. Vsrio^s prosώctjo hcansg ^j mplams save besa developed to provide mdividtsak who siiifss r>ons scrssiϊπnciirαJ hcarsag bss with the ability to perceive sαwnd. OJIS sαch prosthstu; baaring implδϊϊt is resε ^y red K ^; sss a cochlear implsj-t. Cochlear ϊrnplanis ase ais electrode array i∑npϊanted m Use cochlea «f s rccspierα to prϊivide ars electrical stim«!«s 4ireciiy to the cochlea nerve, thereby cashing 3 boaring sensation.

SM ⁽ KMi Corsducπvc hearing loss occurs when the norms! nsechardeai pathways to provide souBd to hair ceils frs the cochlea are impeded, for exaπ-pie-, by damage to {fee ossicular chain or ear eanal individusls who suffer fern conductive hearing loss may sϋti have some form of residual haαring because xtin hair ceils in ?hc cochlea are generally undamaged. iiK ⁾ ftS| isάlviduah ^; who surTsr from conductive hearing loss are typically not considered So be CHsidksates ior >i cochlear kaptest due to she irreversibis aatiirc of she cochlear implant. Specif ⁱ cally, -ns«nioii of die electrode array Into s recipient's cochlea results in the destruction of

a majority of hair cells within the. cochlea, Tins resists sπ the loss of residual hearing by she τedpϊεrsL imm} Rarhsr, individuals suffering from conductive hearing loss typically receive an vscoustsci neaπng aid, referred to as s hearing aid hereia Heariag aids rely on principles of air condϊscaυπ to ϊransπiH acoustic signals through the outer and middle ears to the cochlea, In p&rUeui&t. a hearing aid typically uses an arraagcniem positioned ϊn the recipient's ^, ear esnal to &τ3ψliry a sound received by the outer ear of the recipiejn. This ssriplified ϋotmd reaches the cochlea asnd ϊ&nses motion of the cochlea ilαsd and stiπϊ^lation of the cochlea hair sells.

■* ^■ & ^■ ?! Unfbrtunaiely, not all individuals whs sufier iτom conductive hearing loss are able u> derive suitδbie bεπeiu from hearing aids. For example, some individuals are prone ϊα chronic iaOaraϊπiϊtion <>t ύifecfssn of the ear easi-d and cαnuoi wear heaπng aids, Oϊfer incih'idu&ls have naalfomsed or absent outer ear and/or ear canals as a result of a birch defect, of as 8 result of cOimson rscdieaϊ cosdiiioπs such a? Treacher Coilύis sysdjome or Microtia, Fυrthesmore, hears ^" a g aids ;JγS typjcaily sinsuitabie for individuals who suffer tkm single-sided deafness (iota! hώλts«g bs? osslv in OγJS ear) or individuals who suffer ixom mixed hearing losses («., cossbsn-iϊsoπs and cosdiictive lis;iπiig loss).

Hxxssj When an lndhidual having Silly functioning heatiftg .receives as input sound, ϊhø sound is jxasjsmsUed ϊα the cochka via two primary raech&sissms: air condudion and boss cor.ducέior;. As «otεd above, b<tsns;g aids rdy primarily sn the principles ι>f air i»?>ducϋori. lri cootrjsst, other devϊcβs, referred io as bone coridϋctios devices, rely prεstomύϊaody on v ^j brstion borse<> r>f ihs skxύi to piiivide acovsύc sigft&ls to the cochlea. pu!9> Those isdividυais vsiso canπoi derive suήab3§ benefit Jrcsn Iiearsi-g aids rtiay tienefii from bone CDnductsoji devices. Bo-ie cosidisctsos devices cosveπ a received sound isio a sϊϊtchaπscal vibrstksn represαiutάve of the recsived sioυad. This vibration is tbesi tr.snκfcrred io the bone siructisrs of ths sjkisiU causing vibmiicn of the recipient's sky U. ^' This skαlJ vibraiios results in. motiusi of she fluid of ϊh« cochlea. Hair cells jnsids ϊhs cochlea are rεspoBsive io this JϊIOUOπ of the cochlea tl&ϊά, g&nsz&iing neπ ^; « imptUsas resulting in the perception of the received soy ad.

imw. is. one aspect of Use JsTvesϊløa, a boaa cortduciioa device for esshaiiάng the hearing of a recipient is provided, The bone conduction dcvscs comprises a first sound h-put device cors%ur«d ϊa receive acoustic sound signals and ganersie a first electrical Signal rspreseasayve cf she aowsϊsc signal a second souxsd Input device corsilgured ϊo receive acoustsc sousnd signals and generate s second dcctricsl ssgsal represestative of the- acoustic signal, s&ctrsaic circuitry configarsd to ssieci at isast one of tlie first electrical signal and the second electrical signal, and asi eiectrofύcs modulv c«niϊgisrcd to geaerats a Uiird electrical ssgjjal reptes€-πtiπg the acoustic bsi>cd on at iea&i of the first electrical sigsiai and the second elec∑rical signal sseis* Ia a second aspect of the present invention, 3 bone corsductioa device &r enhancing

«h« hearing of a recjpseaϊ hi provider. The bone comuςύαn device, cosxsρrise« a plisrsUty of ^yχ; πd input ek-R-ssuis, each sound mput dement eontigxired to receive an acoustic sound signal and cotϊvcϊt the signal isto an cϊeqtricas sig-isl, resulting in s piaraiiϊy of eϊcctricai signals., ϊiod ϋ swichijig csrcuit Gonπgured k; seiect ;U least απe of the ptealύv of dectrieai sigrsais based os th« cυnϊesϊϊ ofejsch of ihε piuralirv of electronic signals, sδδi^l In a third aspect of the present mveatios., 2 system for esihaacing tϊie ixeaiiag of a ϊecspJcnS ϊhroϋgh bone contiuciion for enhancing the hearing of a redpien! ir» provided. IIϊC system comprises an sαylmea; that ;! is attached to the recipient,, the abmrπenε having a recess shsxsors, a htsjdag ckvϊcy body portion the lϊearss-g device body paπioϊs iochisiirsg, a first jnkϊøpkoϊis cϊ>«8guresi to receive scoisstic sound signals arid generate s ilrst electrical sigtuss represeofothc oj ^' the sscoustie sigisal, a sscosid ssicrαphyns? c«niϊgured to receive scousϊic sound signals and generate s secood dscuical signal rep resexHa live of sisc ucuusiiα signal, rhc 5vsi ι%nά sscosώ ϊsϊicfophoϊses being substaniisiiv «quidlscat;ϊ uero th*j longitudiBai axis ;>f ihe cisvsce, a .wnebxE3g device cuntlg ^y r^d to selesi st isasl oac <if tksr QΏϊ αsjd s.seoiEd e'ectπcai sigasls. &«<! sa ^y icviπxϊscs JT;v>dϋJe iraaSgured ϊ» gsπersse a ύήrύ ducϊύc&l signal reprcsenling at ϊώSλ.1 <JγJS: m She iirs! stsd sccojKi electrical signal, and a scupiiug member sitachssd to die hearissg device body portk'si. she ooupimg member havisig a protrussoπ duíreoa and coϋflgisred JO relessabl V c^upie so «l!« sb ^y ixneπs, wherein when t;xc ςoupliag ds>1cs is coupled to the abutmeni, the proir-λsicn engages the recsrss, thereby seisαisg one of die firsϊ mscrophoas sad the secxmd jπicrophαEScSi.

iiiisVi] Other objects, features and advantages of lhs present inveπtiasi wiii become apparent to those <ύάlteό m the srr from the following drawings and detailed description of the preferred

SSlSF INSCRIPTION OF TME DRAWINGS

SOSMj Illustrative embodiments o-f ϊhe presest iavejjέiors are described herein with reference so ϊhc accompanying drswifigs, is which;

\Mis\ RCL I is a perspective view of an εxesiplary siedicsl device, aa∑sidy a boas conduction device, sn which stsibodin^ents of the present saveufiss .πϊSV be advastageouϋly sjj ^' iϊjlesiisϊiϊsd; li&iύ} RO. 2A is a high-level functional block άiagϊ&m of a bone condsicdon device, sueh 33 the bone csϋduδϊioϊs device of FKi. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of The invεϊitissϊ; l«Xϋ"j FTG. 2B is detsllesl fasctioaaS block dlagrasn of She bone conduction donee iilusSsxneu its MO. 2A, in ϋcoordisnee wHh ΆΆ sinhaάimcπt oi ihs mv&iήion; iδφiS] RG. 3 js as exploded view «f SK «iκbodiϊϊient of a bone conductiots device is

Ciccoa'ance vvkh o»c embodiment of FIG. 2B;

SBδi^i FJG. 4 is a view in sεcϊωϊi of a switching device for selection of a SOWωC' input de vice, hi accordisπc* wj -a asi eiKbsdiiBsm of the iavection; and

I88JSS FIG. S k s Bowchaπ illusϊrais Bg the converssot; of SB ixφut sotmά into ikyil vibraticin, \& &coarά%ncc wuk an cjsbodiment of the invention.

imxϊt Hmbodknenss of the present invemkϊs are generally directed la a bone condiscϊiøs device for corsverling a received s<ourui signal ϊato s mechanical force for delivery to a recipient's skdl. The bone conduction (levies includes s plurality of sound Input components, such as a plurality »f mierophors«s, Io receive sound signals. The bone conduction device may then select rrons asπorsgst έhese received soissd signals or cosibine one or more of £h« sound sigaals. The res;,siHπg signal (e.g., she sebc ^' ed or combined signal) may then be provided to the recipient so thδϊ they .may hear .he sousd corresgxmdiEg to the resulisag signal. gwsη FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a human ear and surrotaidlrtg ares, along with a side view of one of ths embodiments of a bone coαductiou device 100. Is a felly Iusctloasl bursars hcsritsg anatomy, outer ear 101 comprises ari auricle 105 and && ear csmal 106. A εoεcαd or acoisstic pressure 10? is collected by asricle I OS and channeled snto and through ear ccsnai ' 06. Disposed across ihe distal end of ear cssai 106 is a tyiapajiic jufis&br&se 104 wkich vibrates in response io acoustic wave 107, This vibration is coupled to oval window or fenestra ovalis s !θ th.κ?uεh three bones nf middle £&r 102. csjHectivcty referred to as; fix: ossicϊcs ! 1 ! and comprising -he mailers 1 12, lbs- mcds 113 arsd the sfcipes 114, Bonea ) 12, 1 13 Jfflii H 4 of ϋiiddle e&r I t)T, serve to fjitεr s.κl amplify acs-Xisdc wave IQI, cmi&hig oval window 1 10 u> anicsilass, or vibrate. Such vibπώofi sets ^ϊp waves of fluid rrioϋos within cochlea 1 15. The iFϊotion, m ϊ'-srtj ;κvtivs5es iiay hair ceUs (act shows) thai Use the inside of eoehlea 1 > 5. Acuvsuon of ϊhtt hair cells caases isppropriass nerve iπipwbes io be trarisi ^' errcd through the spiral gasiglkϊu ceils sr«l sudUor>' π«rv« 1 16 κ> the br&m (sen ϊϊhovv'π), where (hey sr« perceived as

|!»!23! FIG, I also illustrates the positioning ot ^' feosxe cosductjon device ]00 relative to outer car 101. middle e;jτ 10 ^* 2 and ;ΏπSγ ear 103 of a recipient of devke H)O. As shown, bose COγ.CϊUCUOΏ device 100 msy be positioned behind ouaer ear iOl of the retipϊeoϊ; however it is !κ ^» sed ύmi device 100 may be posidorsed in any sisitable ssatiaer,

;δs ⁾ 24j In she embodiments illusirsaed in FlG. 1, bane eouduciios desice 100 sorspriϋes a housing ; 2S having a plurality of microphones positicsicd tisercin or thereon (in this figure oκl> ess* πsicrophone 126 is visible). I-ksusbg 125 is coypkd to ϊhs body af the recipient via coupling

S 40. As described beis>w, hone conduction device 1 OG may comprise a signal processor, a transducer, transducer drive easnponenis and/or various other electronic εireuste/devicefi.

|0δ25i in accordance vλ\h embodiments of the presem invention, un anchor systcnϊ (nest shown) may be implanted in, the recipient, As described below, the soehor system -rsay be fixed so bone 136. Is various easbodirnests, the anchor system sxiay Ix; implanted under skin 132 withisi inascie 134 -jjnd/or &ϊ I 2S or the hearing device may be anchored si another suitable mtisner. In certain embodiments, a coupling 140 attaches device 100 to the anchor systess,

[δS2bj λ block diagram of one embodiment of hone conduction device s 00, rei ^' siϊcd xo t& bone cooductiϋji davics 200, h shosvs in FIG. 2A. Is the ϋiusirated embodiaien.f- a soused 20? is rscejvsd by sound input sleπients 202a sad 202b, which may bs, ibr example. røjcrophosϊes cosiftgijied to rscsϊvc sound 20?, and to convert sound 207 into a<i eSectriesl ssgsal 222. Or, for example, one or more of the _^ søu ^» i& input βϊaments 202a and J02b πύφt bs s« in.iens.ee thaϊ rhe recipieπϊ may comiec? Jo a sound source, such as tor example a jack for recdving a plug thaS connects k; s headphone jack of a portable music player fe.g., MP3 player) υr ceil piioac. Is should bs nosed that these ate hut some exempiaiy ssssnd input dements, and ih<? ϊHJUisd ijipϋt dej-ϊicsiiB sjsay bs aisy cumpoaent or device capable of providing a signal nigaidiug s SQUXiύ, Although iϊαiϊe cosducdof} device 200 is illustrated as iπcludiog rwo sssαtϊd Itψut elements 202a and 302b. b csiber embodisxiems, bone conduction device 200 may comprise 3 or ϊπOJ« souissi mpni «3«tn-?ϊϊti. seosr ^; As ihows ii3 FlG, 2 A, «Iectnca! signals 222s and 222b as-e oulpsi by sound inp t cicmeras 202a &n<! 202b, i-≤speciivdy, to a sound input element selection circuk 219 that selects the sound jnpui element or elemsnis to be used. Selection circuit 219 thus outputs a selected 3%cs&; 221 mat 5tsa> b« eiecirkai signs! 222a, 222b, Oϊ a ccmbinatsαa hereof. As dsseυ&sc«i bcJow, the s«l«C: lc!ω circuit 219 may select the electπeaf signa!(S ! feascd on, for exsropSc, inpus Jrom the recipient, auϊonsstscaily via a switch, the CGvirøsmcra, aiid'Gϊ a ssssor in. the device, or a con-shinath-in tlierω-sf. Addltionaily, in smbodinienis, the sosϋid input dements 202 in addition κ. ^< sending irάhϊϊnatbsi regarding sαisad 20? jnay also ϊrarssrmt miormsuon iadicative of the fxssniϋϊs of ϋ ^j e soimd ϊtφui demesu 202 (e.g., jis location in the boae conductbα dsvke 200) is cleciωOϋl 322.

pβ§i The selected signal 221 is output to an electronics mod«!e 204, Electronics module

204 is ccsiOgufcd to ixmverϊ siecsricai signals 221 into an adjusted eiectricsl signal 224. Further, ekctroϊsscs πsodide 204 -πiay sc:κ! coαuol i Ji formats on via COSTISΏ! signal 233 to the isiput selection drαni, such as, for £.xκκφk, tRforraafbEJ instructing which input soimd eiemem(s) shoϊiέd ^' be used or mfos-sωJiϊioa instructing the input seiectios circuit 219 to combise she ssgoais 222s ar _; d 222b jα a par icular manner, it should be πored thas although ia FIO. 2A. the electronics module 204 and input -siemeπt selection circuit 219 are OIusuated as separate fteiciional blacks, m oihsi βjπbodiϊϊiejns, Ehe dectK^ics Jϊioduis 204 irsay sisciiide ϊhs snpui sleraeat selection circuit 219, As described below Ln ISSOTS detail, electronics module 204 may include a signal processor, cβssroi eieciramcs, transducer drive components, and a variety of other sktseats.

1982*}\ λi shcwij in FlG, ^' 2A, a traasdticsr 206 receives adjusted e!ectr;c;il signal 224 and generates a roccisanica? fiuϊput ibrce that is delivered to the skull of the rccspiest via an anchor system 208 ccnφled to boπ« conduction device 200. Delivery of this output iorcis causes one or nsors of morion or vibration of the recipient's skull, ihereby actsvaiiπg the hair cells in s&e cochin via cochlea iluid πiotiort.

\m&ii FIO. 2 A als« illusϊrates a power module 210. Power module 2 KJ provides electrical power to OSK: ϊ.-γ more coϊspoβcnts of ocsie conduction device 2D0. For ease of sϋusar&tion, rx>wer riKsdul'i 210 has been si-own connected only to imerikcs module 212 miύ f:hctroτικs nwάxύs 204, However, h should be appreesated that power module 210 may be used io supply power *c any ^ϊeclrscsϊiy powered cjrcuits/componεiiis of bosε cosduction device 200, jδ»?π BO-ϊC cυnαucuoω device 200 festher includes aa interface ϊisodαie 212 xh&x allows the recipiest to ύueract wUh devs.es 200 For sxjtπjpls, btsrfaee module 2 s2 may ai1o"w she recipient to adjust ϊhe volume, shcr ύrn speech processing atraiegies, pow«r oivoif the dsv?cs, etc.. interface Kioduk 212 coπuR^πicalss with elec-xoaics rnoduls 204 via signal line 228. f!SB2] In Oie «πbodjms3sτ illustrat≤si is FKl 2A, so«sd iupur gieraeπts 2δ2a and 202b, eiecJrosics moduk 204, iπjssducsr 206, power module 210 aad iaterface module 212 have all b«^ϊ sisυwii :ϊS JKiβgrased is a single housing _s referred ϊo as hoiiskig 225. Howevst, i; shosiid bs apprsciased ϊhat in certain smbodiments, one or more of the illustrated corapoaents may be hoas«d in separate or diffcrsnr housings. Similarly, it should also be appreciated ϊIϊSϊ ϊγ. such

«ffihod ^; mesϊs. direct connectscsns between the various modules and devices are sκ;t jiecesjsaiy aid thai lbs components may oom:niuiiic-ate. for example,, via wireless coimectleπs.

\ms3- FIG. 28 provides 2 more detailed fkncticft&I diagram of bone conduction device 2CK) of PKs. 2A. Is the Hhistrsted embodiment, eiecsronks module 204 comprises a sound or sigasl processor 24 O ₅ transducer drive compαsents 242 and control electronics 246. As explained above, >a certain embodisaents sound input elements 202a and 202b cempπse microphones cosπgbTcd Io convert s received aeoast∑c signal ktto electrical signals 222a and 232b. f ^β o*-!! As Oiϋstrsied is FIG. 2B. electricjsl signals 222a and 222b are output from souad sr.put eierxKnns 202s sfic 202b to sound input seiectioa circuit 219. Th& selectkns circuit may oϋϊput esectrkd ssgsϊai 221 to signal processor 240. In one embodi ent, the seiecϋoπ circuit is a two way swπch tlist is activated by the rsεipicri; however, it is noted fesϊ the SώiecTios may be any switch for operating a pluraiky of sound input dcmeπis, as discussed bebw. Further, selecskm circ^is 219 may cassprtse a processor and other cosnpojsests, such that selectio drcwU 219 may htjpiejsent s partϊcυiar cornbisaϊkm strategy f&r cotubmiπg one or STX'ϊV: signals from fee sound ϊaput siemests. iδδ^S! Signal 221 ssay be sigBai 222a, 2221? 01 a cornbisatics thereof Signal prsesssor 240 one or mote υf a pluraliry of 5schmqu«s So selectively process, axapiiiy and/or illter ':icc5r ^; c ^; sl sigjiai 22 ; to gc^emc a ps^csssed igs^sl 226. In ceπasπ εmbodimsnϊs, signal pκ5C«ssor 240 may wπspnse substantially tlss same signal processor ss is isssd m asϊ αk conduciios hears «g aid, In further ss$bo<Hmeais _f sig.πaϊ processor 240 comprises s digital ssgnal

. ^p ! rocessor.

^[ se3δs Tra-^4uc«r drive consponenss 242 output a drsve signal 224, to transducer 206. Based on drive ssgjsai 224, 5T3Jssduoer 206 provides ass output force to the skull of ϊfcs recipient

;8 ^S5i" S For sase af tfescripuoa the ekciiicsi sύgaal supplied by ϊriπssduccr drive

242 to trs ^j t&ϊsscsr 206 has been referred io as drive signal 224. However, it should be appreciated ^j Jidt ptαcsssed signal 224 srsay camprise an imsr.odiiled version of processed sigs&s 22δ.

|δδ.?Si λ$ ϊjαfed above, transducer 206 generates an output ibrcε to she skull of the recipient vh axschor Svsicm 20g. As show? m FIG. 2B _S ai-chor iystets. 208 comprises a coupling 260 afid an implanted anchor 252. Coupling 260 mny be attached to one or more of transducer 206 or housing 225, £<s? example, in certain embadimems, coupling 260 is attached to transducer 206 and vibrsdon is applied directly thereto. In other enibodkr,es&. coupling 260 is attached to hoasisng 225 asid vibration is applied frosi transducer 206 through housisxg 225.

1(HS ¹ ? _! As shows m FICi. 2B. coupling 260 Is coupled Ks &n anchor impl&ntsd ixs the recipient, ϊeferruxi so as implsmed anchor 262. As sxplsm«d with reference Jo !-MG. ?, isspisnied ajKlϊor 262 provides a.o elerjϊerϊ! lhas ;raos.fer5 the vibτa-ic>i; frcsm coupliag 260 to Uie skali of she recipiyJH.

}m4is\ Aa tsoted above, d recipient nisy cwnirol v rious fanctioss of the device via ^j aεerface

:nodiik' 712, Interface srsoάuk 212 may include oas or more compoaeats that allow the recipient to provide inputs to, or receive infonn^ios. Siom, elements of bo«c coadisctson device 200, such, sss for •exjsmp.ie, one or more b-iEforss. dials, display screens, processors, interfaces, <;ϊC,

|Sφ4ij As ahowø, COϊHγOI eleotrosics 24δ :ssy be connected to one or more of interface module 212 via control line 22B, signal processor 240 via control lias 232, sound kspm »ekcUos$ circvύt 219 via control line 233, and/or lrasisducer drive cotapoaests 242 via eosϊBsl line 230. in csTϊbodkωents ot ^' the present inveatioK, based on mpuis received at intsrfacs module 212 _V coatroi 346 msy provide instrueiions to, or inquest hifbnωaiioα frørκ _; other components of ease conduction device 200. Irs csrtaia emboditnenis, in the abssace of recspjenϊ hϊpϊiB. control coiarvl ϊhe operation ϋf hone cosduction device 200, iiBc- FiO. S iUu^ϊrates an exploded view of one efnbodisrsetit of boas conduction device

20* ⁾ of FIGS. 2λ ajsii 2B, refesxcd to herein as bose cond^ction device 300. As ^hoxva _^ booe conduction cfevjcs 300 comprises an embodiment of eieenr&aics module 204, referred to as sieciirosiics module 3Q4. As ϋhsstrsted, «s ^' gctK>nic« tnodule 304 includes a pntited circuit board 3 1 - ⁵ (FC3) to slsctncaHy conriδcϊ asid medsanically support ^" the compossats of electro es ϊiioduk ;>04, Fynhcr, as cxpiainsxi above, dectromcs module 304 may also isscluds s signal jχssBpi>neπ5s and control dccaomcs. For ease of Ulustratioα, these sxfsxipoωcnϊs Isave tϊci becsi sOustnated is F-IG. 3.

1S043J A phiralih' of SOIKI≤ input elements ars attached to PCB 314, shows as microphones

302a asm 302b EO receive a sαuo«. As illustrated the two microphones 302s mύ 302b six; positioned equidhαast or siib^antsaliy equidisfam from die longitudinal axis or the device; however, b o&er embcdirrserus microphones 302s and 302b inay be posiiioβsd is any smta&e position. Sy being poάiiioned «q«idistaru or suhstøti&Siy squkJistam from the Ioaginidinai axis, boπs conduction, device 300 can b* used on either sids of a padβat's head. The microphone fscsπg ιiι-ϊ- Irani of the rccipjenέ is generally chosen usiag ihe selection circuit as the opening microplϊOBe. «s -hat sounds in from of the recipient cas b« heard: however, Use microphone fscing th« rear ^; jf the rccjpiem caji be chosen. If desired, i^.M4! Son« conduciioϋ device 300 further comprises a bstfery shoe 310 ib-r supplying paw W to composents of device 300, Sattery sho^ 310 may jtjcludώ one or mcr« batteries. As sht^vn, PCS 314 is attached ϊo a eonsector 376 cotsϋgxirsd εo mate with bstsεry slκje 310. ϋOisncctor 57*5 and battsry shoe 3 10 may be, for example, configured to tekas&bly ssap-lock to i>nc asϊodϊcr. AdditsanalK^ one or ϊϊsore battery connects (not shown) are disposed m cormector 375 to deeξπc&iiy coπseci baπcry shoe 310 vyith eleosrortics module 304. si»*si In the iUussrated in FIG. 3, bone coadaction device BOi) fusiher includes α iWivpaft housing 325. comprising Sm housing portion 325s aji<! second housing pomoji 32Sb. poπioωS 325 are cosflgured ;o mate wύk απe to substantially sea! boαs ceπdiifiiion device 300.

[994&I In iha embodiment of FIG. 3, first hau&ing portion 325a includes an αpsalag for rsxdvi&g battery s;u>e 310. This opcisiαg say b« u^ed so permit IjsKery shoe 310 εo inserted or removed bv th« recipient throxsgh the opεϊήng ssUo/fπisii connector 376. Also m the ii!ustets4 «ω^bodknenr, sisicrophosie covers 372 can be rdc&sabiy attached to first housfsg portion 32Sa. Microphone covers 372 can provide a barrier over raierophories 302 to protect talcrophosiss 302 IVi>i« duss, άϊrt or other debπs.

IWtTs B«ae coixdvictioa device 300 rwrtljer m&y htclude a.;? ©labodimer.t of intεr&es module

2 H, rεfeπ-eϋ io in FIO. 3 as interface module 3 12. iMerfsee mαdole 3i2 is cotϊisgurεd to jjR ^j vkk: iϊiibrmatsOij or receϊvc us.t;!- Irons the user.

W48! λlsc ss &huvv-;i L'i FiG. 3, boas conduction device 300 ∑πsy sotapnse s. tr&nsduser

20δ, referred to «s mmsducesr 306 _; ssnd an sneher system 2OS, referred to as anchor system 3OS is

FiG. 5. As nosed above, transducer 306 may be -used ϊO geaεrats an output force using anchor system 3Q8 lbas causes movemest of the. cochlea f-uid to essblc sound to be perceived fey ύit recφkm. Ths output force may result in mechanical vibrødoa of the Tecip-βsifs skull, or is physical movernest of Uw sJkxsii about thy seek of the recipient. Anchor system SGI comprises a eυupϊiag 360 sad implanted anchor 362. Coupling 360 may be configured to attach, to second housing pDrUoij 325b. As such, vibration from transducer 306 may b$ provided to coupling 366 though housmg 32Sb. λs illustrated, homing pardon 325b may insiude an opening to allow s screw { _. not shows) la be sn&erved ϊhKmgh opgmng 368 io attach transducer 306 so coupling 360 bi sϊjvh ώϊJjbodiϊωδste, ais 0-xijιg 3SQ may be provided Io seal operJsg 3<>8 around the screw.

\m#)i As noted above, anchor system 308 mcKsdes implanted asichoϊ 362, Irπplaπusd anchor -562 compπsjss a bosxs ϋcrew 36 ^' δ irnpiaj«εd ia the skull of ώe recipsens asid an abutment 3<R In ;js ijapiajjted een&gvsratioπ, screw 366 protrudes Cvum the recipient's skis:! through the skin. Abutment 364 is siUch«d ϊQ screw 366 above the recipient's skin, ϊα «ώer embodimt--its, ώbuϊ!κent ϊ6-5 and screw 3(SsS xtssy be integrated into a singie implantable compoαerα. Coxspling 360 is configured to bs rciεasably attached id abntaisat 364 to create s vihm-ory pathway between transducer 306 and the skuil of the reeipfeat. Using coupling 360, the recφsem asay rebasably detach the boae conduction device 3ϋδ ύom mchot systεre 308, The us«r may thea siisάe 3dju££ii;e£3ts to the boκe conducύon devsce 300 usbg interlace module 312. and whsa ftnlshε-d reatUsch the hone conduction device 300 to anchor system 308 asisg coupling 360. A fuπhsfT d«!jc ^ή pξk;n of exemplary user isiterface modules 3 i 2 ssά haw they rasy fee used by a tiser to view data or adjiisjϊ COγSJJCS setsings ®ϊ ihz hearing αevsce is provided b the U.S. Paϊesi AppHcaSbs by JoJin Paiker, Clsήsfijm Peciau miύ Chsteiaph KUsllng sr.iided "A Bc-ne ConcKictsoK Device with a Ussi Iisterface," filed coacutxssst wish the present appi !cat!«n. which is incorporated by reference i:ersiϊϊ in its eϊitύcsy.

K ^»β« or λs notsd above, bons cosductson devise 30Q may comprise two or siore sound lnpsr esemeπϊs, such as microphones 302a and 302b. Referring back to FIG. 28, ώese microphones may be represented as sound input elements 202a and 202b. Farther, as previously noted, a sdseϊioω cb-cyi; 239 røcsy be meii to seises from differasu irϊ|HU elements 202a aiid 202fe or combine rhc «sgrsais STΏJTϊ ths snpa: elements 202a ssd 2G2b in SOSϊIS ssanner, In an embodisissnt the rεcipisrsJ- rtiav use a user interface 212 of the hearing device 200 to select from ssxmgsϊ fee

U

άiffsTcns Uψu\ denssnss or direct the hearing device to iraρk;tiεπt a particular strategy to cttmbtac or select ϊae signals from the input elements 202a assd 202b. loss?! O.nc exemplary combining strategy is for the recipient ihough the user mierface, to selεcth'ch" chose one of the microphones to function as a dϋ∑nsϊssnt microphone. If s sωicr»ρiκ-ns Is se.kese-i to he the dosrsmast microphone, then the signal processor may select and u^e the ocjsϊϊisiaiit signal assd dssregsyd ;hs other signals in the evens, certain conditions arise, such as ϋ ^' thϊ- signed processor revdycs multiple noisy stgnsk from each of the micrstphoncs and the signal processor is unable to determine which :iiicrophoas signal ixϊckides th<: sound that would be of principal unsress to shs recipient Similarly, in certain embodiments, the recipient nssy ose ihe user inϊδr.ϊ&cs to seizes as order of dominance for the iϊilcrcϊpiiϋϊ-es, sud; Ui&u sa noisy co5iditio:is, ihe signal processor first tries to decode- ihe primary dominant microphone signal. If. however, the signai processor deierraines thai ihis decoding fails TO meet ceπ&ia eoisdhfoπs («.|. ₍ it appear to be noise), the sigjssl processor then seieots the next most άomsaant microphone signal The signai processor may ϊfaen, for essmpk, contmyε selscώig &nά decoding signals ususg ϊføs oϊdsr of dorsksaπce iustii a microphone signal is decoded ύi&i meets specified c»ndiiiof5s ⁽ e.g., the signal appears m laeladc speech or rπus-e). It should he noted, however, that these are merely cxernplaiy sirsxegiss that may be employed for selcdiag amosigs? ssnltipk microphone signals, mά in other em bedsrt5«nis o&er strategies may be used.

^■ < ^χ ssη Aisother «sen-spiarv cosmbissfKg strategy shat may be employed is for Use hearing device 200 ϊ ^Q use a system, For example, ϊhe ssgsai processor 240 may tnstmct ϊhe selection; circuit 219 tc individually weigh fee diHersm signals and ther: combine the weighted sigsϊ&ss. This πssy be accomplished, for example, by ihe selection circuit applying ftxaά weights (e.g., weights specified by ;he rεcipieai using the user interface or s strategy lhst weights signals trcni mosc ibrwsxd facing sound elements higher; to each of the signals. Or, fox sjcampb, the esrcijii 219 EπU? exaϋϊiπe eaek of the hψut sigoais and tlwπ weight the signals based on dib analysis. Oκe exemplary strategy for aaaiyzbg the ssgaais Is fox the selection cirøuiέ 2 l § to ^t λx&iHine eacJ ^' i ssgsai io <kimslκe jr ώc signal appears to ineSade speech kribπsiatioji. if so. she a lo^ccr weight ks ^j isgϊiais v ^μ «h LUiIc so «c> -speech. Sisiius-rly, this sfrategy msy also take mto account she lζs«;atiojt! of ^■ he sound mpw denxcKJ. 202, For εs^spie, the hearing device 200 may b« conlsgursd ;o rπαrs hε ^; rv>ly wsiak sigsiδls from forward feeύig sound iωpui elements 202 than ϋcom rssr feeing

s- ^y unύ deϊts&ms. c-vesi if both are determined to include speech iαfGπ_iaϊ-θfi, This may be xisefui Lx-c&usc in crowded rooms it is snore Vtk&iy ih&i the recipient will be speaking with someone they arc fscstig than someone bϊhisid them.

\fxa®\ Irs yes. another exemplary combining strategy, the hcsπ ^' sg device 2G<J rsiay permit the recipient , ^ia ihe uiser interface, iα seiecr a control setting that turns on a άireedos finding algorism tor selecting befvveers microphones. Such aigomϊims arc known ks one of ordksary skill sis she an. Pw example, sintsiluinecsas phase inibrraaiiGs from each receiver may be used to estiituus the sujgie-of-aravai of the soisod- Using such aigorahms, tac signs! processor may detsrπsisx ^; LS. iUiSable microphone output signal or a plurality of suύabie microphone outputs JG Lise in providing the sound ϊo the recspiεπj.

: ^! »s«ξ U should Ix ^; noted Jhac th??sc are but some exemplar;/ combfesxioa strategies vhai a bone coαthiirtiors device may be able to «se ir _: combining signals iTorfi a plurality of soyπd input eknerils, aisd m other embodiments other strategies msy be used. Additionally, although the emtediisests aa ^; -ibcusstxl ^ith refersωce to lh& recipient selecting the combining strategy, it should fcs understood that asy user (e.g., the recipiem, a doctor, a family member, fiisnd, etc.) may make ∑hes« sekctloss. Or, for example, a partlcuisr combining jjπrategv may fee fixed in hardware or of ϊhα h&arisg device. Further, as discussed above, in smbodtmems, the rccipsersi rnsy he sblc to yse a us≤r interface 212 for ϊhe hesrisg device 2Qβ io select and corr.ϊsmaύoK strategy to be used, such as ihe above referenced U.S. Patent λppϊicatSon by JoKo Parker. Christian Psciat, and Chnsϊoph Kissllng, er-ύϊlsjct "'A Bonn Conductson Devke with a User lijtcrϊacs." jossssf As noicd aϊxivc in κ«rtsύi embodiments, rhή hearing device snay saslsct arsd use ordy iignals; frc ^j r ^, tht: forward facing sound inpyt eieinent(s). Or, for esasispie, lite hearing device rosy sveiuhi signals from forward lacing sound input elements liiglser than rear facing sftuad kipva eistnenss. Further, in crisis embodiiπersts \hs ascbor system for ihe hearing device may &rp;amed on «kher the nght or k-ft ear of ss rscipienL For example, 3 doctor may wish to hnpϊsrst ihe hearing device ^' s anchor system on the side of rise recipients hesd that the docior bslfirves will pro- ^yj ds the reeϊpiem with the bess hearing. Th^s, doctors would like the flexibility Jo ssstaiS anchor systems on eiύier ihe left or rigist sid« of a recipients head. Acxordiridy, hearmg devscss ks accordancs vtnh. errϊfoodiments of the present invention sisay be coafsgured so

that ύxe hearing device m&y fee used both wsih anchor systems implanted on the right side arid bit side of si recipients head. However, because '.he hearing device may be impi&αted os either side of a recipients. lκ;ad, it may not be able to sell during manufacture of the hearing device which iSiicrophoneCs) will be forward facing and which roictophoneCs) wϋi not be forward ϊaciog. Tb« following disclosure- provides a description of sis exemplary meehssisrsi that a hearing device jnay employ so deterrsme she forward facing mk:rophααe(κ}.

;s«$^ FTG 4 iUtissraies a close-up view of as exemplary mechanism that a hearing device may use to dcwrmme whether it is attached Oa the IeS or right side of a recrpiem. This ^esophsn- mechanism tnay be used with a hearing device sues ΆS bone conduction dsvsee 300 hi ilk.- shove-discussed FIG. 3. This exemplary πischanism used two different types of ubulnsests 3*>-, one type lor each side of she head. The different types of sbssraesus (i.e., the ki! and right types) may he .αjsrksd with words (e.g.- "Right" snd " ¹ LeH"), use unique coioxs. or use seme osis^r r»echa∑iiisπj to hdp a docϊor quk±iy identify' ώe type of abuϋκer«L Further, th« diffcrem abutπ>«nϊ types (i.ε,, lei! and right) may have & slightly different shape ih&t m&y ba dώtώsϊabk by the bone conductiosi device 300 «5 thai ih« hearisg device πt&y detctmbie ϊO v^bich sdc of ϊhe recipieai ώs bone conduαiou device 300 has beers at-jached. Ia the esataple of FIG- 4, th« abλttmeriϊ 364 for one side includes SΏ bideπr&rioπ ^" is. Use center of Us røp face (i.e., the face of ;he abutment thai faces the hcarlag device) _, , while the sbutnssnt for ihδ other s ^; 4" does aot 5nd'.:«e s;iiι:h ar _s inde-«ϊaiiori but instead has s Sat surface along its ϊoρ face. F ^' or expia&aiory purp^sei. FlG, 4 wϋl be discassed v«th reference to abutment 364 Uidttdύig an isdeatados, and iisjs VVIJI Ix: assuHjed Io this erxsss.pie so be the -eft ss ^' de abutKsetst. IK ofcer embodiraeKbx sbu3in*;rϊi 364 ?r.ay hsve snuihet ϊypc of recess, such ss an opening, or apεrttsε, As used hcrcsω. Use term "tscessT refers so any sype efliideatatios. hollow, silt, opening, or gpsrasre.

!9*>57s As ϋlustraied irs FlG. 4, the bone conύucxkm device 300 includes a xneds&aba! switch 4 j 2. This sw ^ή eh 4 i 2 snay be iasiϋlled at any suitable location is the hose conduction device. For csampk. is sn embodiseiit, switch 412 may be mouiued »s the insiύa ;>r outside of sK'Koad housing portsos 325b. Further, swtch 412 JKay be any suitable type of switch, such as, lbs ^* example. &r _: ώlectromc switch, a sπechanical switch., or Js πiagfietis switch. For sir&plsϋlcatios, second iiOiisiiig pssiioa 325b is mn iilustrated in FIG, 4 As noϊed above, in. this exaπiple, abϊiϊj-π«-ϊS 364 includes ϊUϊ iadestaSion 406 located on i.he surface 40S of the abutment. This indentation 406 JS s;sed ;o receives a protrusios 410 (e.g., a pin} from the bone conduction

device 3D0, Thus, if the protrusion 410 iits wkhifi the indentation 405, bone eonshiclioa. device 300 ^iH know it is on the SeS: sjde _> while if there is so iscienteiot? theτs use protrasiαa will not he- able to extend ink? ύm abutment 364 aoϋ she bone eondudiojj device wiU know feu it is located on the right side of the recipient. Prstrusiors 410 may be Include uz a spriag loaded housing 413 that may he mounted, for example, on she ύiside or outside of second housing ponioB 32Sb ^y r ;ϊϊϊV oϊhsr suitable kϊcstioa. If housing 413 is mounted OH the inside of secossd hoasiag portior- 525b, Use prø.rusion 410 may extend through openasg 368 in the second housing portion 325b and Lnϊo e&upiLog device 360 so tbat protresbn 410 will Bl is uide-siistϊoa 406 xvhes iba hone oosiducϊioti device 300 is attached ic abutment 364, The proϊrysbri housing rπay include a spring 414, iheie is no fodentadoa Io the abutsiieiit 3δ4 _; the protnision is pushed tsκ'k, while if there is art isdeπϊatissi 406, the spring 414 pushes protrusion 410 into ihs incientsiiioϊϊ,

S<MJSSS| Psx>irusi«ϊi 4] sj rπsy lurϊher isiclude as s∑m mesber 415 tot will eansact switch 412 when pri>εn3sk>n 410 fks in iπdsniaϊioo 406 bat will not coatacs; switch 4 \ 2 when abutment 364 does, ϊϊOI have as Incientation and protrusion 410 (ansi accordingly its ann member 4' S) are thus pushed back towards ύis prosrusion hc-usisg 413. Thus. in. this example, swi;ch 4 !2 det&n«mes tb&t the bosie cosidacdon device 300 in attached Is; UJ« left s,ide ϊ f flier swkdi 412 is contacted by the 3H« π>erπb«r 415, and dslsrrnir^es thai die boas coaducύoπ device 300 is atϊ&ched to right side iϊ &mι member 4 } ? is not ki sostsct with ilse switch 412. Switch 412 snay then sens.1 an αidicsύon %o, ibr example, the signal processor of vbe boBS cosductloa device 300 that indicates which side ths boas cυnducύos device 300 Is attached. Or, for exaxπpk, ths switcϊi 412 may siiϊipϊv seni a signal mάicstisg whether the aπis member 415 is touching the switch (e.g., switch dijsoϋ} or not ie,g., switch o;>επ). The signal pmcesser vn&y store safoisnatioG t&at specfsεs vvheTli≥t she bon« coTiducSios device 300 is cosnccied so the left or righr side cf The recipient bas«d on the possible signals fioss the svrftcli «12, For «xarrφle, the signs! processor may store ffrfbππatson thai spcctfk? thai the signal processor should consider the bone cond eucs devsctf connecl^d to the kfϊ side if \i receives «s switch closed signal ITOϊΏ Jhs switch 412. and should consider tb« b-:>πe cajidxicϊiorj device conaected to fee right side if the siga&i processor receives a flwύct; opes signal from the svvikh 4I2. jS8?9s I* should be πoϊcd that the embodiment of FIG. 4 is but OγλS sxerspϊary smbodimssi and in oihsr sn^bod ^j mcsis other suitable sicch&nisms suav be used for de;etn«ain£ to which said

of a recipient a bone coxsduciba device Is attached. For example, in other embodiments the swiκ:h and protrusion may be k«;aι«l in 8 different location on bone conduction device 300. Or, for example, oone conduction device 300 sijay Hislesd use as electrical switch, suds as a magnetic swach thai indicates ϊhe presence of a particular πxagaetic field, and corresponding rnsgnets may be placed m one iyp-s of aburøesi (e.g. for the left side υf the recipkrJ) and not iscksded ϊn the other type <sf abasaeϋt (e.g.. for the right side s.

[&mι FIG. 5 illustrates libs conversion of an input sound signal ints a mechanical force for delivery KJ ihe rsdpkiif s skull in accordance wiJh embodiments of boac corϊd'xiioa device 3(K?. At biv-vk ?02, bone conduction device 300 receives a soorsd signal, ϊit cersaist smfedimc:its, the jjoand signai is received via microphones 302a itrκl 3O2fc.

>θs>4M Ai block 504, the signal is selected by the ϊrφtit seleetsoπ. circuit, The soisad input sekcuon circuit determines hich signal or signals is to be ouϊpuε, based on the masuai or aiuosϊϊauc >>ϊ?τ?iags dsscnsscd sl>ove,

:sife«s λt block 506, the s<mnd signal received by bcme conduction device 300 is processed by ϊhs speech processor ϊa electronics module 304. λs explainsd above, the speech processor •τϊay he similar so ap«sch processors ussά ϊn hearing aids. Ia such embodiments, speech pressor msy selectivsiy amplify, filter aud/or modify sound signs!. For example, speech processor xuay be '-i&su ϊθ eliminate background or other uowaaϊεd noise signals received by bone cusGueiioo device 30D, Is; other esnbodisnetsts, as discussed above, she speech prose≤sor may include prograiϊirnlag \o sdeci a signsi or cotnbise siga&is, resulting in SϊS sraproved percept sigsai is provided to traasducsr 306 as ;ai cleci?icδi ssgnai At block 5UL srsrssdueer 306 converts the sieoiriccsl s.lgsiai ϊSϊO a mβch.anscal fbϊce configured to be delivered to the recipient's skuH via aachor system 30S so as to- iHϊciϊ a hcanπg perception «f lhc Sound signal. ϊhs above description, was discussed with rafereπce Ks tl5« recipient xisnsg ihe heariag device, it should he sϋiderstoo<l thai ;his was provided for explanatory p^rpo&es and the hearing de\'lc« and us user interface may be used in a siπiiiar maasier by &aγ xsser se.g. _; d»ctot, tkoiiy :«eoibes.\ friend, or aay other person -.

ξooδsj λ^hough she presem m verities lias bees fully described ia eonjuaetica with several enϊixss&πeriis -iisreof wills reference Ic the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood &ai various changes mό s^slIGcatious may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modlβcsiioTϊs sre lo be understood as mcluded within the scope of the present snventioα as defined by the ϋppesded daitns _> unless they depaii there from.