BONE €OMKX'IION S€VICES GENERATING TANG£MTIALL¥-1>ϊREC1εD MECHANICAL FORCE USING A LINEARLY MOVING MASS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO S£LAT.EI) APPLICATIONS

[(mi] The prssersi application claims she benefit of US Provisional ?&uent Application 61/ϊ)4i,l S:>; fused March 3 L 2OG8, which is hereby Incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

jooo2| The present mvenϊiotϊ sslates generally u> prosthetic, hearing devices. &nά mere particularly, io 8 bone condacUαn hearύsg devices generating sl∑mislaϋos via ujsgendaily- όireesed vibrstio&ss force ^ith respect to a surface of the reerpisnf s horse.

i 88851 Thssrϋ are ϋiree basic types of hearing loss: sensorxrtSϊaai, conductive, asjd. ssixed hsan^g losses. Seϊtsori»siirαl hcarbig loss results iro-K. damage to the irises' «≤r or to ϊhε nerve pathways Irorπ ths ir^er ear to the brain. The majority of huϊϊisn sensorineural beaxsαg loss is caused by ahntjr-yssilsiics or uam3g«? ;o ihe bait cells in. tii« cochlea. Hair ςcϋs in Use codilca are the sessery recepk'j-s ϊhst ϊπjxssduce s«usx3 \o iisrve iiapulses. Acoustic hearing aids πsay be appraμπate for • hose who fr»sτi muu i« jaodβrate 5.8π:-:oriκsur;5i hearing loss. In. cases of severe- »r rϊtofλiiϊsd hearing loss, a cochlear smplatu may be ϋae appropriaJe ehoice. Cochlear inspiasis bypass the hair cdis in ihe cochtca and diπjctly stimulate the- atsriUory πervs ubers \xt \h$ coehϊea by um electrode arrsy rhai is iπiplasted is the ceehlea,. Simulation of tne auditory n« ^* v« Ohe^ creates the sensation of haarisg m she recipient.

S«>«α| Cv:idi.:cdv« jieaiing loss αccuxs when there is a p>tobieiri wύb Use cosdsjctios of so«$id from ths oαeπiai at snϊddle ear to the inner ear. This type of hearing loss may be caused by 3κy ^; hiπg tiist impedes, the srsoiiois of die o^sis-ks. the ts^rce bones of the ∑niddk ear that conducs soijs'sd to the cochlea. It may also be caused bv a failure of the eaxdrαm to vfbrate Ln response so

so^rsd or fluid in the middle car. Conductive, hearing less may be treated by acosi&tic hearing aids, middle £&r implaists, -asd the like.

sδsoss SJiU other individuals suffer froru mixed hearing looses, thai is, conductive hssππg loss in oorsiviϋction with ssnsorins^ral hearing. In oiher words, there may be- damage in both the ou«r or middk ear srd the kπser sar ^cochlea) or audiSory nerve,

_j Ssma While many individuals suffering fxotn conductive iseariag loss often use acoustic hearing aids, «κ:h hearing aids XESY mot be suϊtabis for ail individuals, such as those suffering from chronic ear infections or SΌXK smgis-sidsα dealhcss. As alternative treatment is ϊhs siae of hotse sxss;idu<;iion hsaring aids, or ssmply condxtϋtior. devices herein, .

ftHK.ni Bone crosukiCtsori hearing skis «J>H?.e the bones ox ;m isdividisd's boae to irassralt at:oQsik signals to the cochka. Gers«raHy _; roost hαas cond«ciit>« hesrisig aids fu^csiors by vOϊsvcrliϊ-g a revived sound Sigssl iϊitα viforarϊoβ. This vibration is then trajisiεrred tc the bone sεrucrurs of the bone, at ose particular ssbQdisjieEst ύm skull. This sktill vibration ssasits in m«ϊkt:i of the lluid of ihs cschsea, thereby stimulating She cochlear hair cells and caiisifig the ρercsράoτ5 of soard in the redpiexti.

;ø<»S| 8 one concoction devices may be attached Io a ύtaniuπi iroplaπf. jssiplantsd in a .csclpient's tκi!ie _? via ;3Ώ ex-fernai abutosπt. Ia one particuS&r embodiment of the present invention, ihs tiiaπiuiii isspiasi is sxirglcsHy implanted into the part «f the akull bose that is behind the ear and LilloNved 1C- r _: ;iturasiy mtegrats with the skϊjii bans over time. The Ixiπε ccssdiscuor; device is coupisd to ths tittmiura implant via the eϋterosl abyUneπϊ. Vibrations irotn ihs bans canάxxcύon device ars ihe^ traωsmkted to Use skull thfoygh the sxiemsl sbutesnt and the timniiim hrφlsjϊt to ssimxikse iter-'e fibers of ihe mner ear of the recipieni.

[«K58^ Sams bens condaction devices produce soaπd percsptsosi by applying a vibrational force dirsctSy to the r«cJpieπϊ's bosc. which is eotnmunic&ted throv-ga the bone evestusliy tα the ς:αohka wh«r© the fluids cosiaissrd therein are vibπstcd. Is sains devices, the vibitstionai farce is directed towards the recipient's bosie perpendicislsriy wit& respect ϊG she surftice of th« rsdpierα's bone. IK flinch devices, the asgls beSwesis riie surface of the redpiess'x Ixsπe and the άiiectkm of the vibrational fores is as close ics 9C degress as possible in order Us eπs^s'e the ;-nost

ci ^' Ociera ϊratisfer of vibrational fore* la She redpseafs bone as possible. As soted earlier, the irs-isferrcd vibrational fores is conducted through the boss to the recipients cochlea, causing tnotioa of the cochlear fkiid, thereby producing sound perceptsoa. It may be possible so c&uss thai mo^eirteϊiS of cochlear fluid to produce ϊhe SGHEKI perception in other vnays without directly applyiaε, snύ comsmnicsiisg a vibratiRs vibrational force to ihs recipseat's bone.

SUMMARY

[8S£s>{ Is one aspect of ϊhe present invention, sπoiher bone conduction device ss psαvktesi The bone conduction device comprises: a sound input device eoailgured to receive an acoustic Stfund ^■ signs!: an dsctrames module configured generate axi electrical signal representing said acoustic soiisd sigaah and a εrsnsducer, comprising a rjiass, ooαfigαreά to vsbrsJe said msss isi a Hπfexr dJrecLi»ii s>.* as; to generals a vibrational force tangential wkh respecs to a recipient's skuil so as Io v ibrat« ti mass Is a stibstsntiaily iksear aireciiciL

in anoilier aspect of lhe present iavention, a method rehab iistaiing ihe bearing of s recipient wsth ci bosse cosihiciioπ device is provided. The method comprises Kϊhabilstating the hδariπg of α recϊpieas wύh a hone conduction device having ;xo auchor, comprisifig: fcϊmiπg a πjecftamoai oox;ρii!ig fjSiV.-£«-i the bone eoiiducdon device ssd she rsclpiant's bαae via die aschoπ recesvi&g, OJ> ekesricaϊ signal repre&eniasiv^ of :ir; acoustic soxjπd signal; gesetstdπg a v ^' ibradonal force, using s rotatitsg mass, represerstaSivi; of the receive<: slec-iicai signal, -wkerem ths vibrational force is directed in a tsngesrial directios wivh respect to the recipient's bone; and dciivcnng ssud vib tional forces io "die rsscipient's bans vis the formed coupling.

BRIEF BESCRiFTlCSN OF THE DRAWINGS

{mi2) Hlustrative esnbαdisαests of die presets invention are described herein wiiϊ ^; reference to

Use accompanying drawings, in Thiers:

■wn _\ FlO. 1 b a perspective visw of a botie-roϊatiny basis cosaucύoπ device implanted hdiiπd a recipient's ear;

I&ii4\ FlG. 2A Is a high-bvd fώietioϊmi block diagram, of a bose-rotstlsg bøae conduction devise, such as th« device of FIG. 3 ;

;8«sss FϊG, 2B is dirtsised fbijαiojial block diagram of she botse-rotating bone coaducπon device iShistraied JSI FIG. 2A;

58i)Sέϊ FlG. 3 is a ilowchsrϊ siksϊrstsωg the conversion <H an jrsput souftd imo jnovsjsrieni of cochlear lluid is; accordance with emhoάiRtenis of ?he prεseπE Jnve-iiioα;

;8øi7| FIG. 4A is a cross-secnonai view af a bonε-ratadπg bone coaducsioxi device tsϊ iϊccoτd;sjics WϊLϊ; ajiibodsmcnJs csf the presεjYs. Inveniioa;

[0OJ8] F ¹ IG, 4S is a perspecύv« view af eorssosenis of s botsε-rotatiπg boss ccmduc-i&a device in uccordsεϊce embodsmsKts of iks present 5r*verstiosi;

[Wi9i FlG. 4C is a perspective view of utber coπ:po:κ:ais of a borae-rotating bone ctjsducύoiπ device is; csccosvkssee of the present invention;

fδδϊS] FiG. 5A i$ a |x;r>p«ciive v|«w <j<i ^" s ϊiaasώucer jaodule ota bons. roϊ&ϊiag boκ« cosdαciioπ. device in acytsrdϊince with sHibodiments at ^" the presβtit invesitiori;

\mn\ FJG. 58 is a first crass-sectioaai view of &e iransducsr mcdule of tine bosie conduction ύevjee liiusisaiesl k: FlG. 5 A in accσrdasice with etnbodisnesϊs of the present inveniioii:

^; sfi22f FIG. SC is a stcand cross-isciional visw of she -raij&ducer module of the bone conduction device ilh&sπ-ied ;n Fl-G. 5A m accordance v.-ish embodimetsts of the present Jrλ'eritiaa; and

ISϊSij FIG. 6 xs a cross-seeneas; vkw of a bone-rm&iing boπε conduction device in accordance with oϊher aAx-bi>ό-imϊ.'iιiϋ of she oresent invention..

DlTAILEB PKSCSiPTlON

\m24\ Embydkncrsϊs of the present invention. an, ¹ generally directed ;e s bass cosiductson device for converting a received aeαusde sound signal isto a vibrational fores that is generated is & sa&genti&l dirscfeπ wήh respect to th« surface of she recipient's bone, which aitiraately produces sound pcrc^piioϊi by tbs reeipicnt. The latigestially dsrectsd vifcraύonal ibrcs gesersted by embodiments of the present invention causes rotsuon of she skxdl abouϊ the :>eck &ad Lϊ «>sκkιctcd to ihe csshiea of she recipient. The coπdiictod iorcc ac;s os Lhe sochlcs to QKUSS sϊoϊion cf ;i5e cochlear Odd c&ns&isiώd ϊj-ereln, caussrig the hair ceils in &Q eochlsja to be axjiivstcd Io produce soursd percspdon by the recipient

isSϊ£5| The bc-na eosϊdtictson device receives rfee scoustk sound signal and g«s urates an slectricai sigϊt&i reprssetstsTsg the acoxistic soi:nd sigimL The bone caadι.ϊcέiθϊi device Includes a transducer which converts the electrical sigaal into nsotian. of a n:a&si coϊii|X!r»erit so as to geseruie the vjbraϊsosa^ Jbsee ύkecicd h: 3 issgeritia! direction with raspeci to the surlscs of ihs recipient's b-3ϊs«, λi«sing Trianon of th« recipient's ^k isH about ihώ ;ax:k. In cers&in eϋibodhsteats of Use preaest snv^ntson. the trsfssdiicer has a i]>"A ^r heeI component which ratates about a fsseα axis. In thoss sjjϊϊbodim&ϊJU ¹ !. one or more coils positioned ssrc«π.d the circismiereπce of, and separate irons, sis-e flywheel component siay be sπsrgisβd so as to pull or push the spinning Sywhcc! frosrj 553 rotadon asji;, ihereby generating a vibrational rotes that is. directed sπ a tsngsndεl dsrectioTs vi-sib respect ϊO the recφicϊit's skuil, ca cause H to rotate about the recipients sieek. ϊhe trsnsd;ic:eτ rnodwk resay be <Rstsϊde the srecipieat's skin, atlschsMJ 50 α percutaneous anchor system- In other emboditrierjts, ihs system may coxnpnss the transducer module embedded or iaipiamed under the i'ecLpi«nt ^s s ski« asd fϋrϊhe∑ comprise c-oc35?ϊsvsnicatiosi soϊ*ιρonenϊs ccaϋgured to co<rsπsιmieata with she iϊtψlarsted tr&π&okieer module to piovids iπstrtscjioss and possibly even power to Lhc implasted transdαcsr.

iβor?; in varkrus embodiments of she prεsem irryesiloa, the transducer may comprise a Tϊissodeeiric «!etπετsi Ih as dcfbrsϊxs in response to application «f the eiactπesl signal thereto, thereby seneratiøg vibrational forces. The amount of deformation of a piexoe&ctnc ele ^j & ^β at :∑i response so an uppikd siecsical sags&i depends oss siaserisl properties ox the dement, onsπiaiiun. of she electric fseld wish respect to she polarization direction of dis eiemeat, geometry of die ^kmetst, etc. 100 \n which embodiments of the present invcation may be advantageously Lsiplemenred. In a fully fusotkxsai hximan hsarlπa αnsϊQmv', surer ear 10! comprises tsx soricls 105 arsd an ear canal 106. A sound wavt; or iicoiisUc pressure 10? is coilsstod by asrick. 105 and channeled into said thioisgh ear canal MHi. Disposed across th« disfa! end «f car c&ti&l s O6 is a Sysxsp&mc 104 which vxbmies in rcispcmsc to acoustic wave 107. This vibration is coupled ϊo cviύ v ^ή nάsv-- or fes«»sra ovaiis 1 U) ϊhrough boπ-es of aiiddle ear 105- coilesxtsvcH' referred to as lhs sssicles 1 1 1 and coωϊpxisϊϋg the rsiaHeas 112, the iacus H 3 and ihs isaρ«:i 5 14. Bone*. I V?.. WS hxs ^ή H 4 of srsiddle eac 102 ^erve io inter asd amplify acoustic wave- 10?, causing oval window I i O 10 \sp waves of Taud ruotios wsthin cocbisa 1 15, Sucls ilirsii :rsD-ion _; ui turn, senates ϊisy hslr cells (sϊor showii) thai Iiae the inside ot cochlea 1 15. Acsrvsύos 0 C Use hα^r ceils causes sppropriass nerve impulses ro b« transferred through the spiral ganglion cdh and axiditofy r-en ^; £ ! 16 to the brain (UOϊ shmvr$) _} where they are perceived ;S5

jOSi'J] FTG. i also aiusmues the positiomng of orse embodiment of ihe present isivetitioa DORS coωducϊsori ics K. ^! 0 r«iaαve i» oisser etjr IU K middle sar 102 aad ear 103 of s rec-ipiesi of <kv[ςe 100, As boπs? conduction device i G*J may be posnioπeά behind outer ear 10! of the rcdpknL In tlϊς sπϊb<?duneπl illustrated in FIG L baric conduction device 100 is as externaUy ikted emboάsmsst of Uie present invention and sorøpnsss a housing [ 2S having a jϋkrophαπs (slot shows^) poskiorsed thsrests sr thereoa. Housing 125 is cotφied to the body of ibc recφisπs via coupling 140 and csn aiiclior sysizm 162, As described below, bone device 100 may comprise a s,cund processor, a transducer, transducer drive cotapone.πϊs asd/or various other c5cc;τo;iic oύ;.λviϊ.:.,/d«vk-8: ₁ . accordance with esvj.bodiϊtienεs erf ^' the s>resesϊ mvesuon, aacnor svstcm 162 rssy bs impiaateά in the reeiϋiem, As described below; anchor

system 162 may be fixed u> bone 136 and may extend from bone i36 through masde 134, faj 128 and skin 132 so that coupling 140 may be coupled Ie the anchor system.

§8838! A fυrsctsonai block diagram of one srnhodϊ∑nsni of bone corsductioa IDO, referred to as bone conduction device 200, is shews is FIG. 2A. In the illustrated ershodlmea;, a SOKSSKI wave 20? Is fwcesved by a sound hφui desisem 202. Is some suiboάirsems, ssjund biput eieirsssS 202 is « microphone eonligur«d so receive sound wave 207, and Io eonvert sound wave 20? into ss vkcLτic: _; d asgr.a! 222. As described below, in other embodiments, sound waχ/≤ 20? may bs received by aauad iϊψuϊ «iesnsκi 202 as an electrical signal.

|ϋ83S: Aa in FIG. 2λ, electrical sύgsiai 222 is ouiρ«s by sowrsά input slem«s5 202 to sai ekctresks -"Godαb 204. Electronics srsodale 204 is configured to cotivert slecsrica^ yigrsai 222 into an ;κi;«sied sieαdcal sϊgsai 224, As described fceϊow in mere detail ekctroaics raodiik 204 xn&y hvdnas a s;>ιusd processor, co-iitroi etectronics, iiansducer drive ^oπiposssts, and a

FWJ32! As Ohisrrated hi FlG. 2A... tπiasducer module 206 receives adjusted electrical sig∑sa! 224 and gensrsisi) « vsbπitiorssl output farce that is dϊrecled in a direciiois with respect to the recipisnrs bone. The taag«BUai!y directed vibrational force is delivered to ^he skull of iae r≤cipϊfint viϋ coupling 140, shows in FlG, 2A as a pan of anchor systesi 208, that Js coispϊed to boss coaduetiori device 2OCh Delivery of this output fbrcε causes the redpkat's skull to roκα« aboαi the recipierss ^' s tisek SBG causes movement or wsves of ths cochlear fluid, resjtϊltiag is activ^dπg the hair ceils in the cochlea to prodiscs SOISϊO percspϊson.

saws] FϊG. 2A also isiusixates a ρow«r module 210. Power mcdule 210 provides sleetπcss isomer f» oϊse or inore corsipoaersts of feotse coπducϊioω device 200. For ease of jHisssration, SX>ΆCγ rfswiais 210 Jj as been shown connected osily io jsterfaoe niod'αle 212 and ckctsxssics ^■ ϊKidsile 204. However, si should be appreciated that power module 210 may be used to supply power -ϋ asy ckctrically powered cbrcaits/composersts of bone conduc.soϊi device 2δO.

wm\ Bossc coiiduGJica devke 200 i\ιrther includes an Interface module 212 ύiaϊ ailo-ws jhe recipbsst to interact wkh device 2O0. Fsr ssjartpie, interfacs asodule 212 rasv allow ths recipieiϊi

io adjust flie volume, alter ihe speech processing sirategies, power on/olf ιh& device, «sc. Interface m«dsib 212 cojnκ>x∑;ϊicstes with dεesrouks srsodule 2Q4 via signal Iise 22S.

[WSty In iht embodiment Ohistrared i& PIG. 2A, sou-id pickup device 202, electronics module 204, tosschscer ssodule 206, power module 210 and interlace module 212 have- ail beea shows* as integral in a ssBgk bousing, referred to as housing 225. However, n should be appreciated that in csrtaia embodiπssπts otihe present ksvsniiαn, one or snore of the iHus&sϊed eosiposssus may be housed irs separate or dlffsrsst housings, one ar mote of which may be surgically mipisnted under the recipient's skm. i ^' arthermore, the impianted components may be embeαd&d sJ kast partially within the recipient's hose or otherwise Used to the horse so ss ϊo prevent mQVisxasni with respect JO the- bone. Siπύϊ&jiy, k should also be apfxvciated sJsat is such ώϊϊ-bodijτϊgots, direct corjjj«ctio!5S between the vario«s modules ΆRU devices are sot secesssry and thai ihe cyπiporients may eorijnswsiicate, for example, via wireless cosnecaons. Also, where trsiisdticsr ^nocuie 206 is omside tlie recipient's skin _; the movement ∑nsy be caκm5un;ςated via anchor systssi 208 to the recspisjϊt's sknil so as to caa«e the skuli io rotate about, the recipient's neck. Where trsasducsr modυle 206 is amaag the components impiiϊrsted beneath the recipsertt's skiϊi, trsjssducet module 206 may be fixed Jo the recipient's skuU -lirough a variety of means so as to csmmisaicste ihe vibrational fores to the recipients skuli to csasε the skuiϊ to rot;as about the ϊϋdpisHf s neck.

HKVHi in, esωbodirαenϊs of \hs prsserst invesiioa, transducer module 206 may be oae s>f many types δ ^j sd voalkurations of rraitsd^csrs. now known or ialer developed. I.n one embodiment of ^hs pr ^ς serit isvcmion, transducer rriodoie 206 rπay Qorsiprise a piezoelectric sietsiesf vώich is configured ϊO deforrn in response to the apprioatioE5 of electricgi signal 224, Pissoelectric ciesncrHs thas Sϊϊay he used in embodiments of the present i.«>/ealioα ni&y coiaprise, for example, psczi>el«δtriε crystals, pie^oeiectric cersraics, or sosπe sHher nialsriai exhibiting a deibsTasisos in resi>όi-se to as apphed electπcai sigsal. Exemplary psesoeiecrric crystais incKsde quarts (SiO2 i ₅ BerUsHe (A ^; ?G4} _; GdHutπ orthophosphste (OaP 04) and Tounaaike, Exesi-pkry pieseeiectric oeraπύcs iπclside bariuπ; uiaaar« (BaT ^' iO30), Iesd zirooπats utanaie (PZT), or sirco∑iitsm (Zr).

|ses ^? j Soma piezøebckje EnalerisK sλiciϊ as bsriura ϊitsaste ar-d PZT. are polarised materials. W.hers an sh ^, ct ^ή c field is applied across ihsse Jiisteπals, ths polarized molecules slign tbetnseives

with tiie dearie fseki resdtisig in iaduced dipoka svithin the rsolecula? or cryssai εiryctare of die material, Iliis sligrsrnes^ of molecules causes &e dsfoπsstiαn of the material

[WiSi & other embodiments of the present Invention, other types of transducers may b& used. For example, various moiors configured to operate in response to eseetricsl signs) 77λ πt&y be

[W3<*i In one embodiment of she presest invention, transduces module 2OfS geisersies an output force thai, is dir-ecied laagentjailv wish respcsϊ lo Jhs sϋtface of tϊie rccipiant's bone. Iliis tasgsnϊially directed vibπiέi&ωεl lb.rcs causes rctalion of ϊtis j-seip!erJ ^J s skull abouϊ the neck, to prod-ace rnovϊ3aei2t of jhe cochies fluid so ihat a scutid may be perceived by the recipient As tϊoted above, b certsio sxs:bc;dii5ie:i-s, b;>π« condticiion device 200 delivers ώe output fbrss to the sku.il of the recipient via an anchor systesrs 208. In one smbodiinerit of the present iπveπtioϊi _t snohftr system 2* ⁾ S comprises a coupling 260 mechanically couples to sn implanted anchor 2δ2, s;s iihsstπsled In FKJ. 20. Vibratos from 5τaκscucer πϊoduie 206 is provided to anchor system 2OS through housing 225.

[ssmi fø cenaiϊi e:sbodiaients of the present ixϊvεislfosi. skcironics modi∑ie 204 Includes a priatcJ circuit boϋSii (FCB) So elecsricaiiy ccntsect aud saechasicaOy support ihe con?pon«?nis of dectmtdcs module 204. Soακd input element 202 ;Ώ&V comprise one or more ϊnicpophoϊiaa font jshowsi) aaci is attached TO the PCS.

\toH4\\ FIG- IB provides a more detailed view of bone ce-sdoetioπ device 200 of FiO. 2A, in the ersjbodirn ^g nj U! ^y srra5«d _: sisujonks iKodulε 204 comprises a sound processor 244), trεπsdsicsr όrrv? ^ς oaiporisnts 242 smά control dectronscs 246, As esplsined above, Ln certain embodiments sound input to convert a rga«ivsd acoustic sigs&i 5 mo eiectriiai Bigtsai 222. ϊn other embodixjjsrjts. as detailed bslcw, sound input sieiϋstsi 202 E-δc«ivei ^; soa^d «.'ave 2D7 as as ekcsieai signsii,

sss*2] Fn embi-sdiπjesis of ihe present invsrstiaa, electricsi sigaal 222 is output irotϊi soisnd snpyt cksie ^j it 202 to sound processor 240. Saixnά processor 240 uses ose or iπore of a plurality of techniques to selectively :>rocess,, aπiplify and/or filter olscϊricsi signal 222 Jo generate a processed sig ^jj al 226. Lo certain «xnbodiinersjs. soxsiid procsssoi' 240 :aiay coinpdse SubsUsjitialiy

ihe ϊSJKC iouπώ processor as is used us an air ccBxhscsύϊX! he&risg aid. I-i further embodiments, soi-isd prsjffljssor 240 carsprises; u. digital signal processor.

\(msi Processed signal 226 is provided so transducer drive components 242. Traasdue&f drive COi&poneists 242 ouipui cs drive signal 224, Ia transducer module 206. Based oo drive s%ad 224.. transducer module 206 provides the ourpus fores to the sk:αi! of the recipient

{nm4\ For case of description the electrical signal supplied by transducer drive somposssts 242 TQ irsαsάueer stxsiuls 206 has beers referred to ax drive signal 224. However, is should Ix? appreciated sJKai processed signal 224 may comprise an uπmodjϊted version of processed signal 226.

tSiM«! ;\g uDξed afeov«. in. otse smbodniient of the present javentsoft, Transducer nnodale 206 generates ats r.-supaj force Ks the skxiU that is tsng«Jtial?y directed with respect TO the recipient's skiiH. 7 ^' hs gerssja?ed vibratioisai force is coadscled via Oiicfeor system 2OS sπ. ϊhis ^isbodisϊseat. As is FiG. 2B, m one sssbodkasas of the presgr ₄ t invention, aπcliar system 208 comprises » housing coupHrtg 260 aad sπ sπiplaπsed aiicbor 2δ2, In this sjnbc4imem, housing coupling 260 h used Ki coupk hotisϊijg 225 u> sssplasπed aischor 262. 260 rπsy be rrsecharόcaily cwiψied to trαϊisdacsr 206 or hcusssg 225 siich that vibrational forces ixom transducer 206 QT ftoiidng 225 be mechajuc-ally isaasferred to coupling 260. .For esaϊrφie, ia censia esnb<3<Umeais, coupHng 260 is mechasicaily coupled -;o transducer 206 &ad vibrstioa is received diresUy mer«is«rK. In other embodiments, coupling 260 is Trsechasically coupieci to housing 225 vibmsioo n appUed from u-aasUucer 206 through housing 22S to cαuplmg 260. Sines, siCfiordmg to tfeis ^mbsxiimsωt of she present snvenaon, coupling 260 is :nc-chaπka!ly coupled to uschor 262, safihr>r 262 also vibrates SΏ the. tangential dircclios as uescriksi above. The v ^j braαoπ of asichot 262 will ϊheπ cause the recipk-:u ^* s skull -ø vibrate, rotating ihe retispient's skull around th« rec ^j pk'iit's seek and cause ώe movemem of cochlear fluid to be sot IK S pamcussr moϊioϊs, producing sound perceptions as described earlier,

;<*4S ⁱ in 3ddkk ^; 3i Eo the si«ckuiicai coupling between coiipiiag 260 and anchor 262 dsscrifoαi iibxivvr _v certδHϊ cmbodssπersts of the present mveαdon nisy also siUiise otksr sypes of coupiiags bctwcers the recipient's skxdl and ϊraxssdvicer 206. For example, ;iiϊchcr 262 may be msgπatieally coupled i ^β ϊr335Kiucer 206 such thai tlϊe vibrsiiosai forces generated by tKHSsάuoer 206 are

transmuted magnetic&Uy to anchor 262. Funhenaore, although transducer 206 assd anchor 262 have besϊs presently described as two separate components, it is to be understood that iratisch ^j cer 206 and anchor 262 as described hersiu may be inanufadured as a single or anitary component Cs? mansfsctαre≤ separately arϊd permanently joined together.

sδ3-i7; BO _ϊ >« coTiducEion device 200 say further comprise as interface πuxMε 2 ; 2. Inier&ce module 212 induces one or more components thsx allow ;hs recipient so provide inputs tc _s or receive isfoπrtatsos Scam, siemeats of bone conduction device 200,

l<m$) As SiSo ¹ WS, coϊstroi electronics 246 may fee connected to oas or rsore of iiirerfece module 212, sound device 202, ϊousd prøecssor 240 SBd/or transducer drive cotsponssts 242. Ia esxsbxiirsscab of the presenϊ itϊΫentsoϊ!, based on kpi&s received at isieri^ce moduk 212, oαsrroi ekclrosϊjcs 246 may provide mstructbss to, or request ssfcππatioπ trαsn, other cosiipoftctϊts of bone condacdoω device 200. fc ccriaϊn ermbodimssns, in the absence αf user tepαts, COπϊγϊSI ek'ctrosks 246 GOSϊϊ-DI ihe opersrion of bone cojκmetkm device 200.

|δδ4?l FIG. 3 illustrates εhs conversion cf aa iuput acoustis: sound signal into a vib^tsonai force t\-τ delivery to the recφ3«κt's skiUi in accordance; ws& ersibodsπisnts of bons eoad^ctiors device 200. Ai block 302 ₅ bcsaβ coaductiom device 200 receives κsi acoustic soaud sigj-ai, IH ceπsis snsbodmisnts, the acousύe soysd signal is received via niicπsphoses 202. hi other sjisbodimsms, the sωput sound is received ^ia an ciecϊxicϋl itjput In still otϊiδr embodiments, a iesecoil mtegraSeci in, or cosnecϊδά tα, bone conduction device 200 !iτay be used, to receive the acoustse soujϊd aϊgsisL

sSisSS; At block 304, ihe acousnc soικid sigaai received by bone conductios device 200 is processed by she speech processor in electronics module 204, As explained above, the speech pjoc«S5or may be similar to speech processors used in aeousύe ijcariiig aids, Jn such. embodimcBts, speech processor may selective!}' amplify, filter sad/or modify acoustic sound signal For sx&mpk. speech processor may be used to diminsfe b&okgrousid or other or-wanted noise sigsais received by feose condxsction device 200.

[Sδsss A; block 306, she processed sound signal is provided to transducer sisoduts 206 ss aB c^ekjcsl si^sal. At block 308. transducer modme 206 convssns tiic electrical sSgjjal Into a

vibrational force configured to ITS delivered to the recipiesrs skuii via aschor system 208 so as Ks iliidϊ s hearing perception of the acoustic sound sigrtaL

|θ^3| FIG, 4A illustrates one smbodiπjesn of the bone conduction device 4DO of the present mvemiors, Irs the illustrated embodiment, coupling 460 is shown connected to anchor 452. CoaplJ-ig 460 is configured to deliver the vibrational fores, generated ta&geraially «>bcwc as isrrovs-s 401 ) with respsei to the surface of she recipient's skull, from fcaasdueer 406 is housing 425 to she rscipέstn's skull 136, Ths ϊangentiaily directed vibrational Sxjrce acts OR the recipient ¹ S skuil 136 in a w&y thai Oie recipient's skull is caused to rotate about &s recipient's •ϊssk λx wUi be knows, to persons hsvisg skill in the relevant art, the amount of fees necessary io cause roteiiofs of the recipi«a5t ^; s skull abouε the recipient's neck will b<≥ tlifferexit and substarstiaijy less than the arso ^' uru of force necessary to cause ihe recipient's skull to move in a ϊXia-sOtsϋssg slde-jQ-sjde or up-aπd-dovm sianasr.

iw$3\ Auchor 462 may be attached to tedpieat's skull 136 is a variety of ways. For example. as illustrated is FiG. 4A ₅ anchor 462 may liave a threaded portion 468 at one essd which is to be positioned wijhiϊi or adjsceixϊ to recipient's skai! 136, A canresponding secket 466 may have corresponding threads to recsive sϊie thieaded poriioa 46S such ύmi siischor 462 may he screwed irno sockei 466 io achieve a secure fixation of atschor 462 in recipient's skill! ' 36, Alternatively, is ossj e-mbodimsau anchor 462 ms.y not have a threaded socket as described above baε iasy iristsad i>s shaped koles (not shows) &πnsd is rscipsest's skull 136, wher«irs ύis threaded sπd 468 may have relcasablc eompsiiads which faeliitaie in cbe ibπϊicsJiOH of riεw bone to ϋurmuisd and securely fix anchor 462 is recipient's skofi 136. Other tfie&od of secudng anchor 462 SΏ recipient's skuil 136 _? sow known or laser developed, vdli be obvious to persons having ϋkiiS in ihe sr: and are considered a part of the present invesuies.

I SϊϊS4 : .FKJS. 4B ar.d 4C illustrate in more detail coupling 460 arid anchor 462, respectively. As shews, sjGwpiing 460 is configured Io receive s spεciiscaliy shspsd or configured conrscctϊan end 4? ^Q of snchoT 462, shown. S.R FICS. AC. IH ;hs sini>odiment iHttstoieα in FfG. 4S, latch 4?2 may be operated iβ release anchor 462 that lsss bcesi secured withis cαapiiπg 460 via coruKxtsoπ end 470. hi oξhsr embodiments of the present inverJion, other securing and rekase mecharasms rsay bδ lised, sxϊch as Ox&iien screws which mav ;>e screwed iss ami out to secure and re;«as« anchor

462 so coupling 460. Othώr mechanisms, now known or ^ater developed, will be obvious K? person o^kiH Ia she an and are eaos.kier.sxl a past of the present invention.

issss; Aisa shows in FIGS. 4A asd 4€ is a ring 464 which is coαilg^red fα be positioned or: She surface of recipient's skks 132 sio as to provide a protective shield at the point where ssichor 462 sjnsrgs tlπcugh recipient" s skin 132, Ring 464 may be muds of & flexible material, Risig 4<S4 say also have as least its bottom surface adhered to recipient's skin 132, Furthermore, my gap or spate hεrwesrs ϊhc IIGOOW ce ter of ting 464 and anchor 462 rrsav be sealed so as to prcveat sir or rtioisnκs (nxn eπterkig or εxiriag throogb, tiie opening Ic recipient's skin 132. By providing rbg •%$& with & botwra surfsee adhered to lhc recipk-at's skits, snii by further sealing any g&ps which tπay otherwise sxϊsr between ring 464 snd anchor 462 _} k is possible for ihs aschor of thv prssc-nϊ invesiion to operate over sjtteaded periods of time with a greatly reduced rssk of Hquids aad matter Pterin g or ksvsog the recipient's body, thus redaciag various heal Ui risks suck as irifεcnofi. Although s reia^iveiy simpis ring 462 has been described above, iϊ should be uiϊdsrstood that more extensive co-iflguraiions for seaimg and secisϊng the recipient ^' s body at the «stry poiϊxϊ for anchor 462 jαto the rsclpieat's body may be used sfi sonμmctiGS with err;bo4i:-«eotft of ;hs pre^ersi invsstioπ.

For Lhe sake of explanation, FlG, 5A illustrates traiisducsr 406, rεt«sτed to as transducer 506, sepmϊitejy troin the various other ooεripoωeats of the bone condyciiort device of the present iavejuioo, as descϊihed shove, In certain embodimenis of the present invsation, transducer 506 comprises a mass which, whϋsϊ vibjateu, ∑rsoves j;κearly is a tsngesuai directsoa with respect to the re-cipieni ^' s skull, thus pτύduciϊig vibtaiioaai tores that is t&βgεmlally directed vvith respect to the recipient's >.ku!i,

!&ϋS"| ITS other embodiments of fe« prasεat 5Bver:tic;n, she tangentially αirectsd vibrational ibrce is generated by ϋ noa-ifeesirly »iovhig iϊsass. FIG, 5B ϋkssrsies α HrsS cros,s-secrϊiθω of the transducer 506 iHisstrsted in FIG, 5A. In the embodirfissrt iUustϊated- Js transducer control circus t 586 and a ϊrαsiλducsr power πϊ<x3vsk* SSS is show-;, TIie erolx:ciiniera shows In FIGS, 5λ-5C may S:ϊϊ stiaubk lor jmpiai-tatioa in 3 recipient's skull or «ϊrsfeedded iirider ώe recipiesxϊ's skis.

i»βss| PIG. 5C iπ«str;αe & suesad cru«s-secti;.>;i of yansdαesr Sϋ6 _t in which a flywheel 592 rotates afootst a spindle 5§4 mύά& transducer 506, One or more fly^vheei magnets &nά coils

5 ^£ >6 A-SW)D t eoUstisYdv referred to herain as iiywhed magnets / coils 596) are disposed around the eheumferetsce of flywheel 592, After flywheel 5 ^Q 2 has been pot in ro&tiona ⁾ station, decftieal signal 224 eπsrgises flywheel magnds ■ ^■ coiis 596, causing rlywhesl 592 Sa shift from she origins.! spm-axss trending longksdsnsHy thscugh spindle 594. the magnets / coils 596 are energked according io the eiecssics! signal representing the audio signal received. Tbis shift by flywheel 592 from its αdgiπsl spin-axis will produce a Jerque vibrational lores which is exerted on S(k>, which men cosumsnicaies i&w force to the recipient's, skull in the manser described above. The vibrational force wθ! cause the recipient's skull to ramie about the recipient's s«ck a«d produce jaoϊiori m the cochlear lluid, thsreby prodiicing sound perception as described above. IB OΏS of the pteserst thδ vibrational force Is gensrsiεd by ihc jlywsesl by rapidly changing or regulating ihe speed of the ilywhccl In othsr erαbδdirαftλϊs of ;he presrøi sisveatiosi. tl-sf vibrational force is gcncrsled by the flywhscl as its sp:.ts~&xis is shiJkά Dr interrupted as described above, it is Jo be understood that oshef rechalqsiεs for using s O^vhed s-nechSϊsj ^' caOy coupled to iha rscipieat's bone ϊO generate & vibrational force dϊrecϊe^s tangsntiaily wi'Jϊ ϊesjiect to ύ\& recspleisfs bo«s ars considered a pan of the p?csenι iovestioπ.

J935SS? FIG. δ Uiustr&tύ aπorher embodiϊncrit of iiiώ preseas iπveπiioa ia which bcs&e cosdtJCESOtJ dsvice 600, comprises an external portion and an isnplsnted portion, In bone conduction device 600, the external portion cosiprises ejctemai housing 561 , sxtems; coBϊmusic-ados coaiponeac 660, azid cable 663. Cabls $63 may comprise cs pksraiiϊy x>f ls^ds or cables or optical tϊbers. and is coupled at one end to housing 661 and cxierπai corjtmunicatson comoosϊem 660 and to, for sxample _» a soumi processor (not shown) or a po^sr 5ωθά ^« iii («ot shows) m ths other «nδ. Externa! housiisg δδl may comprise a seciiriisg mecharisrrs snos shown) such as a Hxatiosi msgrsεt which magaeticaily couples to She recipient or to a corrsspcπsitng fixation xnsgaei (not shovtu) that ;s smpiantcd or ssibeddcd in. the recipscrsϊ,

jW ^β : Exteπia) comtsunicatior; component 660 ∑nay eoπiprise a communication c:oii (sot shown) which may bε configured to at kast transmit electrical sigaal to « receiving componers! 662 which rtssy comprise ϊm atstesysa configured to receive the εlectπcai sigrtai taasfrsήled bv exϊsrmal conmiursicauos componsrjt 660. Receiving caruponerit 662 provides ihe received dectriςsl iigna; to various eircuits within impianieά housing 625, inelucmg trsssdϊicer siodule

for fuxther processing and ibr use sis generating tasgestiaUy directed vibrational forces as escribed in conmnclUm mm cthsr esnfeodimeats of the present inventioω.

_S 'XS&S ϊ Ir. ths smbotjiϊϊsent ilhjstra«d In FTG, 6, the implanted portion also comprises ^, a πxatϊc-π pkte 6<>i sxiά fixation scrεv?s 666 A and 666B (collectively referred to as fbcaiian screws 666). As vhυvω, iϋcsues piaie S6& is coupled to she røipksf s skull by ωxsύos screws 666 which seeurd? retails plate 664 against ihe ^kuil Implanted housing 625 b coπOgured so be coiφied to iisaύon piaι« 664. rlo5iss.ng 625 and piste 664 may be configured so thsϊ housing 625 doss sot become integrated or oiherwisa permanesitiv attached the recipient's skull 136 or «i.h«r ϊissϋs. Instead, housing 625 is coritlgui'ed to be coupled, to fixation plate {564 in such a 3m&im«r that it oaa b« removed and repiaceώ with reiadve s&ae. For example _^ clips, screws or soϊϊipressktii fst iaechaaissis ϊtiay bs used io secure housing 625 to fixation plate 664. As deycrihed prsvsovisiy ϊn cmψiticxϊon with other etrtfaodirtisms of rhδ present mveaticn, bone <:o;κiiκ:tion ά&vιc& 600 is used to genet&ϊε vibrational force in a tangcatitd dircciioa with respect to ihs recipient^ skuii such thai the rscipjerst's skail is caused to rotate abαis the redpisrsi's seek ai;d sϊich ϊhsi the motifs causes the recϊpϊersf s cochlear floid to bs sei SΏ a psπicuiar rtsotion &i. audio ϊVequescks. thereby producing strand perception by the rscspisfrt. Further featases of e!τsa->diiτ;et3ts ->f the preserj Jsiventicπ πjay be fouisd is US Prøvi&iona] Patent Application 6 i /Q4i J SS. ft led March 31, 2O08, which is hereby incorporated by referee hercϊa.

\(m2\ Wliiis various <;K;hixHmenU} of She present invention have bees described above, it should fe<; understood thai they have been, preseoied by way of c-xsrrφie only, sad not limitation, Il will be appiiTδnt to persons skiiled is the relevant an thai various changes in form and deiaii cats be mads therein without departing from the spirit and seopώ of the Saveniϊon. Thus, the breadth unά scope of ϊhc prvsssϊ iπvenrioo sliould not be limited by aay of the sbove-dsscrihed exemplar)' sjTjbodimsms, but should be defused otily ia accordance with the following clairtss and their equivalents. Ail patents ajjd publications discussed herein are incorporated in iheir entirety by refersxice thereto.

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