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Title:
BONE CONDUCTION HEARING DEVICE HAVING ACOUSTIC FEEDBACK REDUCTION SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/121101
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A bone anchored hearing device, comprises: a housing, a sound input element configured to vibrate along a vibration axis in response to the received sound signals; and a transducer positioned in the housing configured to generate vibrations representative of the sound signals received by the sound input device; wherein the generated vibrations are directed along a displacement axis that is substantially orthogonal to the vibration axis.

Inventors:
PARKER JOHN (AU)
Application Number:
PCT/AU2009/000355
Publication Date:
October 08, 2009
Filing Date:
March 26, 2009
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
COCHLEAR LTD (AU)
PARKER JOHN (AU)
International Classes:
H04R25/00; A61F11/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2009023738A22009-02-19
WO2005048646A22005-05-26
Foreign References:
US5909498A1999-06-01
EP0836364A21998-04-15
US20070083078A12007-04-12
US6261224B12001-07-17
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
COCHLEAR LIMITED (Lane Cove, NSW 2066, AU)
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAIMS What ss ckimed : ' s:

1. A boae anchored kc&nag device, comprising;

;s. housing; a sound fnpat sbrasnst configured to receive soα«d signals ;md cemprisύsg & trtoveabie cotπponcaε coπi%ys-ed iϋ vibrsϊs aiimg & vibration axis hi response to- the received sound signals; ;κsd

& ϊraTsSckscer positioned in t&iά housing configured to gsaerste vibratsøa^ rspreserstatsvε of the sou«d signals received by said sovnά input skrnsasit, whercm ske generated vweϊbrss arc (ilrccied asoπg a di * p3&c<;?s<?m issis ihat is ssbstaistiaily o^hogsssl to &a54 vibration sxis.

2, TM 1X>ΏC anchored he&dπg device of efci∑xs {, wherein said tnovesbb cotϊϊpoϊϊδm has a substssstiaHy pisnsr surface rhsr ss substantially parsHsl to said dispiacemsnt sxis,

3, The Ixjϊis Sωehøred hesrrng dsvks of c;a?x« 1 % wheκ;m SJ«d tπsissducer Is a picxoδlcctπc trastsduGsr.

4, Ths boas aachorsxl hearing do^dce c<f elsim 3, v/feerein said piezocieαπs ϊrrδϊisduccr is <s>α%urcd to o&ωtrd tfe« ampliiude af the viferstkmx in (h& di * «ctkϊn of die displgecmsrst axis.

5, T-ic hoae ;is<:!>;ored hciϊrisg device of sl&fis I 5 whcrcja ths sound input clsmsat b nχsχ;nϊed øn s rssovsbk sh&fl.

6, Th« bone SΏC bored hcsrf∑sg device of claim 3, wbersiϊi the nrøvabfe xasfϊ is cos%uϊ«d to adji y st xhs mux ή isxp-dt to comcidc with the dispkcssncisf axis.

' K Th« bane anchored hearing dsvice of claim 1, wi5«reis tisc sound 5;ψsst ekτtϊ«n.ϊ b a micros>hox:s.

S. The bone suvko-rcd hesrssg device of claim I 5 wbereis she siovsabic earsposesit is a dsϊspbπsgrf:.

9. A. ϊssihød of rechicixig the acoustic feedback \n a b&tm conduction he&riag device;,

posstioϊώig a sransdacsr is \ha boac coadacrtaa hearing device such tk-d the irsasducsr genets.s«s vibraticns aio^g ose dtspϊ&c<rrκeat axi*; and posilisαmg a soy^d mput element in the boae cøsdticέioa hsariog device $«ch Ibat a πsjvsMsblε cGsijponsnt af the souad input eiecssn. vibra5e§ aksxjg a vibradoa axis that is >«b5laiϊ$isl1y onhogOR&s wish, sssid dusplacemcnt sxis.

10. Ths ;ϊSϊU:u>d of ckim said .%oυad input clemeas ss posixkstisd withis s of the boss soBductiof! hcsriag devise such Jhat said juovssbis component hss & sound isvφiTxging sssr&ce that is substantially parallel xo sakl aispUiccTO.es;- axis.

11. The method of ekisi 9, whereis said trasssducer i» a piesαebc$τic Sran&duccr.

12. The method of cUim U, wherein said piessjcicetric transducer is configured so CSπIKJI •h« ϋtϊ5plijϋ«<3 of the v&ratioas asi^.

13. The method of eisiro 9, ^viκs-siα the sound srφut cieπiear is moimϊcd on. a mcsvsbic shaft.

H, The method sf cbihn B > Esther cerrφrishϊg adju.stmg the ssiovablc sh&fs such th&s ihs. &tmnά inpiύ aiomsot coix-eids^ w-ϊτb Lhα diάplscstnofrt sxis,

i 5. The sBcthod of claim 9, ^hsrefe ihs sound input ctemstst ;s a micraphosc.

16. A sysscrs for reducing acoustic feedback is a boac anchored hearing device, earrsprising: o. transducer positioned wilhiii m the bone conduction hearing device such tfeat she ST&sM&csr generates -vfeatioss along one displaojxsest axis; sad a sound iaptJt demers comprising & snoveabis eostpcmerJ connected to she bofte co!K5«eϊba hcuring dsvicc, «asd nrκ>vs-tbkr sxϊfϊsponent havmg & subataπtf&lly pias&r soυs4 stirώcs t)v&t paraUβi with said άisplacemcst axis such that sski ijousid itψui device does not substsntkUy respond to vibrations generated by s&iά transd cer.

s 7. The system or olaiπi 16, whcrcb s<aid ϊsoveabie eomposscr^ vibrates afoδg s vibrsϊioB axis ih&i b $ybstaϊst5&I!y orthogoasl to &&iά displacsniesϊ g jus.

I s. The systetϊϊv'f claim 16, wheεsls said trarssdycer is a >>ϊe*osk£trύ; ϊrϊinsόucer.

I s ), The syatcπiof clsim IS, whersiϋ sδid pisxoetorie traπ^ ή icer ss coaftgursd us cosuro! the ats-φHtude of ihύs vibradoϊis isi ϊhώ dsrsction of the dispkcemeπt axis,

20. The system βfcSsim 16, -whercm tfec sousid inψm sternest is mourned ©a a nssvahls shaft ,

1 ] . The system or claim ~δ, wbersin ύt£ nss^ahb shall is αonSgiircd to adjisst ϋ ; ιt SΆMVλ imivλ dcπicm to coincide wiϊh ϊh-s dbplacsmc-iit axis,

22. The S 1 VJ 5 ISJn of ckkn ) 6, whereia the sousii input densest is a jsicrαphone.

2i. Th v* syssem of claim 22, wherefs the ϊωavsabb coδφ<κ;eat Ls a diaphragm.

Description:

BO^E CONIMJCTION HIARiNCS PEVICE HAVINCS ACOUSTIC f SETBACK

REDUCTION SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEB APPLICATIONS

\ Thb iAppUcatioa claims the bs&eSε of US. Ptovistosal Application No. 61/045 ,18$, entitled "Bsnc Conduction øOYϊCSS For The Rchabiittatkss OF Besπag Disorders;' Hied March Ju 200H. TisLs s-ppllmksii Is hsrsby incorporated " by refersaee herein.

IW & \ The prύϊsώϊit snwstio-s rslaϊes generally to bos.8 aaohorcd hssnng όcvfce.-i , arsd røore ns.«ic^sars.y f to bϋϊϊc ssschofCi hearir^, de-vices hsviag a fosύback rsductksπ system,

Ht&rim }osx, v/hkh. may >>e doe to many difewí caisses, vs gencrally cf mo types, αimiucϊivc «r sctssoπ mrαral ^n many peop>e who are prot>undh' deaf, the reaϊoa for thetr ab^snce or ticsϊrtsctioα of she hs.ϊr ceils is. ώc cochlea which trassduce aα-sϋjaie mgn&ls imo serve s∑πpuϊses. Varbϋs | >«>^thctϊc hsanxig iraplaats have b-esn d«τ«kjpsd to provide indfr ideals who suiϊef fem χexiscrir.eura.i hearing b^s ^-ita the ability to psrecύvs sotmd. One such proxthcric hearing iπφύu« is reicϊτed so as a cochis&r im^laat. Cochlear iπ-piants use &n electrode array ϊϊϊφlsπtcd ns H K : «κiiic& sf ύ rocipiest to byp«m the sτsecha.βisrπs of the? car. More specifically, art ebαxical sϊsτsiϋhjs is provided vb the eketrodφ array directly to the cochica nerve, thereby c-cRs&fog a bsariag scn.vatk?is,

pXiO-Si hssϊing IG*S αseurs whoϊs the aorm&l rsschanka? pathways to pr&vscls soand Ja hair cells ia the cochlea are smpsded, far «?.smp!c, by damage to thv ossictslsr chain so ssr cznsX. £io\v«^c: \ sndividyab who seller from cosdyciivs htarisg loss may stϋ! hs^e sosic ibrrn. af r^ϊdual hesrir^; bscauss the h&ιτ cells ss ιh« cochlea ate may remain isridamaged.

ξøδδsj Individuals who suffer frois soπdisϊtive hearing loss arc typie&Ily sot cssuikl&ies fcr s cochlear implant <hse to sha irrevers&ie nature of the cochlear mψiam, Specifically, i&serdos. of ihs slce&sάe arrsy imo a recipients cochlea exposes she rccJpieat to risk of the destmctleπ* of the cfsajorήy of hss ' r cells wit am the oschlea. " His destruction of the eoehles h&ir eelli .results m the toss of all rsκkk;d ho&nssg by the rcsipScss,

i$Mt > \ Rather * jndividuab suffering from, conductive bearing ksss tvpioaUy receive Sλ acoustic heariisg akl referred to as a aeantϊg &iά hssain. Hearing aids reiy on principles oi ' sur conduction r.o iraii&iriϊ ^coα.sdc sigπab tlsrsu^h the o^ter asd middle cars JO the coclilcs. sa psrticul g r, & hokthxg aid fvpicajly uses s.a arrsmgemerit positioned is ihe recipient's ear c&nsi to amphty a souses rccαivsd by she outer car of the recipient. This ssjplLlxcd sα«ad reaches ϊbe eachka &s<l census snoiion of th« coobloa Quid »nd stimulation of the cochlea siair celli*.

psr?i liiiforviiuatcly, aoϊ all individuals who suffer from coudactivs hearing bxs ax« able to derive sastsbb benefit fh>κi hcsrmg aids. For esaπφlc, soπie individuals ars prot-s to chroosc inflamrnsitksϊs or iaCec;bn of ?hε e^r c-asml asd cκnaot wcsr hearing aids. Other kdrndisslά aavε j-s&sfermed or ahsexifc aytsr ear asd ' or rax csiftals as a rcϋuϊt of a birth defect, or ax a rεsαit of medics! coaditioss such as Treacher CoIHm S}?sdror«« or Microtia. Furthensor g1 , hcaritϊg sidϋ csr® t^scaHy '.λsssjstabb for iBdivkiuals who auffsr fern ssngie-sided deaføess (total hearing iøsx osly is one csπ. Cπ>ss «ids have bsen developod lbr single sided deaf mάlvidusls. These devices receive ϊhe so^ad frcjn she deaf side «mii OΏC bearbg aid and present lhb signal (either via a dκεot elsctricai cotstjsctksω or wtrebssly) to a hearing aid which is worn, on the oppose side. The dissdvsnr&gώ δf ihU techisobgv k !hc need mr the isirvidual t« wesr EWO hsariag aids sad suffe the eojripye&iksϊϋ} of hssrkig sid use.

lOOθ^l Whca aa imih'idαai havmg fuUy tViactiosal hearing receives sa bput so^nd, ?he sound is ϊr&r^mkϊed k> she cochlea via two pnnsary mechanisms: sir cosductios ssd bosc coaductiot?.. As mteά abovs, hcsrbig aids rάy prinjaπiy or * &e priacipies of air coϊsducϊios. In oomr&st, atbcr dsvic«s, referrvϊd k> as hose condaction devices, rsly predomisanlly o« vibraUoii o f the bosses of ώ« r«cφicαts sskuU to pκjvid« sscoυ&tic sigasls to the cochlea.

(»>! TIioic mdivϊdu&Ls who osoxiot ύsάyς. ui&sblc beneSs S«πι hcarmg aids may benctlt ftxjra bo jsc cossduclion devices;. Boats cQsductioω devices; Smction by ccRvsrihig & received sound ssto

& mecbiiniαU vibration representative of the received sound. This vibr&tksn is ifes transferred to me bene siractyre of the vibration resell* in. motion, of fee fluid of ιh<r cochlea. Hair cells ssstd« the sochka «re r«posssve to this sxnion of the cochlea fluid, thereby geser&tisig nervς iπψyis«s rcsϋiMag ia the pexq>ut>iϊ. of she received sjujid,

;0§i!>s A bϊowϊi akemsitive to & normal sir cotiduαioa hcsritig aid is a bone conduction bearing aid which use.s « hearitig aid to drive a vibrator which is paskcd against ϊls« skull vk s ϊπccbsnism, tϊuch aa glaas«s or wire hoops. Thc?s devices are generally uiicomfbttable t« wear un<L for some recipients, srε incapable of gcaerasiπg suffissani vtbratios to assciir&tsly preseni cerUsisϊ received SOIKSCS IC & rccspjcst.

SUMMARY

{Q§n$ in oae aspect of me iπwiiπαn. a boss: anchored heating device is provided. The device coxnpxisc;*-: a housing, a sound sspuf ekmsttt positioned in th« hmssisg configured ϊa receive sound ^gωϊu*. and a Jnsjssducer positioned is the housύϊji configured U> gessrsue vToratsoiss rspresc&t&iive of the sound άi goals received by the rnisrophose, wherem xha g«rs.crated vibrsiϊoss arc άkccK'd -.'bag ;i dlv|>kώerαesiι axis, and wherein the souad mput element is subsύmuaiiy sliest! win-; the di>>ρ&ccm«&ι axis, such thai vJbfstJotis isdυccd to xh& sound hψui denies? άrs

another aspics of iha invention * & mcthoύ of reduemg tho acsustϊc feedback is a bone cot5«tictk>« h&srisg device ϊS provided. Tho laethod, a rransduccf in J he ixsne cossJiϊctloϊx hearing devise <ftich i-has the transducer gtTiCrate? vIljj-aέiooλ aiarsg ose displaccmcϊit sxL\ snd poikJonJng a ."cousd mrnu ^lemsnt is the boαe conduct foδ hearing device such lki? ii is subβsasti&jϊy slig-ied wϊlh the dispiacesi-sat axlv. such that vibrauoTis induced to the sεsiiδd 5Bps.it slemeat srs rsducsd.

jSδssi Is another aspecs of the ;nventk>ω, u system for isducmg aooxtstie feedback in. a bone ssk-horod hsarisig device Is provided. The j.ys.tem coπsprises: s rrsnsdsecr positioned w y hia ia s«e borø coixiuciisπ hcδrlng device such that she trassduce * gsasntes vtbratsons skmg OΏC άss^iscement ^sJs, arid a .sound mψat eSemeat positioϊtcd Ia tb& bβπc eoβduction hearing defies &;id sjibsiastkHy aligned with tho di&piaeetπsst axis, tixch msx the vibrations iϋduecd to I be SξKiωd it-put eicsyscjϊt src reduced.

ERiEF D ESCMFTlON OF THE DRAWINGS

iseu; Ilkxtr&dve smbodsmesfc; of the present invention are described hsreώ wiih rcfcren.ee to ώe siccompssymg arswbigs, is which:

μM>B! FIG, 1 ss a perspective cutaway vie-w of a hi∑m&n. car and s boπs coodXicϋoa device implanted bohiαd the ear b wkich smbodkacHiss of the pretest iϊivcstJoH SE&V be advantageously irrspUjraested;,

\βm&\ FIG. 2A is a macTiossl bbck dsagrsrs. of ss embodasem of s hose conduction device is sSccordiisce: vjth osiώ eτϊ3lxχjiiBcnt oflhc present tnvcrϊϊiαa;

jSiH?] FKi. 'IsI ϊ» a 5ϊs.ore detailed iunc-tiosai block ά&grajn of ιh« hone ootiύucrk>n device of FsO, 2A itx &ccϊπάmκ.c with one csubodsmsnt of the present Inventios;

tsoϊg] FIG. 3 is SΏ exploded view of sn embodiment of a bosc conduction device 1Ώ sccordasice wish ose ertUxKlitϊϊeat of FKJ. 2B i& accordance with one embodimsnt of the present inveatiors;

{mn9\ FIQ. 4A is a schematic diagram of a boae saaductϊoa device with a» ixstømi sound irφat ckrπcm suspended &om she housing via a vfbr&t ios dampcnaig caupHsig member:

!§f>i«l FKi. -4B is ;s top perspective view of a bone conduction device vλxh a soαπd input skmsnt rnoajircd extemaiiy to aάiά kousiπg via a vibmtioa d&ssp^rώsg csispHjig ϊn-e-siber; a cross ssctioπa! view «f fee flexiljle connector of FIG. 4B taken sfcng llae 4C-4C in Fig. 4B;

|8«52Ώ internal soα^d isput ek;mc;iϊ suspended from die housing via a pϊuraifty of vibradoa daxnpcaisg coupiiRg member;

fδ&-35 FIG. 5λ Ls a .scksjϊatic diagram of s bor*c cossductbsi dovice w ή h & mscxx>ρbos« posit ϊoaεd saoh iliat s disp&ragra of the microphone is oriented sabstaati&liy psrsile! to ths tfsnsducer vibrado&j Ia accordsrsc« with øas eiabodiaseas ofths present invention;

|8f>24] FIG, 58 is a. schematic, diagram showisg the relative orientation of a di&ρfcragπmic πύcropjsoϊϊs aad its coticosώaκ5 viferatiof: asds and shs axis of the transducer, m aαxsrά&see with, one cnibodisXciiE of the present tavernioa;

s ;δ0255 FIG, 5C ' is s simpli^ud diagram of a dynamic microphone is accordance sv;th αse cm?x5di:i;§at of siiδ ;srεv;s3t iovandon.;

ISOJSj FKJ. SEi is a sisspϋJsed dsagrain. of a αsadesser ω3.ϊc.rop.eκsj3c is accord&scs with oae STnboϊiinfiςst of ϊhs present ήwemloo;

■«Kϊ2~] FIG. 6λ b & system bbck diagram of a bone conduction device with a bone anchored ho^ng and a separate irJcrøpboϊϊc housing;

|δ<sϊS] FlO. 6B iλ a pcrspeci ive view of 3 bone csndiiCtbn device having a txsetrmhems; sepsfϋtcd froffi ;hs bo.nc ancharsd hoυsingj axsd

|§is3^ RO, 7 ss a How chart Ulustrating the kspUtsusikjn of ϊliδ boae ccrsdϋctjor* device of FIGS 6A &nd 6B hi accordance wirh oae emboditfietst of the prcsem investion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Eoibodimeriis of the prssstn mvenlie-n are gct-ϊjraiiy directed to & bone cond»c!.bsi device for convening s received, aeoαsric sound signal kto s mschamcftl force &; delivery to a rcαpicst'r; skull 'The OOΏ« conduction device includes s housing having a sønαd kipnt corapon^t j such as >αkτø phone, to receive the acousiic sound signal, as dcctro«ics module configured ϋ> gcncram an Metrical agssu reprcsestktg the aooaώSie scαstd ssgrasζ and a transducer cαnvm the etecm'ca! signal bio & rrseciiaβical IXJTCS for deliver;/ ϊO the rώcψissωt's skull The tπuusducsr is coaftgur^d tc gsπsrate vibraiioas substantmiiy afeag oaε dispiacemest:

device 100 in which ςmbodkysems of ihe preset irtvctstion sr;s.y h& advastageoissty In a MIy tuxiGtion&l biuruia hs&s-ssg ϋaatomy, outer ear 101 campsiscs &tk mrkte 105 and an csr canal .UKJ , λ SøUTKS wjiYc or aeousήc pressure 107 is collected by auricle 105 ar=d chaimcleά ώto aϊid ξ hro y gh aar easiu 106. Di«possd across tbc distal end of car carsal 106 is n iynφ&rdc rrnrϊiOϊrsRC 104 wkich vibrsses is ra^ponxs ϊO ac<Jλs&tic ave IG?. This vibration is coupled to oval wsdow or fenes t ra OVJ U SS S !0 through S ^ γ C G bones of mfddls ear 102, collectively referred to US the ©sxscies ; 1 11 asα sσnψrisiag she maUeus U2, ihe SHOUS H 3 &;κi the ssspes 114. Bones 112, I B ssά U 4 or mklclo C S? 102 serve JO filter &sxd assplsty acoustic wave 107, casing ovaϊ w j ^dew U O £ 0 ϋπjcuiaje, or vibrais. Such vjbraέton ^cts xsp waves of fluid matson y nϊhm cochlea 115. Sseh Suid triodon, is tuns, csedvsm cochlear huir cells fact S!X>WΏ}, Cochisisr h&k calls come us two Sϊϊ atonύcsliy aod feϋctioπaϋy distiscr typ«s; th& outer &nά tescr haϊr cells, Ac-tiv&aon of one ox tnore types of εhώss lmk cells csuscδ appiopriate serve impvus«s f.o be tramiV^d through the spiral g&rjgUon. e«!is aa<5 aydϋoty ssorv« ! ! 6 to the brain C&m sho^it), where they axe perceived as sound.

mm FIO, 1 suso illustrates the of bass coftdyetion devke 100 ϊektivc to o-mer ear 101, rssickUe esir 102 sad ismer SJγ 103 of a recipient of devise- IDO, As showts, boos device il)0 rϊϊsy b« pashiosvxl behiad outer sssr 10! of she reei|>ieBt.

imzy hi ιh« srsibodiments ilhistraisd in FIG, L bone coαducdoa devfeδ K ) O comprises a hoyxmg 125 having a ϊrsicrGphβrss 126 poMioacd thereπs or ihereos. Housssg 125 iϋ coupled K>

she body of the recipiem via coupling 140. As described beknv, bosxe cosdycuoa device 100 may cosϊψπse s ^osmd processor, a mtsisάueer, tra&sduocr drive co∑rtpo∞ass asd/or various other eiecsronie circuits/deviccs,

i®$$4] in accordance with embedments of the prssest investύsn, SR anchor iystsrs foot shown.) may he ύspknsed in tho rcc-picra, As described bcϊώw, the anchor system may Ix? fixed k> boss 136. Ia various embodiϊaerλS, ϊ&s sschoτ system r&ay b<; implanted xiϊtder skin 132 within m>i&c;e 134 sad/or 3%s: 12B, ϊΏ ccrtais emlxKUmsafs, a coαpimg 140 attaches devks 100 to tfcc kachor system.

|!"Kϋ3?\ A fiiβciion&l block diagram of otic cmbo<ltniem of base ccadxscnoa IGO, referred Us as b<sπ« vOJKbctbϊs device 2(Cs, is S1ϊ«Wϊ- : i& FKi. 3A. Is the iiiusirsfed cr^bodimeot, a sa-md 207 is teseivsd by a seund fapi& ekmssst 202. Its &oτne embsd-fωϋtsϊs, sound input ek∞sem 202 s$ a ■Bicrophose cos€gured tc> receive sound 20?, aod to canvest so««d 207 into su eϊsctrkal 222. A^ described be!o x -v. in δϊhcr ^robsdimetsts sound 207 πt&y rscdved by sound rnpMi 6i&m&m 202 as as eiecfπvs I signal. element 202 to sxi ekcfrø-ftϊc*, module 204. Eiectrouics module 204 is configured ;o COEIVSπ dεctricsi sigaai 222 into an sαiy»i?d ckcϊrscal sigtial 224. As dsse;ib<xi bsiow JΏ marc detail, daciϊsπks module 204 HKiV mehsde a soαsd procesior, oαrtr^S «?ccJroa!£:s, stasxsdacar drive coπsporsoπt?, afiά & VSS-JcLy of of her δlδsϊϊsais.

•§D3?i A^ shells is FlG. 2A, s Jrsssduecr 206 rscsϊvcs adjusted electrics! signal 224 aad gQiεrϊϊlcs a jj-ssjchisrssca! output ferco that ss dεlivcrfed ϊo the skull of the rsεips<?ai via ao arscbtsr <,}• ■■ « cm 208 coupled ϊQ horn c&nd^c& ' sa device 200. Dehvery oi ibis ouipyi ibrcs causes oae or !ϊs»rs of motios or v;brars>o of the roeφiems skull thereby adivatisg Use hair cells in. the cachsea v j s ύociiks Huic motion.

im&] FIG. 2 A also iikistrstes a power module 2 ) 0. Power srsodab 210 prcidcx cbetdca; power Jo oss or rnssrc coispoϊi«s3t5& αf boas conduction device 200, For <κsse of iiksstratkπϊ, pζs>vςr sωc-d le 210 sss bees shows eoanecεcd oxtly vo mtsr&cc 212 sad e-locttosiis

ϊϊsoduie 2ϋ4. H y wttvεsr, it should bs appreciated that power sssduic 210 may he used Ks supply power « ar.y ciceldeaiϊj- powered esrcuϊts/compo&oωts of boss conduction dcvk:s 200.

\ma$\ Bøae coaducrioπ άtsvios 200 farther includes as interface module 212 that aibws the recipient to sstsmct -wife dsvies 200 For example, feεerfacs nxxfclc 212 may allow the reetpsem to adjαsi the volume, alter ite speech processing strategies, power o&'off ihs device,, etc. Inscribe module 212 «ommujϊkai<;s with. πκjdul» 204 vja ssgnas Sine 22S.

\w®) hi ύiQ umbaάϊrnzrλ ' ύhnsinatsύ h PlG, 2A, sound pickup device 202, electrøπies niodals 204, 20f>, power moduk: 210 and isterfsce module 212 havs all been shown as integrated m & skrφε housing, referred to as hotsssag 225. However, it should be apprecs&ied that in ccrtairs embαdiπ^ωts of the present jjiventiotϊ, oae or m&rss of the illustrated e&ajpcments may be housed Irs separata or ds ' SVrent hsusϊjjgs. Simj]&rly, it shouM also Ix? appreckied thsst IϊS. sαeh smb«di. j rscsts s vαπo^s moduk-s and devices are no; aec-essary wad that the via wireless connections.

FlG. 2B pmvldcs, a ∑syre detailed view of bo;ie conduction device 200 of FIG. 2 A, Is the iikisϊratcα smbodsfaest, cbcixoTiics module 204 comprises a sound ρroeesse>r 240, traasducer c'rive coπsTJ&rssnJs 242 aad cosJrol alecttonics 246. As espl&bed alssvs, m certain embodiments so y iid ύipui ckaissn 202 eompmcs a sucfophone conSgured to convert & recoiv^d ac«s«$tic . - ; i » τ ; aϊ irκo cfectrieal sigϊial 222. fø other embadκne.Bts 4 as detailed below, sound input element 202 srseeivss 207 ss an electrical sigtul

prø] is embodimetsts of !.hc preheat isvenrsoa, όl«sctncal signal 222 is output item sousd mpvi i-km-snt 202 m soiiad processor 240. Soxmd procsssor 240 uses osxe ør isxϊrc of s plurality of kϊ selectively pmeass t &i;npiiiy ajsd/or lϊker ofeeϊricsl signal 222 to generate a pf«cess<sl sϊgϊis! 224 A. Ia censb embodϊmcrus, sound processor 240 may comprise Siϊbsπs-ϊUaϋy the same sousui processor as ss used ui ais air cosduciioa hesriδg &iά, In further cix& Q ύirύQmSt so and processor 240 ootτipr>sc§ a <|ig£tat signal processor.

ISiKo! PiK-cssxed sigrϋϊl 226A is provided u> tr&πxducer drive eornpoπems 242. Transducer drive oomposeats 242 oiitpuϊ a drive sigssi 224B, co ir«Bsd«eer 206. .Based on ώτv<í sigasl 224S, srϋaiduccr 20$ provsdδi six? otitpat rbrce to the -ikuil of the redpseπr.

i δδ -H] For assc of description, the deetric&t signal supplied by transducer drive compo«.es j s 242 to Jismsduccr 206 ists seat referred to as drive sigaai 224S. However, a should be apprecksxxl that pross & vϊd signal 2248 tnsy comprise &a untnodiiuxl version, of processed sigrsai 224A.

\s&4£\ As aotcti άlxwe, transducer 206 generates &n output force io the skuU of the recipient vs& anchor jjysleπi 208. Aa AOWSϊ k FIG. 2B, anchor system 2OS cosϋprises a ooupliag 260 and ss xπψiasJ-cd t x nαhor 262. Coupling 260 may be atrachcd to ons or xno;-e of 5rα$>κ4ue£r 206 ;■ ; 5 øijs;sg 2.2S, For aαmpie s te sπ-sboeJmertts, coupiisg 260 is attached to transducer 2i } & ajϊd vibratfsπ is appUe-d directly thereto. In other Diribodiπxtals, cøupliag 260 k ϋltacfccd to housing 225 ^d vibratksn is applied irosi transducer 2€6 through housing 225. is FlG. 2B ? coap&g 260 is coupled to an sachof impϊ&sϊsά in ih« recipient, rcfeπ-ed to as imp^astsd anchor 262. As «xpsaϊseci with reference So FIG. 3, irrφkstεd sncbor 262 provider ax- sIsmsωϊ ύι$i transfers && vibration from coυpiisg 260 to die skid! &£ the redpicTsl ξ8$v*7f λi riousi alx>vc, a rscipisst fn&γ c^nrroi various mseihns ef the device via j πtcsrface πx)ώi)o 212. ImsTUicc snoύul≥ 232 sachides ons or πKSγS cos-pθ2.gκts ώai: cslk>w ώ« srcctpiersi to D røvldc sspiits lo, or receive ϊaκsπ«atson. from, skrr^ss of boas cosductioti device Si»0.

ϊø S ' M S ; As &howt!, conssroi clectiαsics 246 xn&y be coκn«Cted to OϊS or 3ote or imsxrf&ca Hsodute 212. -sOJiftd piskvφ device 202, acamd processor 2«0 sr * d/or ϊrsϊisduvsr drive eon^os.sta:s 242 , Ia etrixxurr K 'sϊϊs »f ϊhs present irtwnuon, based oa iapats received as interface module 2 ) 2 t sotstrol eϊc«tros.ιei; 2^6 m&y prøvide kκh-uctioκs to, or request ia&π&aibs from, otfesr casrnp&'ieris of bine csnductKis device 200. & cεrtara stnbodixassBts, m ffecr ahscses of li&sr ispuls, costiOi δbctrosics 2.46 coairof ϊbe δpcrstbϊi Qi bone conduct bϊλ device 200,

{$®&\ FIG. 3 ilhisiratcs aa exploded view of ons osshodimeBi of bosc asndactias 280 of FICS. 2A and 28, rsfexrt-d to hsrds as borse coudacsion device 300. As shown., b&rss eotsdueuos device 300 comprώci; < ra ^nbodkeest of clcotroaics modiiϊ« 204, referred *s> as olccrmnics tTtO duic 3δ4. As ϋspkined sijovo, included wkixϊn ciectrotiks rnodtds 304 are a «xκ5d processor , transducer dive corxspoaents asd COSSTO? sicdroaics. For case af jiiastrssiion, -h«se cotϊsportttnts 3.

;Ms § ! In sfcs iUtisiraied embodsrnyau electronics module 304 i&e-iudcs ss prjstcd circuit beard S 14 (FCB) to electrically connect and rosch&mcaliy support ika compoacssts of eteεεtomcs module 304. Alraόεd to PCB 31-1 are one or mote sssusd mpui elements, sbow-i aj * microphones Bδ2 Jo icώdve a soisnsi

[9SSM Is sse IHustrsted bøn≤ osjϊducifcsn device? 300 iαiter compn.ses bakery shoe J s O R>r ^applying power to compunsms (ή άeviez 300. Bastery s.toe 310 may bcitidc one os: mofs ^t S er j Vs, §B certain t'mbadsmems, PCB 314 h attacked to s coaueetor 376. Corrector 376 is c»rdlgurc<i io raaic with battery ^hoe 3!0, IB cenais c∑abcdim^tS t coπucctαr 176 and battery shoe 310 may be rs;k-asably ssap-bcked to one another- Furthenno«?, in such uBϊbodfcsetsts. <jt5<5 or marc h&ncry coxuiccts (mt .<hownj are disposed Is cotmector 376 iύ aesino&lly COSω< ϊ CS IMU «?ry shoe 3 K ) vv^a <:!octrosϊic ^ . sπoώile 304.

iht. emixsdascRt aks&ϊraϊcd is. FIG. 3, bone conduct bs device 308 farther iutiud«s a E^vQ.past hϊϊussng ?^5, cymprisirsg first housing porrion 325A snd secos-d hoassng pe-rt;a« 325B. Hoαsϊng portions 325 srδ cesnfsgursd to mate with o«c aϋβthwr io s&h&tamjully ss^l bone? coβd-ACtioϊi dcvke 300.

18«?3j ! -ϊ the? ombediisent of FIG. 3, ftrs * houMng portios 325A has aa opcnmg thcrcϊs. $br rcceivk" b&n^;\ 5hj>$ 310, In. such emlxjdlmcnts, bauery shoe protrude uhroug^ 3nst hoxising ponbss i^5λ snd jaay be rexnoved or ifiserred by she recipient. Also in the ilhisJraTod omkidimαat, πϊicropkv;>e covers 3^~ arc rclcssably ats&chcd to Srst housing ponios 325λ. Micrsρhoss« 30^ is ρrs;s« jjiitTophoαsss 302 fro jri uust, din oroϊbcr debris.

[SMS?-*! Boϊie cctKiiicaos device 30€ fWihsτ isciudes <m embodiment of irøerf&cc mø4«Is 212. rotVrfesi so h«rεii5 as snεerfscsj modisic 312. ister&fre module 312 s > conϋgu?ed. to p∞vϊde or r&csivc utíer sspyϋ »rom ths reclpienr, m FiG. 3, bone emduenoϊi. device 300 coϊsψrisαs sisϊ embodiment of rsssitαccr 20 β , rsfcrrød Iv.- as transducer 306, 306 g&oemtsts an auiput three that e&i&es movement of the cochlea fesd scs that a soyncJ may Be £K?re«αred by the redpleftt. Tbe ouϊp^ϊ ferca rnay result ' in mu-chntno&l vibration of die recipient's skull or in physical move/ncttf

of ih& skull sbout the neck of the recipient. As noted above, in certain embodiment, bo&c cos&scsfen. de^ie« 300 delivers ih« output fbrce to the skull of ώc recipient via as anchor system 308, Anchor sy^eai 30S comprises a coupling 360 and iniplamsd anchor 362» Io shs ciϊibodimctst sllastrsϊss m FIG. 3, sxrupiisig 360 is ecmilgϋred to be attached to sso&sd housing pαrikssi S25S. As &&h t In ώis cmbsditrs&at, vibrarlaa Ssm transducer 306 isi provided ϊe ocsup S ing 360 through homing 325B. Is ths sπϊbødinteM shown m FlG. 3, an. opening 3β?j is provided us sec»;:d h<susijig pβsisorv 325B. A (not shoe's} snsy be inserted ihrougji op«ohϊg 368 to sU&ch trartsditcer 306 to coupling 360, !& such fembodiroerus, m O-riag 3H0 rosy be pTOvkj«d. lo seal opening 368 arousd the screw.

j085«i As tio&ed abov^r, c:nchor systeπt 30S ssaisidcs smplarstcd anchor 362, Itrspksted sa>ch«r 362 coπϊprises ci bous SVπϊW 366 iisplssiJed in the skull of jjse asd an abutment 364. \n sK Krtpi&svxd cotutgujaJio», ACγCSV 36$ proSrαdes frors the recipient's skall through the skits, Abuϊϊswai 364 Ls attached ss screw 366 above thss recfpisπfs skia. Irs. other eaiboάisasnis. iib'isssciϊt 364 iwd si.τcw 366 may Ix? integrated iαu? a single implantable ;:.<5O's|X-)EScnr. Cmipϋng >60 is cani%«rx;d to be roieasably atϊ&chεd to sbuttsesi 364 to create a vibratory pathway between tratssducer 306 a;\d the NIγUU of die recjpicsu.

:^s>sτs ϊn akfiπsadve ssibodijsctsts of She srcsssit mveatiosSj Ixjnc ecadiictica device 300 may votnptϊse \ϊψ&i cicπicnt For essniple, hsna cosdueϊion device 300 stay ajs elcciπcsl iϊψut ϊr» such embodiments, tho efectriea! lrspat U coaπgorαi to ςxmaect device 300 so external equipment and receive an -sisetnea! sound $igts^4 dirpcfiy th-crsfem. The cksϊrica! hψvt rts&y pcrαnt toac conduction device 300 ts be eonx-ected to, ibr oxasπpk 1 , FM .hearing systems, MPS piaycrs, televisions, meblle ph«δss, etc.

Iδ .still ether a iisnhcr ioyjsd input element ia the form «f a iekeaii may be integrated is, or costneeted to, bone eoaduetsaπ devscε 300, The tekeaii pcπsits bone conduct bu device 300 to s-εcssvc inpui signals tro-m ^ tor exa∑ϊipfe, s telephone or other similar device.

js&Ss'i FIG. 4A ilhisϊrsiiϊs aae gsibodimssst of Sαae- conduction devise 2(K) 5 depicted as hone e-ond ' Uδuoω device 4CM), sαciudss s bo-5-.ιng 402 asd a cox£&i«r 404 Ibr reøioveabiy atiachin.g the housing 402 to as aacho^ suck as anchor 262 (Fig, 2B), Ia this erabodsment, the hoiisssg 402 isciudcs, assoag oihcr cooφoBeris,. a mkrophojϊc or souxid input ck:me&! 406 ssά a

transducer 4OS. Additionally, tlus housing may include a sousd processor, m cieelrosies sKϊάiite, a power 4j4>urc8 and aa inleri&cs ^sadi of each iv sot shovra), or atry other suitable component, as described herein. The ϊ&pm clsisiexa, as described above, .receives so&sd waves, which sre sent to the soαsx! processor. Souad processor m turn may amplify or alter the signal sad send tins skere-ά signal to Uie sm^ducer to impart vibratkms Js She ssεhør,

saw. Us one embodiment, sound irψni element 406 is s&ypertfied from tbs housing or cσυpfod to any other ϋuhabie jjoπjoa of the b:sae arschored dsvjcc ^00 -uxiαg flexible shaft or yibrsifoa dsrn.pcaiτ5g coupling SϊϊCKJϊJCγ 410- By -vUiachisg she squad iaput dement in ilύs misr ^ ner, fee λOund irφut ek'jfscnt msy be i^kssa Scam the mechaiucai vibraiks^ g«norat«d by the trsπsducsr, thiiN roduoisg fe«dbϋck έhroiigh ihc ficsusd kpm ekmεϊit isi other words, she recipient sf the boss coi;d»ct;-oit device was have feedback p^rceps syfoaϊsiiϊiaiJy reduced o? eHmmsted,

:9Si;$! !ϊ5 aae «iϊsbodiπ>eπϊ, the sousd sαput Ls πϊousϊed mtcmasiy of housing 402. The coupling merϊibcr way be a rsbbcr siesvc or other ocmfϊgsrδUøϊϊ that is cosfigurssd to allow the vousd iTipϊϊt eSemcsu so tπctjocaily St tkcrcm. ϊB OOC etrtbodtmsm, coupihtg member m&y be coo pled so she scund ixψm -elώment via oprøirsg 4] I at one end thereof that aJkswN ssix:«s to &n ύjtcπ$3,! ϊϊpscc 'SKUVi??, Ths ^ouml input ύkmerr; αsay have.4 disaster slightly larger ths∑ϊ opesssg A i I . «has cre-ssing a sceurc, bui rsmovabk? fit for ihc somxύ irφtit dement. Ir 1 othώr embodiments, til's cGupUsg is a coriaecsor feπned of other suhabl« m&serial, suck as siiieon, foam mάJat «sy oώcr ^iitabie n>£ώerial or cotsbisauos of maierials. H is i&tzu tlxat each of these ;r;stcriaJs stay h&ve Cs diftercr.t spring ssoastast yr ability to άssnpan the vϊbfatioas,

;&?!« ; Ia ORC embQdϊqtώnt, coupling syscsnbs? 410 >s coupkxl to hou.ϋkg 402 cst poisn or besSJoπ. 4 09 <a ; d to t hsj .voαnd mp«t eieraem 406 at s. pomt or 1-oesuioπ 413, In thus embodiment; the vibrations impsit g d to the ssund smparM to the sousd inpiii zlsrzmit are reduced or ϋstcsyuaied fτθ!ϊ5 pom or locatfos 409 to point or location 4- i 3. IB other words, due is the sφήv& eoMϊant arsd the attemsation of Jbc CDUpbiig ϊaeniber 410, the vibr&tkms inripaited to the sound Input ehnwnt «rc. red ced ωoag the Isπgth of the eou&ling mcmbsr 4iG,

iϊUfeSj In Xinie vibrsiiois abxorbsng mstcris! sπay disρ<«εd bctwses the αouph ' siu πϊetϊiber stxά the βouπd sksmeut to tunhcr atienuate ϊhe vsbratioos uαx'rsssd bv

>

said Srsnsdtsccr. Far example, tfes cαupiiag member τπ&y he a rubber sleeve smd she addiέfeπai vthrsitkjn materia; tsay be a layer of foaπ- bcfwecti s:hs coupling sad the sonsid itφm δkrrmmt.

■W*i hi one embodiment the coupling may be a spring or ilsxibk* shaft with a lew spπx-g cosrisssnπ howcvsr, the spring corsst&st irssy be any dessred sprmg cαt-si&si- The ikxsbie shaft ■τsϋY be formed Crosi rrtct&l or pi&sde ar any other suitable material or c»>:ftfem&l:ion of materkϊs. Its this ?bδ ,«nsr t d input ekrressϊi may be <!eiachabie from :hs houssag, such ihaϊ the λ.prisig CKssϊntsnt or stlifeess of the flexible shaft may b<5 easily changeable oτ sciccx&blt as the power sprisg a<.mstast<i tny prøducQ less feedback based ou ihs mnpilnias of vsbratton of tha trassduccr. hi -his ibe llcsiisb shaft msy be selected irons a plurality of llexibk skaiU, each ilcxibk- shaft havsag s diffcrctst spring cosst&rst or stiffens.

|δδ&Si FIG. 48 ϊiksjxδtsx one ^mbodiiasni of boss? coaduGds« device 200 s depicted as bone CQncuctkixj device 450. In this otftbodsroens:, boae csfiftdtictioa device »50, is substsistsaMy s:mi!sr to devicύ 4Qϊi; isowsver, sot;πd ;sput deπ-«m or microphone 452 ϊs møunsed os:κϊπϊai!y of hfisisiϊϊg 454 at pomt or bcatioti 45S. In thi^ cn-todimenJ, v^sratiot: d&raperuKg cssupimg member is flessijie sh<;fs or ostsϊϊsioa 456 dsa$ extends øuϊwsrάly aad oxtemally fem U-oa&sBg 454. \Ώ »ms ctnfaodimenis, s.he shaft 456 has a substa&ttaUy rcctasgular cross, section, whcrciω rhώ width 459 is sisbstsrsti&lly greater than its heiglu 46! (FIO. 4C). The $&uτid input aicmcTsS is so^pkd ; o the shaft sf |sci«t or locaϊioϊϊ 458 along ϊhs width ^5^. Such s costlguraHoft will cnsble the shaft to attcsiuatc tls vihπ&soss isnpancd to ώs sousd iapαt elemesi. m tkis emboditneat, ihδ vibraooas ^parted to the souad imparted to she sownd -spsit eleτnest are reduced or itfscriusteci fiotft βr fecaϊsca 455 to postst or bcstioa 458. In other words, du-s? io the spnsg eonsr^ns and the attesuaϊion of the xhail 456, the vibrations irπpartcd ϊQ ths sosiad irφut elemcaϊ are reduced along the ϊδogϊli of the shaft 456. Sy rmsimmg the sovszά isψui stenent externally Ia such a tnasncr, feedback is isolsisd, while ai)»wbg far I he πsmaήaJBg cotxipoacjUs έ» caatribnte to the mass that is vtbr&ted.

The fϊsxsbk shaft may be fersied iross <my xuirsble flexible raatcri&l s such ss rubber. mtJtai, pkgsk, siilicen, aod/of say oϋssr s«is.afe1c tsiaterial Oϊ the βexibie shaft msy be s spring, &« dcxτib«d above Disposed Sϊ iha άiM^l tnά 458 of the flexible shall is sound XJipuJ cbn^csr 452.

As wύfa. the sαibociϊϊncKl of FiG. 4A, as additional vibration absorbing siaierisi ir&y disposed bervvse-s the coupling ixisrsϊϊbsr &sκϋ the soasd input sbment to further attenuate the vibrations generated by said transducer.

58067I Additionally, the- .SOUϊϊC input e.istπettt and/or the flexible shall may be det&eh&feie form ϊhs. ii&usiαg, such that tks flexible shaft nsay 1>s selected Sbm s plurality of fϊexfbis shsfe, each Hexibfo .vhisfi having a different spring coastals or siiffhess. Typically, ?he spring oonstsBϊ b be changed or soisxJed ba«cd oa the power level of she cutpisJ of the jjaRSUncer; however, sny suitable -N-priπg c«&stant rsay be selected, As vvitlithe above described ejr;k>disiests s -lO&skϊg 454 generally jπcl«<i«s a sras-sducer, aa ek«£roaics ϊϊsodxsis, an int&dace and a pcwer ntoduie (each of whidi is ωc-i λbswn}, or any oώsr suitable eompoBcat, as described herein.

!«86Sj FIG, 4D ϊJhjstrϊtϊes another embsάimsxst of bsse coad'uctios device 21X5, depicted as hon« condact∑δδ device 470, In ϊh.is STSibodirnesit, hose coπd^ctioK device 470 s is srαbsssαiiaSSy slπalar to device 4€0; however, .^5iκsd hxpMX shmzm or microphone 472 ts mouatod using a [>l«rsHty of vibrstioa dsiTspesiiig cotspHsig tacπtbers 474a-α Ia thk embodiment, sash of ύ& VψJϊ&ϊIOZ, ά&πψ&mnxi. coupHs^g members 47<5is-d may a i,«rJsg c->π%urcd to reduce or dttcaaaie the vibrasioδλ itx-ps-Jteti tx> she sotsad iα|>u£ clcrseot 472. Each vsbrstioa dsisp^rsixsg csupHπg members <174&-& ;s coupled U> ϊhc hoasaig 476 at s first or bcatios 47Sa-d s respectively, and otsiipkd to the xn«;4 ύrput okxnont 473 s± s second or kscatώa 4?j0a-<i, rcsp^ctiwly. As described above, tlac vibrations iispsrlcd to the sousid inp-at cktr^sss arc reduced or srteaastsd iVom pomts or bcslioε^ 47Sa-d aa posits or !ocsiiot!s 4S0a-d. In ϊsther worώ;, dus to she spring cambist a&d the :iStet?u&t?on o? ϊhe shall 456. ϊha vihr&rio&s imparted to the souϊϊd input eicaicsi urs reduced akjsg the lεagth of the ^ibrationt dampesmg eσuptisg msxnucrs 474SL-4.

W&?\ As wkh the embodimcTsts dsscrsb«d herein, vibxsrksn dasxpesj ' ng x ' sapimg membsrs 474s-ά s?my bs rcmo^bk' sϊϊd replacesbis by otker vsbratio∑s dampstiUJg coupling "members havmg dsffereϊit spring eonst^sts or vibration dsaipssuag properties. AckliEioπslIy, «ach vibrstJoss ds;τ : pcωisg coisplbg tn«τn!>er-δ 4?4a-d may have difϊcrant dsrapersmg prop^stses.

]δ«?e] PIG. 3 A illϋsιnii.es OΏC ώmbodsmcτiϊ of bone conduction device 200, depicted a^ bons eofiduerba device §00. As dcsoxilj&c! sbσve, ccπsixtctios device 500 m&y include a housing 502 asd s coupler 5i)4 for rcmovcably a∑taehmκ fhe housms 502 to sti saelsor, such as anchor 262

<F;g, 2S). In ώts embodiment, housing 5G2 includes, sαsong other composcsts, a suerophoac 01 s&anά isxμit densest 506 eoxisected to housing 502 via exscssjos aπss 303, snd & transducer 508 As with the above described ssibodinienus, housing 502 may siekdsd, an efectrosks snodui-ε, ar insertacc sr.d 4: power module (each of which is not shδvra), or any other suit&bie comrsoaenr TIK trφϋs sbmcϊit, as described above, receives SGUJK! waves, which, arc sent so She soyaό processor. Sosad pnscessor in sum may axspiffy or alter the signal &ad send this cskertxi signal sc she ;τκ^duesr us mφ&n vibratfcas >o the ai-cksr, alosg a dispiacsmest axis 510,

\mn\ In one CJDbδdsmcϊst, >mutd iaput c!cπκM SS pesidoacd JUXJ srπsϊigcά sacs that the xrso viable cosTinoBsat siseb as s diaphragm 505 of the sound ksput efemesϊ! 506 is conlϊgaixsi -so vsbrase or ϊϊXJVS doc; to ac&ussia sound is Mibsiamiaily parallel w&& dlsplaccmeϊti aκ:s 51(3. As N .och, sϊκ>vabk co?ϊφotiεπ,t 505 vibrates along & yibration $.χk that is sαbstsπtisϋy <i5thcgonal -■xnh dispbeftrsiCfiJ <jχi λ 510.

?§0?J{ FlG. 5B is a seise £ϊutsc diagram of an exemplary movcsable componorit diaphragm 558o! a 5o y π.d mpat eler^cπt (sot shows*) accord ing so oπ.e embodiment of the prascnt iisventioa ^a iHsisi:.rEs-ed s :τs5v<sbfc corδT>£>πδπϊ 55B k rsoimted sack ih&ϊ ns ^sssd impsrtgmg sur&c« rs^sses sa s. pkae 550 wkicb is xιsbstaj;daHy paτϋli«! to dbpiacsmenr asJs 510- By sosilgisrjfjg nhc tsoveabls ecsrt)p«π«5i so be pos∑lioiyϊd in a phmt that ?s subst&sstially psirailsi to dϊβ dispsacsjrnem asi^ the siovcablc composers* vibrates s.!osg a vibratfoπ axb 552 thst is subst&tstkliy osthogonsi wiih dϊspkccn-Uϊsjt axjx 5 IQ. Thus, ihs fcedfesδk JO the souad input element is induced or substa^tkliy

;«8?3; FIG. SC iilustrstiXS s.n etabodimest of the sousid mput for boac cosductioR dδvics 50& is; «teά the sound ssip^t decent is jstiosvt; as dytjamic πikrøphotϊδ 520. Microphβrse J?J> gcrtfir&llv ϊrtdαdcs a housisg 52 ! which sseioi^ a mβvabte compos.cst or dssphrsgπi 322, a ; ϊ'.ags«ξ 524 &i\& ϊmersia^ wirsiϊg 526 that coavey$ the signal to ≤n amplifer. The microphoss is co ; j%iircd to opcraurby feaving ike diaphragm vibrate wh«n contacted by sotitsd. The 3S astached to a;xl thus, vibrates inisroal wiring 526, which is configured as a coil The niovemcriϊ of the coi! JT: the ssagtscύc ikkS generates sj-saM ciianges m skctHcal pi^ssurc ^r voltage, puxkiCisg a vaxyisig currsπt in the co il tbmugh elecϊrosrsagnstic ssiductsos,

\a&?4\ FiG. 5D illiiSsTstes an cmbød?xs.est of the sound iaput eletsent is which the sound hrsur elersenr is sfcøws as s. cotideaser rsisrophose .530. Micrαohom 530 taciodes a housing 532 which enclose*; a, sssvable cosjposssϊ or diaphragm 534, a pkie 536- sn &mp 538 mrά & battery 240. Ir 1 this embodiment, diaphragm 534 and plate 536 are oppositely charged such that whoa snoved ebscr or farther apart, a ch&tsge in. voltage is created. This voitagκ change or audio sigsal ks then transmitted through wing 542. Since the change is vohage is ϊypteaUy staali (e.g., a THtikonth yf & vo k) the sjgasi πmy be amplifisd by &rsρ 538. The eJecmca! okarge may be s dsrccϊ c\irrcϊ5t votrεgs supplied by baUery S40 ard may be applied tismugh the saαi-s wiriag 542 that csrrk^ the akcnjsHsig carreat voltage of the audio siga&l.

:&»?Ss In sons; cωUxsdijϊicjiϊs, ϊhe disphrsgrs of a aiicrophoac (eg., 522 or 534) may be the raovesbk? t\ι&ι resides is s pksc paϊaUci to the dispiac«naeπε axis 5iδ. Sy ix>ϊifsg*triκg the diapliragϊω to reside or be positioned ^ a plane t&at is ssubsϊarJt&Uy parglis! to the x1x$ρsacers.s-∑i5 tsxis, the diaphr&gm doss tϊat vibrate ar ihs ^bratjons &rc s-sduccd whe-ss the transducer vibrates. tliϊi feedback to the micmplrøse will be reduced e-t substantia.] Iy eϋmsπated. Ir, is noted that the δtϊibόdUB8τits shown in FϊGS. SC axiά SO are iBeteiy exemplary and the invcntksϊs i s s sot Iknltόd to rnierophones or soasd input devices hsvisg these types of dbϊphrsgϊϊis.

{Wϊ&t In osc cmWdirξrøit, transducer SOS is α picsoeieetrsc rrsasducsr that is* cctiSgursd to oorstroi the amplitude of the vibrafba^ in the dircctύssi of the dύiptaecmcat axis. The range: of the output force of she 508 may bs preselected by the cliaic:as or the recϊptettf to ae«5nt!ϊs>date ceτtsiϊn tJsrashokl for the rcctpfenϊ's hcsrs ' ϊϊg. The output fovea iht the irarssdue<;r b gericrisily a &isef.k:m of the mass and the velocity of the traasducer 5OH movisg eiosg the dsspbeoϊϊϊkXit axis 510 asd the mass of she rsovϊαg part af the tmsxlucer.

iδt>77} !Ώ isns cmhsdimmt, the sound mpul δf.em.er.5 Is rsouϊttcd on & shsil. The rϊϊovabk ibsfϊ is configured to adjust the souad input esemest Ix? coincide with Lht- dlspkteeraem SXLs-. Thus, in this esy-feoάkneKL a eiitiicisn or the recipient rrssy adjust the dire≤tios of the nxs^ok s.haS -o improve :he so^ad pcfcept of the mcψhsnt *

IWW 1 To ϊiC-hicvo the isast desired feedback rcdaeέibsi. the recspi-ertt's souδd percept asy be desermmed is aay suitable ϊsssaer. For exaxrφla. the reeipie^J issy listen to acoxistic soorsd using

U

the base eαsdαciiors device, The sαuad input cissπcsl may then, be adjusted an use movcablc sh&& to mors precisely sxjisie-ide with tπe displacement &xts. This. adjustxaea- s&y be πmάz x p &mi&Uy or usmg any other syij&ble device. Once the sovi&d isψut clement is adjusted, lbs recipient's sousd percept rasy be determined again. This procedure may be repeated ustsl optimum fecdbsek τeductbn.

5WS3 FiGS. 6 A sad 6B i llustrate emlxxumesi.v of hone cotid>i«ioti device 20D 5 dcpicscd as hose conductk.SK dsvica. ia which s founci Jnput efemeas or r&icraphoae 6C C 2 s^ tocaϊed is a sepaπue bsu^h^ reπsots fejm jrsasducer -6(H, to reduce feedback pc∑ccpt by a recipient. By |H>sϊt5øajssi ihs second hoysiag s-e&sote from slie Erst hoasmg, transducer vibratbsis ar« reduced jrukc aousd mxnxt cicniest.

SS h: ϊhi* crnbadϊmefϊ∑, b»ne conduction defies 60S [sciϋdcs & first hmssisg 006 ϋtsd a Aeeond Fir$t !sousiag 606 ijsciudes microphone or sound 5ωpui densest 602, a bsticsy 609 zmά $& IR iranssTnitter 6 ! δ. Second housing tnetudss trsr.sducor 604, ;»s JR receiver 612, &rs amp 6!4 S cicstrosiics s»4u-Iv (e.g., 204), sxt inierfisce (e.g., 212) and a bsttery 6S6. k is ROscd that lss compoTje Js included i« eacti housing are m-crely exemplary ssd each housing πisy lucludj? stiy røϊϊ5poa«t)t.s desired, as king as rhe tnicrophons and tKc txansdac^r are ρo$ϊtio«<s4 m N«paτai« hoxisin^s. Th« conspoaess? of bona ccssducϊioπ device 600 operate in ^ubsssndaiSy similar its&ajjer ϊδ those described above.

issβϊj b\ <,osϊϊe «m ' bo<iknenis. tlτst housing 606 is posstioaeεi behs ' sd tk-e <?ar «r is ;hc car; however, fir^; hoasj«s 606 may be sositks&ed in any suitable area or slace <m the reciosent. Far cxaiHpk, housing 606 ausy be pύs-iUosied In she ear, feώhujd S:hc cat; ressoteiy frørn iha «ϊr or any other pott sen of she reclpicns 's body. In ar^othsr embodiynenx, housing 606 may be inaplasued or _i { tsch*;d to skull 619, Second hoissiag 608 may bft rsjmoveabiy attached to she asschor 61? α*kϊg s csspusjg τωcs;bcr 6.15 m a sisbst&stMly sansisr tn&nwzr a& described In tlis above cτrslχκjirtκmfs or s.α any other sriasssr described bereis.

^ii.^2] Ta ihu £mO®άkscitiϊi.ii bone cδ«<ksθtios device 600 operates, in a similar ssanncr as described above; h«wevcr. the aign&l 620 from ihc sousd input clement 602 is sent vk sn isϊfrsrs-d (IR) ϊbik 6 I S, Sy se&a∑asirig the scissd iap-at element: frosi dis transducer. Jh« microphone is aos subject ia the direct vϊbraiiøajj wjthia hoissiag 6GH arid thus, feedback b

reduced, it is nosed that ooratmmicatios between the mlct-oplione asd the transducer may be uny rypo of yvireiess coπrasuruQ&ioa. (^g-, SB, radio S^qosncy (RF) o? say mher j»ustsbic or ;he cojnmuδieatknϊs can be through & wjryd. csβscdbsi. Itx the wired ?x5ϊisscHi>n, 'be device *ouki eonsT-unseate ia -a substantially similar to described above-, except ϊhc sϊg.;5£sl from ihe mscropboRC wodd be sens to hosaiiiϊg 608 tfemugh an cxt<τπi&] wire, as discussed bslo^-v,

iδs ' ses IJ noJed il-at, in ϊIIϊM SEfsboditHcrst, the housings 6(5-6 aaά 608 do sot Bccsas&arily need ks hύn-iC UK- described cotspoacτsts and each housing may have poskioaed therein, say oiihe above dcscnbvd or other suitable corsponesix positioned tberciπ, as k>ns s& 5-be sousd issm element and the trajisduccr arc scpsrstc. For example, is OϊJC cxabodirEicaE, sccoad housiog 60S rsa;v only include trssscmcsr 604 battery JR receiver 612 and a bsϊtcry 616, while bonsmg 606 conS&5s>s 5-hc Tcntsmdcr αf tb? composcsts.

ξfs«8λ] Fn sorac Cϊ«ϊxκ1imcni<;, as ds-pictsd in FIG. 6B, the rajcrophor : e or sound input oierueπi is connected "vis S^ JγCS 622 to bousnsg 60S, In this ctr5TC4;m«ϊϊt, houslsg δOB vn&y hicv&us all Ih^ bone cofϊductxϊπ h*arm^ device corπpoπeats oihsr than soyτ5C input clamam 6 ( 12. As ssis<l bcns^lag -6Oo K5sy be a $π*sϊ\ pistlbriB to which sound \npui eferuesi ^ atsfach«κi Ia thb orϊJb&dimcst, ^esdhsck may be Isolated, while allowing &r ϊfes rαrs^άsisg component ϊO K5 ϊhe STJSSS ϊh$ h> vϊbrmad,

\§to$$] M:croplκ5stύ 602 say be cosvBcotcd to the ear using dip *>24 or in any ^isitaok εnanrser. For ex *ιπsρ[s, mkycphoTss may be positioned in or on tfcc ear, os any poπioπ. of Ae recipient's hs-xd and ' or btfάy. Tbu?, the microphone may be is. s ^uitaMs a^ea or y nay be sst&chcd as the body, .:&r or head for optitrsuπ? rcceptfon,

|δ«Sδ) MG. " iiiUsϊT3tc» the gsoeral ^rocsdurc Ib^" sπϊplantbig: εhs botss co-sdiictkm deviw 6δO. λ& noted in block 702, an δiichδ? \e.g,, anek:*r262) is implamed hue the skid! of she recipient. At: JsNOussei the anchor fat. ! 2B. \n block 704, -i itouϋiυg thai mcϊudeN s transducer 608) is coupled to the atκhor.

ps87j As. block 706. a hoaxing that includes s snscrophene is positioned adjacent the xfcsiil of the recipient (eg,, bousing 606)- As discussed herein, the microphone housing may be placed Ir 4 sb« «ir, bαiϊπd ; hc ear or any suitable position on the reeipkai. Cormnαnieaύimv: between the iτ-snsd&cer homing and the mkrøpbβωS housHSg αtay th«ω be established, at block 70S. such eomsnϋύcarbsss vβ&y be wkclcss or wired ^nd may use aay type of cotϊusuϊuc&iion described horesri.

fs^iSϊ Fiithes: fe&ϊur^; and advantages of the present mvcntion arc described is TJ.S, Psxjvis-oaal AprsϋcS' bn No. 61/δ41 JBS, satitbd "Bose €^sώϊeiirø Devices For The RchsbiϋϊaHssπ OF Hearirsg Disorders; 1 tϊϊed Msrch 31, 200S. This ;ipplicatio« s^ hereby incorporated by reference

i$$m\ Whiie vsrsjus eπ5bed«yscϊ!t<s of uHs present iπvstϊtios have I)CCr 1 described abøva, it should be aπdsrsrood th&t they have besa pre&ensed by way of cxasψie anly, ϋnά ?&t Mmk&xhe. Is will bs ujjpsrcnt so psrsotss άkiHcd is the relevant art -has various chrøgεs in hrrri sma detail e-an be rn&ά& therein witheasi d≤p^tkg ϊγQϊH tlie spirit asd scope of the is version. Thus, ιh& hm&άik and ^soψϋ of the praxent fnvc^tbn should nor b« limited by sir/ of the above-described exerπplasry «mbodUrsints, but &lκ?xiid be deimad osily is ssecardasC-e -with the Iblbwsig ckisss ssd their AB pat<stits and pubHcstiøαs discussed hercia as-e ineorp-srated ia shelr ≤-ssϊirety by refstcncc thereto.