BQKE CONDUCTION HEAIUNjQ fe&VHCE HAVING ACOUSIIC FEEDBACK

REBOCTION SYSTEM

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

iWiϊ\ Thin iψrλkMkra clams the bsosik of U.S. Provsbnai Applicstios &o, 61/041 J.B5, • ^• ϊatiucd "BOϊϊC Coxsάuetfes Devices For The Rchsbiliiatiαa OF Hearing Disorders," filed March 3 U 2008. This application is hereby mcojporsted by scfssesce hsreia.

BACKGROUND

[80821 The present irivs&kjrs relates generally to boss srtcteed hearing devices, aαd XSKHTC partkukrh?, fe> bosic ;iτ;ck>red hearing dsvsces ?savisg a fsedb&ck reduetiois sysέsxn,

1-ύfitB] ϊisssritϊg bs.v, vvhich may be due JO sαafty dsfferexst caa^s, ts gertsrsliv of two types, conducive; ar sstsscϊriπeuT&S Isi ϊπSKY people who are psrofόtssdiy <ks.r, the rosmn fbr tksir 4csiae,!s3 i.s hearing loss. Thb type <jf aeasrisg lass Is αise to ihs absesse or dcssrucssϊs of ;i5e hair csifc; Ln the cochlea which irsssd&w acoustic signals xsto acrve impulsss. Va? i»i!§ hearisg isiplarss bave been developed so provide issdividuab: wlκ) suffer Strø ,sϋωx<s.τ1acur&! bcsriϊsg b^s wήh the ability to pcrce-ivc soimd. Oss mch pxosthciis. hssring impjasϊt Ls referred to ss a CDcakiS" sssplant. Cochϊcsf ύapsasts use &β ώl-actrods array istspiaated it; the cochicϊϊ of& rccipies. us bypass rhs mcchssisms of the car. More spcviδcaϋy, an electrics ^] stimulus b provided via Use c^sxsdc array dkcctly to the cochlea r _t srve _v thereby cau&sog a hcsϊkg s^πs&rioω.

saisi Conductive h<!-sπng bάs oocu∑s when she nonna! r^echssfcal pathways tø jMOvlde j>ound '.o h&ir celis in the eccblea are jjspeded, δsr <jχsmpk _} by damage to fee assicular chain to >ssr canal Bϊ>wevcs\ individuals who sisBsr irom coadoclive hcsrsig loss m&y stilϊ have some tons of re^dssi hearirig feoa-ise tii« hsfr cells in the vOchiea are may resαaiπ tisdaπjagcd.

Individuals %vh» suffer from conductive hearing ks.vs arc iypiosύly not c-ssdϊdatss for & cochlear aapknϊ due JO the irrevorsife-is nature of the cochlear implaπs. Specifically, imsrrios. o P the dscircde array mεo a reeipiesi's cochics exposes the reeipiesϊ to risk of the destπseϊkjs of ilκ msjorriy »f asir cells %ithm she cochlss. The destruction of the cochlea h&τr ceils results £& the fexs vk ^' tύi tesidusi hosτing by the recipient,

ξ«S] Rsibsr. individuals sufe-bg from eorsάucttva hearing loss typically receive an acoustic hearmg aid, refitted to as a ksaπsg aid herein. Bcariag aids reiy oa principles of air eαnductioti 5« trasAcπit scoustk: sigaais through the ouϊ«r stKi middle ears to the cockles. Ia ps&tscu&r, a hssxisg aid typie^Uy uses an arrasgcment positioned in the ^cipioot's ear cαssi to smpHέy a stsx-πd received by she oxϊϊer csr of the recipient. TKb ampUtlce sound reaches the eαchJea &nά causes ^>f the coehlea fluid sitd stirπuUition of fh& eociiicss hsir ceils.

5θδ8?| (JaJbmniaέcK ¹ , sot && ϊnάbtiduah >vhα suilsr SΌπI conductive Kc&rsug b^ss sre able to deήvϋ Sϋiϊablϋ bensfit fxom hesrmg aids. For sxsmpie, some individuals aro promts iϋ shtonic sAf}&. ^} ωϊ35st5θϊ? or jji&cdoϊs <?f ϊG« C-ST cassϊ and caiϊisot wear hearing aids. Other individuate have mslSϊπrtsd ot abss«ϊ oiiter ear ajxd/or «ar cassaKs JS.S S r e^ust of x hirih or &$ g rs^αlt of πsedsca! cordis bs>s sash ss Treacher Collins syndrome or Microtia, FmthcrrπOi-e, hearing sids are sypicaily ϊjϊiMϊiiabk fer mdivs ^' dusls w&a suffer fmm smgle-si4e<s dcs ^jj hexs (s&iai loss oaly ia oss <?ar}. Cross aids have lx;e:& dsvelaped ϊbr >sjtigl« sisied deaf indivjchj»l&. These devices ^■ sfxcive the tfOffi ihc deaf side with αiss hesrfeg sid imd prcscϊst this stgn&l (cither vis s diϊ^ώt ekctricsi cotsrscctxors or wircissslv) to a hcariag aid which is won. on she opposite aide. The disadvamsgc of this sefthnabgy is the seed ϋ>r the mdividaa! to w<ssr two bearing &iάs and sarfer the oosspiksαioos of hearing aid a&e.

si When S.Ώ individual hsviag &i!y fejα ioaal hesrisig receives an kφ^t sousd, the soutid is trs&xπώtcd v® ^ he cochlea vis fwo pnmsr/ mechaais∑rj.*: aif cosductfon asd bone coϊidυciϊoa. As soted above, fcαrmg s.k!s rely gπssvaπly on the principiss of air cαπdacfϊsδ. In comrasi, oiher dδvjcsλ, referred to ss bovs cmiά&c-tlϊm devices, rciy prsdoπtinsstly OΏ vifcration of the hoτ>ss of the redpϊests skuit to p-røvide acøiatie signals ?o ii;e cochlea.

Thoss iodivsc^als who eaτ5riθj derive suitable bcoctύ fern hc-ajisg &sds m&y bers&ftt iroiπ bosss cosiduciion dδvsces. Boss css^ductsm devices IksKtios by e<jnvs«isg a s-ccssvsd soaod imo

a ϊs&x'hanϊeal vsbr&sba represesisisvc of she received sound. υhfa vibration b ∑hcπ transferred io She bone xsnscϊure of th& skull, causing vibration of tfce recipie&r's skull. This skull results 53. saϊ∑ion of ϊbe fixsiά of the cochlea. Hair cells m&iάs ϊbs soc-hjfea are rss»oxjsJvfi to sisls nxjtbs of Ehc caslUsa fluid. Thereby gessesrstissg aerve irspiii&es resuitiag in ths perceptios of the rcαcrvcd swissid.

\®m} A 1-rfκnvn aksrs&tivs? xo a isoπ-na! sir cotiduciioa hearing ssd a> » k?a« coπduclksa hearing ϋsd which ^■ s.iscs « hcsriag aid to drive a vibrator which is pushed against: the skull vis & rftcchanisiu such <ϋ> gisssαs or wirs hoops. These dcvk-ss are gersemily uπcynifbttsble ϊO wear <£sά _s for SQτciQ recipients, ;sre iscspsbb of gcaerstiπg vi ^' bractea Io accur&εdy prcse-aε ccrtafe ϊcccsved sounds so a recipient.

•<rø $ in ose aspect of tno invention _* a boss? anchored hearing device m provided. The device cotϊψrises: a housing, x MUSKS ispur cicrocm ooαpLed so ibe bousing for rcceivmg sigω&b, a Jr&asduccr πsmirtfed in the hoasi-ig for geaeratmg vibrstfaxss resrcsεsJatsvC' of the x<κmd signals, itnώ a vibrauon flUTSspeaing coupiisg msrdbsr cosjiccsed at a first kscsxkss to the aound input demerit aad ;H & jsscond !asas.iβπ us ;hs hsusmg, the vibr&tios dsxnpeaing coupihig a"«robεr c^s^siaid^d SLK.<1 ϋ5τsπgod io attenuate vibratϊα&s imported onto the vibratios dampening coupliag rtiesibsf by thώ trss^d«<;er Jrøm she second kscstsøa so this msi loc&ύoxi, »o that feedback percept hy s recipient is >;ubN?.anu3Jiy rc-duc«<l»

>mn\ In a^oϊber aspect of the isvcados. a ssthod of imprϋvϊsg sound percept ks a T^rϊpisnt Js prosidsd. The method comprise-*; psrcajviag souad shreagh. s? bone αisviuctkns hearing άevscs, rsrϊtovs ^' sg & tir^t vibrauon dacnpetύsig coupiisg mαmbcr having s first spring cc-a&ts.ωt from s hos&jm-s. -->f the Ixϊtsc bjssrfeg device, tfee vibraiisn dampening soaftiing metnbisr attaching c* mp«t deiaenf io the høtisiag. SϊSC repiscing ώc 8m vibmύaii ά&nψz&lng coxψϊiriiz rsxesiber with 3. second vlbraUon dsϋrφcniag coαpϋsg JKOtTiber, She Sώcsnd vibrsisoB d«53;τ>5jmxsy coyplbig tr&mber bavixig a sccon.cS spring cor:Stast ώat is asff&rest jxom she πrst

•«J??> k; λsoώw aspect uf ds« ujvcjts bsi. s &ystc∑B ib? rzάacixig. acoustk feedback ia a bone conduction hssmg device is pw-idsd. Jbs syst&m comprises; a sound input oϊcmam !br rece-visg &o»o<; signals, a trsaviαccr &r geti«ratiog V^brsnsss rspresenfcsdvc of die sou^d signiUs, Si vi ^' ferasioa dampening co^piisg ∑n.«33ϊ&er coupled to said sousd ixφui cigtnsnt &ι a Srsi loc;itk>« ssjd to ihs housing at 3 ^^cosd lcscatias and soϊώgyϊsd to ^ticnuatc the vsbraπoas ϊtnp;s?tcd o«io ϊi:ε vs&ration dtirapcjii-nf coupissg msmbcsr from sh« *SCωϊ5C locsdoa so She first

;^U4s Its asoώcx ss.ρecε of the sB^caSbn, a system for mduc-isg acoustic feedback is a bone csndactkjϊi baring device is provided. The boac coadtsetioa hssritig device coπψri≤as & housing, s sexiiϊii input eiemest for signals asά ci trassdxicsr 1%r gesisrstmg vibration rβprβsetitsϊi'vc of the soutsd isgπals. The systetπ cotr:pris<;s: a pbr&Hty of vibratioω dsmpenstig

coxφBfsg ∑πorjibcrs, each of lhc plurality of vjb-r&ttos d&nspeπing coupling members having s diffbrπt spring coωNϊasϊ txsm csch other of the pjyralily of the ooupϋng rsicmbers aad coo%afδd t _* > rsϊsxsveabiy attach to ύι<n housiag as a &si locaϋon and the sound iapuf eleiaeut at a second bcsr;oκ; '.vhercts each of the sf vsbratioa dampe∑sisg coypliδg members is i.:os)fuiured ■<> atcatuae the vibraϊκ>a<. impasted ctnlo the vibraiisπ dam|>cra ^" r _: g cospli∑sg mcπiber fixsai the first kx-ation to Hx" second iocsiksn, ^o ^! .!Uϊϊ feedback percopt by a recipient ^;

SRISF DESCRIPTION OF THE DSAWlNCS

mi$\ illustrative ciϊϊbodiωsrsits QI lbs pre&em. invendan are descπfeed isersts wsth reference tα tisϋ accotitpsπyfeg drawings, sis whida;

['XSkSf FIG. 1 >s a perspective cyj&w&y v?ew ct a h&iHa∑; s&r and a bone conduction device røjpbr&cd. bolijjid the e&r tn. which ctJibodirnsnii; of she present in.veation may b« sdvaaiagcously

$$}■?] FIO. 2 A ss a Hisctioasl block dmgrasi of an embocunsem of a IJSBC conduction device in sccofdcmcβ wi-'h s>n« embodnrϊesϊ of the przs&ni sr;veBtion;

ξ8«is? Fϊ<l. 28 ϊo & ϊϊsrsre detailed fbsctbr.ai bkx± dkgram of she bose cosidisctioπ device of FIG. 2A 1x3 sccsrdsscs wkb otsβ cKώcxϋωieai of ths pri'«cnt ITSVøϊJϊϊSΏ;

l&m\ FiQ. 3 is an exploded view of mi zmOoάkncvit of s boss eonductiαn device m sccordiUice vfitb ons cmboύsmzm or FIG. 28 is accorάx-iacc wislϊ one cmbodiπseat of lbs prssmt snvesuoss;

Iύϋ3§] VKk AA is s ^chenistic diagr&ss of a b&ae- eonduetton dovkc with as iatemal saussd isiput eiesicsϊ suxpeaded lrssm the hsuxlng via a vibratisn dampsTiing coapifcg mejsbcr;

5 §0231 FTG. 4 B is a EQp pcrsp«ctsv« view of s bone co^ducrion dsvies? wj ^' th & $mnά input c4eτn£t5t λ ^ϊ ϊκ>sϊitsd ss^ersally to ssid housing via a vibratscn dsmpsrJsg coupling rac-mber:

J(m32s FIG> 4C is s cross scctks&ai vfew of she πexfbis coxaas>ctor of FlG. 4B taken aksr-g line 4C-^C Ia Fig. 4B;

SSSS^l Fig. 4D b s schstnatάc dϊagrsm of cs bon« cosduoios cevs ^' cs with ats jjstδraal sound input cλctr-jcnt .^α.spendcd frojn the hcsuaisg vm & plurality of vibraLba dampcsiag cs>upl>?ϊg s:ocα~ber;

[i>324; FfC 5 A is a schematic diagπsm of a bor»e cotϊdus5ic« device with a rsioKjpkjne portioned such thai a diapkras^n of ths micropho e is oriented sabstsnsi&Uy pa^aiicl to the tnsasdscer vibradoas b:; acc-ord&n&e ^ish oϊie eπibodisssst αf the prssest iavcaύoji;

;«S| MG. 5E^ is s schematic diagram showing fhs rcksϊvώ ctnαitsfen of ϋ dkpferagTsiatk. ϊHscroρ?κn:« ax-d esseomitasTt vibration axiύ> anά the dfepteeraeπ; axis of the cra-issucer, in aeeortfcsncξr wsrh one QmhoάkiK-ni of the present Invention;

^>3g; FsC 5C L^ a sunpUtsed dsagrani of a dynamic mk'rophose irt accordaaoa with otse

{m27i FlQ, SD is s s.ύ5"ϊssKfκϊd dsagtsrs of α csndesser mscrophoϊje m csccordatscv; wish onse

sssa^ FIG. CsA ϊs a sysr^m bkfCk dkgrajs of a besac coadactbn device vvjjh a ^" ξjose anchored

;S>2'>; FIO. SB w s perspective view of a boae coϊiduώtjon device having « jnicrøplsorse sqKϊrsted frαm use &>αo ^chorcd hoυstng; ssd

ismki; FTO. 7 ^ Cϊ now chari iUusmstmg the iisp laaiatbπ of rhe boss coaάitctioa device of FIOS &λ isnd 6B in accordance wϊth ona embodhncnt of the preset invenrbπ.

I>ETAIL£t> INSCRIPTION

Etribodsmcms, of ih& pr&vcst trtvemiαn are generally direcuxi ts a botjc coaducπoa device for convening a rcs«;v«d acousuc ^otffid sigs&l imo & ϊϊssch&nica- fere« fer delivery to a recipient ^" a sktsiL The boτ*e cosxkei kκi device include a hoasϊsg havtπg & sound input cøjϊipojxm. ,^-,'sJ as Kϊicrϋpte∑e, to receive the acoustic sousd signal, &ϊ\ cUxtro&lcs πsodtjϊc coatkiu'cd to gsser&te an *;bc*ncai signal represcming d∑g scemStse .->oιmd signal, and « transducer :<j co«vfiτt lhe ^ignsl inta a raschasktal lores for de!ϊvery to Uic r«(,;jpieat/$ The traasdueer is scsπjlgϋπjd fo geωerata vfπraϊioss sxibstaωϊkϋy aϊosg one άisp&csmesl

;§§52i FIG. 1 % -ϊ perspective vk-w of embs>dimεsκs af cs bt)o<; conductios device 100 iα which sxalxKUai&nts of the present invention tnsy be advastagcmssh' impkxncatcd. Is & fully iUϋctsoaal husts&ri hesrsag unatomy, csutor car 10 : cQroprisos -IΏ auricle 105 snd &n sar canal 106. A &oaad wave or acoxsstsc prcssurs is c«Uξχt«4 by auricle 105 and chsαsslcd into ssiά tlϊrøugh «ar tho ύhmύ cud of car csnal 106 is a tyrapaaic 104 wkch v-ϊhrsics in. respoϊsse k> iscoystse wavs !δ?. This vibraϊsos ϊ& coupled ;o oval wϊsclow or fenestra λVS.^ ] 10 through ihxcc Ix>i^e5 of øslddse ear H)2, ooUscflvcly w&rred i& as she o^kcks 1 1 1 sxsti ώsjtsiprisins; slse ) \4. Bones. ^; 12, U 3 $nά H 4 of middle oar 102 ser _^ -s to latex ana aαψiify .icousdc WS\Xϊ 10'?. caassng oval wisdcrw 1 10 ϊ» arsssuiatc, or χ-ibrat«. Such vibπitson .sers up wavcs of (luicJ tsolbn, witkus coehicsx I I ?. Such. fluid tϊtouoϊs _* ;s s αra, activates cochlear Sal? sells (no: sisals). Cochlear fea;r CCJϊS come in. two aissiϊoniics ily ;md fknctiorssily <iis-;i mcf rv-pcs; the outer and iπrisr h-sjr caJL^. Activities, of «πc of jaorc iypc^ of tliesc h»ϋ ceiU csiisea appropriate nsrv^ snpuls.es to be uransierred shϊnugh me .spirsi ccik, and sudaorj' nβrs-e 116 3.0 the brass (sot «έsowsi}, xvheϊe they are parse iv«d

(,§(U3j FIO. j also ilsa.vrrfiϊes ;fes peskba-sg of bone corsduetios device 100 relative to αmcr cat 101, nisddk; eur IQl a&d inaer eisr 103 of a recipient of device 560. A? sho-wn, bone cosdacikm device U)G msy b≤ bshiad cmier ear LOI of she recipietn.

$$34$ In the e∑πbod!mem..s Ja FIO. I ₅ bone cssduetioπ device 100 comprises, a hosisϊrsg :25 having a nucrophone ;2fi ptwitbned shercts Ot thersos. Housing ϊ-2 i^ coupled to

the b«dy of the recipient via cosirfmg HO. As described bekw _; bosc conduction device 100 rfwsy comprise a sound proees.«>r, «. rrsα&iucer, snaisducer drive conψanosts tmάkir varfo&s other ciccπonk sirexsiWdevicas.

md$\ hi aceurcϋirseo with 3mbods.mams of ϊδc present invention, an snchor system (sot shown) smy bs impiasted is. ihs recspicsl, As described belew, sfce ssehør system sn«y be slxed τ.o bone s 36. In various smbodlments, th§ anchor -vysterø may be imputed urtder &kin s32 τnaijcte \5 ^' 4 sttd-'or f^t OS, Ia certain strsboάiπssatSs a εoaplfag !4ϋ ajsaehss dc^Hs© H)O KJ the ;«5cbor system,

im.%] A f;ijx.tbns5 black disgrat^ of oris ernbydimenr øf boπa conductsot? !0C> ₅ tefcsrod κ> &s. ca>s^ cϋϊϊductioa device? 200, is A.hown Is FIG. 2λ. In the illustrated ssibødϊϊncm, a souad 207 i& TvX'clxcd by a λOϊiϊid ;τφi:l itsput clsπjsnε ?-02 is & Hϊscrαfihyϊss cesnfiguscd io receive soimd ~07, and -Xi cssvcrt sound 20? mio «a deciϊϊcai signal 222.. As described In other stnbodiments .soured 207 τw.y received by sound iπpMi zlersx-n:

:δ&5?s Ae alsrr^m. 202 Io an dsδtmnϊcs ϊsx>dyk 204, Biecsroisici nsoduie 204 is configured to eosvsrt dectncai signal 222 into an s-άjα.y;vd cbclπcal s%s>a^ 224, As described beksw in s3X?τ« άvz ^ή i, ςslφctfam ^' cs πssdule 204 nxiy lns^ude a. scππsd processor, conm>i electronics, transducer dπve corøponciϊts, &nώ & variety of cths? elcfncϊsts,

?§03δj As shsswn Ia FTO. 2A. a tratssducsr 20'j receives adjusted e^ecirsea* signal 224 arid ^εssratos » rs^h≤nka! a^rput force thai is dεHvereci to tho sfeϊU of tho reckjicsiϊ vis as. sschof system 20i cis«pJed us boi5« cossdiictbn dgvk:o 200. Delivery of ϊhis outpfut &rce causes cms or tnorc of in. the via cachitta ύuiύ w-otimi,

^: mm FlG. 2A iiL« iUustraJcs s. power xscdssls 210. Power csoddfi 210 pro%"5dcs decides! fϋϊvcr so 055s? or snore cociposen-^ of ^KJSS cotϊdycrson devέcc 200, For ease of iUustrstksn, power modyb 210 has besu sho^t? coBsiectc4 oα*y fu sitsr&x; ssodαls ^' 252 iϊnd ckcirø^sks

module 204. However,, k άhoukl be appreciated that power Kϊoduk 210 rnsy be _s&&i so suppij sowsrto any electπc&My powered e^euits'cmspo.sests of bane coscv-cύoa device 200.

[SMHi ¹ SS BOTϊC eα-ϊxkcsioπ. άsvice 200 further iscbdεs &κ btadace- nio<luk 212 that allows the recφicat «c? ssiersxct with device 2QO. For Gxsmpie» interface rftδdufe 212 may sllow ilse recipient ro adjust the volume, alter the speech processing strategies, power oa/ofF the device, <?£e. Htcrfscc moduk; 212 commumc&ies wύfe eieciϊϋBics moduis 204 via sigrsai line 228,

fiHMii in ths sxmbodsπrøs: iihistrsted in FUl. 2 A, sound pickup device 202, cicctfosies Gssdsite 2D4, srafisdacsrr 206 _? p3wcr rrsodais 210 asd sntsrfkce ss>duk 212 kav» sll bees? shsvm as ύi a stsigk; boissing, rsferstvd to as bousiag 225, However, k should be appreciated that in ce£t&;s s:τilx><i;xncsts of the present isveatfcs ₅ csπe QT raore of th§ iUastrsted consporiδϊits may bs hoiiscd sn sefsarats or diffβrsat housitjgs. Siπήlarly, it should also be appreciated ϊh&t in such cmbodbTsexas, άirscX cøπr,e«bn.s b«tweca the various ϊsod^ici aad devices are sot sscesssry snd shai sh« com&oαcτϊt» tsay eatϊasiirαo&ts, fer cxarsple, vis wireless connection-;.

188421 F]Q, 2S provides iϊ jnore c«tailed view of boae sxnsdsctioQ device 2C-0 of FlG, 2λ, In the i!iusL";tώd erftlxϊdiπsera. electκ?r;ics ssodule 204 cfsπiprises & iouad processor 240, transducer driv<: cosϊρo.tssτit3 242 sad control siectroascs 24^6. A.% oψisύnvά shove, in ccruus etabodimsBts ^caustic signed isjo slsjctrical ssgrsai 222. !Ώ oth«r etnbodimεϊits, as detailed below, so^∑id mpnt Qkxncm 202 receiver sound 207 as &n electrical sigr^i.

jø643] Is troui $s\mά trφui ebtne-sit 202 io sou∑id processδT 240, Sound processor 240 uses one or more sf a plurality of Kwlsssqiics to sdecnveiy process, atspUfy aad/or fUsor dcctrical s%nal 222 so geaesrsSe a processed .signal 224A, !fc csstsJB cmbedimesstx s<j«nd pn>cessor 240 ωϊSV comprise sybst&stssliv die s&me sound processor as Is used is sn air ocsπductKJn bcaxiag <ά(L Is usther cmbadirssetits, soatid processor 240 comprises a digital processor.

iisi-Ms pjscesscd sigsal 226A is provided to transoyssr ddv« sotapoaests 242. Transduccr drive corφoncms 242 oxstsiii s drive sϊgrsal 224B, tα transducer 206, Based an drive signal 224S, tπs3sdx;cer 206 provides the outpsi fbrc^ to the ^toii of the- rudfsiersl.

JO

\m$$ι For e&ss of dascrspt son tho ebdrical sϊg-fed supplied by trsf»£beer drive coEfsparsssfcs 242 to 204 h&s bees ra&rred ro ss drive signal 22.4B. However, it shouM be appreciated Cast processed signal 224B msv corspise && usrisκiifkd version of processed signal 224A.

[SCHgξ M: noted above, itsnsducer 206 generates an output force to the skull of the recipient vis anchor systcπs 208, Aa shown Is FlG. 2S, anchor system 20S comprises s eauplkg 260 aod ars iϊ∑splamcd anchor 262. Coupling 260 taay bs attached to otjc or -more of iransducer 2<lo ^" or hoxssϊjTig 225. For cxsrapk, in ccrtafe c-mbosiltneats, coupling 260 b attached Jo trs-ssd ^' αcar 206 aad vibrs-iiou is aρρ&<! directly thereto. Ixi other sjabodkaestss, cc<upiiπ.g 260 is attached to feoussϊg 22S «xιd vibratsos is app&i rørs transducer 206 through houskig22S.

iδ&sη As sliowT! in. FKl 2S _V 260 is coupled to a>;ι ssck>r siTipUsϊiisd ώ the recipisrst, 262. As explained with rcfersacs tcs FIG, 3, impkπled s«oiu>r 2-52 prsvsdes sn <3km«aj Uiat transfers the vibration &om coding 26δ io the skull of the rccinisrst.

>ϊB4Sj of the dsjvscs vis ssieri&ce moduie 212. Iπisrfacc trsssduls 2 ϊ 2 mckiύms QΏQ or mors cornpotjcals that alfow the reeφiesi te> provide in.pu.ts so, ss- rscsive kitorrsstsojs &&τxι, eiviaests oϊ ^" boτis cosd ^y cifoa device 2 ^Q G, COλSΌI 246 may b-e oβ«πεcssd Jo øne or mors of mtcrfkcc røodtile 212, iouac pickup ds^icc .102, sousd proccsasr 2^0 saa'or transduces: drive comsoaesus 242, Is cϊϊibodiκse?λEs of the present Jtιv«t5tsoa _> based on kφxitB roccivsa ^ sr-terfeee jitoόuss: 212, coatrøl elecsroTiics 246 may provkk iuxtrustiorss io _» or request isferπmrkra Sx>rn, other composeats of ^' bore cosductsors device 200. in csrtaύi k tfac absence of user inputs, cotitro! 246 ^' corsijol the operation of boac conductfes device 200.

tsosfji FKj, 3 iUustnst&s as expbdod vi<?v of one ersbodimem of feoEic røωdisctiori 20δ of FlGS. 2A «ud 2B, reiercd is hgτ&m ^' m boas conduction device 308. As shswa, bone eosd^e&s device 300 Cvsrssprs-scs as ersbodsjπeat of elecsrojsi&s. .πjodasc 204, referred to <Sλ ck'CttORjcs ϊysoduiδ 30'^. As axpiaiiad above, included withia electronics sfsjdiile 304 ars; & sound processor, trsasduc^r drj:v« CaSIpOr ₁ -COt.-? aad cosi&roi eiectrosics, For ease of liiustmtioω, tbsss <K>j«poucats have jKϊt been IOisStrat<si k VlG. 3.

■m*S3i in the ilkiStrased embodiment electronics module 304 includes a pπtitei circuit board 314 (PCS) so electricity cossec! csrid mechanically support the ce-rrφosems of ssetrasic* moeUsfe 3δ4. Auseheά to FCB 314 are ess or more sou^d irsp&t slssigrns _* shows as aiicmphossa

jOβssj in th.0 iihisiXfxieύ srahc'άiπisnt, boae conduciioR device 300 further comprises battery shoe 310 for ssψpsyirtg psw«r so cosaponer.ts of device 300. Battery shoe 310 may mehsds one or mors ba&eπe-s. fø scrsaia ombodsπsnts. PCS 314 U aϊlaslktd to a coraiectar 376. Osmecior 376 is csatsgurcd ϊO srsssc with battsty shoe 310. In ccπasi embodiments, corrector 3?β and battery shoe 310 ϊtϊsy be rekmsabiy sϊϊsp-lsckεd εo oae a ^other. is such embodiments, oae or more bats cry oarsscct^ (sot shows) sse disposed in sxsoωffctor 37^> Lo electrically coαscct ban<τy $høc 3 iO w«b dceϊKisicx 304.

im$s\ tn that ainboάmiem xlAmttuvά m FiG. 3, bone coadtictbs device 3(H) fimhcr isekde-s a 325, comprising ftrsi housing pomon 325A atsd second hot)S>h3g portio« 325B. Ho^έng ponies*; 32i sre essSgursd to taste with orsc sϋodset to substantially sesi boas dericc 300.

\f≠i$&} in. tbs- ttϊibocάrasϊxi of F? O. 3. first faousisg ponies. 32SA bss as ope«mg thirsts Tot rv ^s c«iviruj battery shoe 510. Ia such smbadύnents, bsacry shoe protrudes %fe _* ough first housmg jioitJGs 325A aad may bs femoved or inserted by the ee&ipssst. Also is the illustrated erjscodJmefit, tπscropkoa* covers 372 sie reicas&biy attached ;© fsϊss housing portion 3t5A. MicTOphosie cavers 372 provids & b^xϊz? avsr tπicsophoisss 302 to profecϊ πnα'Op&Oϊies 302 Sχs£T5 dust, dirt <sr other debris,

{8&SS] B<i.c;e ώosductioπ device 300 farther isslnά&a an of feterfs.ee USKIUIC 212, rcfeτβ<S JO JscrdJs as Lstcr.ts.ce sjjsdulc 312. im-erfsco mod?i!« 312 in configured to pro-vide or rcceh'c ϊjser kφu&s S'om £b« r«cipse?S,

(SS)SS; Also i& .sbø>.vi5 in PiG. 3, base eo&chisHoa device 300 sofTspriscs as βmtκ><iiπscst of tr;msduεer 206, referred tø ss rrsnsducer 306. Transducer 306 ger.araεes ≥a output lores th.at C&USϊΆ. O)OVCtTiESSt of die socklea fluid 5« that a sorød may be perceived by ths recψieat. The oatp-iE fόrxx ϊmiv resyiϊ is mechs&tc&i vibration of the recipient's skull, or m physical møve∑risiu

of Six: xkui; ^boui the seek of the recipient. Ax noted above, hi. certain, cstbodssneπtx, boac coπducmπ ckvks 3Oi) delivers tse out-put fores to the skull of the recipient vis as anchor systeai 3OK, Anchor system 3OS corfprises a coupimg 360 and kκpk-smed smchm 362. In the embodiment ϋhxstr&ted in ?1G, 3, coupling 360 is cømϊgttred ts> bfc aJSscsed to second høusiig pc-raon 325B As; such, is this ctnbodhnciit, vibration SXQBI transducer 3C& is, provides! to coupling 360 through housing 325.8. IH the embodiment shown in FICi 3, sn opening 368 Is provjdcd is second hcusisg portios. 325B. A screw (πOϊ shows) m&γ be bs.es.-ted thi^u^ opeπitig 368 so ;i$t&di transducer 306 to coup&ig 360. in sαch embodiments, an O-πsg 3S0 aiay be provklcd ^o ses^ opεrsύsg 368 ajxsund tha screw.

sSHSST] As noted sibcsvt;, aachor system 30E includes iπψlantcd aachot 362, Irapiasted anchor 362 coωiprbes a boas scraw 36-5 b^pkstsd is the sk-iil of the redpicπi axiά an &b-άtm&&i 364, Is isa impi&Etsd coϊsϋgtsratϊoru ucrow 36ό protrudes iTQϊϊi the rθδipiε?it ^: s skuii through she skin. abutrtϋϊϊM 364 and tjeccw 366 may be inϊeg∑atδd irsto & sfngle ώxspisHtabie cotiφosiost. Couplmg 360 is costffgursd ϊO b& r«^ssb!y &^&shsd to ebiiimcst 364 to create a vibratory pathway bstwcca transducer 306 ssd the skull of tb,e recipieat

j§ϊi58! Ir, sltcfssi; iv<5 ctϊϊbodύaeϊits of ihs prcsest inYrøαos, bone softdxscuois device 300 may iXsπϊprisc osc or ts^rs sdclitioiisi sotsxid Lopist elsm«?st. For sxstϊψk-, bone cosdyctson. devico 300 may comprise » sm sfcctrical Isput- Ia such. cmbodsmcistiH ihδ ebctrica! iaoat is configured. >o «>iinecϊ device 300 ϊO sxtcπϊ&j squψmeat &ød receive as eiectris^l sousid xtga&i dsrecUy therefrom. The ck'ctncs! iapui ∑K&y pcrtrdt bsac couducti»n device 3DG to bδ csmicctcd to, lor ^■ isampk, FM haarisg systems, Mi*3 players, tei«visiaas, o»bi!« phases, etc.

{($&] In siil! «ther e∑sibod iyneπss, & &nhw ioafld mpist vtexmsm iri ϊhse tons of a t^kcsis rrssy l>c kt«grstcd m, sr corsaecred to, hone conduction device 30δ, The teiecoϋ psrtxms boα$ cosdiicdos device 300 ϋ3 .revive issu* signals SΌXR. for ssampJe, s Jeiephoi;s2 sr other similar device. »ne smbodirsent of botie condeetkjfi device 200, depicted as boss coaώudlsa device 4D0, wlsish ssckdes a koυsέag 402 aisi & coupler 4CH far atj&chisg :h« bαaosisg 402 k> aa anchor, sxick «s aacfeor 2-52 (Fig. 2B), !ss this embodkaesi, the houiiδg 402 sK'hjdes, among other cotrsxsnents, a niictopfeoas ar soutsd itφ\xt ahrsenl 406 sad a

transducer 4OS. Add tsson&ily, the housisg si&y include a ssvenά processor, as eleetrcmiex module, a power so arcs &«<; an Jaterikce (cadi of each is net shown) _* or any other suitable component, as described hcrejϊϊ. The sound iapui eieirsera, as ώescrfbαά abovs. receives xoxjsd wsvss, wkκ± &rs sea; to rfec sound psraccssor, Soyad processor in tara rosy arj-gilfy or aiter stie sigsiai and send this aliorcd signs' to ?.bo ϊrsssώiccr XQ impzd vibratiøm to the ase-hor.

tδOSλj in one oτf;bodiϊ»sκt søund ssiput elsmasϊ 406 is suspended from tho hoxisisg or ooupϊcd Us sssy other sukablc portion of the bone anchored device 4C?θ usisg fk?iiblc skail or vjbtatbn csmpcTioig coapisag mςaifecsr 410, By attacbsπg the soimd laput clcmctn in fiiis xsanncr, the ssauad ixspTit may be isoistsd from the mecaaaic&l vibratioas gsticrssed hy the irsnsduccr, ϊhus rcduttiag feedback througs lac sousd iaput element. Is other the recspieis of the ixsTϊδ cofxksstioft device will havs feedback percept sub*t&H?:;.aHy reduced or diaώiated.

•δθ6ϊ| Is &&e δfπbodϊϊscat, the e«su«d iπpuέ eleaictsj ϊs asouαtcd sstemally of So«ssag 4 ^Q 2. The ■xnjpling nifimfeer nrsay b& a nibb«r steeve or other coaftgurstioπ that b configured to _* ϋk?w th« i-ousd ispuϊ efcϊneϊϊϊ to irieUoa^isy fit therein, hi one «?mbodϊsϊSϊ# _s coispϋsg member tn&y b& eoupicQ ts the λOϋϊϊd spist dδjnesϊ ^a apeaiag 4] } st ose sftd ihcreof that allows asee-ss to on jstcrasl sp&cs thereirs. The souaά srjpur elenscBt m%y hsvg a slight Jy larger than opsiuαg 411; thus creating ϋ secure, bo J renxovable fit for the^Kiusd mpui element. In other smbodknc.r-^% ϊha coupϋsg is & eosaector tbrmed of oth.sr s.ujtsbk tsateria!, sisch as sdicoa. fo&txs asd/or atsy ϊsthcr suuM>Uϊ αiaϊen&i c>τ csiabiπatios «f msaedats> It is πores thssc caeh of those s-nateriais TJJ≤Y hav<; a differest sprisg cotJ&t&at Of abilkyto dai∑ψ«π the vibratioβ.s.

[8*631 Is one «tϊϊbod!rn-δ∑&, ccnspUrig siembcr 410 is coup!«4 to housing 402 at poiss or bcatsbts 409 as\d to the sound inpai dement 40δ at a point of ksession 413. lit this erπbodixncKt, ihe vsbridkjϊis iKipartsd to the sound ?tn.paxts<| to the sound ispui cl<ascjit &vc reduced or aitcnusted ^• &ojτi point or kKjstiøϊt 409 ϊs:s pomt or locatiots 413, In other words, dtsc to the sprfcg coassast snd the aϊtfisuatba <s(tM otsiiplixig tsetribes ^10 _} the vibratioas. tmps.ϊied to its somvά ixxpxϋ eleBicBt &;^ redsicsi abng the lsngth of the sampling xneTnber 410, rr^ersa! may disposoά betvvscs the coupling raerabcr aad th.e sousd itφut eleraeul to rαrϊher aac^xsalc the viferatsans gsticmtcd by

s&ki tras.'iduccr. For sxaynpfc, fee eoOph ^' sg member rssy be a πibher siccvc- and iiss sdditioaai vs ^' bπsHo.'ϊ xrwsiariaj irssy bo α layer of fbsm between ιh& coupling snd £hs sound iapur sisnsent,

\&.m\ ϊΏ OSS e^nbodissem, the coupling rsay be s spring or flexible shaft with a low spriag constant; the spπsg constant may be any desired- spring coa&tasiL The flexrbb sb&8 may be femes fcas πssW or plsstic or any other sustabie material or e<κste&ik>ri <s f materials. hi this sjjrsbOϊHmctstj the ss>usd input element -say be detachable bis th& housitsg.. stich ihmi the spring cβssstaxϊi or siifChcss of the tlosibk shaft rsmy be easily caasgeabis or selecusbift ss the powar bvcL of ϊhu homi comiuctksπ device s&crβ&se or chaage&. In other WOKIS, seme spring eaasumts my produce lass ibx^hsek bvtsca øn the ampikucfc of vϊ ^' brstios sf the irsssάuaer, Ia this cnrjbodJmcrit, the fiexibk shsiϊ may be selected irofs a piarality of flexible άhsuts, each fkxϊbic oh&St hsvjng s sprfeg coϊist«sst or stiffness.

HQ. 4B illustrates <?jj« i_tnbc4kn.es! of bs>π.e eosducsksn device 200, depicted as bcsrss condyesiofi device 450. Is ϊhb eτsϊbodsmem, botsc oandαctioa dovic* 45O ₁ ss substamisily similar •o device 400; however, smmd bpuS eieraeπt or microphone 452 Ls jrssuatsd essemaily of housmg 45 ^ώ si pofeϊt or kscstiots 45S, in this embodiment, vjbrstfeix daπipsaiag couphVig number i^ llexiblς; shs-Jt or exsensbti 456 that, exsesds outwardly &v.ά esieπssiiy ^oni boasiδg 454. In soxse eπuxKliffiesits, the sb&ft 456 lsss sx rscϊssguisr cross secdoω, whcre-s the width 459 i^ jsub-sϊtuitiaiiy grsster ih^s jts height 4-έl (FiG, 4C), Tbc sousd irsp^t ©l&aiφat is ceupbd to the sasfi a.t point or beatios 458 .asoBg the wic&h.45ϊ>. Such a cotjRgursljsm wOl enabis ϊiis shalt to attenuate the vihrssioss impaned to the soitsd input cisrπent, Ia ibis embαdis ^j etit, ths viOrsHoas fsiparted to ύic s>θrød imp&tted to the souftd Jϋpm dsmeat are reduced, or attenuated froTs or beat fern, 455 to go-st or locadoa 45S. Ia other vv-ørds, due to the sprkg cosistam snd ihe ;tt;.«isstba of the sh&fl 456, the vforaiioas imparted tεs the ss>ϊi;id itφut ekmesit are redsecd aksng tho length of the shafi 456, 8y nsox∑r-tsng the sound ;apur, eknesEt externally is such & maasier, tbedbsck b i-vokicd, while &3k>wmg for ths rctnaiuiiJg in anst ^ή hxms lo the mass t&at is vfbraϊed.

jmwj?! The ricsύbic ϊ.hail' may ^" be formed from any suitable .flexible suci5 <s& rubber, metal, ρ!asϊk _% silicos, &;κl/or sny oihώr suitable fnδϊs^ial or the flexible sh&fi msy be s sprssg, as described above. Disposed SE the di&tgl *nd 458 of ϊbc flexible shafϊ is sound i&piit elemcsit 452.

As with six; cϊslxKlsroeas of FhO. 4A, an additions! vifcmtioδ absorbing materia^ siay disposed between ib.e coupling mstxassr sπd fas soxsad input element to furώst sttcϊtmate she vibrations ge&erεaed by said transducer.

!*sθδ8) Additional Iv, the vound kψixt dssncnt znάfov she flexible shaft may he detachable fbrm ϊhs hsusiag, such ύ&ϊ tha -lexible s.baϋ may be selected from a pksrauty of flexible shs&s, each flcxibk? shaft havhstj a spring coωstant or .vtifϋhess. Typically, tire sprsπg constant b hs cbδϊigftd or $vk;ctcd based oss ths power level of th.a outp-iϊ of the transducer; tκswo'cr. say suiϊabb spriαg ce-Bst&∑it π®y be selected. As with the above descrsbad cmbodϊmeats, housing 454 gesjsrsily jadu-des & transducer, &ts eseetsx>i5ic& πxsdyie, as feϊerfscs asd a power moduk (each, of wlύch is not shows _/ j or aay other suitable eoospancrsE, a-s described herei-i.

iδδs?} FIC ^D ϋbistratsϊ another strsbodim<íπL of boRc cotidiictfe? device 20(1, depicted as boiK dsvicβ 470. Is dsis esiooαimeaϊ, bane cotsditctiots device 470, is subslssd&liy s(ϊπ>kr to device 400; howsvijr, soyssd sαpa? elertsem or wscrophons 472 is mε>«ωtcd using a piarsiity of vibration d&mpessiag coupling members 474sϊ-d. In tfeis ssπιbodiπ?$ϊtt., sash of the vibf&fsoπ coαpiCϊsg τ?s$ϊnb«rs 474a~d may a spriag configured ts rsducs osc &ttcjιtjste tbs %-ibrstbns ;πϊ|>«n-c<I fe> the sound Jsput cbtnent 472. E^sfe vibration dampc-Jimg coupling mssabsfs 474s-d ts coupled to the housing 476 si a Brst or laestksn 478s-4,- and .oocφied to ϊfee souad input ekmesϊ 472 m a gxcanά or lacatbs 4S9a-d, respectively, As dcscTifccd «bs>vc, !a« vsbr&rbas Jtnpsrtsd to Jljcr soimd is.pυx c*icm&nt &ro or attenuated from points or bcstioss 4?Ss-d to points or kssstsoss 4gθa-d. is other words, due to the spring cot&iutn ;a;d sbe strtmusiliosi of ώe ShsS 456, the vibrstiotss imparted t& she sousd ispu; clcmcrs arc reduced aioag xhs length ήf the viliratk.B dasipesmg c^upifag mesjfcers 474&<i

pffii A.£ vvs ^' tti the ernbooiϊKssmss described hsrciϊi, vjbrais&α dstspesitsg coiipϋsg members 4743~d rsmy be rctrsovabls atyi tspiaceable by other vfor&uon. danspenssig coupUag meaibers having diπiereϊtε άprisg or vϊbratioa dstϊspsπiag ρropsβrtj«s, λdditioaslly, each vshrsdon dsrπpcniϊsg coupiώg msαsbets.474s-d may hsve difFcreaέ vtfe?stios dsmpsni«g properties.

irnn _\ FiG. 5A iUustϊ3ϊcs oac uSEsbodfeisist of bone condseϊbπ devise 200 _» dcpictsd <i& bone conduction device 500. As described above, conduction dsvics 58δ saay mch-dε s housasg 502 &m! ε coupler 5Cs4 ht aitaeiώsg tfes hsusiog Sδ2 io sii anchor, such as anchor 262

(Fig. 2B). Irs this embodiment, housing 502 includes _^ ameag other cosψosesJSs s sdcrsphone or sound uψut eiernerst 506 cortnssted to hαiisir>g 502 via exie&gsøn amis 503, and a transducer 5OB, As ^* -γit ^' h ths abovs described etnbodimests, housfcg 502 may isciudsd, as electronics module _* as imer&cs and s power xnoduie (each of which is nm shσw&}« or any oϋκx suitable, ecraponem. flip sBusxi is pus eletrisnl, $s described above, rcxoivcs sound waves, which <sxδ .scat to the ssusd processor, Sotmd processor us. tisra tπay atπpisfy or alter th$ sjgαai &sd send ihis shared λigtud to the transducer to srφart visrstksss to the anchor, aioαg a displacsmerst axis* S 1 CK irsput element is posiiioasd and xuch ihxt the movesble component ssch ;y> a disphragm 5"0S sf &s souad input aicjncnt 506 is ao-ifigtjred to vibfsts o!τ move due io acoustic .sound is substartuaHy p«?aϋei with di&p sacerseni axiv S J ^Q . As such, mswafcle CCJTϊ^OϊϊSJK 505 vibrates sfcsg & vibration ϋxis that is $ufe-st8ϊ3.tjsl?y otthogpnai with «wp?sβcm«ϊSϊ axis 5 IG.

\m?3\ FlG. 58 is a schensatic diagram of an exemplary moveable zoxnpan&sz, άkphrsφπ SSHm & mu&a kipnϊ element (rios sh.o^ ^λ 3) sccojrdiag to one erabodύnetst of ihe prsseut mwation. As 3Uϊ3Sϊrsϊeά STsoYsble s«mtv>rj.ent 558 is π5oun?cd such thst fe sδund iπspiaging sssrfacc resides m a plane ?S0 which is substaatiaily parallel to di&placemcωt axis 510. 3y csrtflguriαg the mcsvesMe αssspoαcnt to be poniitonco is a pk&e that b ^bstaatmlly pasalk? to the displscenicnt asss, the rsxjvcabic cvrngonvm vibrates skssg a vilsfstsss axis 552 &at :s g-ssbslasstially srthogonal with άiψi&czmm){ <xκi$ S lQ. Thus, the feedback to the sound i&puϊ deϊωδat is reduced or sab&taauaiiy eliminated. &n ambaάimsix of the M>«ftd lspur clejϊiεat ferlxjtie eønduct'osi devie« 500 h. wklύ'ϊ the s<;iLjad j.sρ\ϊt sbrr-stst is SϊSϊJVVϊJ as ayngmis sύvrophong 53S. Ml«κ>ptose 520 gcr.Drally sacludes a hosjsiisg 521 wkich. esek*>>efi. a mev&bϊe or dkphrsgss. 522, a m&gset 524 and iat^ual wtrmg 526 xhsz conveys the signal to aϊϊ smpHilsr. The mivropϊioωe is configured tςs opersis by having th« diapfeagni vibrsts when cc?ntfi«ed by sound, Th$ di&phragisi is attached to axsd thuϋ, vjlsrates mserrsal wiriag 52δ, which is configured as a coil Hie nsovetrscai of ths cot! isx UK; magnetic ftcld gcacrats?; stπall chasgsx is sicctrkal or voltsge. praducisg a vsryujg curre.m m ύvs coil though cfecitomagastic induction.

iSsvx"! FKl. SD iU&sirsϊex «a erahodknent aϊ the soaod input ekmstit sϊ which the sound ;rspu ^! .: eieniesϊt s shows ;w a condenser πjscropaoϊϊe 530. Microphone 530 jsclucks s houxisg 532 which encloses a mavabfe coϊϊψoxeϊ-t or diaphragm 534, a plate 536, an arπp 538 tmά. s b&ϊtory 540. IR thb embαdixssot, diaphrsgtn 554 arid r>kte 536 are oppos&ciy charged such Sh&t when moved closer or farther apart, & change in voltage is created- This voltage change er aικiio signal ss dκtri transmitted through 542, Since the eimsg« ia voltage is typicsily srr-2.il (e.g., s mϋucsnta ώf & thz sigssi siay be smpliHed by smp 538, The electrical cfesrge may Ijs a direct c^rrea; voltage s pplied by battery 540 and rfjay be applied, thrftugb. the s;&rs« wiring 542 thst carries ;1JS aitematisg ciu^ns voltage of ώs ssidso signal

iδi>76| In ;^>τrse einbϋdirϋcms, έhc dkpk'&gsi of a rricrophoaό (e.g., dk|?feragj« 522 or 534> ms.y V.i ihe oaδiposeπs thsλ resides ss a ptet&s parallel to the dbplaccme-m axb 510. By cosngurlr^ ihc dispisragm to reside or fee nosstkjsed ia a plsπc thai Is sαbsfaiuisUy p&railsi so the dispia-cs&ess; s;<iiϊ _; ths dispisnigoi do«o aot vibrate or the vibrarbas are rsduced wheu the traa-idαcc? vϊbtδsss Thjis, the feedback to the nύcropbsnc will be reduced or subsisndaiiy c.Mmisatcd. !t ϊs sκ>ϊed xh&x the etr&odsmcnts shows in FIGS. SC axaa SD are merely -.ϊ:κεπspkry asii thύ invsjϊtbω Ls tsot isnitad ;o πiscropboxiftS <sr sotisd bpat devices liavtag these types of diaphi&gffis,

issrri In orκ embodimsst &aπsάuc<?r 50S is & pi>ssoek-ctric sr&asducer ib&t ϊ$ configured to CϊJstrøi ώo anϊpiϊtude of the ϊϊϊ the dϊrecsios of the dispi&ecϊπcϊS sxis. Tas rsiiga of the outpyi f&rce of the transduce? 30S may bft prescsectcd by the eføkyϊfi or the reeipiextt Its ijsix>s5ϊrso4<ii» ccrtafe thrc&hoϊd Hsifcs for the rccjpictst's hssrixsg. The ouspat for the trs^duccr Ls geasrslly a faactson of she TTϊ&SU ssd the vskjcstv of the sixuisducer 3€B moviag afesg the dlspkeetnest axis 511) asd the mas^ of the raoviαg part of U5C transducsK,

ift§7$? In OΏC atstbodiϊnent, ϊhe so«sd mput slsmsaj is msyss.ed on. a tnovabie .shsti. The mov&ble shall Is coκHgured to adjust tlic sound input cbssat to coincide Wϊta the displscsjaetit axis. Thu.^ sr _: shis stisfcodsmerit a clinician or the recipfcst may adjust the dirsetion of the txsβvablc shall to improve t.he |>«rccρϊ of the rsctpient.

I§S75>5 To achieve the tsasϊ desire-d fbedbsck rccust'ba. the rcscipiest ^' a soand percept αsy b& άotcnmneύ in asy auiubk τasruisr. For eκ&mpls ₅ the recipient may listcs to aαsustεe soma usiϊig

the hoτι« cosihictiøs device. The sousd input <?k?n?en: πt&y ifea be adjusted OQ ύiύ ssαvcsbk* skifi \Q move precisely coincide with ώe άispsaeesserU axis. This adjusnncnt res&y be made ;r:sαιuii!y or using &&v oihβr device. Oi&s ϊhe >øusd mput eJensoist ss adjusted, the recipient ^' s Syu∑iά per^epi si&j be determined sgaia. This procedure may bt? repeated ϋϊiπ ^' i Oiϊd'ϊ-urft fc«dϊXic.k rcdiϊcύsn.

;βδ»>i F-IGS, &A ass4 &B stluxtrai^ cπ?bo<iκπcrsts of bone csndiictlon dev-ce 200, depicted as ]?oae conduction Jc\icc, sn which a røuixi ispxsst clcraeat or micsophaao 602 b Iβc&sςd is> a separate botisirsg, rcirsotc frtstr. tr<Ess4iJccr 6€ ^ij *, to reduce feedback percept by a rc-dgieni. By poλuϊosii-g dsc sccoϊid hoasirsg τzrmxz from the fci bois&mg, rmsaducer i«^ε substaiaj ^' aHy reduced ;ϊS ώe sound ispxst ekrnest

538X1 : In ϊlss ^' s s>ynbi3diπi«st, bone cotsdnctϊots dsvice 600 includes s αrsi Hou≤iag 606 and a second hoasiag <5O8> First ho us sag 606 includes tnscrophoss &r sound xsφut ς&mam 602, a b&rtsry f&9 and an IR rrsnsπsktβr δ s 0, Secotid housisg iϊκ~l«ii«s lrsnsducer 604, an IR rccsivar •Sπ, as; a.isρ 614, dsetrosics jisoduk (eg., 204), an isJ«rfac*f {<$,%,-. »12) aad a b&tiety 616. It j& ϊxstiic thta. lsc coϊ?φQ?<cn;s included in, each bousing arc msfoϊy exemplary nnά eseh housing may include ;«;>■ ^• conipoi-eats de^ircd, as bag 35 the mscrophons anύ ihs sxaπsduccr a«; positioned in ^paWte kotissngfi Tbs? CQjssoϊwms of b«n«? coτ-ci;ictksτϊ device 6CX1 operate m sub^-arstsaiij' similar :o ilsosft «escr%csi siχ>vc,

i^tϊsώj ϊs t:of«e jjmbcdirssjtϊts, first hoasing 606 Ls popitioned bshiod the cs? or (r_ th& esπ however, ^r ho^sssg 60δ may be positioned ia &sψ sur&bte ares or piaee os tke s^e-cipisi;-:. For exssψα hou5sng 605 tπsy be po,«tiϋt-<?d ia the CϊSγ, fc^hiad the car, resiotely from the sar or any αέbcr portion of ^λ hs rscipseTSt ^* * body, in another O'nlxx'lmctis, fusing 606 may bs smpϊanϊcd of attached to sk«U 6 s 9. Second .hou»ή>g 60S in&y he vssmw&bϊy attached a> the axjebox δ ! " ushϊg & coupling sietsiher 613 in s subssaJttsaHy &;κiύar mssssser ss described in ϊIϊS above smbadlmeats c-v m s;n- o= b.«r πiassacr dcscf fbcα herein.

5) In this embodimes?, bone coadacϊkjsi device 600 operates ia a jiJinslsr jnanjjer as ^k^crlbcd <its«>ve; hζnvcvcr, the aigmd 620 Scats. She soaad ϊapui «k:πicsϊ 602 is ^est via &n jκfn»-<:d (IR) I ^j ϊsk 61^. By s<ipisadug She XOOBS input sisuicst from use transducer, the ϊTλjcrophc-ae i^ -not subject io 0.3« d tract yibraϊioas svsihiπ hϊm&tag 60S and thas>, feedback is

reduced, Ii b soled ύx&i coϊnmu-uc&doα bcrwees the microphone and the tra sducer may b« asy fypc of wsrdess. coH£$umcs£<m (e.g., ISL radio frequency (KF) or atiy other suitable. cotrrøurJcatbstø;) or the eommusucatjoss can be ±rcagh a wireά eomiectioa. In. the wsrcd eoruseesios, v.b« device would esssmusueatc in a substantially similar to described above, except the ;>5g'ωu5 from the mics-csphoωS svouid be .sent so hmising oM through &n axtcrtm wire., as

Ii « tioted ih&U b this smbod-irncn!. the housings 60δ and 608 do sor scesss&diy need to hδuss the abfiVG described add oach housmg ϊπay have positioned therein asy of me abcvc Ascribed or other sustεbis csmponcats positjossd therein, as long as the sound ϊ∑ψyt example _^ ia. one cmbodlroc«t _} .seooiϊd aosϋsrsg όOS may orύy iacisdc sraasdacer 604 battsr>\ IR receiver 612 ixsά a batter^' »16, whik ho«sirsg 606 (. ^• ontains ih« rsmsfesdcrofthe coπ5jκ>jιcϊns,

[J)SSSj In sotne etnbodimeats, Si dq)lαed is FiG, 68. the taizmphotic or sound input ek?n$i)t is αsmscsted via %vsrcs 622 x& boasmg 60S. Iu this embodmtsjrsf, bouάisg 60S πssy ϊnciudo slϊ the >-one cotKhistioa hearing dsvice sompoαcniα cs-Jser ώsa άouκd Input zhn"<mi 602. AA noted hoa,siag $0>*> rnxsy be a sm&il phifbrrr.- in which soarπ. aip«t ekmeπs. ss sfeschsd. IJ? this feedback τna>- bs isotoed, waile allowing S>t the remausing cotn|x>ftests to conlribu: i? to tho JS&S;S sh&t ss

&i Microphone 602 nϊj.y be cotsEsscted to the ear usisg clip 624 sr =s say susi&bJe masncr. For es&mpie, øiicrorjhoπe rr^y be pβsϊtwed sa or oτx tfse ear, on su^ portion of the recipiess's head ssd'br body. Thus, the πuciopkαno may be- eonceated ϊB a suitable area or may be attached to the lxκh\ car or heac fer cspά^um receptios. άe-viee 6δO. A,s noi^d in. iHock 702, s,n ss>ch.or (e.g. _* atschcf 262) is -tspUusicfd bto the skull of lhc tecipjem. AsS di,%c\ϊ5se<i above, shs sachor systsm πssy be Sscd to 'x>t5c 136. In various ώmbodiøsώst^, ihc anclϊ&r system si&y fe sspkmcd under skia 132 wύhia muscle 13-* sad/bf &t 12&, In block ?t)4, d housing tα&t inohidcft s. ^ansdaccr («.g.. 608} h _* ooαpisd to ϊhs ϋachor.

Sl Ai block ?0*\ a. hosismg ώ&s mcJtsdes a mkrøphons is positioned adjacent she skali of the be placed \& the WSr ₄ bshisd ϊhe or or ssy suitable position oa the rse-ip-Iest €øsxmuoiratjsxϊs bctvcsss the ϊrassdacϋr αoatrng and the microphone housing m&y thβa be e~,suφlisho4 at block 7ύZ, such oorsϊr>a.slcc;isøϊts may b« wireless or wired ajid may use any ϊype of commuaicatiots described

I8^s*5 Father ιcstar<^ and adv&stages of the present isivnimioji are described In. U.S. Provisiorjai ApsKcϊαϊøu N\>. 6I'04L] >?5s entitled ^>v B«πs Coml^cύon Device^ For The Rehabitisatioπ OF Mesrmg Dssorde^ ^' ' riled Mardi S l, 2iK^, This appϋesuor. Ls hereby incorporated by referea-c-v' hcrciss,

l&m) WhHs various embodimersts of rhε present hτ»-erιtk<π be- _~ ft described &bov< ^» , ;t should 1-5 that ;iiey have been presented by way of example only, asd net lisritaiidn. It will be s|ψ$rcst to psrsotis skilled in the relevant art \hsi variots charges m form and ά&i&il cs.n be made thereiri w;t,bou; ϊSX>ϊϊϊ UK λpϊrk and sc«pc of the isvetitios. Tlsiss, the bre-adth ssd xespe uf the prs^e^t inventiors ^hoaJd ran b« limited by any of tύc above-described ςtxex ^y φkry but shmjM bo defined only ia accordaacs wsth the feUowmg claiπss and. their equh'aknϊs. AO f&ξems ssd pabijcsiions diw;i?ssed herein srs iacorporaied m thetr ersiϊreiy by reference thereto.