PARKER JOHN (AU)
C? -A I Wh&S L dabbed is;
1. A boss eosduetsoπ hearing device, eαxsprisrsg; a Srsϊ ho&v ' rtg comprising a xnsπd Input deiiieni: soaiigured to geaerats a first 5-gsai rspr&'sejststi ' vs of &ϋ acoustic saujid; st-d
« second bϊfttsiiig, comprising a coupliag messbsr xh&i coxψks so &v< mcbor ;jvsiern dϊst is cosfϊgured to be surgically Jmpk«t.2<! Into the -ikuil of a rcespicst, ar :
elεotromcs rrsodufc co:ifϊguιOd io process the Orϊϊ 5Jgϊϊ&; axsd generate a secosd ssgsal, asd a trarssdiicssr ϊhat vibrate ^i rcλpoωs« ta ths sccotsd sjgtjsf <xaά whorsiπ the second toαsfcg is separate from the first hou-sn'sg sues, skat Oae
2. The bosc SGsduction device of cSssm 1, whar«Ja th« electrosica ssoduic and the sound siφui eis:rtcj;t ars coτϊ>π?uϊ5icat>ly αo«pie<i via vyirefess cofRøϊυtiic&ϊior..
3. The bons coϊϊductksis dεvjcs of ckfin 2, whcrδsVs r^e wirsisss communicatjos occurs- Kϊ a irntisn-'iάskio !ix;suCBC.y jo r,he radio ireqaency or in&ared fscςuesicy rtssgs,
4. The bons
5. The bone conduction devscc of claim : < ivher<;ώ the Srsέ hoa^ώg is cosβgυrsd ϊO be iπscπed iaso «n cax e&tssUft ' the reclfiβss.
6. The bone ct?sductjc?ti devics of claiiα 1, ^hereln rhe δrsi housmg is ϋosϋgnred ■» bo positioned bcbϊnd STϊ outer e≤r of the rccspicπt.
7. T!;e toac esπducs bπ device of cϊaissi I , whersm ths first housing &-ther eoaψrises a power se-^ree for the sausά mput elcotsat. S. The bosie csjsduc∑bn. devieε of claim I , where k iha second hmmag further comprises pøwer source for the so&πd izsm element.
9. The bots^ conducrfes dovica of cksxa i , wsereis the isrs∑ housing funksr comprises & povcr source for the jr&ssdisccr.
U ), The boss s-caductios device exclaim 1, whereis the ssoβsd housing dsrthsr comsmes & rxϊveat iύutζ:ϋ for the transducer.
ϊ L The base eoϊtd&ctkm d&v j ce of cisiiii L wbcrcin tite aouad iapϊit cleϊn«jnϊ cotϊφriscs a SiicHjpaoωS.
12. A method
poύxiorάtiξ. a firs* hoyjskg asijacesi thε skull of s -reespicm άt a Erst ie-catsøa. ϊk; first hcHsksg nϊcks-άing a so^rsd bpus element oonSgarsd to receive as scoasϋo s-p«a?; sx-rgjc;sl;y ϊSIϊJ last ing an anchor into the xks3 of the recipient at a sccsjsd ideation, she second scesϊbxi remote liroπi the fϊrsr lαestioα; and eouplisg a second hoxsslag to the anchor, the sscorsd housing separate furors said nr;« ho ; ^!πg s and irie-bάing a trsssώϊcgr cotsδgursd io receive a sigωsl rsprδ≤eϊiisiivs; of the acoustic soisM iigri&l sexi Ie vjbratc such ;hai she rcc:pj«HS perceives the acoasHc signal as sousd-
13 , Th« isxahc-d of ciahϊϊ 12, wbereki &s βomid mpαt clemeαt ?& in eoinss&aicaticm ■ ■.vkh said transducer ^ia as eiestKjrdcs ϊ∞dute, Jhc dsCϊroωϊcs mod-ile coαπgured Jø §«5jeπ5tβ an elecSdea! sia:«ii b^ised &s said received acoustic sigosl so gerieτa;« &sid transducer vibratjoxis.
! 4 ih<? method of claim 13, wksreis rhe eisαxosics assduls is configured -xs be m mvxmsxix ή cx-bsϊi wiik said bespat «kms:x5 via wireless corsmu-αicarbs,
15. ' HsC ϊnϋuxϊd of cbiffi 14, whorcm said wireless ssanurs&siestksn is scieeied torn the groαp cosssstisϊg of !-Jdk> ircqitescy and ϊnfrarcd. Kx Use ; isϊclhod of δlaiϊts 13, wherein the elcetroaks module is coaSgured to h& m eemHUimεsf iαπ with i;aJd input element vsa wired ccmmuωi&afes.
1 ?, The sBiSthcsd <j£ eisim 12, whereis the pos$-ioκirsg step incbdss positioning the fesi housing into she ear c&rssi.
18, Th-i method at claim 12,
19, A λVNϊCJB KSγ reducsssg the acoustic feedback in s SOΏC asehored lissrisg ds^isc ^
a sound
20> T!ϊ» ϊ ; yjr:k ; sω of ci&im I s ), i-vh<trem the seuisd iapuϊ elemesit k in comrωUϊsiGstsoω with said srss&sdϊscδr via ϋts sbctronics s-nodus^, ih« skctrorics module eosifigursd to gensr&ie s second s j g^al based oκ «asd SγSϊ sigssl ϊO gcaetsic s«iid y^πs4acer vjbrstior^,
2 j , The ϊy%;eπ; of c^assπ 20, wherein the eiectnsnic^ KKsduis ?s configured to bs in with sski snpa.t dessieat vfe wlre-kss cos?m««iwitioa,
2^. The sy&iεmof cia j si 21, therein said w|r«?c=s coramusicatiors is selected sroos tb& group coωάbting e-f radio IhjqusHcv arisi infrured.
25. The system of claim 20, whύrem rh« clcetrosics jsjoduie L^ ccsβgurcd to be hi coπuϊsλϊaJcatkiδ wkh s&s ' d input eiernenr via wired cansautύcstioa. |
€OMKJCTtPN BEARiMS PEVlC £ BAVIN€ ^
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This iψpik'αϊon oinkns ϊhc beaellt of U.S. Froviskmsi Application Mo. 61/041,185. ost&feά '"Bono €oadacuoss Devices For Tha Rch&bϊlitatbo OF Hearing Disorders," filed M&rch Jr I, _?Q0&. Ilώ appϊicsπsn b hereby sseorporstsd by reieresce herein.
im&i The presets tπveπlkm relates gcαier&Hy to lxm« anchored hearing 4ev;css, asid mow ixαtkxπaπy, so ϊJORC cϊncborcd he&rmg devises having a fesjdteck redυctson system.
imύ] Hcs.πag bss. vfhich may be άao to re&ny diflcieni causes, is gensraUy of ϊWCJ typ&%> coωdiictiw or
«stH54s Condϋctsvc: ssuKng k>*;? ocαirs when the πoπmi srsechanicai pathway ta provide ssαiiπd re hsir c^iLs m ths c&chlcs are impeded, for ssaπψle, by damage to the ossicular cksin to ear osiasi. iπdϊviduaLi
;«Ss Individuals who sniffer from conductive hearing Joss arc typically sot ςssidieaies iør a cochlear impish dϊie to the irreversible satxire. af t&e cochlear ixnglant. Spedδc&Hy, insertiss of ibe cise-trsdo xεr&y mu> a recipient * s cocbbs exposes the recipient so risk of the destruction of the ϊruspπty of hair ceMs within the cochlea. The destruction of tha cochlea hair cdls res&ksj in the loκs of aii rss'kkiύ hcsriϊϊg by the recipient.
Itm6) Rather. indmάussLs suffering fkitrs eond&erive hearing lass iypkaUv receive as acoαsik hearing aid, referred Ks as a hearέπg aid herein. Hearing aids rely oa prmeipics of air cosductba io ;rassϊτιit scoisstic sigaak tferøugh the oircer ssd Biiddle cars tεs the cochlea, is particular, a kcajisg lύά ϊyjϊϊcaily ijϋes ars ssraπgsxaent
?«?] Xiritsnus&tdy, sot all iadividaalά
|8δδS| When an ssdMdual havstsg fully Einctisπal aearisg rec-eiv^-s aa kψMt souπd } ihε soiind Ls trJSϊϊstriltcd to the cochlea vis. two primary ssschantsms: air cosductios asd bose cotsd^ctioa. As noted sbove, b;arisg sids reh prisiariiy os the prsscsplas of air conduction. In costrsst, other devices, referred to && bone csnductfcsi devices, rely predsmiπamly c>n vibr≤lsort of the bosses af lh« rceipbnεs skuH to prsvids acasstsc signals to εhe cdcsiea.
i®m$ Those issάHidusis who caarsot derive .vsiiable benefit irom beariag aids rnsy beaeiϊ! Iron's boa« conduCKsa devices, BOϊϊS cojidxsciba devices &ϊi«iαϊ5 by coavtrsiiαg a received S®KTA into
a tπcchsπicas vibration
I8%s8j A alternative to u ωormai asr co«ductioκ hearieg aid is a txms eersduetxssa hearing i j
d which wses s Iscaxis-ig &iά ts drsvβ a vsbraiør wliich is inched agsimt S^ skull vis a ■ϊjGchs-Eusfi-!. such '-xa giusK*c*i or wire hoops. These dcvsccώ. srs generally uiicαrπforiable ss wcsr Sϊd ;br
1§&U{ In or.c &sp«xt of the present iτsveαsioα, a boss coaduc&os hearing device is disclosed, the dsvio« ccmpdsi& j
*: a first housmg comprising a- soααd input efcnsrst ooxifiguted io generate a firs ssgα&l representative of as acoustic sousd, a secoad bot&mg, csjrφrising 3. xroirpilng m^raber that αsupks to sn sachor sysfen that is configured to be surgically sraplasted iato the xicuil of a redpiest, ass Qlecϊroaks modaϊe configured to piscesi. the Srst signal aad generate a second sigssal, sad a tnstsducer. fhst
ϊ->δ5:5 In aπothoT aspect of ths ssvcωtson, a method of impisriisng & bone conducϊioa hear j
^g device to reduce scousϊk fssdb&ck is discioseά. The xaothod ooπψrisss&: poshioαisg a arm. hωϊϊsmg adJ&cen! the ;»kull of a recipies.έ St a fes. tocatkss, the fesS boussag including « souiK? \npuι zisn-iϋ T
ii cssitigured ta receive an acoassic sigasi; ai-gioally srϊϊpi&nting s& anchor tϊsϊo the sk ϋϊ
i of the τ«cφsou sx a second iocsts&a, die second lo<atfoo rst«ore fern the first kicstios; sad coupling 3 second hoasmg ts ώa &achor, the sscosd lsousmg separate from the first uousisg, smi ssdudi'ig a lt«3ϋsduc«r
!§s>i 3 s Ia ssβfeer asπecs of 5 he i;weat;os 5 a system for reducing the acoustic feedback is & hona α mmtsά hesri^g <lcvks i& provided. Tfes systcsi csmprkes: 3 sey:id xsput sissisjat conrlgured Io geseraie s &st sigrs&s repressϊ&tisvc sf aa acoasiie sousd: and s transducer separate from the . s«usd iκ;xit eisα-ca; siTtd coupbd 5.0 a« as-chor syijtsm that is corsftgared to bs surg'C&Hy is ϊ5T5 Msnt$4 isr« tiie iicuil of s recipie;ύ, tb« trsπsducer eoritigisred io be in coπsm i iϊis j stsδ β with , iujd rcrs^ose froπi th ώ ≤oatsd m j Mt eterπcist and vibrate such d^aϊ ihe recipisat p erceives th.3 acoustic tϊouπsi s^d fecdbaϊ±; perccpϊ is reduced.
BRIEF INSCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
is.58Hi Hmstralive &mbo<J sme&ts of the present ύϊvest;os &re described kerdis xvicb reissues tø she aecoϊϊtpanyfeg dniwisgs, In which;
\mϊ$\ FIG. I is a perspective cutaway -view of a human esr sad. a hose eøsdusϊios device bτφksted behisd ths ear is which, ersbodssserax of the presesi isveatbsx πssy be advaxstsgecusiy i-ϊψieπϊeπisd;
lOfSϊδξ FϊCi 2A U a iunctics&i bbck diagram of as ernbodanesu of a base coαducaos. device is accordance with osis srssbodiπisπt of tlsa presem isventiots.;
[iκsi7| FIG. 2B b s more deisslsd
;iMJ!S] FlG. 3 is SXϊ expfeded
(δiKisi FlG. 4λ 5x & sch$t«sϊic dis.grsm.ofa boae conductisϊn device wkh sa lαternai .sousd sπpαt ύbtnest sxjspeTidcd Ireϊϊithc housing vis s v&fsifcs <kø5p-?β:mg co-iplisg mesnbcr;
[0028? FIG, 4S is s EOp perspective view of a boo« cosd ction dcvi&$ with & souad mp-ut cleϊϊjcst ωSGϋϊUed e-xter&aUy to βasd housiog vϊa a vibnstbs dsπspfisϊing coupliag somber;
■imt} fϊQ. AC k a c«>s$ seetso-sal view of the flexible eossector of FIG. 4B ϊ&ken aiong Use 4C-4C m Fig, 4S;
;^S2s Fig. 4D is u schemaac disgnmi of a bone eondαetjoτs device wϊtk an issersai somϊd mput cicπicsϊ auspeϊjάcd δx>κi ϊfcs bou^bg via a piuraHty of vlbratioB dsmpesiag ecs y pli^g member;
5
^*31 FIG. 5A is « schematic diagram of a hons coaduciiαn device wish a irJerophone ixjsti iaaed sscb
iδftWj FiG. SB is a schcϊπsJϊc dt&gr&m showing Lho res&Uve oneaύsUosi of & diaphragϊϊϊsuc πikcrophersc &nά vis eoscotrύUmt yibrsibn axis and the displacement axis of She transducer, In ;ϊocotdaacs wish one c∑nbodiixieωt of the presets inventisn;
;$δ25s FlG, SC is a shspϋflεd; diagram of a dys arsis tπscrsphose in acc.ords.sce with one embodimssϊ of ih« prcs««t ϊ;:svest>Qn;
misi HG. SD Ia $ .sknfsiifssd disgrsm of « condenser tsπcrophojϊs in accondsnee wsth OΏ« ejnbodimest of rbe presets iπvεjtHon;
leδϊ?; FIG, 1 SA L s sy^sem block diagram sf a " bone conduct b& device with a bone aiscborcd hoiss.ang aad & 3-ϊparsιs mϊcrophc^s hoiissπg;
[®ms FlG, 6B b a p<:rspcctivD view of JS bone ttonductbs device having a trocrsphooe iJCparatsd Ssstn the hatic anchored housing: aM
7 is s. Bow chart iUustratks the? i∑npi&nSaπcn of the boss cosidaotiαπ dcv j cs of FIGS 6A s.ϊsd 6B m accordance wish Ovje crsbod.5«vøat: of the present ir.vcstk?ϊi.
[βS3δ; E^bodimenis $f the prc&em itwemioa are general fy directed tα s bons conduεiiots device &r convert tag c; r«ooiv<;ά acoustic mu&d ss '
gs&l iatø a -mechamesi lbκ« ib-r delivery s« a recipient's sktdl The &CJϊKS conduction device isciad.es & hoiisiag Mviπg a soursd input comp^cxm, c;i_ch as microphone, EQ receive the aooustsc xmsid signal an electronics module configured to generate -as eieαxiea! signal reprcsentnig the acoustic sαuad sigssl, and a tmrssduoer to convert ths electrical signal
IM3%\ FIG. 1 is a pcrspcciivc vi©w of embodisiisaLS of a boso cotiducuoa device 100 b which cmbodh-ixsϋs »f the
SS832ϊ FIG. 1 ssso nksiπues $hs possriordng of boss eαadisc&s device 100 relative io outer ear 1OL sjikkile «sr 102 and mngg &sr 103 of a recipient of device 100. A$ shows, bosie co∑tduet&jπ device 100 smy be pcsirsoscd feehώdoistcr ear 101 of therecϊpiest.
l<m$ Isi the eme-odks.eats ilh^^aέed in FfG. 1, boϊss- eosdae-Jfeπ device 100 ooαψrsses a housing > 25 having a micπsphotsc 12=5 positkmsd Jhereln er thereoϊt. I-ieusisg 125 is cβsjpkd to
the body of the recipient vis coupimg 140. As described below, base coaducjbϊi device iOδ may comprise a j>ou-id processor, a trassducsxr, transducer drive cotnpoacnts atid/or various othsr « ICCϊγϊλ a k; v : ' r v aks/devic&s .
\ms4\ Irs seeorάsπcs with embodiments of tbe prsscm mvgrsdoa. an uncbαt system fmt shown) may be knt>laot«d in the rscipbst Aa described bsiow, the anchor sysieπi may bs fkeα to bone ; 3fx Is vsnous stϊibβdsτnssϊs, the- anchor system ∑say be iirsplanted under skm = 32 wfehia mi^ck 134 aad/or fax ! 2S, In ς«ϊt&ls cmboclimesJS. & couplmg 140 sttaebss dsvics 100 to ibs
IMSSi A fuBCtk-smi bteck diagratri sf osc cmkximieπ! of bane cosdactsor. H)C )
, referred to as bone cosiducϊios device 200, is xfcowo i∑s FIG. 2A. In the iUi&irsted embodiinest a sound 207 b received by a. souad $npm oiemerά 202. fo some embodsHi-ents, SOJJBω iϊipist dcπjcns 302 is & ω-ikτophϊ;s<ϊ
&smi M
sδss?! As showϊx hi FIG. 2 A, a transducer 206 receives adjϊisted electrics! signal 2:24 and gcssπUejj <s rκe>-;bssraca! oui:|5u.t fbtco that k. delivered to ϊh« ^kail of she rssissess vis ati anchor system 2<m copied so bone esmdisctiαn device 200, Dsisvsry of tbis oatp^ force causes cms «r rciore of matiotj or vibtafioa ofϊhe rscipkfijs skull thereby sctϊvasing tho h&fc cells kα the cocϊslea vis Gϋclibs fluid rsotbft
;«>«$] FIO. 2λ ;iξs<? Olustratcs a power moώuis 210, Power πssdufe 210 p-mvidss elecmøsi psw«r ?o one or more comporjsϊirs of boas aonductjoxj device 2OfI. for case of slkiϋttslbsru power moduk- 2 \d h&s been ^howss e«nsec;ed only ;o jnterfkcc siodalε 2 U and efectmsiscs
module 204. However, it should bo appreciated that power triodufc 210 may Ix? used to supply powϊ'X ϊ.v- any esectϊicaUy powered eire^dr^eomporsenis of bone cosάuctkaa devs ' ce 200.
IW&] Bone c&iάiiCtmn <kvk:s 200 iurther includes an tnrsrfece Ssoduk 4 212 that allows she recipient to snterraet with device 200. For example, interface rsockis 212 may allow the recipient to --idjuss. ills volume, altar the speech processing strategies, power os/off the device, esc. mfer&cs resduk 212 commtmic&tc's wsth electronics πκsdule 294 via signal line 228.
i^ms} In the ersibodirαem illustrated in FlG- 2 A, scassd pickup device 202, sieetmrsics soduk? 204, !TS.as4ucer 20δ, p«%ver tssodtds 210 aad krerfaee modyle 212 havx; all. bees shown a» [
jijcgratsd Jr; a .single housings referred to as houssrsg 225. However, a should be apptec sated that Ui ccϊrtaia of the present jsvcntiotϊ, ose or snore of the dlαstrated cαmpsmesits say be siouxci! Is separsie or difT«reτιt housings, Sirailsuriy, ϊt slsαusd also be uppτathitά thsϊ sn suet;
\$mι\ FlG, 2B provides a rxore demised view of boss c-a&duerksu device 200 of FiG, 2A, Is \b& fttnbodkscm, cleeξrδαϊ '
cs ssoduls 204 coaψfisss a soaosi pfoccajsor 240, tr&njsducer drive 242 asi-d eoϊit∑Xϊ? ciccrrøϋies 246. As e>;|i!ain$d above, is csrϊaiϊi eπtboditneats soured inptit eicmsaJ 202 coraprises a microphone cosisgy?sd to coaverξ & rcscivsd acciistk ϊtuo dccsrica! signal 222, In α∑her errsbϋdkaorits, as detailed fcefew,
ϊϊ ' s ' sOξ ϊΏ e:rdx>dim<;ms of she present iavβauoa, elecrricsj sigsml 222 is output from sα^αd iπptst exr&esK 202 ϊΌ soxmά processor 240, Sound processor 24(3 ^ses OSLS or more of a piura&y of i:eehsiqu<^ to s«i«ctjv«ly process, amplify aad/or Cϊk«r slsetricaJ ^sgnai 222 sw g^sorare & j3rx>e«&sed signal 224 A. in ccnsm cϊϊ3bods'ϊπe«ts, souse prscessor 240 tssay comprise substaatisKy ihe sanis soy^d processor &s is used is as. sir o<:srsductio« h&sring aki Hs further isπsbodimcωtx, soisnd process? 240 comprises a digital sigs&l processor.
■
0843 s Processed sigast 226A is prøvided to trsssduccr drive compoπes-ts 242. Tr&tssdvccr drivό sx?ϊ53p«κs£its 242 cuψut s -cfeive signal 224B, to sxsnsducsr 206, Based as drive sigsai 224B 5
ϊϊ.S344| Fs;- «isc of dssscniptkm thβ ckcsπcai signal ^applied by transducer drive eQspoτ.£.5.ts 242 ;<3 trs&sdsccr 206 bss bcsr. rs&rred to &s drive signal 224B. However, it should bs appreciated t&at processed sϊgnas 224B xaay comprise aa aamediϊied verskss of processed sigtsa! 224 A.
$ 845 $ Ae noted, above, jrsssducer 206 generates as output force to the skull of the recipient via anchor system 2OS. As shows in FlG. IB, anchor system 2OS comprises a coupling 260 sad as srπplsπ&d a&dksr 262. Coupling 260 may be a.t&ohed tø ess or more of trsis»άy.osr 206 or ϊ X Hssπg 225. For example, is esriala <?mlκ*djmst}t&, c&upstϊg 260 is attached to irs^sdiscer 206 ϋn.d v;br&uo?5 h> uppliQύ dϊrscdy ϊhsrclo. Ia other essbodimsrits, coimHag 2f>0 k anschcd to houϊisg 225 <sid vibfstica Is appfed irom msasdtscsr 206 shπ>ag.h hoαsmg 225.
ξ$δ«i Aϊ ^OWG >s FϊG. 2B, couplmg 260 is coupled to as aϊκhor bϊpiatitcd is she recipient, rsferred so as smpkπtsd at?chor '26 '
2, As o&pJss&cd wkh rsfcrcsπcs? to FIG. 3, impJar»tcd &Kcbor 262 provide* ωi elemssl ilyϋ fnmsfers ths vibration froϊa couplmg 260 to the skids of th« recipes.
\<mm\ As βh&wrs., sostrol Electronics 246 jsay be eosixcied to one or rc&rz at inicrhcs πmάuk 212, sousi pickup <k;v:ec 202, soϊjnd processor 24?) a&d/sr trassducsr drive coispos^uB 242 , isϊ cϊϊϊbodsω-iesϊS of the present s;v«»tior 4 , bosaά an mmax rscesvsd at intsr&ce modυifi 212, control ClCcItX)HtCS 2.46 tzi&y provide festrustioos to, or request ϊnibπmiikm SXKϊS, other compotiei^s of ix)ts<; cosdiicrion device 2CM3. is certain embodiments, is ϊhc afeesce of use? iapaiλ, eaπ^ϊ cieδiroaies 246 eomroi the operstjon of boas a>sd«cuos device 200.
\ &Q49\ FIG. 3 ufuxtmes sn cxokidάd view of one Cωibodimeαr ofbOωs conduction 200 of FIGS. 2A and 28, referred t<? hersisi u bcnss coαducϊioa device 300. As SIKSWR, boas conduction device 300 comprises &ω «κbodf«ieat of clcctron.ks coύaϊs: 204, referred to as ckctronk^ isoduk 304-» As «5φUiϊϊcd. abov«, iϊisksβed withb cbcrronics rr^duls 304 are a sauad procc&sor, trsssducsr drive yorπpoEώϊϊts atid costrol electronics. For sase of ilmstratksa, thexc cc>mp<JB<srϊis hav« sot beers illustrated in FIG. 3.
{M5&\ hi iha lUiJStr&icd embodiment, dee-troricά module 304 kei&dex a priated circuit board 314 (PC 8) to electric-sdly connect and msehamc&iiy support >:he compouβats of electronics sssdule 304, Attached to I 5 CEi 314 ars ons or msrs sound input element, shown ;fc micmphone^ 302 fe receive a sound.
!§!555| In -.he iHustratcd erαbodirssst, boas conάactba devjce 300 further comprise* jittery shoe .>]() fef iupplyiag pow<sr ;o
[δδ_αi S ϊϊ the ernfc«>di.ωisst ϋltsstratssd m FIG, 3, bone coaduαioji dcvscs 300 farther JGi.hidcjs s two-pa?i housing 325, coirsprssit5g fϊrsi housmg portion 32SA smd second ho^sisg panics 325B, rksussϊg ponioiis 325 sr« cesfigursd lϋ mate wirh øns another to subsstεaάaHy scsl botie α>nduets>n device 300.
!i>&53; ; ia the «mbs<iin3«nt of ¥IG, 3, føs* housing poririoa 325A has as openώg rlϊcrsjia lor rceeiviiig banery sbo« 310, To such cfKibeaia>e«t5, batfery shøe protrudes through Srst hsusing psrπos'ϊ 32Sλ a.rui rjiay ' Dδ rsraoved or inserted by the recipient λϊso In the iskisiraisd cnibodira«;it. microphoωe covers 572 s?s rdeasabty aCtached to first hoiisiag port j os 325λ. Microphone e«v<;rs 372 provide a bsxrier over β-ikroph<κ5es 3δ2 ϊ« prsϊeα microphssss 302 frøϊϊ? diisϊ v dirt or osiϊSr debrb.
$&S4\ Boss ccsaductiors device 30ϋ tuniiδt iseiud&s &n e-jubodiment of iateriacs; module 2!2 ^ rcfssTsd to liereiϊs as imsr&se module 312, lm«rfec« ssαάuiδ 312 ;s cossrlgured to provide or receive u^er inputs from the recbs«3iέ.
;tS;55j λiso «s sihoWij in. FIO. 3, beuc ccodisstioo device 300 comprises an ώmhodisicat of nraa^luccr 206, referred ϊO as rransdueer 306. Trsasd^cer 306 gsϊicrates JHE ootpuf fores that causes ωiovcsiδat c<f she cochks fluid s» thst a so«sd may bs perceived fey the rcxrpiest. lbs O5.s|n;t iαπx: may result in πjschanicat vibrstkyπ of the rssϊϊpisai's skull, or is physical JBovement
U
of the skuH sboar the seek of She rceinscat. As sated above, is scr∑aέa OT&bxx-imcssϋ,. boas device 300 defers the cmtput force to the skull of i&e recipient vsa si; anchor sysϊera SQg. /v:scl:;or system 5OK comprises a coupling 360 arid ;sr : pkrtted anchor 362. IR she CBibodiaseru jlhss-trsteά k FlG, 3, coupling 360 is eo a figured Io be attached so second housing portion 32SB. As such., is this embodiπraiu vibrstiou &o*& iTsssasiesr 306 is provided to coupling 36θ through housing 325 S, ID the embodiment shown is FiG. 3, an open&ig 3 β B is provided in ^ecosd housisg psrtkm 325B. A scre^? (sos shs^ ; ϊs) say be mseried through op«sikιg 36% ε«s stiacb msπsducsr 3Q6 tc coupling 360. i& such cr^bcaimients, as G-riag 3δO may qs provided ϊQ sc&l ojtctiing 36S &roux*d lhe scre-yV,
i&'ssss As ϊsøύxi asbovc, anchor system 3G8 mcludes implanted aachor J62. ϊs-φiasted j
ts-cbox S62 a>;sprises: s bori& :*.crc^ 366 iϊϊψϊamed in the ska!! of ibc rscisiesii at-d *
s« aNϊπ5s ;
s 364 ,
IB jffi istpksucd
jθi5sη Is ϋk«msϊj'vs embodimests ^i " ihe ptcsanz snvestiαa. bonέ cossduciJor, devie« 3CH ) may «offipr:se ots« or more addiibnM $mmά input slatneat. For example, ^one oosdJiCtios device 300 πϊ S Y cαøspriscλ as clcctriea! input. Ia such embodiments, Sh<? cicctrseal isput is conligured to eo^rsecϊ άevses 3δO to sxtcxsa! equipmeni ssd WCSSYC SJS elscmcai sαusid sigtijs! dsrsctly ;hsrefπ>sii The clcεmo&l hijwss may portrJt base cofid-ictsos device 300 t» be eoϊiωectsd to, &i exasψk, FM hearing systems, MF3 players, teieviaioKs, tiiobile phc«es > sia,
l%m] In st sH othex stsbodiments, a further souad irsinjt eleπicrst ia the ferm of & ; e!eeoϊi m&y be Jnϊesratcd άs, or eorsnecHss to, bose eoadiiction device 300. The tεlεcssiS permits boas cofidt j ctkss device 3001» recesvs inptJt signals froπi, for exsispfe, a telephoss or oώer skailar device.
\m&\ FIQ. AA ilhisL^iδs ose «tϊώodss.s_ϊi of bone eondaetbs ds^cc .200, depietad as hose cosducϊioπ dev;ec 400, wkscs iπcbαes & housing 402 asid s caller 41)4 for resscvcsfciy attaching- she bousing 402 tβ a« ssnchor, such as anchor 262 (Fig. 2B). is shis ssabodlmest, the hcHssh-ig 402 iachides, arøoxsg Other cosnposeπis, a rssicropbofte or soxtπd iixptu cism.eκt 406 aad a
ξπysMTvices: 408. Addit-onally, ϊha housing may Include a sαusd processor, sui electronics πiodalc, 4
one cmkϊdiϊneBt, so nd ύiput «ktnent 406 is suspended fk>m the koasrng or «ϊiφfed to any other suitable portba ofths boπs anchor?d device 400 using flexible shn& or vife-sϊbπ <kmpcmsig coupling rsscmbiT -* IO. By maslύng the soαsxt imsvx clemeπr in ώis sisτ,i!£r, the sound JSpUt eiesnerπ xs&y b« isokssd SOKI rix; jssecliamcϋi vϊbmtionaf geπcsrated by \hs traasducer ^ shϋλ reducing i∞ibsck ώπjugh the sound kput eJeπicπt, In sfacr words, the redpieiS αf ϊho IXJ-ϊK; coωώiCtioiϊ device will bsvs feedbssk psrεsrit substantially reduced <?? eMmins.t«ci.
one eπiboάirnem., the -souad isput element Is mounted isaemalfy of Kousmg 402. The
{δ«Jfι2] !ϊi oϊK! STTibodiment, coupK-ig member 410 is coupled to homing 402 at p β
i&t <
J? locatbϊϊ 409 &EX1 -.o the ssuπd input efeTOent 406 at a poirst or fee&tϊoω 4-13. is i!ώ cnVbodimetst. "he imported ∞ the sousd uaparted so the ACsuad inpw, ds?m«rnr ars πrdxseed or
J; \n some embodimcat^. «Ώ sαd-tioasi vibration absorbiag mαtcπal may disposed bsr%~c»n ins esupi-itg sssmbsT aisd she scsysid input βkrxsδai io farther at∑δϊtuatδ Ji^e vlfersiioπs geseraied by
ssid ix&osdueer. Far exampk:, lho coiiph ' og member tmy fee s rubber sleeve sad the additional vibration xastari&l may be a layer of έb&m between rhe coupling and the soistsd isput eie∑π.est.
« In one cx&bcdimeϊi∑, the coupling may be a spring or flexible shaft with a bw spring coaster; however, the spring csjtst&st may bε any desired spring cosstrøt. The Hsxible shall ■rmry be fbrαxd from, xset&l or plastic or assy o&er sulishie ss&terisl or corπbss&tioa of πssierkls. In ϊhte embodin^m, the vθ«sιd itsput ebxrisnt rsmy be detachable rrαni the housing,, ssiich that the spriag cons-srs; or stϊffii&x» αf iise slexiblc shaft rn^y ba sa»ily casagcsbb of »ebct«bte «$ ilie power bvϊ-b of she bane cθδκ3uetkκ$ device άxcrease or changes- Its other WOπ^J, soisc sprisg sX^assaais ϊny produce k&s feedback based os tba smpistude of vibration of tise trss&ducsr. In. ϊh±s c.tr;bodl;:nerit, the .lcxib^c jsbaδ. may be selected troππ a pϋursjity of flexible sh&Ss, cscb flexible .Hhaft. having a dlfferam sπri∑sg esr,sta«t sr siifSxess.
ϊf*S$5i FlG. 4B s.!lu$tratss one ejnbodέment of boac conduette device 2SD 5
depicted &s Ixjne eoriductissδ device 450, Is this embodimerd, bone conductbn device 43O 5
is substan&liy sitriilar to device 400: however., soxsad input dcssssi or srierophons 452 is trsαumcd sxϊSTTtaUy of htn«h\g 454 as. pomJ or kseation 458, Ir- this crtsbodira^Rt, vsbT-atkm dars-peπfeg αyuplksg t?ssτ!-sbsr is ϊlsxibk: shsfϊ or ώxtcasiafi ^56 thsi astsrsds outwardly and sxtemaUy from boissmg 45^. Is? some SjffibodisnerKS, the shaft 456 b&s a sub»taatia'ly rectatvguksr cross section, ^.vhersis \hs ^iάύx 45i> b sxibstcintmily grcaisr ϊhsxi. its height 461 (FI6, 4C). The jsousd irφut ebsiem is coupled to the shaft at pok; or beslbs 4SS abag the width 459, Sαsh s cofiiigatatbts will ermbia the shaft ι<3
CSθfeSϊ The fss.ibls ^harl m&y b« fcsj * med iroϊϊ? asy suitable rl^sibk πsaterlal, such a^ rubber, rϊiδrϊ&U piϊ&~b. sϋicsn, a.rj4'or any other suitable materia! or the flexible shaft msy be a spring, «& described above. DtsiKssed. ai the dlstd ead ^58 of the Oεxibk shall is sound \sx>s.ι element 452.
/U with iiss cmbodisicn- of FIG, 4A, as additional vsbrsuors sbsgrbisg material tssy disposed between the couplsϊg ϊϊssmbsr &sd the ssnssd stsput elesssst to further atte∑vαate rhc vifcraiiotks generated by xsid transducer.
;ϊj5S§"ϊ Additκπmil.y, the sc?\ιπ.ά iispus: ekrner^ ϋsά/or the flexible sh&& may be datachabb XSTTπ Uis ϊsιvαsϊs;«, such diat the flexible sfe&S rxsay be selected from & plurality of Ooxibkr .mails, esch flexible sbiϊf! bavins; a dir?«i *
eτtt spring
f«8ϋ&s F[Q, 4D
>c^§; As wuh the «πsbsάϊ«-iersts described herein, vshrstsos dasspetstag coupling tnsmte ' S 474s-d rtsay 0--; rsjrrssvsblc asd rsplscs&blc by oϊlser vjbratioϊi darspeαlag eoupHπg πs^rnbers having different sρπκ.g cosst&ϊjss or vibfaskja d&mpesisig properties. Addiiiosally, «aah vibration daTnpcnmg α>up!ing niemfefs 47*ϊ«-d ^ay have different vibration, dsmpemsg ps"O|>srts>s&.
\wm\ HO. 5 A iHustrat^ oac cπibodsϊjϋTϊt sf k>:ie casductisn device 2δi\ dqsk-tcd as bone coaducifesδ device 500. A* dss&rϊbed above, ccsducdoa device 500 msy include a hoasϊsg 502 siid c* coupiar So4 for rersovcably attselrdfig the housir<s 502 to 5ffi asdior, such ^s anchor 262
i s
CFsg. 2B>, 1Ώ Shis embodimost, housing 502 includes, sπsøϊig other components, Ά tnkrophoXic or sotjsd input oiemont 506 corrected So housing 592 via sxfesskra arms 303, and a sr&asduccr 5SS As with the above described embodiment housing 502 jxsay included, as electrosies module, an satertlscs arid a power nsoskdc (sscli of which is ao1 shows} } or any other sustains component. The ?:ou.nd ssput clcsiertL as described above, r©oαiv«& sound w«vs^. which are scrst to the scmnd processor. Sovssd processor b ύsrs asay amslSy or sfeer the .isgssa! &nά &&nύ ώis akcrod signal £o ϋj« traasduocr to impaπ vibratioss to the aacbor, aloag a dispk^semenl asls SHX
iwπi In. o«c crmbodjTacnt, sosjsd bp«t demsat is positbiicd. and attaagsd such that the xϊK^^-sbiε coraporisat such as a diaphragm 505 of the sousd is>a; ciemem §06 is configured to yjbπue or πsovs <iu& $e ac&ustis
im~2j FIG. SB is a scheraadc diagram, of an essmplan 7
nsoveabie o«5S5po«δωt N
i§δ%| FIG. 5C Ulustrstes as
IO
smmi FiG. 513
\w?s) In some ύtrάsodϊmQtιis t
ihc diaphragra of a microphone (eg,, diaphragai 522 or 534) cs β
y be the rism-e&bis c<3ϊτφojϊ<;ut that festcSss in. a pisrse psmϋe.l s« the displaesmcrά axis 510, Sy fionfsgisrmg she dkpfaragm l& τ<i»lά<$ or be positioned ϊs a plane that is substantially parallel tα the dkphiCesT.crii axis, the diaphragm does aot vibrate or :he --nbrstkjωS a-re reduced when the transducer vibrates. Thys, th.e fbedb&ck to the
■^;δ ] Ir, <3^c embodiment, traasdxscώϊ 5O5i is s piasoeiecrrk i y aasducsr ;hai is δomlgarod to osrsrui the airφiiϊude ζjf shs vibrarbsis; in the dkϊ?Cfiøa of the displ&ccπicm. axis. Tsse range of &c output sb∑ce of She mu-ssά&cer 5δS may be preselecied by the cliniciaB or 0 ) « recipient K; acsosϊsiodaiς esrtaln ϊhvsxbsld Hrniis for ikv recipient's hearisg. The a«φat fetca &r me srSLiUihicer Is gδϊieπsUy a fuaction of lbs πiass and the velocity of the tjr&nsducss 1 5OS πsoYJBg along the clbpkiceϊrictϊt axis 510 SBd sfe. ntsss of the. rseving psrt of the trasisduccr.
ϊSOT?] 1« OΏS exnbodisϊϊest, she xound iuptu e?«m«m is ωKjtJStcd OΏ a rnαvabie shall. The ω^ovabk sbait is cossϋgured to adjust the »ou;κl input cienjeirc to coincide w^h ihe dispkcstitcm &xis. Thus, in this smbodimeπt, s db-scisn εsr shs reclpkrst «-ssy a4|us; the d;restiotϊ αf the ϊss»v«ls!« shaft to tsjprave tfea seusd peκ:ept of the recψiest.
•o-yjss To &c-hsev$ the raost dssirsd fctxϊback tediictiot-, ϊhe srecipiesέ's sound percept ssy be 4etsnafasd m say suiiabb mssaer. Far exanϊpse, ihe recipseπϊ rsay ikses to aeøusdc soiaid αssig
ϊhc bsse canducHos device. The aouϊid ispui dement may th.es BQ adjusted on the πsove&bic sh&& to mors precisely coincide with the dispkeetneπt axis. This adjustment tnay be made reuiπtmHv or using as*y other susέ&bte device. Once ihδ svaxsά input clement b adήsstoi the rec-bfa&t's soimd percept may be detarmiaed again. This procedure may be revested vxktϊi ϋpύmarxi feedback reduction.
itøyvi HGS. δA <ffid SB ϊihsstr&se embodiments of bone esfsduetbπ dδvlεs 200 < depictsd as hots-; coadυcuϋn ds-^ce, in which a sound sϊiput skmauJ or microphone 602 is located m a .scparaic Isousi∑sg, rsxsiotc Srsai trsasduccr 604, ϊo raducc feedback petc-cpt by a rcdpsciiE, Sy poskioπine, the second hoxs&iag rcsiote frosi the first housing, trsss<Jucβr vibrsuosis arc reduced b ϊho aoϋrsd input element.
\n άxm eiπbodiπsent, boπs softduciioft device (M) inεiiides & €ml hsy$iag 606 asd. & sϊc-OTiώ housing 60S. ! ;
ir«
:Jχs8!j Tn SOiTiC embodimssts, αrst hø«.*itιg 606 is positj '
sssd behisd ifec «if «ϊ a ;
the car; brswsver, fes. housing 606 may be posttiaacd is my suitable area or pkoε os ϊhs rscφisnt. For ssampk% .ho>isi«g §&ά nxm be pos&kmsd i& the car, behind the «aτ v
t^sKstftly £mm the ear or any other poπk>n of sh« recipients body, Ia smother ambodirrisst. Housing 606 m&y bo
•«tϊS3> In this erae-<:sdit5"^st, bone soisductiori. device 600 operates is a similar sssaasr as described, ϋlxwδ; however, the sigxss! 620 1xam the savnύ mpus clcracωt 602 Ls scrsr. via ass. mlrsrsd (IR) link 6 IS. By separ&iisg the soisnd bpat element &OϊB the transducer, ths s-sicropfeone is not subject to ϊhs dlrsct vibmSion* within box!siag 6OB and thisjf, feedback Ls
reduced, k LS ssεstsxi tissi coi&siimica&oa between She microphone am! the transducer stay 1x5 any type of wjrdcss cossmϋ&kaJkm (e.g., IR, radio fe.;xξv:ssκ:y (RF) or any oihcr satiable vomsuπϊicui.bss) or ihs cαsBrsamssikms can be ϊlirough a wired coππaetbs. is th.« wired ϊxjss-sscvbsϊ. the devic-δ wotJld communicate in a substantially ximii&r to described above, except ώc sigsml from the mkror>,høδcr would, be scsi to housing 608 through an external wire, a& discussed ϊ * ϊbw.
pass* is is nmsd ?Jmt, is this esfibodimest, ώe hαusxags 606 ssd 60S do not seosss&niy seed to hoxssc the abovs described c-c>m.p«scsiLs stκl sack houslng isay have positiossd th.areiα any ofdse ^?x>ve described or other suitable cosψsnδϊjts |X)Sstiossd tberetsi, as foag a& the SOOBU input cϊςuK-ni ?mά the trassdwcer arc separate. For asampic, is one e-snlxxismem, ss%:oad bousing 60S ;mιv Oϊϊly isckido trsissdiieex 604 battery; IR recsϊvsr 612 and a '
bsacry $16, whik kouskg 60-6 esntais* the r«siϋsisdcτ of she corαpoπffais,
[0β8«; BG, ? iikfcsiratcs the gesssal prscodits-e for itspksibg sbe lx>ac conduction device β
CKλ Ai; iKJtαd ϊT: bbok 702, as asckx
im&i Ai block 706, & housing ih&i xnchxcbs a ssicrophoKc is positioned a&j&cest she skull of Hit* rccipfeϊst (eg,, hosisbg 606 y. A.s discussed herein, the micmpfeone bxmsisg may be placed m the car, behmd the ear or any s&ύisbjs poskioa os Lhc reemfeaύ Comssumcadoss betwocsi the transducer hϊλ&ing and ώ« ssictOphssπ© ko^bg sisy then be e-stablbbed, st block 7OH. such coiTtiTiUnicstioas may be wireless at wired aad xnsy ?» atsy type of oossssunicatba described here is.
[øessi Father fbafureβ <«5d advaj-t&ges of tae prcscαt mvetitJors sx« described in U,S. Prc-vi&bssil Appiϊcadon No. 61/04], } 85, entitled "Bo»c C«neactio« D-evices For TIK; Eobsbnissilion OF Hearisg Dlsos^srs," filed Match. 31, 20δS. Th^ appϋcaϊioa is hereby isconsorsted by rcfersse«
{m®} Wh Us varioas