PIERCING CONDUCTED BONE CONPUCTION DEVICE

CIROSS-REFBMEMCE TO RELATED A3PPL1CATIONS s I Xhs present applkatios ckkns the benefit of US Provisional Pstcst Application 61/041,185; filed March 31, 200S, whkh is hereby incorporated by re&rexjεe Isersk,

λ\

\ssm\ The present ϊBYεϊsεbs is geaer&ily directed to & bose conductioa device, a.ad jooxe partfeaisrfy, to a piercisg ecmmietεd boae conduction device.

imss} Be&ξisg loss, wϊdch m&y be disc to iπa&y different caases. Is genεraϋy of two i>pes, cosihicάva or sessojise«raL In maay people who are pro&tϊndly dβag &e reason fer their dea&sss is sensorineural hearing loss. Has type of hearing loss is due to absence, dssfeucuoπ, or damage to the hairs thai trassducs scotsstic signals imo serve uxipu ^' &es ii> the cochlea. Various prosthetic heariag iπsplSBts asve bεes developed to provide iπ.dl ^γ ktual.& wfeo suffer fern seasoriaenral bsarksg loss with ths ability to psreeive sound One fyp*s of prostatic Implaat, referred to as a cochlear implant, ascs as electrode sπ'ay implanted m the cochlea. More specifically, SK electrical stimulus is provided via the electrode array directly to the cochlea aerve, tiιsi"eby iaduciag a heariag ssϊKatios kt (fe iøjϊskiϊt reclrsiest.

*j CesductsVs hearing toss occurs when tha normal meeh&sical pathways, whisk conduct s£suad to hairs is the cochlea, are Impeded, This problem may arise fesss damage to the ossicular eksia to ear canal However, ϊadivi<faal& wha s-if&r fe>m coaductive bsarkg loss frequently still have some &ras of residual hearing because the hairs is the αschlεa ars oiiea uadamaged. For this reason, kdh'idimk whst siiSer &om. cosdαctive bsariBg loss are typically sot candidates tor a cochlear implant, because issertios of the electrode srray into a cochies results in the ssYsrε daxαags or destraetfon of the most of the bsirs wttbis the cochlea.

:»3€iSi SuffsTsrs of conductive he&risg loss topically receive as acoustic aeaπng aid. Bearing aids receive smbiest sossd Ia she otήef eat, amplify the smuKi. sad direct the amplified soasd into the ear csnsL The amplified sound reaches the cochlea a&d causes πjotioii of dae cochlea Suid, tb&reby stimulais&g die hass. iti the cochlea. i$ms\ CB&rtunafeiy, heanag aids do not Issaefϊt ail isdivkk&b who suffer ϊmm cstiώicuve hearing loss. For example, some individuals are proas to chronic αe ssixeetion of the ea;- canal and cannot wear hssricg aids. Other individuals h&ve m&sfarmed or absent outer esr aad/or ear canals as a result of a birth defect, or as a result of OOϊTπϊJOS πisdical eosάJHom such as Ti^acher Co Hiss sysdrorae or Microiisi. Hearbg aids sre also typically aasastablε for individuals who suffer føm smgle-sidsd deafness (Ie., total feesrmg loss only In one ear) or mdfvichials wko suiTer irom mixsd hearing losses (Ie., eorαbisMicss of seasoπae-ursA asd cotiductEve hsaring loss). In sdditsQs to hearing aids which ampHfy smά direct the sound into th& ear c-asal, SGϊS© patieats received itxφIaπSed feeariag skis or bssrlng prosthesis which have orss or mors components krsplaϊϊtsά m the rsscspiεM's skull or bstwe^i the skisil and dssue. However, soias r^clpisats s∑"s aøt suited ibx ktψl&ntsά feeariag aids, due to die sώδj shape sad partictslar cosdition of the recipient or t&εir sktsll. Is other cases, rcoijϊieaϊs &m not a<ssk®ns «f ϊmp!ao.ted hearing aids, given their oSea bulky size or other factors.

ISffiT). Ttsosc Ksdlviduals who caojsot benefit fern beariϋg aids or impkated hesriag devices Bϊay benefit iroia hear∑ag prostheses thai sre pwt into contact with, but sioi implastsd or embedded within or between, the skull boss aad &c rccipieat's skin. Such bearing prostheses direst vibrations into the bone, so that the vibrations ate conducted isto the cochlea and rssult in stimulscba of the hairs k ths cochlea. This type o.f prosthesis is ijpicaily reSsrcd to as a bone cotiductios sievice. fooesi Bone cQϊκhictϊo& devices fuactϊou by coBvertiϊsg s received soumi into a tαechsEkrai vibrstlon representative of fee received sound. This ibrstior- is thςn tras.sfeττεd to the bone structure of the skiiii, catSvSiag vibration of the reciplerei's skull aiiα serves to stixaukte ihs cochlea hairs, thereby isdiicssg a hesπng sessasioπ Ia die rscψicϊiϊ.

SUMMARY

Iδδβg? According to one emboάimεsϊ- of the present tnveπtsoa, a bosc conduction device lor stsfcϋacmg the bearing of a recipient is provided. The device comprises a aoimd inpαt elemetϊt eosϋgure-d to receive an acoustic soissd sigsal; as electronics module configured gtser&ts as electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; & transducer con%urad to gessrsϊs mechanical forces representing the electrical signal fe delivery to the recipient's skull; one or mors extensions mec&saically coupled at a first portion to the transducer sid further ∑ssechasicsily coαplsd at a second portion of the otic or more estessbss to the recipient's bone, wherein the ase or msre exteask>πs are configured to Ss'aκs&r the siiechsaiesl tbrces from the trsπsditcer kv dsε rsciptest's bone. jθθδ.ϊ§| According to asother etsfeoάsmest of the prescai iavestios, s. method lor rcbafjJliUstϊsg fee h«srisg of a recsplsst with a boisc corakctfem device kavisg one or πsorβ sxteπssioωs pierced through the recipients boκe, thereby mecKaskally coupling the one or rjtsore oxtes?stos$ ^o th& rscipieat's bone h provided. The tneihcd csmpri$es rsc«ϊγiag sa electrics! sigaai representative of as acoustic- sousd signal; generating mechasisai S>ross rsprssgsjatJve of the received electrical signs!; sad dclivsπag the msch&aics- fόrce-s to ths ϊocipϊenε'x skull vis the OBS or mors pierced extensions.

[^80H] According to s further ambodimsπt of the presest investiosi, a method fbr rehabϋfesstisg ihε bsasrsng of a recipient witli & bcs&e eooductiosi dδvks coaδgufφd to general rsec&roic-ai torces and having ose or isore extessioωS Ssr mechanically cotϊpiisg to the rsdpiarit's bone is provided. The method comprises pierciaa the recipieai's bene with the ose or sχ;:re escteasisϊss of the boas cosd^ction device to ntschariiesily couple the oas or raore exteasioss to fee bose; and opsrstmg the bone conduction device to generaie and transfer iks mechanical ferces to the recipient's boss via the o&e or saorc extεπsioωS-

[SS012J According to y^ arsother smbodksest of the prssβst iaveaHαa, a device coatϊgureά to rehabilitate ihs hearάig of s rocipierst with a bone cQ-nduotksϊϊ device bavfsg one or more pierced through the reφiest's boss, iksreby mschssncally coupkd to fes rscφϊest's boas is provided. The device comprises means &τ receiving an elecixicsi signal rcpresestative of as. acoustic sound signal; r&e&ss &r geseratiπg

mechanics! forces representative of the received electrical signal; and means fi>r deiivαrmg the isecfaanical forces to the recipient's skull via the one or πicτe pierced extensions, i«B] Accord kg to asolhsr embodiment of the preset irrvsαfsøs, a device ccstiixgtsred to rehabilitate the bearing of a recipient with a boss conduction device cαπSgursd to geserats jsschsmcal &κsss and Issuing oaε αr more extensions ibr mschaπicaliy coupliαg to the r^cbiettfs ^' fc-oae is provided. The device comprises BOSSES for piercing the recipient's DOBS to πsεchaϊϊkaϋy catψle the OBS or more extensioss to tfee ^' bcαε; asd risearss for generating and lrassferrisg the mechauica! forces to the reciptsst ^* s bone via the ot?c or ssore oπε^iess.

iW8i4i liksϊϊstrvs embodiments of the preset invention are described herein with reference to th& aocompaayiag drawings, is which: l«iS| PlG. 3 A is a perspective fkmt view of a recipient with s pieressg conducted houe conduction device provided according to oae embodiment of the present mveatson;

\$mis§ FIG. IB is s perspective top view of a recipient with a piercing conduced bone ootidϋctbϊϊ device provided according to orse embøάiπ_sκt αf the present invention; im&iT} .FIQ. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a piercing conducted bese cottducϊios device provided so aτedpietst according to oss smfaodimeπt of the present investioa;

JM8IS3 FIG. 3 A is a perspective side view of a piereirsg cotsducted boss coTiduetion device accordiag to one «mtκκisπεat of the preseac kwestiojr. s8δδi?? FlG. 38 Is another perspective side view αf a pisrciag conducted bose eoasiucttoα devtcs acc-ordϊωg to OTλS erslsodfment of the present mvessos;

$88281 FlCs. 3C is s Hxom view of a piercing cosduelsd boss eoaducsioα device accordmg to oae erπbodimest of the prssenl iπvssstson; ρκi2i] FICl 4 A is. a high-ievel fimctional block diagram of a piercijig eøϊiducted lsoae coBduciicsn device accordmg to ose embodiment of the prsseϊϊt lϊ∑vaatioa- such as the device of FiG. lA; vtmzzi VlG. 4B Is a. detailed&uctiosal bioek dkgrasi of fee pierckg conducted boue coπductios device iliiϊstraJδdm FlG. 4λ;

IHS82S) FIG. 5 SS a flowchart ilhistnitmg tbε casyersioa of an input sound into skull vibratkjs : ^* .Ώ a trassciitaneoiis bose conduction device according to oae Sϊribcdfπieat of th& presviit mventios;

1®BQ24\ FI6- 6A is s perspective side view of a pietcJsg conducted bone coadactioa device aeeorάsrsg to one esibociisicar of the present itsvsstbs;

[WtB-Si FiG, 6 ^" B is a perspective front view of the piercing conducted bese coaducdoxi device acooπlirig to the etrifedinserst itostrsted m FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a perspective sMε view of a pkreirtg conducted bone conduction device according εo one embodiment of the present iavemioa; iwβzi} FK3. 7B SS a perspective frcxsi view of fcfas piercing conducted boue coBduεtϊott device according to the βmbodinseat illustrated Is FJG. 7A; pKSSj FIC], 8A is s perspective side view of a piercing coadαcted ^" boae conduction device according to ona embodiment of the p i^sesέ

\%msi FlG- BB is a pssspective front visw of the pterciϊig eoTsducted bcsβ co^dnctsoϊi device according to the embodiment iliustrated is FlG. %Ai

[røøδj FIG. 9 A is a perspective side view of a piercing conducted bone ccmdueπoπ device according to OϊSS snilxjdknv-at of tlie present iavestjou; ymBti FlCi 9B is & perspective lksα£ view of the pisrcisg conducted bose coadnctioti device accordisg to the embodimeat iϊiϋStrated m FIG. 9A; f«§§32] FIG. K)A is a perspective side view of a pϊsTcmg coadαctsd bose oosducfbn device according Sc? ose orsbodsmeπt øf the preseat laveation; imύQ FIG, I OB is 2 partkl perspective view of fa© piercing conducted boae sosdBction device according ics lh« embodtecm. iϋustrsted in FIG. 5 OA; tmά lWB*ϊ FKl 10C is amsther padial perspective view of the pksciπg co ducted boac cosxdiiCtioa device according to the emlxxJlme&t iϊk$trsted in FICl IGA.

DETATiEB BESOUFπON

jδϊSBS] Erπbodimrøts of the prssest invention ate. generally directed to a boπa conduction device for converting a received acoustic sound signal iato a meefaameai fbree dslrversd via a piercing secured to a recipient's bose to the rscψϊest's hearing organs. The piercing eor _t ώicted bone conduction device includes a sosrnd kψux component, suck as jnierophoss, t» rjzstvs the acoustic sotisd signal, an electronics rsodαie configured to gsBsrate an electrical signal representing the aco^sϋc sound signal, and a transducer to eoavert ths sisctrk-δl signsd kito a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull. Is certain enjbodinieBls of tfee present kvexstioπ, the transducer is cotinsctεd to an extCTssion arm which pierces έlsrϊsugh. a£id remabs in contact with, the cartihigs bose sάjaceist fee ear c^siai. Hie &ree generated by the transducer is ms.ckmk.sily cQrxs.nu.xuc-m.su in the connected piercing (axtsssbn arm), which carries that force to the cartilage boaa vhiob it pierces «sd is in contact viϋa _s which, caused aiotion of th& cochlea IIiiid sis! s hsarmg peroeptioa by the recφiεa.t

I8OS36] Ia c«πais the trsnsdncsr xs&y comprise a piexoelectric eiemerjt. The piesoeisetric elemeat converts as electrics! s.ϊgaai applied sbereto iato s. Bisckaisical defermatbn (i.e. expsssiea Ot cύsimcdos) of the slerssst. The a-moimέ of dβfcrjπstioti of a p isoelectric slemsst is. re^onse to as applied electrical signal dcps.sdv: os material properties of the elemest otiematios of the electric SeM widi respect to the polarisation dirsctloacsf the efets.sr4 geαπjeiry of the eiement, etc. immii The det>rmatioti of the piezoelectric element SBEV &ISJ3 be c&sracteriaed by the lirse s∑roire and blocked force of the βiemest. The fee stroke of a piezoelectric ώlemsat refers ta the sssgαi&de of defommrioa mdυced m the eiεraεst whes a gives voltage is applied thereto. Blocked force refers to the force fear πaist be applied to the piezoelectric slement its stop a!! de&rmaikm at the gives vαltage. Generally spεakiαg, piesoeiectric ekπiersts h&ve a high bbsked force, but a low δεe sijχ>ke. Ia other words _* when a voltage is applied «s the element, the dsmssi. will CSγJ output a MgIi force, hxt will oaly s small stroke.

{%m3%ι fe sotss piesoebstric transducers, the maxiraiim available teπsducer stroks is sqμivskTit to the free stroke of the piezoelectric eiemeat. As sucb, so»se boss cojKkctbn

devices: utilising ihesa types of piεitoeleotric transducer have a ϋmfeed transducer stroke and e-orrespαsάsBg ifsnits cm the πsagsAmle of the meckmic&i force that rrssy be provided k) tfee SkDlL

§&MCrf>f FlG. IA is a perspective front view of 2 rsespieist with a piercing conducted bone δOfidoctksω device prodded sesordiαg to GBS asabodimest of the present irreetmos. As illustrated, ih« recipiest is shawiα with piercmg conducted booe sosάuotϊos device 100 Sited. D wee 100 ϊs shows >i& soaαd processor / transducer 117, esxeasiou IIS snd ttxstfcm stud 129, as will fee described is fertser detail below. Ext-sfϊsisB i 15 ssd Ssatbn ϋtud 129 mi -poskmrnή. adjaceat the ear canal (shown in. daskεd Imes) is the illustrated emsodkserst of the present ώveadon. Ftsatbπ stud 129 may be visible from tbs fe of ths reeipicst, but extension 115 and the majorky of soimd pi«ce&sof / transducer 117 may be Modes trøm & third-party ^aes fee ceqipiest is viewed ϋo∑π. their feπt. imrni FlQ, IB is a perspective top view of a recipient with 2 piercεαg cotssiiicted tesc comucdoa device prsvided according to sse ©mbodiis≤sε of the pτa&mύ mvs&iion. As with FIG. IA, tiie recipient is shows Sited with one embodiment of the present iiivrøtjoω ks which sousd processor / trassώjcer 117 Is posltioosά bεisind ihs rsφieaε's ear. Hriεϊssiosi 115 pierces or extends tlirough the recipient's sar, preferably t&røugh the e&rtϋ&giϊϊsiss portioa, ssd is tcsminated with Sxatioa stud 129-

[8δβ4ii HG, 2 is & detailed πersρscϊh ^: e view of a piercing conducted bone cssductsoa device 10δ, referred to i& FlG. 2 as device 200, provided to a tec-ipfesi aseαrdmg tα oae emfedfesa of the present iisventios. As shows, extension 215 ssteads fern souad processor / transducer 21? through cartilage 250 of the vscipϊQtπ% aisd is terminassd by fsxatbs stud 22Sl Mechanical forces is ώe fi)im of viferstkms are gcaera£εd by soiasd proessssr / rrsnsdueex 217 axsd eonssraaicsted t» esctssssbn 215. The vibrations troεn ext _ff isios 2.15 ares ihsa rø∑smuaicated to cartikge 250 which cond cts the vib.ratsor>s ^j to &e racips«5ii ³ s cocasea to move the fluid conεai&ed ihereis to gεπetsje axsvemerst of has- ceils witliitϊ ths cochles rssulting its. a hearing scss&tioa by tbe rccipaeat iVs shows, soiiad pκ)cesso? / trrøsdϊscer 21? Sirtber comprises various other soraposm such as microphotie 225 s&ά a tst&ker piovided to assist is retainit!g tbe device 200 Ia piB&s sgaiast tbe recipisst ^{^} s head.

«21 Csliks- miser bone condac-sng devices, certain embodiments of the piereisg conducted bosio cosάoϋtkm device of the present invention may be fitted b place for me by the recipient wϊεhmst havmg to surgically place various device CQxnpcrae&ts underneath the recipient's skin, &r exssipk εmbeddisg anchors into εhs skull of the recipient. As rscipisii-fs cartilage 350 is relatively easy to pierce, as is ike ease of ear piercings, snd given iisc limited neural snά v&ssraiar systcrss m the e&rtϊlags surrounding the tmtnaa ear, piercing the csrtii&ge to brfeg & vibration transfer extension such as extssslos. 215 into contact with, the cariilags surround the rseipieαPs ear is a rekiively safe aad pam-ireβ method to imolerπsst a boss sxyπcksctios device of tae oreseat fevεntion.

43\ 'urn terns "pierdsg" is to be issdβrsixxxj to mean tfcat estessJon 2.15 esters cartikge 250 at bast parrk% mte _s and m SOTJSSS casss goes coπφieteiy tfeoiigiϊ, cartilage 250 such tbst ^xteasϊαa 215 eaters os one side of cartikge 2SU aed exiέs oxii another sid© of cartjlage 250. it is not a reqtsiremcsa of rise prcsssnt mveKUDJi ibsz exteasba 215 ext£tκi completely -Isxmgh cartilage 250; oaly that extessioα 215 at least p&rtkUy esters or is otherwise firmly attached to cartilage 250 such that yihrstios and otbsr xneckaoicsi forces exerted QϊS extassios 250 is stib&tamiaily eSidentiy coissmifJc&ted. down eaension 215 to esmlagβ 250. Furtheπrso-re, it is to be ursderstsod thst various composenis of the present iaveation may he imp lasted usøeraeath she tecipsent's skis, inchsdisig erαbeddisg OEe or ϊBssra αsmpoαests wifais lfee teclpisst's skull

\fM44i Fiϊrtkermom, while various «mbcκlimsπts of ths pressst Jϋvestloa s-rc described herein as having a ^isgic csteasioa 215, it is to be uπderstoo-d that other embodiments of tlϊe preseai iaveaiioa may also i&eorporats jsiϋtiple extsssloas waiciϊ are ©sell attached to the rseipisωε's boTia, iwms\ FIOS. 3A-3C are perspective side, other ^ide _} aad from visswa respectively of a pkteisxg eøϊiϊketed boss conduction device according to ©se embodiment ofths preseαt mvesπon. As shows,, sound prøeessor / transdiicsr 31? is atteehea to extessios 315 by coupler 313. Pbtfitksn stud 329 and micmpbøπs 325, ss described above Ia εoajuacdαs with. FIG, 2, srs a.iso uhistsated.

m. FlG. 4A is a high-level fusctjoaal block diagram, of a pfcrciag conducted bone conduction device according fe ose gisijodisiest of the present ssvsϊύioa, such as the <levicδ of FlG, IA,

:Ue04?j A fuδctloπal block diagram of om etnbodiisisist of piercing coadαetsd boxse cønductiøxi device I0δ _s referred to as pferciag conducted base coadactiou device 40O ₁ is shα^ti in FlG. 4A, Is the illustrated embodiment, a sound 2δ7 is received by a sound input sfesiexϊi 425, In soine smbodimests, sound kφut ekrrrsεsfc 425 is a asicaopfcone coBUgared to receive soaad 207, sad to cotsvcrt soϊmd 20? into SϊJ electrical signal 422. As described below, ϊs other emfaodtnssjjts sound 207 may received by sousd input elεmest 425 as an efectπcsl sigsaL i55&^«| As show∑i is. FlO. 4 A, slectxical sigsal 422 is output by soisnd kψut elemest 425 ts as ckcεrQωϊGs module 404, Electro ales tsoduie 404 is confsgured io sos^rert electrical signal 432 5sto aa aφϊsted electrical signal 424. .As described below Ln more detail, electronics module 404 ztmy lochias a soasd processor, coatro! electrortics, tra3ssdυ«sr drive cosspoBeats, asaά a variety of other elements.

|δθθ*9i As shows us FlG, 4A, trsBsduεcr 406 receives adjusted electrioal xigaal *24 as.d gsaeratcs & ϊsechan.!cs! output force thai k ύdh'&vcά to the skull of the resipiesst via exteπsbτ5 115, shows m FKi. 4 A as coupling modak 40S _} έtat ϊs coupled to piercing conducted bone conduction, device 400, Delivery of tkis outp$κ lbrce causes one or πsos-s of *rs3tlos or vihration of .he resipiem's skull, thereby aetivstmg the tear cells fe fee eoαbiea via cochlea ϋnήά motsos. pXδSS] FiG. 4A also ubsάaέ'es a power module 4.10. Power xmdsle 4ϊύ provides sfecirica! power to ose or more coa^onests of boαe coaduotkϊs. device 4Sl ⁾ . For ease of illustraπos, power rrsodtsie 410 has sees s-iown eosnected only to istsrfese module 412 sad elecirordcs ssoduls 404. However, it should be appreciated, that power tϊ»άuk? 410 may be used, to supply power to any elesiricslly powered Gsrcuics/compoiEes∑ES of pϊsrcisg bans coadoclioa device 400. immi] SOBS eøtiduciksa device 400 forέiier includes aa ssterfi-xs rtiodvile 412 that alfovs the ϊQϋψnnϊ to interact with, device 400, For example, interlace modαb 412 may allow tbs rscipieat to adjust the VOIUϊΏS, alter the speech pπjcessisg strategies,, powsr oa/oϋftke

in

device, eic. Imετftee r&cxhile 412 eommiiiscafes wish electronics module 404 via slgtml line 428. immz\ hi th& embodiment illustrated six FIG. 4A, so«sd pickup device 425, electronics module 404, transducer 406, power siodnls 410 and kter&ee module 4.12 have all been sknvn ss integrated ia & βiagk hoαsmg,, referred to as housing 4!?. However, it should be apprecksed that ia certain, embodiments of the present iaveatioc, ose or mars of she illustrated cα∑πpGiiei∑ts ∑say be boused in separate or diffferest homings. Sisdkrly, ft should also bs apprsciatsd. that ia such ejsbocjimeias, dsreet oosjiscrϊoss between Use various tπod&fcs snd dsvϊcss are sot rsscessary and that the cotnrjossats may coismtmlcate, fer example, via wireless coaaectioas.

$08531 Ia esibodanests of fee prsseat inveatioa, traϊϊsdiieer 406 may be one of rm&y types and of trassdncers, sow ksovrø. or later developed. Is OB<ϊ embodimost of the preseat myestioa, tras^sdueer 4D6 may eosψrise & piesoeicclric slsmsnj which is cαaSgared to dsfeπs is response to the appiicatkjts of sbctncal signal 424. Pfesxxdectne eissπests that siay be ?ϊscd Ia esibodimeats of die present iawostioα m&y coujpriss, ibr pieiκ?elsctric crystais, piezoelectric cenmacs, ar sorπs other snat«πai exbibiilsg a de&rmatfen ia respoaso to aa applied electrical signal. Esetesplary p!«sκ!ciectrtc crystals iaslisds qμnxtz (SIO2), BerHsite (AiP(M), Galiium ortbophosphate {GaPO4} mtά TouπsaHse, Exessplarv ¹ - pksoεlectric ceramic meiis.de bariam ritsnate (BuTsQ3θ), lead zircosate titasists (PZT), or slrconium (Zr).

PR5S41 Some piezoelectric materials, such as bsrisiEs. tϋsaate snd ?ZT, are polarized Materials. When as electric field is applied across thsse tπsieri&lSj &s polai-iasd πjobcalss align theεnselvcs with the electric Held, resaltώg in isduced dipoies -witblss the aokcular or crystal struεSare of the maiεπ&i Tills alignment of jsaslecules causes the dsfermatksn of ιh& materia L

[5SXJ55I Ia other embodiments of the present Inventios, other types of transducers may be uss ^ή . ψm iXKsmple. vsriøαs Tsotors configured to operate is. response to electrical signal 424 may be used. pSBS] In the eirsljodixne-st illustrated is FIG. 4A, coupling module coo^pnsffig an sstssjsiOB snn, as described fiπtfeet below, is configured to bs aitachad. io housing 417.

Is tfas ex&bodsmsat shown Is FIG- 4A, transducer 406 ss also corJigsireά to be attached ia hoxssiBg 417. As such, in this embodiment, vibraHαs from transducer 4S6 is provided to cmspϋsg mod ale 408 through bousing 417. fSδδs?] la certain embodiment of She present mvexmoB, electronics πssdale 404 includes a primed circuit board (FCB) to electrically connect aad rseehasάeajiy support the costpoiieass of dectrsnics tscdute 404. Sai∑ad input eiexsest 425 may cosψdse one or ϊϊSOπS microphones (sot shows) aαd is attached to the PCB.

IUOOS83 FIO- 4S provides a more detailed view of boat? conduction device 4OG of EEC 4A- Its the illustrated sssbodimest, elseixsiiics module 404 comprises a sound processor 440, transducer drive components 442 a&d control elαxtmrsics 446. As explained above, In c-ert&si cmbodimests soimd inp-uϊ βlsmeat 425 eosxsprises a aacmphone configured to cøssv^Tt a received acoastic signal mio elecxiricsi signal 422» Ia ether sjnbodimenis, as detsϋsd below, $oκsd ixψvi ebmest 425 reε-elvεs sound 20? as as dectrioal signal

\8sm8\ M smboάϊm&r&s of th.e prsserst iaveπiioK, elecSxksi signal 422 is ot&pus. iroαi sswKi bxput Qkmtxii 425 to sound processor 44(3. Sotmd processor 440 usss one or more of a plural;^' of tschniquss to sslectiveiy process^ aπιpLιf>- aad/αr filter electrical sigs ^j al 422 to generate a pxocessed sigsal 424A. M certain. emfeodimsats _s soisjjd processor 44U m&γ czitrψήse sύb&tsnimlh ϊhs .ssxπs sound processor u is iised m an sir cendussion kesriiig aid. Is &ϊtlιsτ erBisodur-es^s. -souad pTocsssor 440 comprises a digits.! sipml processor, 442. Trassdaccr drive cosφoϊseiiis 442 øutput a drive gigsal 424B. to trassducsr 406, Bsiisd orj drive signal 424.8, έrsrisducεr 406 provides the output force to the xka.ll of the recφisst through extassioπ.460 of coαpiiag jsodsie 408. Fc-" ss5δ of description the sisctricai sigtusl supplied by trassdacsr drive compoHstits 442 io transducer 406 has bees referred to as driye signal 424 B, However, It shovJd be spprectased that pTccessed signal 424B may comprise an unmodified version of pπ>os_58«d sCgϊsai 424A.

si] As noted above, transducer 406 generates as output ibree to the skull of the recipient via coupling siocfeis 408, As shown in FIG. 4B, m one fembαdimess of the present isveatios, cσupimg tsoduls 408 comprises extension 460 and fixation stud 462, Fixation stud 462 is csrdϊguted to couple to extension. 460 a<jm the oilier side of reeipfe&t's bsas, lαr sxampis cartilage 25δ, such that hαusksg 4.17 and ϋxation stud 462 are on estlisr sids of th« rscipieatλs bans to which extension 460 is mechanically ootφieά. Is differsm embodiments of the present: isvesttas, ϋs,stio:a stud 462 may be one of various types or designs or Sxatksj πsschamssas. For example, fixation stud 462 may comprise s snap couspoaesi wbk>h apaches to a corosspondisg sassp coπϊposssst oa the end of sst«ssicϊi 460, Alternatively, fixation stud 462 may comprise screw threads which fή correβpoadiag ihreadαig pπ)viclsd wiihiii the ead of e^enssQn 460, It will be obvious to persoss havitsg skill m tm ^' srt thar othe? mecbatsisnss psxsvidsd on Sx&tioo sfed 462 tmά/Qt at Use eud of axtessioϊ.460 may be ased as part sjfoue smbodimsst of the present isivestkϊϊs. i3| As n-βt&d prev5θ?ϊsiy, exfssslon 460 is m&ckmήc&By coupled to the recipient's lx>ae, for «sasϊϊpfe Io cattOage 250. Extessloa 460 may ferϋser be coupled to traasducsr 406 or housing 417, Ia eerύώi erubodimeπs* of the prssesxt isvsntiots, εxleuskm 460 is attached to trausdaeer 406 and vibmtiaa Is received directly rbεreføm. M other esiessioa 460 is attached to bousiag 417 and vibrstba is applied fxorn trimsducer 406 to kmsisg 417, wsiseh In t&tas trass&rs dist &rce to exiesskm 460. According to one srabodimsπi of the present isvssstios. is which coupling 140 comprises extension. 460, the vibratsos mcerved by extension 460 Som 406 causes exicsHisn 4-6(5 to vibraϊs. Tbe vibϊatioB, coxarerusicated IγOϊS esteasios 460 to transducer .modulo "160 is thsn transferred fern extension.4ύϋ to fee rscipiest's boae 250.

\W864] As noted, above, s recipisst may control various &aetk>as of the device via interlace xsodufe 412. Interface πsodisle 412 includes &ø& or more coπ-ponεjits that aHow the r«ci|iiem to provide inputs to, or receive isibraasiiDs Sorsi; elesiests of Lx>ae cϊsaduεsioa device 400, l^KMfδS] As s&ows, eoatrol slcctxosics 446 tnay be csssected to os.e or tsore of feϊerj-fece modalfcs 412, scans! picbφ device 425, sound giocessor 440 snd/or transducer drive

components 442. Is embodlπsβats of the pressst Invention, based as iapsrts received at mterfacs ssoduk 412, control eiscfco-nks 446 m&γ provide πsstxuctia&s io, or request iisiϋmmtbs. from, other csπiponests of boas eoixiiietiøs, device 4Q0. Is certain embodiments, is th« absence of user inputs, co&tsoϊ electronics 446 control the operation of base cosdisctios device 40G. sm&ssi FIQ. .5 illustrates t&s conversion of as input acoustic soixsd signal site a mechanical ibrce tea- <£eiiτεry to the rεcηpiεst's skull ϊs accordance with, embodiments af piercing canducied bone contkctfesα device 400. At bfocfc 502, piercing conducted boϊse cosXltictkm device ^00 rscεives as aeotistic sotmc signal- IB csstaia embodimsϊϊts, fee acoustic souϊid sigaal is rscssvsd via microphones. Ia oilier embod.knssts, the Input souoά is rcxsή'sd via sa electrica.1 kpyt. hx still other εmbødύneπts, a tekcoil integrated in, ar cotJtsected Ie ₁₁ picrcifig cotiducted boae coaductioB. dsvics 400 may- ^" be used to receive the acoustic so^κd signal

I08S67] At bbsk S(^A ₁ shs acoustic soisrsd sigssl received by piareiag conducted bstss ca&άixdήoϊi. device 4-00 ia processed by the speech processor m elestrø-αics module 404. As sspkksd above, the speech processor may be .similar to speech processors used in acoustic hesrmg aids. In such embodknesϊs, speech, prϋcesscsr may selectively asapiily, fdt&r asid/or raodi^r acotistic so nd signal For cxsxapk, speech processor rssay be «&ed to eiixniaste backgrøxind or other unwanted aoisε signals received by piercisg eo&ductεd boas coαdisctiøs device 400, imoβ&i At bfock 50<?j the processed souad signal is πrovlde-d to tπmsdsesr 406 as an electrical signal, At block 508, transducer 406 converts the eleetocai signal iato a xts.ech;U5ϊc;i! ibrce corJigured to be delivered to the recφkars sktsil vis eoupliag module 4G§ so as to illicit a isesriag psrcepiioπ. of lhs acoustic soϊrnd sigssat FIGS. oA-δB are perspective sue and ltoat views of pisrciag αmdacted boae condactioa device 1^0, rsfexred to is FiGS. 6A-6B as device 600, aocordaig to ose emk>dknsst af the proseat kvestiøω. As llkstxsied. device 600 eo∑∑φπses ^' housing 617, ooapisr 658 and extension 660 attached to soapier 658. Ia ώe ei∑sbodimesit iliustnώsd in FIGS. 6A-SB, est-esssoa 660 is substantially streigbt. For the sake ofsinipiicitv; housmg 617 is shown as having a reetϊaigαlar coaSguratios. However, it is re bε un.dcisrood that

housmg 617 way ^" be shaped isi any mπsber of ways, depending on where on ike recipient's body It is to be posftsøsεd asd worn, m addition to depending on the εorspσaests contained therein, fbr example, sound processor (not shown), tπaasducer (siøt shows*) _* power raodak (not shows},, ainong othess. Coupler 658 is illustrated is. FIGS. όA-όB as a simple cosnoctios mechanism between extessios 650 asd housing 617. FIGS. 7A-7B sre perspective side and front views of piercing conducted boϊϊβ conduction device ICXk. referred to ia FIGS, 7A-7B as device 700, according to as-other esifoodinsest: of the present iαvestimϊ. Device 700 iilustrared in FIGS, 7A-7B comprise fe? various cβtrφoaests dssεribsd is conjusc-tioa with FIGS.. 6A-6B, but m this parfjαilar embodimesst of the present iisvearioa. extension 760 coπψrises a besά 76L Bsiiά 76.! permits sksrastive designs for device 700 m which coupler 75S msy sesesssrily be positioned ia s. locatisn OS housfcg 717 at which a straight exieasiϋn oπinponent may mi fee able to eαaasct is the recipient's bose or !>« ta SXϊ optάsai opefstisg posidoa. Althoagls a smiple bead 761 is illustrated k FIGS. 7A-7B. It is to be understood that vsriaέioϊis of bead 761, ώebidiπg cotspiex or aπsilti-paϊt besds αiay be Hscorporaied m other smbodimeat^ αf tie present iaveatioEv immi FIGS, 8λ-8B are perspseth'e side and tost views of pierciag cosdαcted bone coaductsϊu device iOO, referred to Ia FIGS. 8A-8B as device 30O ₅ according to another ambodϊmerά of the present iaveaέlGa. Device 800 comprises conψQnents sisil&i' to those described in conjunctios vmh FlQB, 6A-6B. Ia additksn, device SOO ferther MMstratas sxi emfcαdimsa! laving iϊxatisn stud 862 ami a rotatable coupfe S5S. Røtact&blδ coapier 858 may ∞πψrise & πstsfiag Isisge, Joist, or other mechanism which allows estession. 860 to røtaϊs wήh respecϊ to homing 817. The ability of sxteøsioB 860 to roiaCe permits it to accommodate isovesseats by iht- mάψissm; which may exert different amounts of force OB ssxtβnsksn 860 vermis housing 817. By rormisg, those ciSercst βsreos may be absorbed without c^uskg housing 817 or astensios 860 fearn bscomsag separated fesm εfeβ rccipsest's bαdy ia as ysdssirabia isasr^r. immi FIGS, θA~9B are perspective side and frost views of pierciag eoxϊdsefod bone cϊjsductioω. denies KK ⁾ , refesred to in FIGS. 9A-9B as device SHlO ₈ according to axjotiier smbodJmesJ of the prcseai mycntion» Device 900 comprises corπponeats similar to those described isϊ conjunction, -with FIGS. 6A-6B. Is addition, the particular embodimest

i5

illustrated as device 90S further comprises translatable sxtsjssbxj 960 asd stoppers 962A and 962 S (collectively referred to as stoppers 962). Coupler 5)58 is configured similarly to CRLipissr 858 descrilssd abovs in. conjunction wilk FIGS. SA-SB, but is further configured to p&cmik extension 960 Io slide or translate through sampler 9.5S ₅ such, that extension 96δ is capable of both rotating about coupler 958 -with, respect to bouslag 917 as well as translate through coupler 95S. The ability of exteasioa 960 to both rotate and translate allows it to absorb eves ixsøre differential isrce exerted by the jrscipiest o& sjαεαsios. 960 and other components of the present siverniou, for example høusiBg 917. Steppers §fi2 disposed at opposite ends of extension %0 -with, respect k> coupler 958 arc securely coupled to extexiskre, 968 &nά are configured to ikπit the extent to ^vhich extsω^soa 960 may translate, so Ib&t they do sot translate beyϋsd a. certain lesgtb., ;>C>2 an; illustrated. §s bsisg wasfeer-Hke, it is to be iiuderstood that stoσ&ers 962 tisay talre any other ϋbrm, aαd. may be stssfigtsrsd solsly to provide the tx&BskUos lhritkg fuactba or to fs-ovide ibai mxά other tbactioBS coiicurrsatiy, HGS. I OA- 1OG axe psxspeetή'e side close-up views of piercing coadscteά hose coπd'dstsos device 10D ₈ referred to ia FIGS. I OA- 1 OC &$ device 1000, according to anothsr onabodimesj of the present invention. Device 1000 comprises components skailar to those described abovs is cojijiiaetion with PIGS. 6A-6B. Is tbe -smbodiiscat ϊlKiλixatsd in FIGS. !0A-IOC ₁ extensioa cosψθω.estg 1060A snd 1060B are tw» separate eoϊπpotiests wfelch are joϊαsά together into sstetssbri 1060 prior to operation of device 1000. FIG. !0E illustrates s eløse-up view of the cossectioa pøiϊir betwe.su extension coraposisϊsl 1060A aBtl 1060B in which a ibt&afe receptacle 1059 and a male projectson 1061 are ia a joissed coaSgyrados. AdditiaBslIy, issers 1070 asd groove 1072 a∑"e ϋlustratesi in an. iπieriøckmg coafigitratioo., Ia the llhistrated embodiαiem, iernals recispt&cie 1059 ssd male, pmjecdoa 1061 coopsrafe Io provide aa aaϊi-bendfeg feature to the Dombitssd extension eoiπpcmeπis 1060A aad 1D60B. Furtherrnore^ sb the iUustrated smbodsϊseaJ of the prsseia isvenfios, insert 1070 aiϊd groαvs 1072 ooopersfe i& prαvide aa sϊst5-rotsdon besssfsts to the ioissd sxtensbs coBiposeats 1060A and 1060B. It is to be understood that ths aati-baadis-g aad aaii-rtstatiøs features desαibed above as:s only exemplary sjisbodiiisssts sf saoh mechanisms and other jnechssisms may be beorporated into cπibodiπicnts. of the prssers inveatioa to prøvida ths described sad other beasfits.

JSSS73.! By havmg extessios lϋύQ comprise; separate compoaea^ !06OA sxd 1060B, it k possible for the recipient to £u extension, cαmpα-sear 1060B using a .fixation saxid (not shows) to the recipient's bans as described abcvs. ^" Wlies the recipient is desirous of qsisddy deischisg hotismg 1017 fom their body, the recipient cari operant coxspoussits 1059, H ⁾ 6-U 1070, 1972 or other similar cαxspøπαits to separate hsϋsisg 101 ? with extension corajpozieat 1060A still attached thereto ihsm extessώϊi coKφosent 1060B which rexsaiπs sitachεd Ix) the rseφϊeat's &OBO. This may !>e partieukiiy -usvM whcx« Sxa-tsoii stud (sot shown) is a screw-type as described above wMcfc may Jake sigBiilcaπt ϊkoe asd -∑ϊδsϊjal dexterity to bases.

{Sδ®74] Wlijle VSHOΏS embodirasrxs of the pressnt kvestsos have besa dsscύbed above, st should be understϊϊod ihst they have been prεsaδtcd by way of example mily, and not Sssitstjoα h will be apparent to persoiis skilled is the relevant ast that -various αhaages m ferm &ϋd ds£&£l ess be made tlierεlu without departing fitjsi the spirit ss>d scops of use iavcGtbs. Thus, the bj-eadth asd scope of she present mveBϊioB sfeuM jsot he limited by any of the exermpkry embodimcats, hut should he deδoea only in acc&rdsscc w^h the following ekπxs aad their equivalents. All psteats aad pubifcaϋons dϊscisssεd hersisi src incorporated m their estsren' by reference thersto.