US20090248155A1 - Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device - Google Patents
Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090248155A1 US20090248155A1 US12/168,636 US16863608A US2009248155A1 US 20090248155 A1 US20090248155 A1 US 20090248155A1 US 16863608 A US16863608 A US 16863608A US 2009248155 A1 US2009248155 A1 US 2009248155A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- recipient
- skull
- implanted
- components
- bone conduction
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/70—Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
- H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
- H04R25/604—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers
- H04R25/606—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of acoustic or vibrational transducers acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/05—General characteristics of the apparatus combined with other kinds of therapy
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2210/00—Anatomical parts of the body
- A61M2210/06—Head
- A61M2210/0662—Ears
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M5/00—Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests
- A61M5/14—Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
- A61M5/142—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- A61M5/14244—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
- A61M5/14276—Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body specially adapted for implantation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
- H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
- H04R2460/13—Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/4957—Sound device making
- Y10T29/49572—Hearing aid component making
Definitions
- the present invention is generally directed to a bone conduction device, and more particularly, to a transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device
- Hearing loss which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types, conductive or sensorineural. In many people who are profoundly deaf, the reason for their deafness is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is due to absence, destruction, or damage to the hairs that transduce acoustic signals into nerve impulses in the cochlea.
- Various prosthetic hearing implants have been developed to provide individuals who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss with the ability to perceive sound.
- One type of prosthetic implant referred to as a cochlear implant, uses an electrode array implanted in the cochlea. More specifically, an electrical stimulus is provided via the electrode array directly to the cochlea nerve, thereby inducing a hearing sensation in the implant recipient.
- Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways, which conduct sound to hairs in the cochlea, are impeded. This problem may arise from damage to the ossicular chain to ear canal. However, individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss frequently still have some form of residual hearing because the hairs in the cochlea are often undamaged. For this reason, individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss are typically not candidates for a cochlear implant, because insertion of the electrode array into a cochlea may result in the severe damage or destruction of the most of the hair cells within the cochlea.
- Sufferers of conductive hearing loss typically receive an acoustic hearing aid.
- Hearing aids receive ambient sound in the outer ear, amplify the sound, and direct the amplified sound into the ear canal.
- the amplified sound reaches the cochlea and causes motion of the cochlea fluid, thereby stimulating the hairs in the cochlea.
- An alternative to a normal air conduction aid is a bone conduction hearing aid which incorporates a hearing aid which drives a vibrator which is pushed against the skull via a mechanism.
- Such mechanisms include glasses and wire hoops. These devices are uncomfortable to wear and for some recipients are incapable of producing sufficient gain.
- hearing aids do not benefit all individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss. For example, some individuals are prone to chronic inflammation or infection of the ear canal and cannot wear hearing aids. Other individuals have malformed or absent outer ear and/or ear canals as a result of a birth defect, or as a result of common medical conditions such as Treacher Collins syndrome or Microtia. Hearing aids are also typically unsuitable for individuals who suffer from single-sided deafness (i.e., total hearing loss only in one ear) or individuals who suffer from mixed hearing losses (i.e., combinations of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss).
- hearing prostheses that are implanted into the skull bone. Such hearing prostheses direct vibrations into the bone, so that the vibrations are conducted into the cochlea and result in stimulation of the hairs in the cochlea.
- This type of prosthesis is typically referred to as a bone conduction device.
- Bone conduction devices function by converting a received sound into a mechanical vibration representative of the received sound. This vibration is then transferred to the bone structure of the skull, causing vibration of the recipient's skull and serves to stimulate the cochlea hairs, thereby inducing a hearing sensation in the recipient.
- a bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; one or more external components mechanically coupled to the transducer and configured to transfer the mechanical forces; and one or more implanted components magnetically coupled to the one or more external components and configured to receive the mechanical forces from the external components.
- a method for rehabilitating the hearing of a recipient with a bone conduction device having one or more external components and one or more implanted components comprising: receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal; generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal; forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and delivering the mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
- a bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient having one or more external components and one or more implanted components, comprising: means for receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal; means for generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal; means for forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and means for delivering the mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction provided to a recipient according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2A is a high-level functional block diagram of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to one embodiment of the present invention, such as the device of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 2B is a detailed functional block diagram of the transcutaneous bone conduction device illustrated in FIG. 2A ;
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the conversion of an input sound into skull vibration in a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to one embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5A is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5B is an isometric view of the device shown in FIG. 5A ;
- FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 5B ;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
- Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a bone conduction device for converting a received acoustic sound signal into a mechanical force delivered transcutaneously via a recipient's skull to the recipient's hearing organs.
- the bone conduction device includes a sound input component, such as microphone, to receive the acoustic sound signal, an electronics module configured to generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal, and a piezoelectric transducer to convert the electrical signal into a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull.
- the transducer is connected to one or several magnets or metal components which are magnetically coupled to magnets implanted between the recipient's bone and skin.
- one or several metal components which are connected to the transducer, are magnetically coupled to corresponding magnets that are implanted between the recipient's bone and skin.
- the magnets or metal components connected to the transducer are connected such that force generated by the transducer is mechanically communicated to the connected magnets or metal components, which in turn magnetically communicate the generate force or portions thereof to the implanted one or several magnets or metal components.
- the piezoelectric transducer has a piezoelectric element that deforms in response to application of the electrical signal thereto.
- the transducer has an output stroke that exceeds the deformation of the piezoelectric element.
- the output stroke of the transducer (sometimes referred to herein as the “transducer stroke”) is utilized to generate a mechanical force that may be provided to the recipient's skull.
- the sound perceived by a recipient is dependent, in part, upon the magnitude of mechanical force generated by the transducer.
- the magnitude of the mechanical force may be limited by the available transducer stroke. These limitations may cause distortion in the sound signal perceived by the recipient or limit the population of recipient's that may benefit from the device.
- limited transducer stroke results in insufficient gain to adequately represent a received acoustic sound signal for all individuals. This insufficient gain may cause a signal to be clipped or otherwise distorted.
- the piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.
- the piezoelectric element converts an electrical signal applied thereto into a mechanical deformation (i.e. expansion or contraction) of the element.
- the amount of deformation of a piezoelectric element in response to an applied electrical signal depends on material properties of the element, orientation of the electric field with respect to the polarization direction of the element, geometry of the element, etc.
- the deformation of the piezoelectric element may also be characterized by the free stroke and blocked force of the element.
- the free stroke of a piezoelectric element refers to the magnitude of deformation induced in the element when a given voltage is applied thereto.
- Blocked force refers to the force that must be applied to the piezoelectric element to stop all deformation at the given voltage.
- piezoelectric elements have a high blocked force, but a low free stroke. In other words, when a voltage is applied to the element, the element will can output a high force, but will only a small stroke.
- bone conduction devices generate a mechanical force that is delivered to the skull, thereby causing motion of the cochlea fluid and a hearing perception by the recipient.
- the maximum available transducer stroke is equivalent to the free stroke of the piezoelectric element.
- some bone conduction devices utilizing these types of piezoelectric transducer have a limited transducer stroke and corresponding limits on the magnitude of the mechanical force that may be provided to the skull.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of embodiments of a bone conduction device 100 in which embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously implemented.
- outer ear 105 comprises an auricle 105 and an ear canal 106 .
- a sound wave or acoustic pressure 107 is collected by auricle 105 and channeled into and through ear canal 106 .
- Disposed across the distal end of ear canal 106 is a tympanic membrane 104 which vibrates in response to acoustic wave 107 .
- This vibration is coupled to oval window or fenestra ovalis 110 through three bones of middle ear 102 , collectively referred to as the ossicles 111 and comprising the malleus 112 , the incus 113 and the stapes 114 .
- Bones 112 , 113 and 114 of middle ear 102 serve to filter and amplify acoustic wave 107 , causing oval window 110 to articulate, or vibrate.
- Such vibration sets up waves of fluid motion within cochlea 115 .
- Such fluid motion activates tiny hair cells (not shown) that line the inside of cochlea 115 .
- Activation of the hair cells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be transferred through the spiral ganglion cells and auditory nerve 116 to the brain (not shown), where they are perceived as sound.
- FIG. 1 also illustrates the positioning of bone conduction device 100 relative to outer ear 101 , middle ear 102 and inner ear 103 of a recipient of device 100 .
- bone conduction device 100 may be positioned behind outer ear 101 of the recipient.
- bone conduction device 100 comprises a housing 125 having a microphone (not shown) positioned therein or thereon. Housing 125 is coupled to the body of the recipient via coupling 140 and implanted magnet 162 . As described below, bone conduction device 100 may comprise a sound processor, a transducer, transducer drive components and/or various other electronic circuits/devices.
- an anchor system (not shown) may be implanted in the recipient. As described below, the anchor system may be fixed to bone 136 . In various embodiments, the anchor system may be implanted under skin 132 within muscle 134 and/or fat 128 . In certain embodiments, a coupling 140 attaches device 100 to the anchor system.
- FIG. 2A A functional block diagram of one embodiment of bone conduction 100 , referred to as bone conduction device 200 , is shown in FIG. 2A .
- a sound 207 is received by a sound input element 202 .
- sound input element 202 is a microphone configured to receive sound 207 , and to convert sound 207 into an electrical signal 222 .
- sound 207 may received by sound input element 202 as an electrical signal.
- electrical signal 222 is output by sound input element 202 to an electronics module 204 .
- Electronics module 204 is configured to convert electrical signal 222 into an adjusted electrical signal 224 .
- electronics module 204 may include a sound processor, control electronics, transducer drive components, and a variety of other elements.
- transducer 206 receives adjusted electrical signal 224 and generates a mechanical output force that is delivered to the skull of the recipient via coupling 140 , shown in FIG. 2A as anchor system 208 , that is coupled to bone conduction device 200 . Delivery of this output force causes one or more of motion or vibration of the recipient's skull, thereby activating the hair cells in the cochlea via cochlea fluid motion.
- FIG. 2A also illustrates a power module 210 .
- Power module 210 provides electrical power to one or more components of bone conduction device 200 .
- power module 210 has been shown connected only to interface module 212 and electronics module 204 .
- power module 210 may be used to supply power to any electrically powered circuits/components of bone conduction device 200 .
- Bone conduction device 200 further includes an interface module 212 that allows the recipient to interact with device 200 .
- interface module 212 may allow the recipient to adjust the volume, alter the speech processing strategies, power on/off the device, etc.
- Interface module 212 communicates with electronics module 204 via signal line 228 .
- sound pickup device 202 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A , sound pickup device 202 , electronics module 204 , transducer 206 , power module 210 and interface module 212 have all been shown as integrated in a single housing, referred to as housing 225 . However, it should be appreciated that in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the illustrated components may be housed in separate or different housings. Similarly, it should also be appreciated that in such embodiments, direct connections between the various modules and devices are not necessary and that the components may communicate, for example, via wireless connections.
- transducer 206 may be one of many types and configurations of transducers, now known or later developed.
- transducer 206 may comprise a piezoelectric element which is configured to deform in response to the application of electrical signal 224 .
- Piezoelectric elements that may be used in embodiments of the present invention may comprise, for example, piezoelectric crystals, piezoelectric ceramics, or some other material exhibiting a deformation in response to an applied electrical signal.
- Exemplary piezoelectric crystals include quartz (SiO2), Berlinite (AlPO4), Gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) and Tourmaline.
- Exemplary piezoelectric ceramics include barium titanate (BaTiO30), lead zirconium titanate (PZT), or zirconium (Zr).
- Some piezoelectric materials such as lead zircoium titanate and PZT, are polarized materials. When an electric field is applied across these materials, the polarized molecules align themselves with the electric field, resulting in induced dipoles within the molecular or crystal structure of the material. This alignment of molecules causes the deformation of the material.
- transducers may be used.
- various motors configured to operate in response to electrical signal 224 may be used.
- transducer 206 generates an output force that causes movement of the cochlea fluid so that a sound may be perceived by the recipient.
- the output force may result in mechanical vibration of the recipient's skull, or in physical movement of the skull about the neck of the recipient.
- bone conduction device 300 delivers the output force to the skull of the recipient via an anchor system 208 .
- anchor system 208 comprises one or more external magnets 260 which magnetically couples to one or more implanted magnets 262 , as illustrated in FIG. 2B .
- external magnets 260 are configured to be attached to housing 225 .
- vibration from transducer 206 is provided to external magnets 260 through housing 225 .
- electronics module 204 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) to electrically connect and mechanically support the components of electronics module 204 .
- Sound input element 202 may comprise one or more microphones (not shown) and is attached to the PCB.
- FIG. 2B provides a more detailed view of bone conduction device 200 of FIG. 2A .
- electronics module 204 comprises a sound processor 240 , transducer drive components 242 and control electronics 246 .
- sound input element 202 comprises a microphone configured to convert a received acoustic signal into electrical signal 222 .
- sound input element 202 receives sound 207 as an electrical signal.
- electrical signal 222 is output from sound input element 202 to sound processor 240 .
- Sound processor 240 uses one or more of a plurality of techniques to selectively process, amplify and/or filter electrical signal 222 to generate a processed signal 224 A.
- sound processor 240 may comprise substantially the same sound processor as is used in an air conduction hearing aid.
- sound processor 240 comprises a digital signal processor.
- Processed signal 224 A is provided to transducer drive components 242 .
- Transducer drive components 242 output a drive signal 224 B, to transducer 206 .
- drive signal 224 B Based on drive signal 224 B, transducer 206 provides the output force to the skull of the recipient.
- transducer drive components 242 to transducer 206 has been referred to as drive signal 224 B.
- processed signal 224 B may comprise an unmodified version of processed signal 224 A.
- transducer 206 generates an output force to the skull of the recipient via anchor system 208 .
- anchor system 208 comprises an external magnet 260 which magnetically couples to an implanted magnet 262 .
- External magnet 260 may be attached to one or more of transducer 206 or housing 225 .
- external magnet 260 is attached to transducer 206 and vibration is received directly therefrom.
- external magnet 260 is attached to housing 225 and vibration is applied from transducer 206 through housing 225 to external magnet 260 .
- coupling 140 comprises external magnet 260
- the vibration received by external magnet 260 from transducer 206 causes external magnet 260 to vibrate. Since, according to this embodiment of the present invention, external magnet 260 is magnetically coupled to implanted magnet 262 , the magnetic forces coupling external magnet 260 and implanted magnet 262 vibrates accordingly. The vibration, communicated from external magnet 260 to implanted magnet 262 magnetically, is then transferred from implanted magnet 262 to the recipient's bone 136 .
- Interface module 212 includes one or more components that allow the recipient to provide inputs to, or receive information from, elements of bone conduction device 200 .
- control electronics 246 may be connected to one or more of interface module 212 , sound pickup device 202 , sound processor 240 and/or transducer drive components 242 . In embodiments of the present invention, based on inputs received at interface module 212 , control electronics 246 may provide instructions to, or request information from, other components of bone conduction device 200 . In certain embodiments, in the absence of user inputs, control electronics 246 control the operation of bone conduction device 200 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates the conversion of an input acoustic sound signal into a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull in accordance with embodiments of bone conduction device 200 .
- bone conduction device 200 receives an acoustic sound signal.
- the acoustic sound signal is received via microphones.
- the input sound is received via an electrical input.
- a telecoil integrated in, or connected to, bone conduction device 200 may be used to receive the acoustic sound signal.
- the acoustic sound signal received by bone conduction device 200 is processed by the speech processor in electronics module 204 .
- the speech processor may be similar to speech processors used in acoustic hearing aids.
- speech processor may selectively amplify, filter and/or modify acoustic sound signal.
- speech processor may be used to eliminate background or other unwanted noise signals received by bone conduction device 200 .
- the processed sound signal is provided to transducer 206 as an electrical signal.
- transducer 206 converts the electrical signal into a mechanical force configured to be delivered to the recipient's skull via anchor system 208 so as to illicit a hearing perception of the acoustic sound signal.
- FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which anchor system 208 comprises a single external magnet 408 .
- External magnet 408 magnetically couples with implanted magnet 462 and delivers the mechanical force 470 from transducer module 406 to the recipient's skull 136 .
- implanted magnet 462 is attached to recipient's skull 136 in a variety of ways.
- implanted magnet 462 may be bonded to recipient's skull 136 using one or more adhesive compounds.
- implanted magnet 462 may be attached by bonding or other means to an osseointegrative mesh or other structure which is configured to integrate with the recipient's skull bone over a period of time.
- implanted magnet 462 may be sutured into place, where the suture provides an interference pressure upon implanted magnet 462 against the recipient's skull.
- implanted magnet 462 may have structural features which are designed or may additionally be used by a suture to hold implanted magnet 462 against the recipient's skull. It is also to be understood that as implanted magnet 462 is positioned between the recipient's tissue 132 , 128 , 134 and the recipient's skull 136 , the compression between the recipient's tissue and skull may be the primary mechanism used to keep implanted magnet 162 is a fixed position.
- recipient's skull may be modified (not shown) to create a bed sized according to the circumferential dimensions of implanted magnet 462 , where the bed has a depth to at least partially or completely receive the full thickness of implanted magnet 462 .
- implanted magnet 462 may be bonded or otherwise attached to a plate which is itself attached to recipient's bone using, for example, screws which enter recipient's bone to fix the plate to the bone.
- FIG. 4 illustrates speech processor 404 as being in a separate housing from transducer 406 , it is to be understood that transducer 406 and speech processor 404 may be housed in a single housing such as housing 125 as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- mechanical force 470 is produced by transducer 406 as a force that is directed in a perpendicular manner with respect to recipient's skull 136 .
- mechanical force 470 may be produced by transducer 406 in a non-perpendicular manner, for example, parallel to the surface of recipient's bone 136 . It should be understood that the various directions or projections of mechanical forces generated and delivered via the magnetic coupling described above to recipient's bone 136 are considered a part of the present invention.
- FIG. 5A illustrates another embodiment of the bone conduction device 100 of FIG. 1 , referred to as bone conduction device 500 .
- two external magnets 508 A and 508 B (referred to collectively as external magnets 508 ) are attached to housing 525 .
- the transducer module (not shown) in housing 525 generates a mechanical force which is transferred via housing 525 to external magnets 508 .
- External magnets 508 are magnetically coupled to implanted magnets 562 A and 562 B (referred to collectively as implanted magnets 562 ). As illustrated in FIG.
- perpendicular force 570 A is transmitted from external magnet 508 A to implanted magnet 562 A and perpendicular force 570 B is transmitted from external magnet 508 B to implanted magnet 562 B.
- Implanted magnets 562 in turn transmit the received perpendicular force to recipient's skull 136 in a manner as described above.
- Implanted magnets 562 may be attached to or bonded to recipient's skull 136 as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4 .
- FIGS. 5A , 5 B and 5 C depict bone conduction device 500 as having two external and implanted magnets 508 , 562 , it is to be understood that device 500 may comprise a larger number or configuration of magnets.
- implanted magnets 562 may be attached to one another such that only a subset of implanted magnets 562 may be fixed to recipient's skull 136 in such a way that the fixed implant magnet provides fixation for the other implanted magnets 562 .
- external magnets 508 may be attached or otherwise connected to each other, for example on a shared plate or base which is itself attached or coupled to transducer 525 .
- FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, demonstrating one configuration in which external magnets 508 are arranged to magnetically couple to implanted magnets (not shown).
- FIG. 5C shows external magnets 508 and housing 525 .
- the various other components of bone conduction device 500 is contained in housing 525 , including the transducer which transmits mechanical force to housing 525 such that external magnets 508 receives and transmits that force to implant magnets (not shown).
- FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the bone conduction device 500 of FIG. 5A , referred to as bone conduction device 600 .
- two external magnets 608 A and 608 B (referred to collectively as external magnets 608 ) are attached to housing 625 .
- the transducer module (not shown) in housing 625 generates a mechanical force substantially parallel to the surface of recipient's skull 136 which is transferred via housing 625 to external magnets 608 .
- External magnets 608 are magnetically coupled to implanted magnets 662 A and 662 B (referred to collectively as implanted magnets 662 ). As illustrated in FIG.
- parallel force 670 A is transmitted from external magnet 608 A to implanted magnet 662 A
- parallel force 670 B is transmitted from external magnet 608 B to implanted magnet 662 B.
- Implanted magnets 662 in turn transmit the received parallel force to recipient's skull 136 in a manner as described above.
- bone conduction device 700 comprises housing 725 comprising a transducer (not shown) among other device components.
- External magnets 708 A and 708 B are attached to housing 725 and receive the mechanical forces generated by transducer via the surface of housing 725 .
- External magnets 708 are magnetically coupled to implanted magnets 762 A and 672 B collectively referred to as implanted magnets 762 ) and transmit the mechanical forces received to implant magnets 762 as magnetic forces 770 A and 770 B (collectively referred to as magnetic forces 770 ).
- the forces generated by the transducer (not shown) in housing 725 are directed in parallel with respect to the surface of the recipient's skull 136 . Therefore, external magnets 708 are caused to correspondingly move in parallel to the recipient's skull, which results in the magnetic forces 770 moving in parallel with respect to recipient's skull 136 .
- Implanted magnets 762 are attached to plate 780 , which is fixed to recipient's skull 136 using fixation screws 782 A and 782 B (collectively referred to as screws 782 ). In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 , even though magnetic forces 770 are directed only to implanted magnets 762 and not to plate 780 , because implanted magnets 762 are attached to plate 780 , magnetic forces 770 are transferred from implanted magnets 762 to plate 780 and then to recipient's skull 136 .
Abstract
A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; one or more external components mechanically coupled to the transducer and configured to transfer the mechanical forces; and one or more implanted components magnetically coupled to the one or more external components and configured to receive the mechanical forces from the external components.
Description
- The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/041,185; filed Mar. 31, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention is generally directed to a bone conduction device, and more particularly, to a transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device
- 2. Related Art
- Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types, conductive or sensorineural. In many people who are profoundly deaf, the reason for their deafness is sensorineural hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is due to absence, destruction, or damage to the hairs that transduce acoustic signals into nerve impulses in the cochlea. Various prosthetic hearing implants have been developed to provide individuals who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss with the ability to perceive sound. One type of prosthetic implant, referred to as a cochlear implant, uses an electrode array implanted in the cochlea. More specifically, an electrical stimulus is provided via the electrode array directly to the cochlea nerve, thereby inducing a hearing sensation in the implant recipient.
- Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways, which conduct sound to hairs in the cochlea, are impeded. This problem may arise from damage to the ossicular chain to ear canal. However, individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss frequently still have some form of residual hearing because the hairs in the cochlea are often undamaged. For this reason, individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss are typically not candidates for a cochlear implant, because insertion of the electrode array into a cochlea may result in the severe damage or destruction of the most of the hair cells within the cochlea.
- Sufferers of conductive hearing loss typically receive an acoustic hearing aid. Hearing aids receive ambient sound in the outer ear, amplify the sound, and direct the amplified sound into the ear canal. The amplified sound reaches the cochlea and causes motion of the cochlea fluid, thereby stimulating the hairs in the cochlea.
- An alternative to a normal air conduction aid is a bone conduction hearing aid which incorporates a hearing aid which drives a vibrator which is pushed against the skull via a mechanism. Such mechanisms include glasses and wire hoops. These devices are uncomfortable to wear and for some recipients are incapable of producing sufficient gain.
- Unfortunately, hearing aids do not benefit all individuals who suffer from conductive hearing loss. For example, some individuals are prone to chronic inflammation or infection of the ear canal and cannot wear hearing aids. Other individuals have malformed or absent outer ear and/or ear canals as a result of a birth defect, or as a result of common medical conditions such as Treacher Collins syndrome or Microtia. Hearing aids are also typically unsuitable for individuals who suffer from single-sided deafness (i.e., total hearing loss only in one ear) or individuals who suffer from mixed hearing losses (i.e., combinations of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss).
- Those individuals who cannot benefit from hearing aids may benefit from hearing prostheses that are implanted into the skull bone. Such hearing prostheses direct vibrations into the bone, so that the vibrations are conducted into the cochlea and result in stimulation of the hairs in the cochlea. This type of prosthesis is typically referred to as a bone conduction device.
- Bone conduction devices function by converting a received sound into a mechanical vibration representative of the received sound. This vibration is then transferred to the bone structure of the skull, causing vibration of the recipient's skull and serves to stimulate the cochlea hairs, thereby inducing a hearing sensation in the recipient.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; one or more external components mechanically coupled to the transducer and configured to transfer the mechanical forces; and one or more implanted components magnetically coupled to the one or more external components and configured to receive the mechanical forces from the external components.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for rehabilitating the hearing of a recipient with a bone conduction device having one or more external components and one or more implanted components, comprising: receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal; generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal; forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and delivering the mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
- According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient having one or more external components and one or more implanted components, comprising: means for receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal; means for generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal; means for forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and means for delivering the mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
- Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction provided to a recipient according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A is a high-level functional block diagram of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to one embodiment of the present invention, such as the device ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 2B is a detailed functional block diagram of the transcutaneous bone conduction device illustrated inFIG. 2A ; -
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the conversion of an input sound into skull vibration in a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to one embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to a further embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5A is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 5B is an isometric view of the device shown inFIG. 5A ; -
FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the device ofFIG. 5B ; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. - Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a bone conduction device for converting a received acoustic sound signal into a mechanical force delivered transcutaneously via a recipient's skull to the recipient's hearing organs. The bone conduction device includes a sound input component, such as microphone, to receive the acoustic sound signal, an electronics module configured to generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal, and a piezoelectric transducer to convert the electrical signal into a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the transducer is connected to one or several magnets or metal components which are magnetically coupled to magnets implanted between the recipient's bone and skin. In other embodiments of the present invention, one or several metal components, which are connected to the transducer, are magnetically coupled to corresponding magnets that are implanted between the recipient's bone and skin. The magnets or metal components connected to the transducer are connected such that force generated by the transducer is mechanically communicated to the connected magnets or metal components, which in turn magnetically communicate the generate force or portions thereof to the implanted one or several magnets or metal components. The piezoelectric transducer has a piezoelectric element that deforms in response to application of the electrical signal thereto. The transducer has an output stroke that exceeds the deformation of the piezoelectric element.
- The output stroke of the transducer (sometimes referred to herein as the “transducer stroke”) is utilized to generate a mechanical force that may be provided to the recipient's skull. The sound perceived by a recipient is dependent, in part, upon the magnitude of mechanical force generated by the transducer. In some bone conduction devices, the magnitude of the mechanical force may be limited by the available transducer stroke. These limitations may cause distortion in the sound signal perceived by the recipient or limit the population of recipient's that may benefit from the device. For example, in certain embodiments, limited transducer stroke results in insufficient gain to adequately represent a received acoustic sound signal for all individuals. This insufficient gain may cause a signal to be clipped or otherwise distorted.
- As noted, the piezoelectric transducer comprises a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element converts an electrical signal applied thereto into a mechanical deformation (i.e. expansion or contraction) of the element. The amount of deformation of a piezoelectric element in response to an applied electrical signal depends on material properties of the element, orientation of the electric field with respect to the polarization direction of the element, geometry of the element, etc.
- The deformation of the piezoelectric element may also be characterized by the free stroke and blocked force of the element. The free stroke of a piezoelectric element refers to the magnitude of deformation induced in the element when a given voltage is applied thereto. Blocked force refers to the force that must be applied to the piezoelectric element to stop all deformation at the given voltage. Generally speaking, piezoelectric elements have a high blocked force, but a low free stroke. In other words, when a voltage is applied to the element, the element will can output a high force, but will only a small stroke.
- As noted, bone conduction devices generate a mechanical force that is delivered to the skull, thereby causing motion of the cochlea fluid and a hearing perception by the recipient. In some piezoelectric transducers, the maximum available transducer stroke is equivalent to the free stroke of the piezoelectric element. As such, some bone conduction devices utilizing these types of piezoelectric transducer have a limited transducer stroke and corresponding limits on the magnitude of the mechanical force that may be provided to the skull.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of embodiments of abone conduction device 100 in which embodiments of the present invention may be advantageously implemented. In a fully functional human hearing anatomy,outer ear 105 comprises anauricle 105 and anear canal 106. A sound wave oracoustic pressure 107 is collected byauricle 105 and channeled into and throughear canal 106. Disposed across the distal end ofear canal 106 is atympanic membrane 104 which vibrates in response toacoustic wave 107. This vibration is coupled to oval window orfenestra ovalis 110 through three bones ofmiddle ear 102, collectively referred to as theossicles 111 and comprising themalleus 112, theincus 113 and thestapes 114.Bones middle ear 102 serve to filter and amplifyacoustic wave 107, causingoval window 110 to articulate, or vibrate. Such vibration sets up waves of fluid motion withincochlea 115. Such fluid motion, in turn, activates tiny hair cells (not shown) that line the inside ofcochlea 115. Activation of the hair cells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be transferred through the spiral ganglion cells andauditory nerve 116 to the brain (not shown), where they are perceived as sound. -
FIG. 1 also illustrates the positioning ofbone conduction device 100 relative toouter ear 101,middle ear 102 andinner ear 103 of a recipient ofdevice 100. As shown,bone conduction device 100 may be positioned behindouter ear 101 of the recipient. - In the embodiments illustrated in
FIG. 1 ,bone conduction device 100 comprises ahousing 125 having a microphone (not shown) positioned therein or thereon.Housing 125 is coupled to the body of the recipient viacoupling 140 and implantedmagnet 162. As described below,bone conduction device 100 may comprise a sound processor, a transducer, transducer drive components and/or various other electronic circuits/devices. - In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an anchor system (not shown) may be implanted in the recipient. As described below, the anchor system may be fixed to
bone 136. In various embodiments, the anchor system may be implanted underskin 132 withinmuscle 134 and/orfat 128. In certain embodiments, acoupling 140 attachesdevice 100 to the anchor system. - A functional block diagram of one embodiment of
bone conduction 100, referred to asbone conduction device 200, is shown inFIG. 2A . In the illustrated embodiment, asound 207 is received by asound input element 202. In some embodiments,sound input element 202 is a microphone configured to receivesound 207, and to convertsound 207 into anelectrical signal 222. As described below, in other embodiments sound 207 may received bysound input element 202 as an electrical signal. - As shown in
FIG. 2A ,electrical signal 222 is output bysound input element 202 to anelectronics module 204.Electronics module 204 is configured to convertelectrical signal 222 into an adjustedelectrical signal 224. As described below in more detail,electronics module 204 may include a sound processor, control electronics, transducer drive components, and a variety of other elements. - As shown in
FIG. 2A ,transducer 206 receives adjustedelectrical signal 224 and generates a mechanical output force that is delivered to the skull of the recipient viacoupling 140, shown inFIG. 2A asanchor system 208, that is coupled tobone conduction device 200. Delivery of this output force causes one or more of motion or vibration of the recipient's skull, thereby activating the hair cells in the cochlea via cochlea fluid motion. -
FIG. 2A also illustrates apower module 210.Power module 210 provides electrical power to one or more components ofbone conduction device 200. For ease of illustration,power module 210 has been shown connected only tointerface module 212 andelectronics module 204. However, it should be appreciated thatpower module 210 may be used to supply power to any electrically powered circuits/components ofbone conduction device 200. -
Bone conduction device 200 further includes aninterface module 212 that allows the recipient to interact withdevice 200. For example,interface module 212 may allow the recipient to adjust the volume, alter the speech processing strategies, power on/off the device, etc.Interface module 212 communicates withelectronics module 204 viasignal line 228. - In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 2A ,sound pickup device 202,electronics module 204,transducer 206,power module 210 andinterface module 212 have all been shown as integrated in a single housing, referred to ashousing 225. However, it should be appreciated that in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more of the illustrated components may be housed in separate or different housings. Similarly, it should also be appreciated that in such embodiments, direct connections between the various modules and devices are not necessary and that the components may communicate, for example, via wireless connections. - In embodiments of the present invention,
transducer 206 may be one of many types and configurations of transducers, now known or later developed. In one embodiment of the present invention,transducer 206 may comprise a piezoelectric element which is configured to deform in response to the application ofelectrical signal 224. Piezoelectric elements that may be used in embodiments of the present invention may comprise, for example, piezoelectric crystals, piezoelectric ceramics, or some other material exhibiting a deformation in response to an applied electrical signal. Exemplary piezoelectric crystals include quartz (SiO2), Berlinite (AlPO4), Gallium orthophosphate (GaPO4) and Tourmaline. Exemplary piezoelectric ceramics include barium titanate (BaTiO30), lead zirconium titanate (PZT), or zirconium (Zr). - Some piezoelectric materials, such as lead zircoium titanate and PZT, are polarized materials. When an electric field is applied across these materials, the polarized molecules align themselves with the electric field, resulting in induced dipoles within the molecular or crystal structure of the material. This alignment of molecules causes the deformation of the material.
- In other embodiments of the present invention, other types of transducers may be used. For example, various motors configured to operate in response to
electrical signal 224 may be used. - In one embodiment of the present invention,
transducer 206 generates an output force that causes movement of the cochlea fluid so that a sound may be perceived by the recipient. The output force may result in mechanical vibration of the recipient's skull, or in physical movement of the skull about the neck of the recipient. As noted above, in certain embodiments, bone conduction device 300 delivers the output force to the skull of the recipient via ananchor system 208. In one embodiment of the present invention,anchor system 208 comprises one or moreexternal magnets 260 which magnetically couples to one or more implantedmagnets 262, as illustrated inFIG. 2B . In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2A ,external magnets 260 are configured to be attached tohousing 225. As such, in this embodiment, vibration fromtransducer 206 is provided toexternal magnets 260 throughhousing 225. - In certain embodiments of the present invention,
electronics module 204 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) to electrically connect and mechanically support the components ofelectronics module 204.Sound input element 202 may comprise one or more microphones (not shown) and is attached to the PCB. -
FIG. 2B provides a more detailed view ofbone conduction device 200 ofFIG. 2A . In the illustrated embodiment,electronics module 204 comprises asound processor 240,transducer drive components 242 andcontrol electronics 246. As explained above, in certain embodimentssound input element 202 comprises a microphone configured to convert a received acoustic signal intoelectrical signal 222. In other embodiments, as detailed below,sound input element 202 receives sound 207 as an electrical signal. - In embodiments of the present invention,
electrical signal 222 is output fromsound input element 202 to soundprocessor 240.Sound processor 240 uses one or more of a plurality of techniques to selectively process, amplify and/or filterelectrical signal 222 to generate a processedsignal 224A. In certain embodiments,sound processor 240 may comprise substantially the same sound processor as is used in an air conduction hearing aid. In further embodiments,sound processor 240 comprises a digital signal processor. -
Processed signal 224A is provided totransducer drive components 242.Transducer drive components 242 output adrive signal 224B, totransducer 206. Based ondrive signal 224B,transducer 206 provides the output force to the skull of the recipient. - For ease of description the electrical signal supplied by
transducer drive components 242 totransducer 206 has been referred to asdrive signal 224B. However, it should be appreciated that processedsignal 224B may comprise an unmodified version of processedsignal 224A. - As noted above,
transducer 206 generates an output force to the skull of the recipient viaanchor system 208. As shown inFIG. 2B , in one embodiment of the present invention,anchor system 208 comprises anexternal magnet 260 which magnetically couples to an implantedmagnet 262.External magnet 260 may be attached to one or more oftransducer 206 orhousing 225. For example, in certain embodiments,external magnet 260 is attached totransducer 206 and vibration is received directly therefrom. In other embodiments,external magnet 260 is attached tohousing 225 and vibration is applied fromtransducer 206 throughhousing 225 toexternal magnet 260. According to one embodiment of the present invention in whichcoupling 140 comprisesexternal magnet 260, the vibration received byexternal magnet 260 fromtransducer 206 causesexternal magnet 260 to vibrate. Since, according to this embodiment of the present invention,external magnet 260 is magnetically coupled to implantedmagnet 262, the magnetic forces couplingexternal magnet 260 and implantedmagnet 262 vibrates accordingly. The vibration, communicated fromexternal magnet 260 to implantedmagnet 262 magnetically, is then transferred from implantedmagnet 262 to the recipient'sbone 136. - As noted above, a recipient may control various functions of the device via
interface module 212.Interface module 212 includes one or more components that allow the recipient to provide inputs to, or receive information from, elements ofbone conduction device 200. - As shown,
control electronics 246 may be connected to one or more ofinterface module 212,sound pickup device 202,sound processor 240 and/ortransducer drive components 242. In embodiments of the present invention, based on inputs received atinterface module 212,control electronics 246 may provide instructions to, or request information from, other components ofbone conduction device 200. In certain embodiments, in the absence of user inputs,control electronics 246 control the operation ofbone conduction device 200. -
FIG. 3 illustrates the conversion of an input acoustic sound signal into a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull in accordance with embodiments ofbone conduction device 200. Atblock 302,bone conduction device 200 receives an acoustic sound signal. In certain embodiments, the acoustic sound signal is received via microphones. In other embodiments, the input sound is received via an electrical input. In still other embodiments, a telecoil integrated in, or connected to,bone conduction device 200 may be used to receive the acoustic sound signal. - At
block 304, the acoustic sound signal received bybone conduction device 200 is processed by the speech processor inelectronics module 204. As explained above, the speech processor may be similar to speech processors used in acoustic hearing aids. In such embodiments, speech processor may selectively amplify, filter and/or modify acoustic sound signal. For example, speech processor may be used to eliminate background or other unwanted noise signals received bybone conduction device 200. - At
block 306, the processed sound signal is provided totransducer 206 as an electrical signal. Atblock 308,transducer 206 converts the electrical signal into a mechanical force configured to be delivered to the recipient's skull viaanchor system 208 so as to illicit a hearing perception of the acoustic sound signal. -
FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in whichanchor system 208 comprises a singleexternal magnet 408.External magnet 408 magnetically couples with implantedmagnet 462 and delivers themechanical force 470 fromtransducer module 406 to the recipient'sskull 136. As will be appreciated by persons having skill in the art, implantedmagnet 462 is attached to recipient'sskull 136 in a variety of ways. For example, implantedmagnet 462 may be bonded to recipient'sskull 136 using one or more adhesive compounds. Also, for example, implantedmagnet 462 may be attached by bonding or other means to an osseointegrative mesh or other structure which is configured to integrate with the recipient's skull bone over a period of time. Furthermore, in other embodiments of the present invention, implantedmagnet 462 may be sutured into place, where the suture provides an interference pressure upon implantedmagnet 462 against the recipient's skull. Alternatively, implantedmagnet 462 may have structural features which are designed or may additionally be used by a suture to hold implantedmagnet 462 against the recipient's skull. It is also to be understood that as implantedmagnet 462 is positioned between the recipient'stissue skull 136, the compression between the recipient's tissue and skull may be the primary mechanism used to keep implantedmagnet 162 is a fixed position. - Also, it is to be understood that in certain embodiments of the present invention, recipient's skull may be modified (not shown) to create a bed sized according to the circumferential dimensions of implanted
magnet 462, where the bed has a depth to at least partially or completely receive the full thickness of implantedmagnet 462. Additionally, as will be described later in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7 , implantedmagnet 462 may be bonded or otherwise attached to a plate which is itself attached to recipient's bone using, for example, screws which enter recipient's bone to fix the plate to the bone. AlthoughFIG. 4 illustratesspeech processor 404 as being in a separate housing fromtransducer 406, it is to be understood thattransducer 406 andspeech processor 404 may be housed in a single housing such ashousing 125 as illustrated inFIG. 1 . - In
FIG. 4 ,mechanical force 470 is produced bytransducer 406 as a force that is directed in a perpendicular manner with respect to recipient'sskull 136. However, it is to be understood that in other embodiments of the present invention,mechanical force 470 may be produced bytransducer 406 in a non-perpendicular manner, for example, parallel to the surface of recipient'sbone 136. It should be understood that the various directions or projections of mechanical forces generated and delivered via the magnetic coupling described above to recipient'sbone 136 are considered a part of the present invention. -
FIG. 5A illustrates another embodiment of thebone conduction device 100 ofFIG. 1 , referred to as bone conduction device 500. In this embodiment, twoexternal magnets housing 525. In this embodiment of the present invention, the transducer module (not shown) inhousing 525 generates a mechanical force which is transferred viahousing 525 to external magnets 508. External magnets 508 are magnetically coupled to implantedmagnets FIG. 5A ,perpendicular force 570A is transmitted fromexternal magnet 508A to implantedmagnet 562A andperpendicular force 570B is transmitted fromexternal magnet 508B to implantedmagnet 562B. Implanted magnets 562 in turn transmit the received perpendicular force to recipient'sskull 136 in a manner as described above. Implanted magnets 562 may be attached to or bonded to recipient'sskull 136 as described above in conjunction withFIG. 4 . - Although
FIGS. 5A , 5B and 5C depict bone conduction device 500 as having two external and implanted magnets 508, 562, it is to be understood that device 500 may comprise a larger number or configuration of magnets. Furthermore, it is to be understood that implanted magnets 562 may be attached to one another such that only a subset of implanted magnets 562 may be fixed to recipient'sskull 136 in such a way that the fixed implant magnet provides fixation for the other implanted magnets 562. Similarly, it is to be understood that in other embodiments of the present invention, external magnets 508 may be attached or otherwise connected to each other, for example on a shared plate or base which is itself attached or coupled totransducer 525. -
FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, demonstrating one configuration in which external magnets 508 are arranged to magnetically couple to implanted magnets (not shown). A cross-section ofFIG. 5B is shown asFIG. 5C , which also illustrates external magnets 508 andhousing 525. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 5B and 5C , the various other components of bone conduction device 500 is contained inhousing 525, including the transducer which transmits mechanical force tohousing 525 such that external magnets 508 receives and transmits that force to implant magnets (not shown). -
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the bone conduction device 500 ofFIG. 5A , referred to as bone conduction device 600. As in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5A , in this embodiment, twoexternal magnets housing 625. In this embodiment of the present invention, the transducer module (not shown) inhousing 625 generates a mechanical force substantially parallel to the surface of recipient'sskull 136 which is transferred viahousing 625 to external magnets 608. External magnets 608 are magnetically coupled to implantedmagnets FIG. 6 ,parallel force 670A is transmitted fromexternal magnet 608A to implantedmagnet 662A, andparallel force 670B is transmitted fromexternal magnet 608B to implantedmagnet 662B. Implanted magnets 662 in turn transmit the received parallel force to recipient'sskull 136 in a manner as described above. - As noted previously, according to embodiments of the present invention, the implanted magnets may be fixed to the recipient's skull in various ways. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 7 , bone conduction device 700 compriseshousing 725 comprising a transducer (not shown) among other device components.External magnets housing 725 and receive the mechanical forces generated by transducer via the surface ofhousing 725. External magnets 708 are magnetically coupled to implantedmagnets 762A and 672B collectively referred to as implanted magnets 762) and transmit the mechanical forces received to implant magnets 762 asmagnetic forces housing 725 are directed in parallel with respect to the surface of the recipient'sskull 136. Therefore, external magnets 708 are caused to correspondingly move in parallel to the recipient's skull, which results in the magnetic forces 770 moving in parallel with respect to recipient'sskull 136. - Implanted magnets 762 are attached to plate 780, which is fixed to recipient's
skull 136 usingfixation screws 782A and 782B (collectively referred to as screws 782). In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7 , even though magnetic forces 770 are directed only to implanted magnets 762 and not to plate 780, because implanted magnets 762 are attached to plate 780, magnetic forces 770 are transferred from implanted magnets 762 toplate 780 and then to recipient'sskull 136. - Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above where the one or more external magnets couple to one or more implanted magnets, it is to be understood that an iron-based metal may be used in place of either the external or implanted magnets so long as the magnetic coupling between the magnet and metal is of sufficient strength to enable adequate transfer of the mechanical forces generated by the transducer.
- While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. All patents and publications discussed herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference thereto.
Claims (23)
1. A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising:
a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal;
an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal;
a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing said electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull;
one or more external components mechanically coupled to said transducer and configured to transfer said mechanical forces; and
one or more implanted components magnetically coupled to said one or more external components and configured to receive said mechanical forces from said external components.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said external components and said implanted components each comprise magnets.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said only one of said external components and said implanted components comprise magnets.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more implanted component is configured to be inserted into the recipient's skull in one or more corresponding beds formed in the skull and configured to accommodate said implanted components.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said one or more implanted components are fixedly attached to the recipient's skull.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said one or more implanted components are bonded to the recipient's skull.
7. The device of claim 5 , wherein said one or more implanted components are attached to one or more plates fixed to the recipient's skull.
8. The device of claim 5 , wherein said one or more implanted components are fixed by one or more screws to the recipient's skull.
9. The device of claim 5 , wherein said one or more implanted components are fixed to an osseointegrative mesh which is configured to integrate with the recipient's skull.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical force is generated by said transducer in parallel with respect to the surface of the recipient's skull.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical force is generated by said transducer perpendicular to the surface of the recipient's skull.
12. A method for rehabilitating the hearing of a recipient with a bone conduction device having one or more external components and one or more implanted components, comprising:
receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal;
generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal;
forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and
delivering said mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic coupling is formed using one or more implanted magnets.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic coupling is formed using one or more external magnets.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
forming a bed in the recipient's skull in which the implanted components are configured to be positioned.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
attaching the one or more implanted components to the recipient's skull.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said one or more implanted components are attached by bonding to the recipient's skull.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said one or more implanted components are attached to one or more plates fixed to the recipient's skull.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said one or more implanted components are attached by one or more screws to the recipient's skull.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein said one or more implanted components are fixed to an osseointegrative mesh which is configured to attach to recipient's skull by osseointegration over time.
21. A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient having one or more external components and one or more implanted components, comprising:
means for receiving an electrical signal representative of an acoustic sound signal;
means for generating mechanical forces representative of the received electrical signal;
means for forming a magnetic coupling between the bone conduction device and the recipient's skull; and
means for delivering said mechanical forces to the recipient's skull via the magnetic coupling.
22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
means for receiving the implanted components in the recipient's skull.
23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
means for attaching the one or more implanted components to the recipient's skull.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/168,636 US20090248155A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device |
PCT/AU2009/000373 WO2009121117A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-30 | Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US4118508P | 2008-03-31 | 2008-03-31 | |
US12/168,636 US20090248155A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090248155A1 true US20090248155A1 (en) | 2009-10-01 |
Family
ID=41117259
Family Applications (28)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/167,796 Expired - Fee Related US8401213B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Snap-lock coupling system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,851 Expired - Fee Related US8216287B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Tangential force resistant coupling for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,825 Abandoned US20090248085A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Tissue injection fixation system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,668 Active 2031-08-08 US8363871B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Alternative mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US12/167,871 Expired - Fee Related US8852251B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Mechanical fixation system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,728 Expired - Fee Related US8526641B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Customizable mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US12/168,636 Abandoned US20090248155A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device |
US12/168,572 Expired - Fee Related US8154173B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Mechanically amplified piezoelectric transducer |
US12/168,620 Active 2031-09-25 US8655002B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Piercing conducted bone conduction device |
US12/168,529 Active 2031-01-17 US8150083B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Piezoelectric bone conduction device having enhanced transducer stroke |
US12/168,653 Expired - Fee Related US8170252B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Dual percutaneous anchors bone conduction device |
US12/168,603 Expired - Fee Related US8532321B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Hearing device having one or more in-the-canal vibrating extensions |
US12/251,443 Active 2031-05-28 US8831260B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-10-14 | Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system |
US12/251,437 Abandoned US20090247813A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-10-14 | Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system |
US12/398,586 Expired - Fee Related US8433081B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-05 | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a linearly moving mass |
US12/935,901 Active 2032-02-14 US8945216B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Objective fitting of a hearing prosthesis |
US12/935,905 Active 2031-06-02 US8731205B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US12/935,895 Active 2029-09-01 US8532322B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device for a single sided deaf recipient |
US12/935,906 Active 2030-09-07 US8657734B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Implantable universal docking station for prosthetic hearing devices |
US12/935,909 Abandoned US20110112462A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Pharmaceutical agent delivery in a stimulating medical device |
US12/935,887 Active 2031-09-22 US9955270B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US12/935,650 Abandoned US20110029031A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bimodal hearing prosthesis |
US12/688,491 Expired - Fee Related US8509461B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2010-01-15 | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a rotationally moving mass |
US13/965,718 Abandoned US20130345496A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-08-13 | Bone Conduction Devices Generating Tangentially-Directed Mechanical Force Using a Rotationally Moving Mass |
US14/072,398 Active US9602931B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-11-05 | Bone conduction device |
US15/464,090 Active 2031-04-11 US11570552B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2017-03-20 | Bone conduction device |
US15/958,212 Pending US20180376255A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2018-04-20 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US18/103,215 Pending US20230179929A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2023-01-30 | Bone conduction device |
Family Applications Before (6)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/167,796 Expired - Fee Related US8401213B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Snap-lock coupling system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,851 Expired - Fee Related US8216287B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Tangential force resistant coupling for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,825 Abandoned US20090248085A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Tissue injection fixation system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,668 Active 2031-08-08 US8363871B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Alternative mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US12/167,871 Expired - Fee Related US8852251B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Mechanical fixation system for a prosthetic device |
US12/167,728 Expired - Fee Related US8526641B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-03 | Customizable mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
Family Applications After (21)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/168,572 Expired - Fee Related US8154173B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Mechanically amplified piezoelectric transducer |
US12/168,620 Active 2031-09-25 US8655002B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Piercing conducted bone conduction device |
US12/168,529 Active 2031-01-17 US8150083B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Piezoelectric bone conduction device having enhanced transducer stroke |
US12/168,653 Expired - Fee Related US8170252B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Dual percutaneous anchors bone conduction device |
US12/168,603 Expired - Fee Related US8532321B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-07-07 | Hearing device having one or more in-the-canal vibrating extensions |
US12/251,443 Active 2031-05-28 US8831260B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-10-14 | Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system |
US12/251,437 Abandoned US20090247813A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-10-14 | Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system |
US12/398,586 Expired - Fee Related US8433081B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-05 | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a linearly moving mass |
US12/935,901 Active 2032-02-14 US8945216B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Objective fitting of a hearing prosthesis |
US12/935,905 Active 2031-06-02 US8731205B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US12/935,895 Active 2029-09-01 US8532322B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device for a single sided deaf recipient |
US12/935,906 Active 2030-09-07 US8657734B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Implantable universal docking station for prosthetic hearing devices |
US12/935,909 Abandoned US20110112462A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Pharmaceutical agent delivery in a stimulating medical device |
US12/935,887 Active 2031-09-22 US9955270B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US12/935,650 Abandoned US20110029031A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2009-03-31 | Bimodal hearing prosthesis |
US12/688,491 Expired - Fee Related US8509461B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2010-01-15 | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a rotationally moving mass |
US13/965,718 Abandoned US20130345496A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-08-13 | Bone Conduction Devices Generating Tangentially-Directed Mechanical Force Using a Rotationally Moving Mass |
US14/072,398 Active US9602931B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-11-05 | Bone conduction device |
US15/464,090 Active 2031-04-11 US11570552B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2017-03-20 | Bone conduction device |
US15/958,212 Pending US20180376255A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2018-04-20 | Bone conduction device fitting |
US18/103,215 Pending US20230179929A1 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2023-01-30 | Bone conduction device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (28) | US8401213B2 (en) |
EP (6) | EP2269241A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102047692B (en) |
WO (23) | WO2009121097A1 (en) |
Cited By (40)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090245553A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-01 | Cochlear Limited | Alternative mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US20110268303A1 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2011-11-03 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having limited range of travel |
US20120088957A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2012-04-12 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
US20130165738A1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2013-06-27 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Magnet Arrangement for Bone Conduction Hearing Implant |
US20130261377A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2013-10-03 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
WO2013156963A1 (en) * | 2012-04-19 | 2013-10-24 | Cochlear Limited | Transcutaneous bone conduction device |
US20140121447A1 (en) * | 2012-07-16 | 2014-05-01 | Sophono, Inc | Cover for Magnetic Implant in a Bone Conduction Hearing Aid System, and Corresponding Devices, Components and Methods |
US8891795B2 (en) | 2012-01-31 | 2014-11-18 | Cochlear Limited | Transcutaneous bone conduction device vibrator having movable magnetic mass |
US20150063611A1 (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2015-03-05 | Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt | Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses |
US9022917B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2015-05-05 | Sophono, Inc. | Magnetic spacer systems, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US9031274B2 (en) | 2012-09-06 | 2015-05-12 | Sophono, Inc. | Adhesive bone conduction hearing device |
US9119010B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2015-08-25 | Sophono, Inc. | Implantable sound transmission device for magnetic hearing aid, and corresponding systems, devices and components |
US9179228B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2015-11-03 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids |
US9210521B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2015-12-08 | Sophono, Inc. | Abutment attachment systems, mechanisms, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US20150382114A1 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2015-12-31 | Marcus ANDERSSON | System for adjusting magnetic retention force in auditory prostheses |
US9258656B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2016-02-09 | Sophono, Inc. | Sound acquisition and analysis systems, devices and components for magnetic hearing aids |
US20160044427A1 (en) * | 2011-11-22 | 2016-02-11 | Cochlear Limited | Smoothing power consumption of an active medical device |
US9526810B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2016-12-27 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, devices, components and methods for improved acoustic coupling between a bone conduction hearing device and a patient's head or skull |
US20170180890A1 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2017-06-22 | Marcus ANDERSSON | Bone conduction skin interface |
US20170180888A1 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2017-06-22 | Marcus ANDERSSON | Bone conduction device having magnets integrated with housing |
US9736601B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2017-08-15 | Sophono, Inc. | Adjustable magnetic systems, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US9788125B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2017-10-10 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids |
US9919154B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2018-03-20 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
CN108028997A (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2018-05-11 | Med-El电气医疗器械有限公司 | Osteoacusis transducer system with adjustable retentivity |
US20180270591A1 (en) * | 2015-09-14 | 2018-09-20 | Patrik KENNES | Retention magnet system for medical device |
US10300276B2 (en) | 2015-05-28 | 2019-05-28 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US10532209B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2020-01-14 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US10646712B2 (en) | 2017-09-13 | 2020-05-12 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US10646718B2 (en) | 2016-11-15 | 2020-05-12 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants and magnets for use with same |
US10806936B2 (en) | 2015-11-20 | 2020-10-20 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants and magnets for use with same |
US10917730B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2021-02-09 | Cochlear Limited | Retention magnet system for medical device |
US11095994B2 (en) | 2013-02-15 | 2021-08-17 | Cochlear Limited | Conformable pad bone conduction device |
US11097095B2 (en) | 2017-04-11 | 2021-08-24 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants, magnets for use with same and magnet retrofit methods |
US11287495B2 (en) | 2017-05-22 | 2022-03-29 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Methods and apparatus for use with cochlear implants having magnet apparatus with magnetic material particles |
US11364384B2 (en) | 2017-04-25 | 2022-06-21 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having impact resistant MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US11471679B2 (en) | 2017-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Headpieces and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same |
US11595768B2 (en) | 2016-12-02 | 2023-02-28 | Cochlear Limited | Retention force increasing components |
US11638823B2 (en) | 2018-02-15 | 2023-05-02 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Headpieces and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same |
US11792587B1 (en) | 2015-06-26 | 2023-10-17 | Cochlear Limited | Magnetic retention device |
US11918808B2 (en) | 2015-06-12 | 2024-03-05 | Cochlear Limited | Magnet management MRI compatibility |
Families Citing this family (187)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8260430B2 (en) | 2010-07-01 | 2012-09-04 | Cochlear Limited | Stimulation channel selection for a stimulating medical device |
AUPS318202A0 (en) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-07-18 | Cochlear Limited | Parametric fitting of a cochlear implant |
WO2005097255A1 (en) | 2004-04-02 | 2005-10-20 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Electric and acoustic stimulation fitting systems and methods |
US7801617B2 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2010-09-21 | Cochlear Limited | Automatic measurement of neural response concurrent with psychophysics measurement of stimulating device recipient |
EP1765459B1 (en) | 2004-06-15 | 2018-11-28 | Cochlear Limited | Automatic determination of the threshold of an evoked neural response |
US8571675B2 (en) | 2006-04-21 | 2013-10-29 | Cochlear Limited | Determining operating parameters for a stimulating medical device |
WO2008014498A2 (en) * | 2006-07-27 | 2008-01-31 | Cochlear Americas | Hearing device having a non-occluding in the-canal vibrating component |
US7841446B2 (en) * | 2007-04-30 | 2010-11-30 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Bandless hearing protector and method |
SE0701242L (en) * | 2007-05-24 | 2008-12-02 | Cochlear Ltd | Vibrator |
DE102007031872B4 (en) * | 2007-07-09 | 2009-11-19 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | hearing Aid |
US9173042B2 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2015-10-27 | Cochlear Limited | Bone anchor fixture for a medical prosthesis |
US8271101B2 (en) | 2007-08-29 | 2012-09-18 | Advanced Bionics | Modular drug delivery system for minimizing trauma during and after insertion of a cochlear lead |
US8190271B2 (en) | 2007-08-29 | 2012-05-29 | Advanced Bionics, Llc | Minimizing trauma during and after insertion of a cochlear lead |
EP2208367B1 (en) | 2007-10-12 | 2017-09-27 | Earlens Corporation | Multifunction system and method for integrated hearing and communiction with noise cancellation and feedback management |
EP2301261B1 (en) | 2008-06-17 | 2019-02-06 | Earlens Corporation | Optical electro-mechanical hearing devices with separate power and signal components |
US8144909B2 (en) * | 2008-08-12 | 2012-03-27 | Cochlear Limited | Customization of bone conduction hearing devices |
US9497555B2 (en) * | 2008-08-16 | 2016-11-15 | Envoy Medical Corporation | Implantable middle ear transducer having improved frequency response |
KR101717034B1 (en) | 2008-09-22 | 2017-03-15 | 이어렌즈 코포레이션 | Balanced armature devices and methods for hearing |
DE102009014770A1 (en) * | 2009-03-25 | 2010-09-30 | Cochlear Ltd., Lane Cove | vibrator |
USRE48797E1 (en) | 2009-03-25 | 2021-10-26 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having a multilayer piezoelectric element |
EP2252079A1 (en) * | 2009-05-14 | 2010-11-17 | Oticon A/S | Bone anchored bone conductive hearing aid |
US8771166B2 (en) | 2009-05-29 | 2014-07-08 | Cochlear Limited | Implantable auditory stimulation system and method with offset implanted microphones |
US20120253105A1 (en) * | 2009-10-21 | 2012-10-04 | Woodwelding Ag | Method of anchoring an acoustic element in a bone of the craniomaxillofacial region and acoustic element |
US20120229000A1 (en) * | 2009-11-10 | 2012-09-13 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Phased array buckling actuator |
AU2010200485A1 (en) * | 2010-02-10 | 2011-08-25 | Cochlear Limited | Percutaneous implant |
US8625828B2 (en) * | 2010-04-30 | 2014-01-07 | Cochlear Limited | Hearing prosthesis having an on-board fitting system |
DK2393309T3 (en) * | 2010-06-07 | 2020-01-20 | Oticon Medical As | Apparatus and method for applying a vibration signal to a human skull bone |
US9301059B2 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2016-03-29 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Bone conduction hearing aid system |
US8564080B2 (en) | 2010-07-16 | 2013-10-22 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Magnetic storage element utilizing improved pinned layer stack |
US9056204B2 (en) * | 2010-10-29 | 2015-06-16 | Cochlear Limited | Universal implant |
DK2656639T3 (en) | 2010-12-20 | 2020-06-29 | Earlens Corp | Anatomically adapted ear canal hearing aid |
US9313306B2 (en) | 2010-12-27 | 2016-04-12 | Rohm Co., Ltd. | Mobile telephone cartilage conduction unit for making contact with the ear cartilage |
CN105049566A (en) | 2010-12-27 | 2015-11-11 | 罗姆股份有限公司 | Transmitter/receiver unit and receiver unit |
JP5783352B2 (en) | 2011-02-25 | 2015-09-24 | 株式会社ファインウェル | Conversation system, conversation system ring, mobile phone ring, ring-type mobile phone, and voice listening method |
US9479879B2 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2016-10-25 | Cochlear Limited | Fitting of hearing devices |
US9107013B2 (en) * | 2011-04-01 | 2015-08-11 | Cochlear Limited | Hearing prosthesis with a piezoelectric actuator |
US9872990B2 (en) | 2011-05-13 | 2018-01-23 | Saluda Medical Pty Limited | Method and apparatus for application of a neural stimulus |
US9974455B2 (en) | 2011-05-13 | 2018-05-22 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd. | Method and apparatus for estimating neural recruitment |
CA2835486C (en) | 2011-05-13 | 2022-07-19 | Saluda Medical Pty Limited | Method and apparatus for measurement of neural response - a |
US20120294466A1 (en) * | 2011-05-18 | 2012-11-22 | Stefan Kristo | Temporary anchor for a hearing prosthesis |
US8787608B2 (en) | 2011-05-24 | 2014-07-22 | Cochlear Limited | Vibration isolation in a bone conduction device |
US10419861B2 (en) * | 2011-05-24 | 2019-09-17 | Cochlear Limited | Convertibility of a bone conduction device |
US9313589B2 (en) | 2011-07-01 | 2016-04-12 | Cochlear Limited | Method and system for configuration of a medical device that stimulates a human physiological system |
US20130018218A1 (en) * | 2011-07-14 | 2013-01-17 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, Devices, Components and Methods for Bone Conduction Hearing Aids |
US20130030242A1 (en) * | 2011-07-26 | 2013-01-31 | Michael R. Ruehring | Dog anxiety relief bone conduction audio device, system |
US11843918B2 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2023-12-12 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction implant |
US9301068B2 (en) | 2011-10-19 | 2016-03-29 | Cochlear Limited | Acoustic prescription rule based on an in situ measured dynamic range |
US11665482B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-05-30 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11483661B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-10-25 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11641552B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-05-02 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11601761B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-03-07 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11611834B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-03-21 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11575994B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-02-07 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11595760B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-02-28 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11716575B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-08-01 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11641551B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-05-02 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11540066B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-12-27 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11463814B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-10-04 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11528562B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-12-13 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11638099B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2023-04-25 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11343626B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-05-24 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11540057B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-12-27 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
US11399234B2 (en) | 2011-12-23 | 2022-07-26 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Bone conduction speaker and compound vibration device thereof |
WO2013099511A1 (en) * | 2011-12-27 | 2013-07-04 | 京セラ株式会社 | Vibration device, sound generator, speaker system, and electronic device |
WO2014003160A1 (en) | 2012-06-29 | 2014-01-03 | ローム株式会社 | Stereo earphone |
KR101863831B1 (en) | 2012-01-20 | 2018-06-01 | 로무 가부시키가이샤 | Portable telephone having cartilage conduction section |
EP2825142B1 (en) | 2012-03-12 | 2021-12-01 | The Hospital For Sick Children | Systems and methods for balance stabilization |
US9462365B1 (en) | 2012-03-14 | 2016-10-04 | Google Inc. | Structure and manufacture of bone-conduction transducer |
JP5812926B2 (en) * | 2012-04-12 | 2015-11-17 | 京セラ株式会社 | Electronics |
JP6017828B2 (en) * | 2012-05-02 | 2016-11-02 | 京セラ株式会社 | Electronic device, control method, and control program |
WO2013179274A2 (en) * | 2012-05-31 | 2013-12-05 | Cochlear Limited | Convertibility of a bone conduction device |
CN104885481B (en) * | 2012-07-09 | 2018-05-29 | Med-El电气医疗器械有限公司 | Electromagnetism bone conduction hearing device |
US9049527B2 (en) | 2012-08-28 | 2015-06-02 | Cochlear Limited | Removable attachment of a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device with limited skin deformation |
US9049515B2 (en) * | 2012-10-08 | 2015-06-02 | Keith Allen Clow | Wireless communication device |
US8873770B2 (en) * | 2012-10-11 | 2014-10-28 | Cochlear Limited | Audio processing pipeline for auditory prosthesis having a common, and two or more stimulator-specific, frequency-analysis stages |
ES2834958T3 (en) | 2012-11-06 | 2021-06-21 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd | System to control the electrical conditions of a tissue |
US20140179985A1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-06-26 | Marcus ANDERSSON | Prosthesis adapter |
CA2895819C (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2017-10-10 | Widex A/S | Hearing aid fitting system and a method of fitting a hearing aid system |
US20140270291A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Mark C. Flynn | Fitting a Bilateral Hearing Prosthesis System |
US9516434B2 (en) | 2013-05-09 | 2016-12-06 | Cochlear Limited | Medical device coupling arrangement |
CN105377146B (en) * | 2013-05-13 | 2018-06-12 | 耳和颅底中心专业公司 | For transmitting the system and method that osteoacusis stimulated and be used to measure the gravirecepter function of inner ear |
US9895097B2 (en) | 2013-05-13 | 2018-02-20 | Ear and Skull Base Center, P.C. | Systems and methods for delivering bone conduction stimuli to and for measuring gravitation receptor functions of the inner ear |
US11229789B2 (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2022-01-25 | Neurostim Oab, Inc. | Neuro activator with controller |
CA2913074C (en) | 2013-05-30 | 2023-09-12 | Graham H. Creasey | Topical neurological stimulation |
WO2015024581A1 (en) * | 2013-08-19 | 2015-02-26 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Device and method for neural cochlea stimulation |
KR101972290B1 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2019-04-24 | 파인웰 씨오., 엘티디 | Portable telephone |
US9949712B1 (en) * | 2013-09-06 | 2018-04-24 | John William Millard | Apparatus and method for measuring the sound transmission characteristics of the central nervous system volume of humans |
US10455336B2 (en) * | 2013-10-11 | 2019-10-22 | Cochlear Limited | Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses |
US11412334B2 (en) * | 2013-10-23 | 2022-08-09 | Cochlear Limited | Contralateral sound capture with respect to stimulation energy source |
CN105684401B (en) | 2013-10-24 | 2018-11-06 | 罗姆股份有限公司 | Wristband type hand-held device |
DE102013112319A1 (en) * | 2013-11-08 | 2015-05-13 | Cortec Gmbh | Holding device for the body-external transmitter unit |
AU2014353891B2 (en) | 2013-11-22 | 2020-02-06 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd | Method and device for detecting a neural response in a neural measurement |
EP3085109B1 (en) * | 2013-12-16 | 2018-10-31 | Sonova AG | Method and apparatus for fitting a hearing device |
US11363392B2 (en) | 2014-01-06 | 2022-06-14 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage |
US11418895B2 (en) | 2014-01-06 | 2022-08-16 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage |
US11368801B2 (en) | 2014-01-06 | 2022-06-21 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage |
US11375324B2 (en) | 2014-01-06 | 2022-06-28 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage |
US11368800B2 (en) | 2014-01-06 | 2022-06-21 | Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. | Systems and methods for suppressing sound leakage |
EP2897378B1 (en) * | 2014-01-21 | 2020-08-19 | Oticon Medical A/S | Hearing aid device using dual electromechanical vibrator |
US11240613B2 (en) | 2014-01-30 | 2022-02-01 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction implant |
US9717909B2 (en) | 2014-02-28 | 2017-08-01 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Systems and methods for facilitating post-implant acoustic-only operation of an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor |
US10034103B2 (en) | 2014-03-18 | 2018-07-24 | Earlens Corporation | High fidelity and reduced feedback contact hearing apparatus and methods |
EP3550857B1 (en) * | 2014-03-28 | 2020-10-14 | Oticon Medical A/S | Magnetic means assembly for bone conducting hearing aid |
US20150287043A1 (en) * | 2014-04-02 | 2015-10-08 | Avaya Inc. | Network-based identification of device usage patterns that can indicate that the user has a qualifying disability |
EP3129087B1 (en) | 2014-04-07 | 2020-02-26 | Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH | Method, electronic device, inhalation training system for practicing and/or controlling an inhalation process of a patient |
EA033261B1 (en) * | 2014-04-07 | 2019-09-30 | Бёрингер Ингельхайм Интернациональ Гмбх | Inhalation training device and system for practicing an inhalation process |
US9998837B2 (en) | 2014-04-29 | 2018-06-12 | Cochlear Limited | Percutaneous vibration conductor |
US10368762B2 (en) | 2014-05-05 | 2019-08-06 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd. | Neural measurement |
GB201409547D0 (en) * | 2014-05-29 | 2014-07-16 | Gill Instr Ltd | An electroacoustic transducer |
WO2015191047A1 (en) | 2014-06-10 | 2015-12-17 | The Regents Of The University Of Michigan | Mechanical amplifier for energy harvester |
US20150367130A1 (en) * | 2014-06-18 | 2015-12-24 | Cochlear Limited | Internal pressure management system |
US9800982B2 (en) | 2014-06-18 | 2017-10-24 | Cochlear Limited | Electromagnetic transducer with expanded magnetic flux functionality |
EP3169396B1 (en) | 2014-07-14 | 2021-04-21 | Earlens Corporation | Sliding bias and peak limiting for optical hearing devices |
CN106796982B (en) * | 2014-08-15 | 2019-06-07 | 统雷有限公司 | Amplifying type piezoelectric actuator with coarse adjustment |
JP6551919B2 (en) | 2014-08-20 | 2019-07-31 | 株式会社ファインウェル | Watch system, watch detection device and watch notification device |
US10469963B2 (en) | 2014-08-28 | 2019-11-05 | Cochlear Limited | Suspended components in auditory prostheses |
WO2016063133A1 (en) * | 2014-10-20 | 2016-04-28 | Cochlear Limited | Control button configurations for auditory prostheses |
US9924276B2 (en) | 2014-11-26 | 2018-03-20 | Earlens Corporation | Adjustable venting for hearing instruments |
EP3218046B1 (en) | 2014-12-11 | 2024-04-17 | Saluda Medical Pty Ltd | Device and computer program for feedback control of neural stimulation |
KR102110094B1 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2020-05-12 | 파인웰 씨오., 엘티디 | Hearing device for bicycle riding and bicycle system |
CN104507039B (en) * | 2014-12-27 | 2019-03-01 | 北京智谷睿拓技术服务有限公司 | Communication means and user equipment |
US11077301B2 (en) | 2015-02-21 | 2021-08-03 | NeurostimOAB, Inc. | Topical nerve stimulator and sensor for bladder control |
CN105310826B (en) * | 2015-03-12 | 2017-10-24 | 汪勇 | A kind of skin listens acoustic device and its listens method for acoustic |
TWI609589B (en) * | 2015-05-14 | 2017-12-21 | 陳光超 | Hearing auxiliary device and hearing auxiliary processing method |
TW201709941A (en) * | 2015-06-03 | 2017-03-16 | 賽諾菲阿凡提斯德意志有限公司 | Audible indicator |
TW201711713A (en) * | 2015-06-03 | 2017-04-01 | 賽諾菲阿凡提斯德意志有限公司 | Drug delivery device |
TW201709940A (en) * | 2015-06-03 | 2017-03-16 | 賽諾菲阿凡提斯德意志有限公司 | Audible indicator |
TW201707737A (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2017-03-01 | 賽諾菲阿凡提斯德意志有限公司 | Drug delivery device |
US9992584B2 (en) * | 2015-06-09 | 2018-06-05 | Cochlear Limited | Hearing prostheses for single-sided deafness |
KR102056550B1 (en) | 2015-07-15 | 2019-12-16 | 파인웰 씨오., 엘티디 | Robots and Robotic Systems |
EP3337185B1 (en) | 2015-08-13 | 2021-07-21 | Shenzhen Voxtech Co., Ltd | Bone conduction loudspeaker |
JP6551929B2 (en) | 2015-09-16 | 2019-07-31 | 株式会社ファインウェル | Watch with earpiece function |
US10412510B2 (en) | 2015-09-25 | 2019-09-10 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction devices utilizing multiple actuators |
DK3355801T3 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2021-06-21 | Earlens Corp | Adapted ear canal device for drug delivery |
US10241223B2 (en) | 2015-11-19 | 2019-03-26 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Downhole piezoelectric acoustic transducer |
US11350226B2 (en) | 2015-12-30 | 2022-05-31 | Earlens Corporation | Charging protocol for rechargeable hearing systems |
US10492010B2 (en) | 2015-12-30 | 2019-11-26 | Earlens Corporations | Damping in contact hearing systems |
WO2017116791A1 (en) | 2015-12-30 | 2017-07-06 | Earlens Corporation | Light based hearing systems, apparatus and methods |
EP3393109B1 (en) | 2016-01-19 | 2020-08-05 | FINEWELL Co., Ltd. | Pen-type transceiver device |
EP3416589A4 (en) | 2016-02-17 | 2019-10-30 | Dalhousie University | Piezoelectric inertial actuator |
US11071869B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 | 2021-07-27 | Cochlear Limited | Implantable device having removable portion |
CN109562274B (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2021-07-06 | Med-El电气医疗器械有限公司 | Implantable vestibular prosthesis system |
US10123138B2 (en) | 2016-07-26 | 2018-11-06 | Cochlear Limited | Microphone isolation in a bone conduction device |
CN110167643B (en) * | 2016-08-17 | 2021-11-12 | 斯科特科技公司 | Respirator facepiece with integrated bone conduction transducer |
WO2018048794A1 (en) | 2016-09-09 | 2018-03-15 | Earlens Corporation | Contact hearing systems, apparatus and methods |
DK3293985T3 (en) | 2016-09-12 | 2021-06-21 | Sonion Nederland Bv | SOUND WITH INTEGRATED MEMBRANE MOVEMENT DETECTION |
US11432084B2 (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2022-08-30 | Cochlear Limited | Passive integrity management of an implantable device |
US11253193B2 (en) * | 2016-11-08 | 2022-02-22 | Cochlear Limited | Utilization of vocal acoustic biomarkers for assistive listening device utilization |
WO2018093733A1 (en) | 2016-11-15 | 2018-05-24 | Earlens Corporation | Improved impression procedure |
US10499854B2 (en) | 2016-11-25 | 2019-12-10 | Cochlear Limited | Eliminating acquisition-related artifacts in electrophysiological recording |
US11128967B2 (en) * | 2017-02-23 | 2021-09-21 | Cochlear Limited | Transducer placement for growth accommodation |
DE102017105529A1 (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2018-09-20 | Epcos Ag | Garment and use of the garment |
CN106954166A (en) * | 2017-03-22 | 2017-07-14 | 杭州索菲康医疗器械有限公司 | A kind of bone conduction hearing assistance device |
US10419843B1 (en) * | 2017-04-18 | 2019-09-17 | Facebook Technologies, Llc | Bone conduction transducer array for providing audio |
EP3618795A4 (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2021-04-14 | Badri Amurthur | Stimulation methods and apparatus |
US20180352348A1 (en) * | 2017-06-06 | 2018-12-06 | Sonitus Technologies Inc. | Bone conduction device |
US11035830B2 (en) * | 2017-06-23 | 2021-06-15 | Cochlear Limited | Electromagnetic transducer with dual flux |
US11223912B2 (en) | 2017-07-21 | 2022-01-11 | Cochlear Limited | Impact and resonance management |
EP3684311B1 (en) * | 2017-09-22 | 2023-10-25 | Cochlear Limited | Trans middle ear-inner ear fluid flow implementations |
WO2019086561A1 (en) | 2017-11-03 | 2019-05-09 | Sanofi | Drug delivery device |
EP3703784A1 (en) | 2017-11-03 | 2020-09-09 | Sanofi | Drug delivery device |
WO2019094365A1 (en) | 2017-11-07 | 2019-05-16 | Neurostim Oab, Inc. | Non-invasive nerve activator with adaptive circuit |
WO2019155374A1 (en) * | 2018-02-06 | 2019-08-15 | Cochlear Limited | Prosthetic cognitive ability increaser |
WO2019159037A1 (en) | 2018-02-13 | 2019-08-22 | Cochlear Limited | Intra-operative determination of vibratory coupling efficiency |
WO2019173470A1 (en) | 2018-03-07 | 2019-09-12 | Earlens Corporation | Contact hearing device and retention structure materials |
CN111869238B (en) * | 2018-03-13 | 2022-05-13 | 科利耳有限公司 | Electric field usage in cochlea |
WO2019199680A1 (en) | 2018-04-09 | 2019-10-17 | Earlens Corporation | Dynamic filter |
US10602258B2 (en) | 2018-05-30 | 2020-03-24 | Facebook Technologies, Llc | Manufacturing a cartilage conduction audio device |
WO2020031121A1 (en) | 2018-08-08 | 2020-02-13 | Cochlear Limited | Electromagnetic transducer with new specific interface geometries |
US11750985B2 (en) | 2018-08-17 | 2023-09-05 | Cochlear Limited | Spatial pre-filtering in hearing prostheses |
JP2020053948A (en) | 2018-09-28 | 2020-04-02 | 株式会社ファインウェル | Hearing device |
DE102018220731B3 (en) | 2018-11-30 | 2020-06-04 | Med-El Elektromedizinische Geräte GmbH | Electroacoustic transducer for implantation in an ear, method for producing such an and cochlear implant system |
CA3144957A1 (en) | 2019-06-26 | 2020-12-30 | Neurostim Technologies Llc | Non-invasive nerve activator with adaptive circuit |
EP3994734A4 (en) * | 2019-07-03 | 2023-07-12 | Earlens Corporation | Piezoelectric transducer for tympanic membrane |
CN110353633A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-10-22 | 宁波磁性材料应用技术创新中心有限公司 | A kind of wearable product |
KR102170372B1 (en) | 2019-08-13 | 2020-10-27 | 주식회사 세이포드 | Sound anchor for transmitting sound to human tissues in the ear canal and semi-implantable hearing aid having the same |
US11890438B1 (en) * | 2019-09-12 | 2024-02-06 | Cochlear Limited | Therapeutic substance delivery |
US20210105074A1 (en) * | 2019-10-02 | 2021-04-08 | NOTO Technologies Limited | Bone conduction communication system and method of operation |
CA3152451A1 (en) | 2019-12-16 | 2021-06-24 | Michael Bernard Druke | Non-invasive nerve activator with boosted charge delivery |
WO2021216474A1 (en) | 2020-04-19 | 2021-10-28 | Alpaca Group Holdings, LLC | Systems and methods for remote administration of hearing tests |
WO2021220078A1 (en) * | 2020-04-27 | 2021-11-04 | Cochlear Limited | Pinnal device |
US11483639B2 (en) * | 2020-06-16 | 2022-10-25 | New York University | Sound sensing system |
CN111698608B (en) * | 2020-07-02 | 2022-02-01 | 立讯精密工业股份有限公司 | Bone conduction earphone |
US20230336933A1 (en) * | 2020-10-22 | 2023-10-19 | Cochlear Limited | Shaped piezoelectric actuator for medical implant |
CN112535808B (en) * | 2020-12-25 | 2022-10-25 | 哈尔滨工业大学 | Cochlear electrode implanting device |
WO2023148651A1 (en) * | 2022-02-02 | 2023-08-10 | Cochlear Limited | High impedance tissue mounting of implantable transducer |
WO2024052753A1 (en) * | 2022-09-06 | 2024-03-14 | Cochlear Limited | Auditory device with vibrating external actuator compatible with bilateral operation |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4498461A (en) * | 1981-12-01 | 1985-02-12 | Bo Hakansson | Coupling to a bone-anchored hearing aid |
US4612915A (en) * | 1985-05-23 | 1986-09-23 | Xomed, Inc. | Direct bone conduction hearing aid device |
US6643378B2 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2003-11-04 | Daniel R. Schumaier | Bone conduction hearing aid |
US20050249366A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2005-11-10 | Patrik Westerkull | Arrangement for a hearing aid |
US20060041318A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Shannon Donald T | Laminar skin-bone fixation transcutaneous implant and method for use thereof |
US20060056649A1 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2006-03-16 | Schumaier Daniel R | Bone conduction hearing assistance device |
US20070053536A1 (en) * | 2005-08-24 | 2007-03-08 | Patrik Westerkull | Hearing aid system |
US7198596B2 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2007-04-03 | P & B Research Ab | Coupling device for a two-part bone-anchored hearing aid apparatus |
US8005247B2 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2011-08-23 | Oticon A/S | Power direct bone conduction hearing aid system |
Family Cites Families (271)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US41595A (en) | 1864-02-16 | Improvement in vyagon-brakes | ||
US245555A (en) | 1881-08-09 | Ohaeles h | ||
US2045427A (en) * | 1933-05-24 | 1936-06-23 | Sonotone Corp | Bone-conduction hearing-aid |
US2045404A (en) * | 1933-05-24 | 1936-06-23 | Sonotone Corp | Piezoelectric vibrator device |
US2045403A (en) | 1933-05-24 | 1936-06-23 | Sonotone Corp | Piezoelectric device |
US2239550A (en) * | 1939-11-20 | 1941-04-22 | Aurex Corp | Bone conduction hearing device |
US3104049A (en) * | 1959-12-30 | 1963-09-17 | Ibm | High purity vacuum systems |
US3733445A (en) * | 1967-07-03 | 1973-05-15 | Dyna Magnetic Devices Inc | Inertial reaction transducers |
US3594514A (en) * | 1970-01-02 | 1971-07-20 | Medtronic Inc | Hearing aid with piezoelectric ceramic element |
US3809829A (en) | 1973-01-16 | 1974-05-07 | Sonotone Corp | Acoustic cros hearing aid |
US4006321A (en) * | 1974-02-20 | 1977-02-01 | Industrial Research Products, Inc. | Transducer coupling system |
US3995644A (en) | 1975-09-16 | 1976-12-07 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration | Percutaneous connector device |
US4025964A (en) * | 1976-07-30 | 1977-05-31 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration | Magnetic electrical connectors for biomedical percutaneous implants |
US4291203A (en) * | 1979-09-11 | 1981-09-22 | Gaspare Bellafiore | Hearing aid device |
US4352960A (en) | 1980-09-30 | 1982-10-05 | Baptist Medical Center Of Oklahoma, Inc. | Magnetic transcutaneous mount for external device of an associated implant |
US4407389A (en) | 1981-01-19 | 1983-10-04 | Johnson Rubein V | Vented acoustic ear mold for hearing aids |
JPH0312000Y2 (en) * | 1981-04-20 | 1991-03-22 | ||
US4419995A (en) * | 1981-09-18 | 1983-12-13 | Hochmair Ingeborg | Single channel auditory stimulation system |
US4504967A (en) * | 1982-12-16 | 1985-03-12 | The Marmon Group, Inc. | Method and apparatus for damping spurious vibration in spring reverberation units |
JPS59178986A (en) | 1983-03-28 | 1984-10-11 | Nec Corp | Mechanical amplifying mechanism |
US4628907A (en) * | 1984-03-22 | 1986-12-16 | Epley John M | Direct contact hearing aid apparatus |
SE447947B (en) * | 1985-05-10 | 1986-12-22 | Bo Hakansson | DEVICE FOR A HORSE DEVICE |
US4606329A (en) * | 1985-05-22 | 1986-08-19 | Xomed, Inc. | Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device |
US5015225A (en) * | 1985-05-22 | 1991-05-14 | Xomed, Inc. | Implantable electromagnetic middle-ear bone-conduction hearing aid device |
US4791673A (en) * | 1986-12-04 | 1988-12-13 | Schreiber Simeon B | Bone conduction audio listening device and method |
JP2592615B2 (en) | 1987-09-16 | 1997-03-19 | 日本特殊陶業株式会社 | Electrostrictive drive |
DE3735137A1 (en) * | 1987-10-16 | 1989-05-03 | Siemens Ag | ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING MEDICINES IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE |
JPH01290272A (en) | 1988-05-18 | 1989-11-22 | Tsuin Denki Kk | Displacement magnifying device of laminated piezoelectric actuator |
US4944301A (en) * | 1988-06-16 | 1990-07-31 | Cochlear Corporation | Method for determining absolute current density through an implanted electrode |
US4952835A (en) * | 1988-12-27 | 1990-08-28 | Ford Aerospace Corporation | Double saggital push stroke amplifier |
US4964106A (en) | 1989-04-14 | 1990-10-16 | Edo Corporation, Western Division | Flextensional sonar transducer assembly |
US5047994A (en) * | 1989-05-30 | 1991-09-10 | Center For Innovative Technology | Supersonic bone conduction hearing aid and method |
DE3940632C1 (en) * | 1989-06-02 | 1990-12-06 | Hortmann Gmbh, 7449 Neckartenzlingen, De | Hearing aid directly exciting inner ear - has microphone encapsulated for implantation in tympanic cavity or mastoid region |
US5052930A (en) * | 1989-11-22 | 1991-10-01 | Lodde Jean Pierre | Dental implant and method of implantation |
FR2659009A1 (en) | 1990-03-02 | 1991-09-06 | Tari Roger | HEARING AID DEVICE COMPRISING AN IMPLANTED AND AUTONOMOUS HEARING AID WITH DIRECT BONE CONDUCTION. |
JPH0456531A (en) * | 1990-06-26 | 1992-02-24 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Voice input device |
DE4104358A1 (en) * | 1991-02-13 | 1992-08-20 | Implex Gmbh | IMPLANTABLE HOER DEVICE FOR EXCITING THE INNER EAR |
AU657332B2 (en) * | 1991-06-06 | 1995-03-09 | Cochlear Limited | Percutaneous connector |
DE4133000C2 (en) | 1991-10-04 | 1993-11-18 | Siegfried Dipl Ing Kipke | Piezo-hydraulic module for the implementation of tactile information |
US5338287A (en) * | 1991-12-23 | 1994-08-16 | Miller Gale W | Electromagnetic induction hearing aid device |
JP3056866B2 (en) * | 1992-02-17 | 2000-06-26 | アルパイン株式会社 | Automatic volume control method |
US5245245A (en) * | 1992-05-04 | 1993-09-14 | Motorola, Inc. | Mass-loaded cantilever vibrator |
US5323468A (en) * | 1992-06-30 | 1994-06-21 | Bottesch H Werner | Bone-conductive stereo headphones |
US5344494A (en) * | 1993-01-21 | 1994-09-06 | Smith & Nephew Richards, Inc. | Method for cleaning porous and roughened surfaces on medical implants |
US5471721A (en) * | 1993-02-23 | 1995-12-05 | Research Corporation Technologies, Inc. | Method for making monolithic prestressed ceramic devices |
US5909498A (en) * | 1993-03-25 | 1999-06-01 | Smith; Jerry R. | Transducer device for use with communication apparatus |
US5913815A (en) | 1993-07-01 | 1999-06-22 | Symphonix Devices, Inc. | Bone conducting floating mass transducers |
US5800336A (en) * | 1993-07-01 | 1998-09-01 | Symphonix Devices, Inc. | Advanced designs of floating mass transducers |
US5554096A (en) * | 1993-07-01 | 1996-09-10 | Symphonix | Implantable electromagnetic hearing transducer |
US5460593A (en) * | 1993-08-25 | 1995-10-24 | Audiodontics, Inc. | Method and apparatus for imparting low amplitude vibrations to bone and similar hard tissue |
US5430801A (en) * | 1993-12-14 | 1995-07-04 | Hill; Frank C. | Hearing aid |
US5843093A (en) * | 1994-02-09 | 1998-12-01 | University Of Iowa Research Foundation | Stereotactic electrode assembly |
US5444324A (en) | 1994-07-25 | 1995-08-22 | Western Atlas International, Inc. | Mechanically amplified piezoelectric acoustic transducer |
US5825894A (en) * | 1994-08-17 | 1998-10-20 | Decibel Instruments, Inc. | Spatialization for hearing evaluation |
SE503790C2 (en) * | 1994-12-02 | 1996-09-02 | P & B Res Ab | Displacement device for implant connection at hearing aid |
SE503791C2 (en) | 1994-12-02 | 1996-09-02 | P & B Res Ab | Hearing aid device |
US5683249A (en) * | 1995-03-22 | 1997-11-04 | Den-Mat Corporation | Dental implant process and treated prosthetic |
FR2734711B1 (en) * | 1995-05-31 | 1997-08-29 | Bertin & Cie | HEARING AID WITH A COCHLEAR IMPLANT |
US5606621A (en) | 1995-06-14 | 1997-02-25 | Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. | Hybrid behind-the-ear and completely-in-canal hearing aid |
US5949895A (en) * | 1995-09-07 | 1999-09-07 | Symphonix Devices, Inc. | Disposable audio processor for use with implanted hearing devices |
US5772575A (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 1998-06-30 | S. George Lesinski | Implantable hearing aid |
FR2740276B1 (en) | 1995-10-20 | 1997-12-26 | Cedrat Rech | AMPLIFIED PIEZOACTIVE ACTUATOR WITH HIGH STRAIGHTNESS |
FR2740349B1 (en) * | 1995-10-30 | 1997-11-21 | Dynastar Skis Sa | VIBRATION DAMPING DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ON A SPORTS ARTICLE |
WO1997029708A1 (en) * | 1996-02-14 | 1997-08-21 | Walter Lorenz Surgical, Inc. | Bone fastener and instrument for insertion thereof |
US5805571A (en) * | 1996-03-19 | 1998-09-08 | Zwan; Bryan J. | Dynamic communication line analyzer apparatus and method |
DE19618964C2 (en) * | 1996-05-10 | 1999-12-16 | Implex Hear Tech Ag | Implantable positioning and fixing system for actuator and sensory implants |
WO1997044987A1 (en) * | 1996-05-24 | 1997-11-27 | Lesinski S George | Improved microphones for an implantable hearing aid |
JP3680891B2 (en) * | 1996-07-01 | 2005-08-10 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Optical scanning device |
US6001129A (en) | 1996-08-07 | 1999-12-14 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Hearing aid transducer support |
US5899847A (en) * | 1996-08-07 | 1999-05-04 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Implantable middle-ear hearing assist system using piezoelectric transducer film |
DE69629814T2 (en) * | 1996-10-01 | 2004-08-05 | Phonak Ag | Volume Limit |
AT403867B (en) * | 1996-10-11 | 1998-06-25 | Resound Viennatone Hoertechnol | HEARING AID |
US6010532A (en) * | 1996-11-25 | 2000-01-04 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Dual path implantable hearing assistance device |
US5771298A (en) * | 1997-01-13 | 1998-06-23 | Larson-Davis, Inc. | Apparatus and method for simulating a human mastoid |
US5999856A (en) * | 1997-02-21 | 1999-12-07 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Implantable hearing assistance system with calibration and auditory response testing |
WO1998040038A1 (en) * | 1997-03-13 | 1998-09-17 | Prosthetic Design, Inc. | Adjustable pyramidal link plate assembly for a prosthetic limb |
US5991419A (en) * | 1997-04-29 | 1999-11-23 | Beltone Electronics Corporation | Bilateral signal processing prosthesis |
US5781646A (en) | 1997-05-09 | 1998-07-14 | Face; Samuel A. | Multi-segmented high deformation piezoelectric array |
SE514631C2 (en) | 1997-06-06 | 2001-03-26 | P & B Res Ab | Device for implants for anchoring and energy transfer |
US6315710B1 (en) * | 1997-07-21 | 2001-11-13 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Hearing system with middle ear transducer mount |
US6325755B1 (en) * | 1997-08-07 | 2001-12-04 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Mountable transducer assembly with removable sleeve |
DE19739594C2 (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2001-09-06 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Electrostrictive actuator |
US6674867B2 (en) * | 1997-10-15 | 2004-01-06 | Belltone Electronics Corporation | Neurofuzzy based device for programmable hearing aids |
US6068590A (en) * | 1997-10-24 | 2000-05-30 | Hearing Innovations, Inc. | Device for diagnosing and treating hearing disorders |
SE513670C2 (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-10-16 | Grogrunden Ab Nr 444 | Percutaneous bone anchored transducer |
US6366863B1 (en) * | 1998-01-09 | 2002-04-02 | Micro Ear Technology Inc. | Portable hearing-related analysis system |
US6631295B2 (en) * | 1998-02-13 | 2003-10-07 | University Of Iowa Research Foundation | System and method for diagnosing and/or reducing tinnitus |
EP0936840A1 (en) * | 1998-02-16 | 1999-08-18 | Daniel F. àWengen | Implantable hearing aid |
EP1057367B1 (en) * | 1998-02-18 | 2008-01-09 | Widex A/S | A binaural digital hearing aid system |
US6137889A (en) * | 1998-05-27 | 2000-10-24 | Insonus Medical, Inc. | Direct tympanic membrane excitation via vibrationally conductive assembly |
US6267731B1 (en) * | 1998-06-05 | 2001-07-31 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Method and apparatus for reduced feedback in implantable hearing assistance systems |
US6681022B1 (en) * | 1998-07-22 | 2004-01-20 | Gn Resound North Amerca Corporation | Two-way communication earpiece |
US6217508B1 (en) * | 1998-08-14 | 2001-04-17 | Symphonix Devices, Inc. | Ultrasonic hearing system |
US6309410B1 (en) * | 1998-08-26 | 2001-10-30 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Cochlear electrode with drug delivery channel and method of making same |
DE19840211C1 (en) * | 1998-09-03 | 1999-12-30 | Implex Hear Tech Ag | Transducer for partially or fully implantable hearing aid |
US6039685A (en) * | 1998-09-14 | 2000-03-21 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Ventable connector with seals |
US6022509A (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2000-02-08 | Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc. | Precision powder injection molded implant with preferentially leached texture surface and method of manufacture |
SE516866C2 (en) * | 1998-09-24 | 2002-03-12 | Nobel Biocare Ab | Bone anchor, has lateral support for absorbing lateral forces so that it can be stressed immediately after anchoring into position |
US6463157B1 (en) * | 1998-10-06 | 2002-10-08 | Analytical Engineering, Inc. | Bone conduction speaker and microphone |
KR100282067B1 (en) * | 1998-12-30 | 2001-09-29 | 조진호 | Transducer of Middle Ear Implant Hearing Aid |
JP2002534933A (en) * | 1999-01-07 | 2002-10-15 | サーノフ コーポレイション | Hearing aid with large diaphragm microphone element with printed circuit board |
US6554861B2 (en) * | 1999-01-19 | 2003-04-29 | Gyrus Ent L.L.C. | Otologic prosthesis |
US6496585B1 (en) * | 1999-01-27 | 2002-12-17 | Robert H. Margolis | Adaptive apparatus and method for testing auditory sensitivity |
JP3004644B1 (en) * | 1999-03-03 | 2000-01-31 | 株式会社コミュータヘリコプタ先進技術研究所 | Rotary blade flap drive |
US6094492A (en) * | 1999-05-10 | 2000-07-25 | Boesen; Peter V. | Bone conduction voice transmission apparatus and system |
US6754537B1 (en) * | 1999-05-14 | 2004-06-22 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Hybrid implantable cochlear stimulator hearing aid system |
WO2000069512A1 (en) * | 1999-05-14 | 2000-11-23 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Hybrid implantable cochlear stimulator hearing aid system |
DE19935029C2 (en) * | 1999-07-26 | 2003-02-13 | Phonak Ag Staefa | Implantable arrangement for mechanically coupling a driver part to a coupling point |
DE19948375B4 (en) * | 1999-10-07 | 2004-04-01 | Phonak Ag | Arrangement for mechanically coupling a driver to a coupling point of the ossicle chain |
US6554761B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2003-04-29 | Soundport Corporation | Flextensional microphones for implantable hearing devices |
US6629922B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2003-10-07 | Soundport Corporation | Flextensional output actuators for surgically implantable hearing aids |
US6231410B1 (en) * | 1999-11-01 | 2001-05-15 | Arctic Cat Inc. | Controlled thrust steering system for watercraft |
DE19961068C1 (en) | 1999-12-17 | 2001-01-25 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Piezoelectric actuator system has two piezoelectric actuators connected in one half of clocked amplifier bridge circuit controlled via pulse-width modulated signal |
DE60022394T2 (en) * | 1999-12-27 | 2006-06-29 | Alza Corp., Mountain View | OSMOTIC SYSTEM FOR ACTIVE AGGREGATION |
US6436028B1 (en) * | 1999-12-28 | 2002-08-20 | Soundtec, Inc. | Direct drive movement of body constituent |
US6940989B1 (en) * | 1999-12-30 | 2005-09-06 | Insound Medical, Inc. | Direct tympanic drive via a floating filament assembly |
US7266209B1 (en) * | 2000-01-05 | 2007-09-04 | David William House | Cochlear implants with a stimulus in the human ultrasonic range and method for stimulating a cochlea |
TW511391B (en) * | 2000-01-24 | 2002-11-21 | New Transducers Ltd | Transducer |
US6885753B2 (en) * | 2000-01-27 | 2005-04-26 | New Transducers Limited | Communication device using bone conduction |
SE516270C2 (en) * | 2000-03-09 | 2001-12-10 | Osseofon Ab | Electromagnetic vibrator |
DE20004499U1 (en) * | 2000-03-14 | 2000-12-07 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Aerodynamic flow profile with leading edge flap |
DE10017332C2 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2002-04-18 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Piezoelectric actuator for flap control on the rotor blade of a helicopter |
US7399282B2 (en) * | 2000-05-19 | 2008-07-15 | Baycrest Center For Geriatric Care | System and method for objective evaluation of hearing using auditory steady-state responses |
ATE407622T1 (en) | 2000-05-19 | 2008-09-15 | Baycrest Ct For Geriatric Care | DEVICE FOR OBJECTIVE HEARING ASSESSMENT USING AUDITIVE STATIONARY EVOKE POTENTIALS |
US6517476B1 (en) | 2000-05-30 | 2003-02-11 | Otologics Llc | Connector for implantable hearing aid |
AUPQ787500A0 (en) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-06-22 | Enersave Environmental Services Pty Ltd | A power supply altering means |
DE50112935D1 (en) | 2000-06-02 | 2007-10-11 | Erich Bayer | OTOPLASTY FOR REAR EAR (HDO) HEARING EQUIPMENT |
SE514929C2 (en) | 2000-06-02 | 2001-05-21 | P & B Res Ab | Vibrator for leg anchored and leg conduit hearing aids |
SE523123C2 (en) * | 2000-06-02 | 2004-03-30 | P & B Res Ab | Hearing aid that works with the principle of bone conduction |
SE514930C2 (en) | 2000-06-02 | 2001-05-21 | P & B Res Ab | Vibrator for leg anchored and leg conduit hearing aids |
DE10031832C2 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2003-04-30 | Cochlear Ltd | Hearing aid for the rehabilitation of a hearing disorder |
SE523765C2 (en) | 2000-07-12 | 2004-05-18 | Entific Medical Systems Ab | Screw-shaped anchoring element for permanent anchoring of leg anchored hearing aids and ear or eye prostheses in the skull |
US6631197B1 (en) * | 2000-07-24 | 2003-10-07 | Gn Resound North America Corporation | Wide audio bandwidth transduction method and device |
JP3745602B2 (en) * | 2000-07-27 | 2006-02-15 | インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレーション | Body set type speaker device |
DE10041726C1 (en) * | 2000-08-25 | 2002-05-23 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Implantable hearing system with means for measuring the coupling quality |
US20020039427A1 (en) * | 2000-10-04 | 2002-04-04 | Timothy Whitwell | Audio apparatus |
CA2323983A1 (en) * | 2000-10-19 | 2002-04-19 | Universite De Sherbrooke | Programmable neurostimulator |
KR100347595B1 (en) * | 2000-11-02 | 2002-08-07 | 심윤주 | method of automatically fitting hearing aids |
AUPR148400A0 (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2000-12-07 | Cochlear Limited | Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea |
US6505076B2 (en) * | 2000-12-08 | 2003-01-07 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Water-resistant, wideband microphone subassembly |
DE10062236C2 (en) * | 2000-12-14 | 2003-11-27 | Phonak Ag Staefa | Fixation element for an implantable microphone |
US7166953B2 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2007-01-23 | Jon Heim | Electroactive polymer rotary clutch motors |
DE10114838A1 (en) * | 2001-03-26 | 2002-10-10 | Implex Ag Hearing Technology I | Fully implantable hearing system |
US7616771B2 (en) * | 2001-04-27 | 2009-11-10 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Acoustic coupler for skin contact hearing enhancement devices |
SE523125C2 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2004-03-30 | P & B Res Ab | Vibrator for vibration generation in bone anchored hearing aids |
SE523100C2 (en) | 2001-06-21 | 2004-03-30 | P & B Res Ab | Leg anchored hearing aid designed for the transmission of sound |
AUPR604801A0 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2001-07-26 | Cochlear Limited | Multi-electrode cochlear implant system with distributed electronics |
US6775389B2 (en) | 2001-08-10 | 2004-08-10 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Ear auxiliary microphone for behind the ear hearing prosthetic |
GB0119652D0 (en) * | 2001-08-11 | 2001-10-03 | Stanmore Implants Worldwide | Surgical implant |
US6875166B2 (en) * | 2001-09-06 | 2005-04-05 | St. Croix Medical, Inc. | Method for creating a coupling between a device and an ear structure in an implantable hearing assistance device |
US6879695B2 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2005-04-12 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Personal sound link module |
US7127078B2 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2006-10-24 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Implanted outer ear canal hearing aid |
US6786860B2 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2004-09-07 | Advanced Bionics Corporation | Hearing aid design |
US6840908B2 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2005-01-11 | Sound Id | System and method for remotely administered, interactive hearing tests |
US20050171579A1 (en) * | 2001-11-09 | 2005-08-04 | Claudia Tasche | Stimulating device |
US20030112992A1 (en) | 2001-12-14 | 2003-06-19 | Rapps Gary M. | Self-retaining element for a behind-the-ear communication device |
US7630507B2 (en) * | 2002-01-28 | 2009-12-08 | Gn Resound A/S | Binaural compression system |
FR2836536B1 (en) * | 2002-02-26 | 2004-05-14 | Cedrat Technologies | PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE |
US6879693B2 (en) * | 2002-02-26 | 2005-04-12 | Otologics, Llc. | Method and system for external assessment of hearing aids that include implanted actuators |
US6626909B2 (en) * | 2002-02-27 | 2003-09-30 | Kingsley Richard Chin | Apparatus and method for spine fixation |
CA2478324C (en) | 2002-04-01 | 2011-09-06 | Martin Zimmerling | Reducing effect of magnetic and electromagnetic fields on an implant's magnet and/or electronics |
SE522164C2 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2004-01-20 | Osseofon Ab | Device for electromagnetic vibrator |
US7465277B2 (en) * | 2002-05-23 | 2008-12-16 | Tympany, Llc | System and methods for conducting multiple diagnostic hearing tests |
FR2841429B1 (en) * | 2002-06-21 | 2005-11-11 | Mxm | HEARING AID DEVICE FOR THE REHABILITATION OF PATIENTS WITH PARTIAL NEUROSENSORY DEATHS |
CN1720763B (en) * | 2002-07-26 | 2013-06-12 | 奥克利有限公司 | Glasses |
KR100390003B1 (en) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-07-04 | Joo Bae Kim | Bone-conduction speaker using vibration plate and mobile telephone using the same |
AU2003270597A1 (en) * | 2002-09-10 | 2004-04-30 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Implantable medical devices with multiple transducers |
JP2004166174A (en) | 2002-09-20 | 2004-06-10 | Junichi Suzuki | External auditory meatus insertion type bone conduction receiver, and external auditory meatus insertion type bone conduction hearing aid |
US7386143B2 (en) * | 2002-10-02 | 2008-06-10 | Otologics Llc | Retention apparatus for an external portion of a semi-implantable hearing aid |
FR2845440B1 (en) * | 2002-10-03 | 2006-03-31 | Sagem | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING VALVES |
ATE458534T1 (en) * | 2002-10-04 | 2010-03-15 | Microchips Inc | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLED DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CARDIAC MONITORING AND/OR HEART STIMULATION |
EP1551499A1 (en) * | 2002-10-04 | 2005-07-13 | Microchips, Inc. | Medical device for neural stimulation and controlled drug delivery |
WO2004034934A2 (en) * | 2002-10-15 | 2004-04-29 | Ludwig Arwed | Implant for implanting under the scalp for the magnetic fixing of a prosthesis |
WO2004050056A1 (en) * | 2002-11-29 | 2004-06-17 | Cochlear Limited | Cochlear implant drug delivery device |
US7033313B2 (en) * | 2002-12-11 | 2006-04-25 | No. 182 Corporate Ventures Ltd. | Surgically implantable hearing aid |
EP1435757A1 (en) * | 2002-12-30 | 2004-07-07 | Andrzej Zarowski | Device implantable in a bony wall of the inner ear |
WO2004062482A2 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2004-07-29 | Abdou Samy M | Plating system for bone fixation and subsidence and method of implantation |
FR2850217A1 (en) | 2003-01-17 | 2004-07-23 | Cedrat Technologies | PIEZOACTIVE ACTUATOR WITH AMPLIFIED MOVEMENT |
GB2398969B (en) | 2003-02-27 | 2006-07-05 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Message management |
US6999818B2 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2006-02-14 | Greatbatch-Sierra, Inc. | Inductor capacitor EMI filter for human implant applications |
US7045932B2 (en) * | 2003-03-04 | 2006-05-16 | Exfo Burleigh Prod Group Inc | Electromechanical translation apparatus |
JP2004274593A (en) * | 2003-03-11 | 2004-09-30 | Temuko Japan:Kk | Bone conduction speaker |
US7486798B2 (en) * | 2003-04-08 | 2009-02-03 | Mayur Technologies, Inc. | Method and apparatus for tooth bone conduction microphone |
US6787860B1 (en) * | 2003-05-01 | 2004-09-07 | Macronix International Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for inhibiting dummy cell over erase |
US7599508B1 (en) * | 2003-05-08 | 2009-10-06 | Advanced Bionics, Llc | Listening device cap |
SE526548C2 (en) | 2003-05-30 | 2005-10-04 | Entific Medical Systems Ab | Device for implants |
EP1658754B1 (en) * | 2003-06-24 | 2011-10-05 | GN ReSound A/S | A binaural hearing aid system with coordinated sound processing |
SE526099C2 (en) | 2003-06-30 | 2005-07-05 | Entific Medical Systems Ab | Device for wireless signal and energy transfer for medical implants |
DE10331956C5 (en) | 2003-07-16 | 2010-11-18 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Hearing aid and method for operating a hearing aid with a microphone system, in which different Richtcharaktistiken are adjustable |
US7442164B2 (en) * | 2003-07-23 | 2008-10-28 | Med-El Elektro-Medizinische Gerate Gesellschaft M.B.H. | Totally implantable hearing prosthesis |
US20060018488A1 (en) * | 2003-08-07 | 2006-01-26 | Roar Viala | Bone conduction systems and methods |
GB0321617D0 (en) * | 2003-09-10 | 2003-10-15 | New Transducers Ltd | Audio apparatus |
US20050059970A1 (en) * | 2003-09-17 | 2005-03-17 | Eric Kolb | Bone fixation systems |
US20070213788A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2007-09-13 | Osberger Mary J | Electrical stimulation of the inner ear in patients with unilateral hearing loss |
SE525631C2 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-03-22 | P & B Res Ab | Method and apparatus for attenuating resonant frequency |
SE527006C2 (en) | 2003-10-22 | 2005-12-06 | Entific Medical Systems Ab | Device for curing or reducing stuttering |
US20050101830A1 (en) * | 2003-11-07 | 2005-05-12 | Easter James R. | Implantable hearing aid transducer interface |
US7241258B2 (en) * | 2003-11-07 | 2007-07-10 | Otologics, Llc | Passive vibration isolation of implanted microphone |
WO2005072168A2 (en) * | 2004-01-20 | 2005-08-11 | Sound Techniques Systems Llc | Method and apparatus for improving hearing in patients suffering from hearing loss |
US7765005B2 (en) * | 2004-02-12 | 2010-07-27 | Greatbatch Ltd. | Apparatus and process for reducing the susceptability of active implantable medical devices to medical procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging |
US7651460B2 (en) * | 2004-03-22 | 2010-01-26 | The Board Of Regents Of The University Of Oklahoma | Totally implantable hearing system |
US7214179B2 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2007-05-08 | Otologics, Llc | Low acceleration sensitivity microphone |
US7840020B1 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2010-11-23 | Otologics, Llc | Low acceleration sensitivity microphone |
US6942696B1 (en) * | 2004-04-28 | 2005-09-13 | Clarity Corporation | Ossicular prosthesis adjusting device |
US7021676B2 (en) | 2004-05-10 | 2006-04-04 | Patrik Westerkull | Connector system |
US8244365B2 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2012-08-14 | Cochlear Limited | Simultaneous delivery of electrical and acoustical stimulation in a hearing prosthesis |
US20060098833A1 (en) | 2004-05-28 | 2006-05-11 | Juneau Roger P | Self forming in-the-ear hearing aid |
US7344564B2 (en) * | 2004-06-08 | 2008-03-18 | Spinal Generations, Llc | Expandable spinal stabilization device |
EP1765459B1 (en) * | 2004-06-15 | 2018-11-28 | Cochlear Limited | Automatic determination of the threshold of an evoked neural response |
US7421087B2 (en) * | 2004-07-28 | 2008-09-02 | Earlens Corporation | Transducer for electromagnetic hearing devices |
US7867160B2 (en) * | 2004-10-12 | 2011-01-11 | Earlens Corporation | Systems and methods for photo-mechanical hearing transduction |
US7376237B2 (en) * | 2004-09-02 | 2008-05-20 | Oticon A/S | Vibrator for bone-conduction hearing |
US7065223B2 (en) * | 2004-09-09 | 2006-06-20 | Patrik Westerkull | Hearing-aid interconnection system |
US20060082158A1 (en) * | 2004-10-15 | 2006-04-20 | Schrader Jeffrey L | Method and device for supplying power from acoustic energy |
KR100610192B1 (en) * | 2004-10-27 | 2006-08-09 | 경북대학교 산학협력단 | piezoelectric oscillator |
US7116794B2 (en) | 2004-11-04 | 2006-10-03 | Patrik Westerkull | Hearing-aid anchoring element |
US8602964B2 (en) * | 2004-11-30 | 2013-12-10 | Cochlear Limited | Implantable actuator for hearing aid applications |
FI20041625A (en) | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | Nokia Corp | A method for converting an ear canal signal, an ear canal converter, and a headset |
GB0500616D0 (en) | 2005-01-13 | 2005-02-23 | Univ Dundee | Hearing implant |
CA2595887A1 (en) | 2005-01-27 | 2006-08-03 | Cochlear Americas | Implantable medical device |
SE528279C2 (en) | 2005-02-21 | 2006-10-10 | Entific Medical Systems Ab | Vibrator for bone conductive hearing aid |
WO2006091838A2 (en) * | 2005-02-24 | 2006-08-31 | Morphogeny, Llc | Linked slideable and interlockable rotatable components |
WO2006091808A2 (en) * | 2005-02-25 | 2006-08-31 | Medical Research Products-B, Inc. | Fully implantable hearing aid system |
US8241224B2 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2012-08-14 | Sonicom, Inc. | Test battery system and method for assessment of auditory function |
US20060211910A1 (en) * | 2005-03-18 | 2006-09-21 | Patrik Westerkull | Microphone system for bone anchored bone conduction hearing aids |
WO2006105648A1 (en) | 2005-04-05 | 2006-10-12 | Cropley Holdings Ltd. | Household appliances which utilize an electrolyzer and electrolyzer that may be used therein |
DE102005017493A1 (en) * | 2005-04-15 | 2006-10-19 | Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh | Hearing aid with two different output transducers and fitting procedure |
DE102006026288A1 (en) * | 2005-06-09 | 2007-01-04 | Siegert, Ralf, Prof. Dr. Dr.med. | Bone conduction hearing aid is held by U arranged magnet pair with open end facing magnets implanted in skull |
DE102005031249A1 (en) * | 2005-07-04 | 2007-04-05 | Schäfer, Günter Willy | Dental full or partial implant, has jaw anchorages with head area supporting implant, where implant is held in jaw bone by anchorages and retains movement path axially in direction of jaw bone in mounted condition |
US7822215B2 (en) * | 2005-07-07 | 2010-10-26 | Face International Corp | Bone-conduction hearing-aid transducer having improved frequency response |
DE102005061150A1 (en) * | 2005-07-23 | 2007-02-01 | Kurz, Hans-Rainer | Device and method for configuring a hearing aid |
EP1922900A1 (en) * | 2005-08-22 | 2008-05-21 | 3Win N.V. | A combined set comprising a vibration actuator and an implantable device |
US7796771B2 (en) * | 2005-09-28 | 2010-09-14 | Roberta A. Calhoun | Bone conduction hearing aid fastening device |
US7753838B2 (en) * | 2005-10-06 | 2010-07-13 | Otologics, Llc | Implantable transducer with transverse force application |
US20090220115A1 (en) | 2005-10-31 | 2009-09-03 | Audiodent Israel Ltd. | Miniature Bio-Compatible Piezoelectric Transducer Apparatus |
US7869610B2 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2011-01-11 | Knowles Electronics, Llc | Balanced armature bone conduction shaker |
US7670278B2 (en) * | 2006-01-02 | 2010-03-02 | Oticon A/S | Hearing aid system |
JP2007184722A (en) | 2006-01-05 | 2007-07-19 | Nagasaki Univ | Bone conduction hearing-aid and bone conduction speaker |
US8246532B2 (en) * | 2006-02-14 | 2012-08-21 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Bone conductive devices for improving hearing |
TWI318539B (en) * | 2006-05-24 | 2009-12-11 | Univ Chung Yuan Christian | Implant bone conduction hearing aids |
WO2007137335A1 (en) * | 2006-05-25 | 2007-12-06 | Cochlear Limited | A stimulating device |
US7796769B2 (en) | 2006-05-30 | 2010-09-14 | Sonitus Medical, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals |
AR062036A1 (en) * | 2006-07-24 | 2008-08-10 | Med El Elektromed Geraete Gmbh | MOBILE COIL ACTUATOR FOR MIDDLE EAR IMPLANTS |
WO2008014498A2 (en) | 2006-07-27 | 2008-01-31 | Cochlear Americas | Hearing device having a non-occluding in the-canal vibrating component |
US20080255406A1 (en) * | 2007-03-29 | 2008-10-16 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Implantable Auditory Stimulation Systems Having a Transducer and a Transduction Medium |
US8577062B2 (en) * | 2007-04-27 | 2013-11-05 | Personics Holdings Inc. | Device and method for controlling operation of an earpiece based on voice activity in the presence of audio content |
SE0701242L (en) | 2007-05-24 | 2008-12-02 | Cochlear Ltd | Vibrator |
US9173042B2 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2015-10-27 | Cochlear Limited | Bone anchor fixture for a medical prosthesis |
US9071914B2 (en) * | 2007-08-14 | 2015-06-30 | Insound Medical, Inc. | Combined microphone and receiver assembly for extended wear canal hearing devices |
US8433080B2 (en) * | 2007-08-22 | 2013-04-30 | Sonitus Medical, Inc. | Bone conduction hearing device with open-ear microphone |
WO2009055698A1 (en) * | 2007-10-25 | 2009-04-30 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Strain amplification devices and methods |
EP2066140B1 (en) * | 2007-11-28 | 2016-01-27 | Oticon Medical A/S | Method for fitting a bone anchored hearing aid to a user and bone anchored bone conduction hearing aid system. |
EP2083582B1 (en) | 2008-01-28 | 2013-08-21 | Oticon Medical A/S | Bone conducting hearing aid with connection |
SE533430C2 (en) * | 2008-02-20 | 2010-09-28 | Osseofon Ab | Implantable vibrator |
WO2009117767A1 (en) | 2008-03-25 | 2009-10-01 | Cochlear Limited | Electronic component configuration |
US20100137675A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2010-06-03 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a rotationally moving mass |
US8401213B2 (en) | 2008-03-31 | 2013-03-19 | Cochlear Limited | Snap-lock coupling system for a prosthetic device |
US9445213B2 (en) * | 2008-06-10 | 2016-09-13 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Systems and methods for providing surround sound using speakers and headphones |
US8396239B2 (en) * | 2008-06-17 | 2013-03-12 | Earlens Corporation | Optical electro-mechanical hearing devices with combined power and signal architectures |
US8144909B2 (en) * | 2008-08-12 | 2012-03-27 | Cochlear Limited | Customization of bone conduction hearing devices |
AU2009302564A1 (en) | 2008-10-07 | 2010-04-15 | Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh | Cochlear implant sound processor for sleeping with tinnitus suppression and alarm function |
SE533047C2 (en) | 2009-03-24 | 2010-06-15 | Osseofon Ab | Leg conduit vibrator design with improved high frequency response |
DE102009014770A1 (en) * | 2009-03-25 | 2010-09-30 | Cochlear Ltd., Lane Cove | vibrator |
EP2252079A1 (en) | 2009-05-14 | 2010-11-17 | Oticon A/S | Bone anchored bone conductive hearing aid |
CA2777412A1 (en) | 2009-10-13 | 2011-04-21 | Incumed, Llc | Neural stimulator with percutaneous connectivity |
AU2010200485A1 (en) | 2010-02-10 | 2011-08-25 | Cochlear Limited | Percutaneous implant |
US8594356B2 (en) | 2010-04-29 | 2013-11-26 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having limited range of travel |
DE102010028460B4 (en) * | 2010-04-30 | 2014-01-23 | Globalfoundries Dresden Module One Limited Liability Company & Co. Kg | A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a reduced defect rate in contacts, comprising replacement gate electrode structures using an intermediate cladding layer |
US11843918B2 (en) | 2011-10-11 | 2023-12-12 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction implant |
EP2592848B1 (en) | 2011-11-08 | 2019-06-26 | Oticon Medical A/S | Acoustic transmission method and listening device. |
US9998837B2 (en) | 2014-04-29 | 2018-06-12 | Cochlear Limited | Percutaneous vibration conductor |
-
2008
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,796 patent/US8401213B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,851 patent/US8216287B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,825 patent/US20090248085A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,668 patent/US8363871B2/en active Active
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,871 patent/US8852251B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-03 US US12/167,728 patent/US8526641B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,636 patent/US20090248155A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,572 patent/US8154173B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,620 patent/US8655002B2/en active Active
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,529 patent/US8150083B2/en active Active
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,653 patent/US8170252B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-07-07 US US12/168,603 patent/US8532321B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-10-14 US US12/251,443 patent/US8831260B2/en active Active
- 2008-10-14 US US12/251,437 patent/US20090247813A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2009
- 2009-03-05 US US12/398,586 patent/US8433081B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-03-26 WO PCT/AU2009/000350 patent/WO2009121097A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-26 WO PCT/AU2009/000355 patent/WO2009121101A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-26 WO PCT/AU2009/000351 patent/WO2009121098A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-27 WO PCT/AU2009/000358 patent/WO2009121104A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-27 WO PCT/AU2009/000360 patent/WO2009121106A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-27 WO PCT/AU2009/000362 patent/WO2009121108A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-27 EP EP09726548A patent/EP2269241A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-03-27 WO PCT/AU2009/000359 patent/WO2009121105A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-27 WO PCT/AU2009/000363 patent/WO2009121109A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000367 patent/WO2009121113A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000374 patent/WO2009121118A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 CN CN200980115881.9A patent/CN102047692B/en active Active
- 2009-03-30 EP EP09728994.6A patent/EP2269388B1/en active Active
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000368 patent/WO2009121114A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000372 patent/WO2009121116A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000369 patent/WO2009121115A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000365 patent/WO2009121111A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-30 WO PCT/AU2009/000373 patent/WO2009121117A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038933 patent/WO2009124036A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,901 patent/US8945216B2/en active Active
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,905 patent/US8731205B2/en active Active
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,895 patent/US8532322B2/en active Active
- 2009-03-31 EP EP09727994.7A patent/EP2269386B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038879 patent/WO2009124005A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,906 patent/US8657734B2/en active Active
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,909 patent/US20110112462A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2009-03-31 EP EP09726479A patent/EP2265318A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038890 patent/WO2009124010A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038942 patent/WO2009124042A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038884 patent/WO2009124008A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 EP EP09798353A patent/EP2272260A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038932 patent/WO2009124035A2/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 EP EP09727686A patent/EP2271282A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038937 patent/WO2009124038A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,887 patent/US9955270B2/en active Active
- 2009-03-31 WO PCT/US2009/038893 patent/WO2010008630A1/en active Application Filing
- 2009-03-31 US US12/935,650 patent/US20110029031A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2010
- 2010-01-15 US US12/688,491 patent/US8509461B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2013
- 2013-08-13 US US13/965,718 patent/US20130345496A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2013-11-05 US US14/072,398 patent/US9602931B2/en active Active
-
2017
- 2017-03-20 US US15/464,090 patent/US11570552B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-04-20 US US15/958,212 patent/US20180376255A1/en active Pending
-
2023
- 2023-01-30 US US18/103,215 patent/US20230179929A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4498461A (en) * | 1981-12-01 | 1985-02-12 | Bo Hakansson | Coupling to a bone-anchored hearing aid |
US4612915A (en) * | 1985-05-23 | 1986-09-23 | Xomed, Inc. | Direct bone conduction hearing aid device |
US6643378B2 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2003-11-04 | Daniel R. Schumaier | Bone conduction hearing aid |
US7198596B2 (en) * | 2001-06-21 | 2007-04-03 | P & B Research Ab | Coupling device for a two-part bone-anchored hearing aid apparatus |
US20050249366A1 (en) * | 2004-05-10 | 2005-11-10 | Patrik Westerkull | Arrangement for a hearing aid |
US20060041318A1 (en) * | 2004-08-19 | 2006-02-23 | Shannon Donald T | Laminar skin-bone fixation transcutaneous implant and method for use thereof |
US20060056649A1 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2006-03-16 | Schumaier Daniel R | Bone conduction hearing assistance device |
US20070053536A1 (en) * | 2005-08-24 | 2007-03-08 | Patrik Westerkull | Hearing aid system |
US8005247B2 (en) * | 2005-11-14 | 2011-08-23 | Oticon A/S | Power direct bone conduction hearing aid system |
Cited By (62)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8363871B2 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2013-01-29 | Cochlear Limited | Alternative mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US20090245553A1 (en) * | 2008-03-31 | 2009-10-01 | Cochlear Limited | Alternative mass arrangements for bone conduction devices |
US8942400B2 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2015-01-27 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
US20120088957A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2012-04-12 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
US20130261377A1 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2013-10-03 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
US8965021B2 (en) * | 2009-06-09 | 2015-02-24 | Dalhousie University | Subcutaneous piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid actuator and system |
US20110268303A1 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2011-11-03 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having limited range of travel |
US8594356B2 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2013-11-26 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having limited range of travel |
US20160044427A1 (en) * | 2011-11-22 | 2016-02-11 | Cochlear Limited | Smoothing power consumption of an active medical device |
US10390153B2 (en) * | 2011-11-22 | 2019-08-20 | Cochlear Limited | Smoothing power consumption of an active medical device |
US9119010B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2015-08-25 | Sophono, Inc. | Implantable sound transmission device for magnetic hearing aid, and corresponding systems, devices and components |
US9179228B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2015-11-03 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids |
US9526810B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2016-12-27 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, devices, components and methods for improved acoustic coupling between a bone conduction hearing device and a patient's head or skull |
US9258656B2 (en) | 2011-12-09 | 2016-02-09 | Sophono, Inc. | Sound acquisition and analysis systems, devices and components for magnetic hearing aids |
US20130165738A1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2013-06-27 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Magnet Arrangement for Bone Conduction Hearing Implant |
US20150073205A1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2015-03-12 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Magnet Arrangement for Bone Conduction Hearing Implant |
US8897475B2 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2014-11-25 | Vibrant Med-El Hearing Technology Gmbh | Magnet arrangement for bone conduction hearing implant |
AU2012358871B2 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2015-06-18 | Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh | Magnet arrangement for bone conduction hearing implant |
US8891795B2 (en) | 2012-01-31 | 2014-11-18 | Cochlear Limited | Transcutaneous bone conduction device vibrator having movable magnetic mass |
WO2013156963A1 (en) * | 2012-04-19 | 2013-10-24 | Cochlear Limited | Transcutaneous bone conduction device |
US9210521B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2015-12-08 | Sophono, Inc. | Abutment attachment systems, mechanisms, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US20140121447A1 (en) * | 2012-07-16 | 2014-05-01 | Sophono, Inc | Cover for Magnetic Implant in a Bone Conduction Hearing Aid System, and Corresponding Devices, Components and Methods |
US9736601B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2017-08-15 | Sophono, Inc. | Adjustable magnetic systems, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US9022917B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2015-05-05 | Sophono, Inc. | Magnetic spacer systems, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids |
US9788125B2 (en) | 2012-07-16 | 2017-10-10 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids |
US9031274B2 (en) | 2012-09-06 | 2015-05-12 | Sophono, Inc. | Adhesive bone conduction hearing device |
US11095994B2 (en) | 2013-02-15 | 2021-08-17 | Cochlear Limited | Conformable pad bone conduction device |
US9942672B2 (en) | 2013-08-28 | 2018-04-10 | Cochlear Limited | Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses |
US20150063611A1 (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2015-03-05 | Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt | Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses |
US9554223B2 (en) * | 2013-08-28 | 2017-01-24 | Cochlear Limited | Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses |
US10375488B2 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2019-08-06 | Sophono, Inc. | Systems, devices, components and methods for reducing feedback between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing devices |
US11012796B2 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2021-05-18 | Cochlear Limited | System for adjusting magnetic retention force in auditory prostheses |
US20150382114A1 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2015-12-31 | Marcus ANDERSSON | System for adjusting magnetic retention force in auditory prostheses |
US10300276B2 (en) | 2015-05-28 | 2019-05-28 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US11918808B2 (en) | 2015-06-12 | 2024-03-05 | Cochlear Limited | Magnet management MRI compatibility |
US11792587B1 (en) | 2015-06-26 | 2023-10-17 | Cochlear Limited | Magnetic retention device |
US20180270591A1 (en) * | 2015-09-14 | 2018-09-20 | Patrik KENNES | Retention magnet system for medical device |
US11792586B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2023-10-17 | Cochlear Limited | Retention magnet system for medical device |
US10880662B2 (en) * | 2015-09-14 | 2020-12-29 | Cochlear Limited | Retention magnet system for medical device |
US10917730B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2021-02-09 | Cochlear Limited | Retention magnet system for medical device |
CN108028997A (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2018-05-11 | Med-El电气医疗器械有限公司 | Osteoacusis transducer system with adjustable retentivity |
US10806936B2 (en) | 2015-11-20 | 2020-10-20 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants and magnets for use with same |
US10009698B2 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2018-06-26 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having magnets integrated with housing |
US9967685B2 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2018-05-08 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction skin interface |
US20170180890A1 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2017-06-22 | Marcus ANDERSSON | Bone conduction skin interface |
US11012797B2 (en) | 2015-12-16 | 2021-05-18 | Cochlear Limited | Bone conduction device having magnets integrated with housing |
US20170180888A1 (en) * | 2015-12-16 | 2017-06-22 | Marcus ANDERSSON | Bone conduction device having magnets integrated with housing |
US10821279B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2020-11-03 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US9919154B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2018-03-20 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US10463849B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2019-11-05 | Advanced Bionics Ag | MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US10532209B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2020-01-14 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus and associated methods |
US11476025B2 (en) | 2015-12-18 | 2022-10-18 | Advanced Bionics Ag | MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US10646718B2 (en) | 2016-11-15 | 2020-05-12 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants and magnets for use with same |
US11595768B2 (en) | 2016-12-02 | 2023-02-28 | Cochlear Limited | Retention force increasing components |
US11097095B2 (en) | 2017-04-11 | 2021-08-24 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants, magnets for use with same and magnet retrofit methods |
US11779754B2 (en) | 2017-04-11 | 2023-10-10 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants, magnets for use with same and magnet retrofit methods |
US11752338B2 (en) | 2017-04-25 | 2023-09-12 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having impact resistant MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US11364384B2 (en) | 2017-04-25 | 2022-06-21 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having impact resistant MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US11287495B2 (en) | 2017-05-22 | 2022-03-29 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Methods and apparatus for use with cochlear implants having magnet apparatus with magnetic material particles |
US10646712B2 (en) | 2017-09-13 | 2020-05-12 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Cochlear implants having MRI-compatible magnet apparatus |
US11471679B2 (en) | 2017-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Headpieces and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same |
US11638823B2 (en) | 2018-02-15 | 2023-05-02 | Advanced Bionics Ag | Headpieces and implantable cochlear stimulation systems including the same |
Also Published As
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20090248155A1 (en) | Transcutaneous magnetic bone conduction device | |
US9020174B2 (en) | Bone conduction device having an integrated housing and vibrator mass | |
US8891795B2 (en) | Transcutaneous bone conduction device vibrator having movable magnetic mass | |
US20090292161A1 (en) | Multi-mode hearing prosthesis | |
US10142746B2 (en) | Hearing prosthesis with a piezoelectric actuator | |
US20100137675A1 (en) | Bone conduction devices generating tangentially-directed mechanical force using a rotationally moving mass | |
US20090259090A1 (en) | Bone conduction hearing device having acoustic feedback reduction system | |
US20090287038A1 (en) | Implanted-transducer bone conduction device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: COCHLEAR LIMITED, AUSTRALIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PARKER, JOHN;REEL/FRAME:022192/0365 Effective date: 20081218 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |