Headpieceless hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods with distributed power
First Claim
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
- an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array;
a hearing assistance device including a battery, sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data; and
a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus, that wirelessly receives the stimulation data and wirelessly transmits the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator;
wherein the system does not include a headpiece.
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Abstract
Hearing assistance apparatus, systems and methods that involve the use of distributed power without the use of a headpiece.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; a hearing assistance device including a battery, sound processor circuitry that converts electrical signals from a microphone into stimulation data, and a data communication apparatus configured to wirelessly transmit the stimulation data; and a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus, that wirelessly receives the stimulation data and wirelessly transmits the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator; wherein the system does not include a headpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array; a hearing assistance device, including a battery, a microphone that converts sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and data communication apparatus that wirelessly transmits the electrical signals; and a retransmission apparatus, which is not configured to be mounted on the user'"'"'s head, including a data communication apparatus and sound processor circuitry, that wirelessly receives electrical signals from the hearing assistance device, converts the electrical signals from the microphone into stimulation data, and wirelessly transmits the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A hearing assistance system, comprising:
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an implantable cochlear stimulator including a battery, an electrode array, a stimulation data receiver apparatus, and a stimulation processor operably connected to the stimulation data receiver apparatus and to the electrode array, and not including sound processor circuitry; a hearing assistance device, including a battery, a microphone that converts sound pressure waves into electrical signals, and data communication apparatus that wirelessly transmits the electrical signals; and a retransmission apparatus, including a data communication apparatus and sound processor circuitry, that wirelessly receives electrical signals from the hearing assistance device, converts the electrical signals from the microphone into stimulation data, and wirelessly transmits the stimulation data to the implantable cochlear stimulator.
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Specification