Devices and methods for hearing

• US 10,511,913 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Original Assignee: EarLens Corporation
• Inventors: Puria, Sunil, Rosen, Micha, Fay, Jonathan P., Rucker, Paul, Stone, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lannu, Joshua Daryl D
• Application Number:
  US15/706,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20180020291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 11/02 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 23/008 using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/09 Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips H04R2460/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659

Abstract

A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first location to decrease occlusion and a second location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.

Claims

1. A device to inductively transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a support configured for placement at least partially against the eardrum;

a transducer coupled to the support at a first location and a second location, the first location being spaced apart from the second location, the transducer comprising a movable structure configured to drive the eardrum at a third location;

a first coil electrically coupled to the transducer; and

an extension structure extending from the movable structure,

wherein the movable structure comprises at least one of a reed or an armature, and wherein the movable structure is configured to move in response to a magnetic field;

wherein the movable structure extends along a first elongate dimension and the extension structure extends along a second elongate dimension which is transverse or angled relative to the first elongate dimension.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an input comprising a second coil adapted to be inductively coupled to the first coil.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a third coil, the first coil being electrically connected to the third coil.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the third location is at an umbo of the ear when the support is placed on the eardrum.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is coupled to the support with a conformable material comprising one or more materials from the following list:

resilient material, a resilient spring material, a sponge material, a silicone sponge material, a viscous liquid, a viscoelastic material, or a viscoelastic memory foam.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises at least one of a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, an electrostatic transducer, an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, or a coil.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first attachment structure coupled to the transducer and to the support at the first location.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a center of mass, and wherein the transducer is coupled to the support such that the center of mass of the transducer is configured to align with a location along the eardrum away from an umbo of the eardrum when the support is placed on the eardrum.

10. A device to inductively transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a support configured for placement at least partially against an eardrum;

a transducer coupled to the support at a first location; and

a first coil electrically coupled to the transducer,

wherein the transducer is coupled to the support at the first location and comprises a movable structure configured to drive the eardrum at a second location, and

wherein the movable structure extends along a first elongate dimension and comprises at least one of a reed or an armature, the movable structure being configured to move in response to a magnetic field,

wherein an extension structure extends from the movable structure along a second elongate dimension which is transverse or angled relative to the first elongate dimension, and

wherein the transducer is coupled to the support through at least one compression structure, the at least one compression structure configured to urge the transducer toward the eardrum when the device is positioned on the eardrum.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device further comprises an input comprising a second coil adapted to be inductively coupled to the first coil.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the transducer includes a third coil, the first coil being electrically connected to the third coil.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one compression structure comprises at least one spring.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the at least one spring comprises two springs.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the two springs comprise a first spring positioned on a first side of the transducer and a second spring is positioned on a second side of the transducer.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the support comprises a flange.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one compression structure is connected to the flange.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the support comprises one or more components, at least one component configured to contact the eardrum.

20. The device of claim 10, wherein the second location is near at least a portion of a malleus of the ear or an umbo of the ear when the support is placed on the eardrum.

21. The device of claim 10, wherein the first location is near at least one of a lateral process of the malleus or a bony part of an external ear canal when the support is placed on the eardrum.

22. The device of claim 10, wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer.

23. The device of claim 10, wherein the support is shaped to conform to a shape of the eardrum of the user and configured to align the transducer with the eardrum in a pre-determined orientation.

24. The device of claim 10, wherein the transducer is positioned on the support to align an elongate dimension of the transducer with the malleus of the user when the support is placed on the eardrum.

25. The device of claim 10 wherein:

the transducer comprises an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer; and

the balanced armature transducer comprises an armature configured to move in response to the magnetic field.

26. A device to transmit an audio signal to a user, the user having an ear comprising an eardrum, the device comprising:

a support configured for placement at least partially against an eardrum; and

a transducer coupled to the support at a first location,

wherein the transducer is coupled to the support at the first location and comprises a movable structure configured to drive the eardrum at a second location,

wherein the movable structure extends along a first elongate dimension and comprises at least one of a reed or an armature, the movable structure being configured to move in response to a magnetic field,

wherein an extension structure extends from the movable structure along a second elongate dimension which is transverse or angled relative to the first elongate dimension, and

wherein the transducer is coupled to the support with a conformable material comprising a resilient spring material.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the conformable material comprises at least one spring.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the at least one spring comprises two springs.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the two springs comprise a first spring positioned on a first side of the transducer and a second spring positioned on a second side of the transducer.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the support comprises a flange.

31. The device of claim 26, wherein:

the transducer comprises an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, and

the balanced armature transducer comprises an armature configured to move in response to the magnetic field.

32. The device of claim 26, wherein the transducer is electrically coupled to a coil.