Hearing aid system and hearing aid method

• US 20040234092A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tohoku University National Universities Corporation
• Inventors: Wada, Hiroshi, Kobayashi, Toshimitsu, Koike, Takuji
• Application Number:
  US10/863,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20040234092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• 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

Abstract

Sound input to a microphone is converted into an electrical signal and the electrical signal is amplified by an amplifier. The amplified electrical signal is supplied to a primary coil as an alternating current. Thus, a magnetic field around the primary coil varies with time and a secondary coil generates an induced electromotive force. A vibrating coil is supplied with current generated by the induced electromotive force and thus an induced magnetic field is generated around the vibrating coil. The vibrating coil provided on the surface of an eardrum is vibrated by interaction between the induced magnetic field and a magnetostatic field generated by a permanent magnet.

Claims

1. A hearing aid system provided from an external ear region to an eardrum, comprising:

a current generator which generates current based on an input external sound;

a first coil which induces variations in magnetic field with time based on the current;

a second coil which generates an induced electromotive force based on the variation in magnetic field with time;

a magnetic field generator which faces the eardrum; and

a vibrating coil electrically connected to the second coil and provided on the eardrum, which generates a magnetic field whose polarity varies with the electromotive force and vibrates by interaction between the magnetic field whose polarity varies and a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

2. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating coil is adhered to a surface of the eardrum facing the external ear region using one of oil and a clip.

3. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein a portion that contacts a human body is coated with biocompatible insulating materials.

4. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator is located in the external ear region close to a middle ear region.

5. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating coil weighs 20 mg or less.

6. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating coil is shaped like a disk.

7. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the magnetic field generator and the vibrating coil is controlled to adjust intensity of the induced magnetic field.

8. The hearing aid system according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator is a permanent magnet.

9. A hearing aid method comprising:

generating an alternating current based on an external sound input from sound input means provided in an external ear region;

causing the alternating current to flow through a first coil to induce variations in magnetic field with time;

generating an induced electromotive force from a second coil based on the variations in magnetic field with time;

causing a vibrating coil provided on an eardrum to generate an induced magnetic field whose polarity varies based on the induced electromotive force; and

vibrating the vibrating coil by a magnetostatic field generated by a magnet that faces the eardrum and the induced magnetic field generated by the vibrating coil, thereby vibrating the eardrum.

10. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein the vibrating coil is adhered to a surface of the eardrum facing the external ear region using one of oil and a clip.

11. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein a portion that contacts a human body is coated with biocompatible insulating materials.

12. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein the magnet is located in the external ear region close to a middle ear region.

13. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein the vibrating coil weighs 20 mg or less.

14. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein the vibrating coil is shaped like a disk.

15. The hearing aid method according to claim 9, wherein a distance between the magnet and the vibrating coil is controlled to adjust intensity of the induced magnetic field.