In the ear auxiliary microphone for behind the ear hearing prosthetic

• US 20070003089A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Crawford, Scott, Harrison, William, Hartley, Lee, Segel, Philip, Fernald, C. Geoffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49176 with molding of electrically insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49178 by shrinking of cover

Abstract

An In The Ear (ITE) microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are then processed by a speech processor to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea, improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In an exemplary embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, the BTE including a removable earhook and the ICS system including a speech processor, the apparatus comprising:

a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are processed by the speech processor to generate signals provided to an implantable circuit adapted to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea;

means for positioning the microphone assembly to receive sound waves through a port, wherein the sound waves are directed from a volume between a user'"'"'s ear and the earpiece of a communications handset held to the ear; and

means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor,

wherein the positioning means includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end directed towards the inside of a user'"'"'s ear,

wherein the microphone assembly is attached to the second end of the positioning means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications handset is a telephone handset.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the positioning means comprises a stalk adapted to connect the microphone assembly to the earhook.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the stalk is adapted to be bendable and to retain the bend once bent, thereby adjusting the position of the microphone assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stalk is formed of shrink tubing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the earhook is removably attachable to a coaxial connector, wherein the coaxial connector is attached to a case of the speech processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a filter at a distal end of the microphone assembly, wherein the filter seals the microphone from the environment.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the microphone assembly further includes a sleeve and wherein the microphone resides in the sleeve.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the microphone, the sleeve, and the electrical connecting means are covered by a boot, wherein the boot includes an access hole for the port.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the boot is molded from an elastomer.

11. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear Implantable Cochlear Stimulation system, comprising:

an earhook configured to be removably attachable to a Behind The Ear (BTE) unit of an Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system;

a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone which converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are processed by the speech processor to generate signals provided to an implantable circuit adapted to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea;

means for positioning the microphone assembly to receive sound waves through a port, wherein the sound waves are directed from a volume between a user'"'"'s ear and the earpiece of a communications handset held to the ear; and

means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor,

wherein the means for positioning includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end attached to the microphone, and wherein the microphone is adjusted to reside within the space defined by a concha of a users'"'"' ear with the soundport directed downward when the BTE unit is worn on the user'"'"'s ear.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the microphone assembly is adjusted so that when an earpiece of a communications handset is held to the ear, the soundport is open to the volume between the earpiece and the user'"'"'s ear.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the communications handset is a telephone handset.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for positioning comprises a stalk adapted to connect the microphone assembly to the earhook.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the stalk is adapted to be bendable and to retain the bend once bent, thereby adjusting the position of the microphone assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the stalk is formed of shrink tubing.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the earhook is removably attachable to a coaxial connector, wherein the coaxial connector is attached to a case of the speech processor.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a filter at a distal end of the microphone assembly, wherein the filter seals the microphone from the environment.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the microphone assembly further includes a sleeve and wherein the microphone resides in the sleeve.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the microphone, the sleeve, and the electrical connecting means are covered by a boot, wherein the boot includes an access hole for the soundport.

21. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, comprising:

a microphone, wherein the microphone converts audio sounds into electrical signals which are processed by a speech processor to generate signals provided to an implantable circuit adapted to generate electrical pulses to stimulate nerves in the cochlea;

means for positioning the microphone to receive sound from a volume between an ear and the earpiece of a communications handset held to the ear; and

means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor.