Assistive listening technology integrated into a Behind-The-Ear sound processor
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various assistive listening devices are coupled to a receiver integrated into a BTE sound processor of a cochlear implant system, or other hearing prosthesis. The assistive listening devices and manner of integration with the BTE sound processor may include, e.g., (a) integration of an FM (frequency modulated) receiver into a remote battery pack; (b) integration of an FM or infrared (IR) or other system into a custom all-in-the-ear hearing instrument shell with an electrical connection through an existing auxiliary connector in the earhook of a BTE sound processor; or (c) integration of an FM system into the BTE sound processor via an interposer module.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. In a cochlear implant system that includes a body-worn sound processor and an implanted portion, an improved system for interfacing with assistive listening devices, comprising:
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an electrode array connected to the implanted portion;
an external headpiece coupled to the body-worn sound processor, said external headpiece including means for aligning the external headpiece with the implanted portion;
an electromagnetic receiver integrated into the sound processor;
an electromagnetic transmitter at a location remote from the electromagnetic receiver, said electromagnetic transmitter including means for transmitting electromagnetic radiation modulated with audio information obtained from an assistive listening device (ALD);
wherein the electromagnetic receiver includes means for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic radiation, means for demodulating the electromagnetic radiation in order to recover the audio information therefrom, means for presenting the audio information as an input signal; and
means for transmitting the processed input signal from the sound processor to the implanted portion wherein the electrode array connected to the implanted portion applies the processed signal as an electrical stimulation signal to a patient'"'"'s cochlea. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. In a cochlear implant system that includes a body-worn sound processor and an implanted portion, an improved system for interfacing with assistive listening devices, comprising:
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an electrode array connected to the implanted portion;
an external headpiece coupled to the body-worn sound processor, said external headpiece including means for aligning the external headpiece with the implanted portion;
an electromagnetic receiver integrated into the sound processor;
an electromagnetic transmitter at a location remote from the electromagnetic receiver, said electromagnetic transmitter including means for transmitting electromagnetic radiation modulated with audio information obtained from an assistive listening device (ALD), wherein the ALD includes a telecoil with pre-amplifier module;
wherein the electromagnetic receiver includes means for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic radiation, means for demodulating the electromagnetic radiation in order to recover the audio information therefrom, means for presenting the audio information as an input signal to the cochlear; and
means for transmitting the processed input signal from the sound processor to the implanted portion, wherein the electrode array connected to the implanted portion applies the processed signal as an electrical stimulation signal to a patient'"'"'s cochlea.
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Specification