ACTUATOR SYSTEMS FOR ORAL-BASED APPLIANCES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to engage the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth or bonding to the at least one tooth;
a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and configured to transmit vibrations to a surface of the at least one tooth; and
a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the housing whereby movement of the mass element generates a force transmittable through the surface of the at least one tooth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
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a housing that is configured to engage the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth or bonding to the at least one tooth; a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and configured to transmit vibrations to a surface of the at least one tooth; and a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the housing whereby movement of the mass element generates a force transmittable through the surface of the at least one tooth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
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providing an apparatus comprising a housing and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing; positioning the housing onto the at least one tooth of a user, wherein the housing is configured to engage the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth or bonding to the at least one tooth; receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by the user; actuating a transducer such that a mass element coupled to the transducer is vibrated relative to the housing, wherein the transducer vibrates according to the electronic signal; and transmitting the vibrations from the transducer to at least one surface of the at least one tooth. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification