METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AUDIO SIGNALS

• US 20100322449A1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: ABOLFATHI, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0093 Features of implants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0098 Immediate loaded implants
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• 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 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations, comprising:

a transducer housing that is configured to engage a first side of at least one tooth, wherein the first side is a lingual or a buccal side of the at least one tooth;

an actuatable transducer disposed within the transducer housing and configured to transmit vibrations to the at least one tooth;

an electronics housing that is configured to engage a second side of the at least one tooth, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; and

an electronics assembly disposed within the electronics housing,

wherein the transducer housing and the electronics housing are biased to press against the at least one tooth and thereby secure the apparatus to the at least one tooth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing and/or the electronics housing comprise a polymer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to omit an occlusal surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuatable transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic assembly comprises a processor and/or a rechargeable power supply.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic assembly comprises a receiver in wireless communication with a transmitter.

7. A method of transmitting two or more auditory signals through conducted vibrations, comprising:

receiving a first auditory signal via at least one microphone;

receiving a second auditory signal;

prioritizing the first auditory signal and the second auditory signal;

multiplexing the first and second auditory signals into a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal through a surface of at least one tooth of a user via an apparatus comprising a housing, at least one transducer disposed within or upon the housing which is configured to engage the at least one tooth and wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one microphone comprises an intra-buccal microphone.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving the second auditory signal comprises receiving one or more ancillary auditory signals.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving a second auditory signal comprises receiving the second auditory signal wirelessly via a receiver.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein multiplexing further comprises adjusting a parameter of the first and/or second auditory signals.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in parallel relative to one another to the user.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting comprises vibrating the at least one transducer along at least one tooth of the user.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving a first auditory signal comprises receiving the first auditory signal via a first microphone.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving a second auditory signal comprises receiving the second auditory signal via a second microphone.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in series relative to one another to the user.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in both parallel and series relative to one another to the user.

18. A method of transmitting two or more auditory signals through conducted vibrations, comprising:

receiving a first auditory signal via a first microphone;

receiving a second auditory signal;

prioritizing the first auditory signal and the second auditory signal;

multiplexing the first and second auditory signals into a combined signal wherein prioritization of the first and second auditory signals is retained; and

transmitting the combined signal into a surface of at least one tooth of a user via an apparatus, comprising a housing, at least one transducer disposed within or upon the housing which is configured to engage the at least one tooth and wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein receiving a first auditory signal comprises receiving a primary auditory signal via an intra-buccal microphone.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein receiving a second auditory signal comprises receiving one or more ancillary auditory signals.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein multiplexing further comprises adjusting a parameter of the first and/or second auditory signals.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal such that the first and second auditory signals are conducted in parallel relative to one another to the user.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the combined signal into a tooth or teeth of the user.

24. A method of transmitting two or more auditory signals through conducted vibrations, comprising:

receiving a primary auditory signal via a microphone;

electronically receiving an ancillary auditory signal which is unaffiliated with the primary auditory signal;

multiplexing the first and second auditory signals into a combined signal; and

transmitting the combined signal into a surface of at least one tooth of a user via an apparatus, comprising a housing, at least one transducer disposed within or upon the housing which is configured to engage the at least one tooth and wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein receiving a primary auditory signal comprises receiving a signal via an intra-buccal microphone.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the second auditory signal is electronically received from an alarm, music player, cell phone, or PDA.