Systems, Devices, Components and Methods for Improved Acoustic Coupling Between a Bone Conduction Hearing Device and a Patient's Head or Skull

• US 20150038775A1
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sophono, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sophono, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ruppersberg, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,526,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/0031 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/06 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L24/043, A61L24/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction 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 3/002 Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of systems, devices, components and methods for improving acoustic coupling between a bone conduction hearing device (BCHD) and a patient'"'"'s head or skull. Such systems, devices, components and methods include disposing a gel or paste between the BCHD and the patient'"'"'s skin, hair and/or skull. The gel or paste improves the transmission of acoustic signals generated by a transducer in the BCHD to the patients head or skull by providing a more efficient and improved intermediary acoustic medium for the transmission of acoustic signals to the patient'"'"'s head or skull.

Claims

1. A method of improving acoustic coupling between a bone conduction hearing device (BCHD and a patient'"'"'s head or skull, the BCHD comprising a transducer configured to generate sound signals for transmission to the patient'"'"'s skull, the method comprising:

applying an aqueous gel or paste to a bottom surface of the BCHD, and

attaching, securing or magnetically coupling the BCHD to or against the patient'"'"'s head or skull;

wherein at least portions of the gel or paste are operably disposed between the bottom surface of the BCHD and the patient'"'"'s head or skull thereby to improve acoustic coupling and transmission of the sound signals generated the transducer to the patient'"'"'s skull.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a baseplate or spacer is operably connected to or forms a portion of the BCHD and is operably attached to or forms a portion of the transducer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transducer is an electromagnetic (“

EM”

) transducer or a piezoelectric transducer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the BCHD is a magnetic BCHD.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a magnetic implant is attached to or in the patient'"'"'s skull beneath the patient'"'"'s skin at an implant location, and is configured to magnetically couple to the magnetic BCHD.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the magnetic BCHD is magnetically attached to the patient'"'"'s skull over the implant location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching or securing the BCHD to the patient'"'"'s skull or head with at least one of a strap, a head strap, a band, a head band, a clip, a hair clip, and an adhesive.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gel or paste is a water-soluble gel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the gel comprises at least one of one or more of a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer, polyalkenyl ether, divinyl glycol propylene, glycol, glycerin, a carbomer, a carbopol, theolamine, water, demineralized water, distilled water, aloe vera, carrageenan, EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), salt, vitamin E, a preservative, a thickening agent, and a neutralizer.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the gel has a pH between about 5.5 and about 6.5.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the gel is at least one of substantially colorless, hypoallergenic, non-sterile, bacteriostatic, non-sensitizing to human skin, non-irritating to human skin, biocompatible, orally compatible, and ingestible.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the sound velocity of the gel ranges between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the viscosity of the gel ranges between about 10 Pascal-seconds and about 20 Pascal-seconds.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the viscosity of the gel is sufficient to remain attached to the baseplate or spacer when applied thereon in a layer having a thickness ranging between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the gel has an acoustic impedance substantially similar to soft human body tissue.

16. A bone conduction hearing device (BCHD), comprising:

a transducer configured to generate sound signals for transmission to the patient'"'"'s skull;

a bottom surface, and

an acoustic coupling gel or paste disposed on at least portions of the bottom surface;

wherein when the BCHD is attached, secured or magnetically coupled to a patient'"'"'s skull or head at least portions of the acoustic coupling gel or paste are disposed between the bottom surface and the patient'"'"'s head or skull thereby to improve acoustic coupling and transmission of sound signals originating from the transducer to the patient'"'"'s skull.

17. The BCHD of claim 16, wherein a baseplate or spacer is operably connected to or forms a portion of the BCHD, and the baseplate or spacer is operably attached to or forms a portion of the transducer.

18. The BCHD of claim 16, wherein the transducer is an electromagnetic (“

EM”

) to transducer or a piezoelectric transducer.

19. The BCHD of claim 16, wherein a magnetic implant is attached to or in the patient'"'"'s skull beneath the patient'"'"'s skin at an implant location, and is configured to magnetically couple to the magnetic BCHD.

20. The BCHD of claim 19, wherein the magnetic BCHD is configured to be magnetically attached to the patient'"'"'s skull over the implant location.

21. The BCHD of claim 16, further comprising at least one of a strap, a head strap, a band, a head band, a clip, a hair clip, and an adhesive configured to attach or secure the BCHD to the patient'"'"'s skull or head.

22. The BCHD of claim 16, wherein the gel or paste is a water-soluble gel.

23. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the gel comprises at least one of one or more of a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer, polyalkenyl ether, divinyl glycol propylene, glycol, glycerin, a carbomer, a carbopol, theolamine, water, demineralized water, distilled water, aloe vera, carrageenan, EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), salt, vitamin E, a preservative, a thickening agent, and a neutralizer.

24. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the gel has a pH between about 5.5 and about 6.5.

25. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the gel is at least one of substantially colorless, hypoallergenic, non-sterile, bacteriostatic, non-sensitizing to human skin, non-irritating to human skin, biocompatible, orally compatible, and ingestible.

26. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the sound velocity of the gel ranges between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second.

27. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the viscosity of the gel ranges between about 10 Pascal-seconds and about 20 Pascal-seconds.

28. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the viscosity of the gel is sufficient to remain attached to the baseplate or spacer when applied thereon in a layer having a thickness ranging between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

29. The BCHD of claim 22, wherein the gel has an acoustic impedance substantially similar to soft human body tissue.

30. A bone conduction hearing device (BCHD) kit, comprising:

a BCHD comprising a transducer configured to generate sound signals for transmission to the patient'"'"'s skull and a bottom surface, and

an acoustic coupling gel or paste configured to be disposed on at least portions of the bottom surface;

wherein when the BCHD is attached, secured or magnetically coupled to a patient'"'"'s skull or head at least portions of the acoustic coupling gel or paste can be disposed between the bottom surface and the patient'"'"'s head or skull thereby to improve acoustic coupling and transmission of sound signals originating from the transducer to the patient'"'"'s skull.

31. The BCHD kit of claim 30, wherein a baseplate or spacer is operably connected to or forms a portion of the BCHD and the baseplate or spacer is operably attached to or forms a portion of the transducer.

32. The BCHD kit of claim 30, wherein the transducer is an electromagnetic (“

EM”

) transducer or a piezoelectric transducer.

33. The BCHD kit of claim 32, further comprising a magnetic implant configured to be attached to or in the patient'"'"'s skull beneath the patient'"'"'s skin at an implant location, and for magnetic coupling to the magnetic BCHD.

34. The BCHD kit of claim 33, wherein the magnetic BCHD is configured to be magnetically attached to the patient'"'"'s skull over the implant location.

35. The BCHD kit of claim 30, further comprising at least one of a strap, a head strap, a band, a head band, a clip, a hair clip, and an adhesive configured to attach or secure the BCHD to the patient'"'"'s skull or head.

36. The BCHD kit of claim 30, wherein the gel or paste is a water-soluble gel.

37. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the gel comprises at least one of one or more of a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer, polyalkenyl ether, divinyl glycol propylene, glycol, glycerin, a carbomer, a carbopol, theolamine, water, demineralized water, distilled water, aloe vera, carrageenan, EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), salt, vitamin E, a preservative, a thickening agent, and a neutralizer.

38. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the gel has a pH between about 5.5 and about 6.5.

39. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the gel is at least one of substantially colorless, hypoallergenic, non-sterile, bacteriostatic, non-sensitizing to human skin, non-irritating to human skin, biocompatible, orally compatible, and ingestible.

40. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the sound velocity of the gel ranges between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second.

41. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the viscosity of the gel ranges between about 10 Pascal-seconds and about 20 Pascal-seconds.

42. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the viscosity of the gel is sufficient to remain attached to the baseplate or spacer when applied thereon in a layer having a thickness ranging between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

43. The BCHD kit of claim 36, wherein the gel has an acoustic impedance to substantially similar to soft human body tissue.

44. An aqueous acoustic coupling gel or paste configured for use with a bone conduction hearing device (BCHD), the gel or paste comprising a substantially cross-linked system of one or more polymers, the gel having a viscosity sufficient to stick to a bottom surface of the BCHD after having been disposed thereon by a user, the BCHD comprising a transducer configured to generate sound signals for transmission to a patient'"'"'s skull, wherein the gel is configured for use in conjunction with the BCHD by being disposed over at least portions of the bottom surface and between the bottom surface and the patient'"'"'s skull when the BCHD is secured, attached or magnetically coupled to the patient'"'"'s head or skull, and the gel is further configured to improve acoustic coupling and transmission of sound signals originating from the transducer to the patient'"'"'s skull.

45. The gel of claim 44, wherein the gel or paste is a water-soluble gel.

46. The gel of claim 44, wherein the gel comprises at least one of one or more of a cross-linked polyacrylate polymer, polyalkenyl ether, divinyl glycol propylene, glycol, glycerin, a carbomer, a carbopol, theolamine, water, demineralized water, distilled water, aloe vera, carrageenan, EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), salt, vitamin E, a preservative, a thickening agent, and a neutralizer.

47. The gel of claim 44, wherein the gel has a pH between about 5.5 and about 6.5.

48. The gel of claim 44, wherein the gel is at least one of substantially colorless, hypoallergenic, non-sterile, bacteriostatic, non-sensitizing to human skin, non-irritating to human skin, biocompatible, orally compatible, and ingestible.

49. The gel of claim 44, wherein the sound velocity of the gel ranges between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second.

50. The gel of claim 44, wherein the viscosity of the gel ranges between about 10 Pascal-seconds and about 20 Pascal-seconds.

51. The gel of claim 44, wherein the viscosity of the gel is sufficient to remain attached to the baseplate or spacer when applied thereon in a layer having a thickness ranging between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

52. The gel of claim 44, wherein the gel has an acoustic impedance substantially similar to soft human body tissue.