Direct bone conduction hearing aid device
First Claim
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1. A direct bone conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, said device comprising:
- sound processing means for converting sound into an analog electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signal and being adapted to be placed supercutaneously on the skull of a hearing impaired person and having first magnetic means therein; and
vibration generating means adapted to be implanted subcutaneously and comprising means for securing said vibration generating means subcutaneously to a skull bone of the hearing impaired person and second magnetic means (1) for cooperating with said first magnetic means to hold said transmitter in position supercutaneously on the skull of the hearing impaired person, (2) for receiving the electromagnetic signal from said transmitter of said sound processing means, and (3) for vibrating the skull bone in response to such electromagnetic signal;
whereby, vibrations are generated subcutaneously in response to the analog electromagnetic signal and conducted through the bones of the skull to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound in the hearing impaired person.
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Abstract
A direct bone conduction hearing aid device is disclosed and includes a sound processor for receiving sound and generating an amplified electromagnetic signal in response thereto. This signal is transmitted to a subcutaneously implanted vibration generating means which is secured to a skull bone of the user and which includes magnetic means. An analog signal causes the magnet to vibrate and these vibrations are transmitted to the skull bone and thence to the cochlea to create the perception of sound.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A direct bone conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, said device comprising:
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sound processing means for converting sound into an analog electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signal and being adapted to be placed supercutaneously on the skull of a hearing impaired person and having first magnetic means therein; and vibration generating means adapted to be implanted subcutaneously and comprising means for securing said vibration generating means subcutaneously to a skull bone of the hearing impaired person and second magnetic means (1) for cooperating with said first magnetic means to hold said transmitter in position supercutaneously on the skull of the hearing impaired person, (2) for receiving the electromagnetic signal from said transmitter of said sound processing means, and (3) for vibrating the skull bone in response to such electromagnetic signal;
whereby, vibrations are generated subcutaneously in response to the analog electromagnetic signal and conducted through the bones of the skull to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound in the hearing impaired person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A direct bone conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, said device comprising:
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sound processing means for converting sound into an analog electromagnetic signal and including an output transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signal and being adapted to be placed supercutaneously behind at least one ear of a hearing impaired person and having a first permanent magnet means therein; and vibration generating means adapted to be implanted subcutaneously and comprising at least one bone screw for being implanted in the mastoid area of the temporal bone behind at least one ear of the person and a second permanent magnet means connected to said bone screw (1) for cooperating with said first permanent magnet means to hold said transmitter in position supercutaneously behind the ear of the hearing impaired person, (2) for receiving the electromagnetic signal from said transmitter of said sound processing means, and (3) for vibrating said bone screw and the temporal bone of the hearing impaired person in response to such electromagnetic signal;
whereby vibrations are generated subcutaneously in response to an analog electromagnetic signal and conducted through the bones of the skull to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound in the hearing impaired person. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A direct bone conduction hearing aid device characterized by increased comfort and aesthetic appearance, said device comprising:
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sound processing means for converting sound into an analog electromagnetic signal and including a sensitive microphone, electronic means for converting said sound received by said microphone into the electromagnetic signal, and an output transmitter for transmitting the electromagnetic signal and being adapted to be placed supercutaneously behind at least one ear of a hearing impaired person and having a first permanent magnet means therein, and vibration generating means adapted to be implanted subcutaneously and comprising a bone screw for being implanted in the mastoid area of the temporal bone behind the ear of the person and a second permanent magnet means connected to said bone screw (1) for cooperating with said first permanent magnet means to hold said transmitter in position supercutaneously behind the ear of the person, (2) for receiving the elecromagnetic signal from said transmitter of said sound processing means, and (3) for vibrating said bone screw and the temporal bone of the person in response to such electromagnetic signal, said bone screw including a cap on the end thereof opposite the end implanted in the temporal bone and said second permanent magnet being adhered to said cap;
whereby vibrations are generated subcutaneously in response to an analog electromagnetic signal and conducted through the bone of the skull to stimulate the inner ear to create the perception of sound. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification