Bone conducting floating mass transducers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for improving hearing, comprising:
- a housing adapted to be mounted to a skull bone of a person, the skull bone further comprising at least one of a plurality of skull bone segments; and
a mass mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the mass vibrates relative to the housing in direct response to an externally generated electrical signal;
whereby vibration of the mass causes inertial vibration of the housing producing vibrations in the skull bone.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A floating mass transducer for assisting hearing in a person is provided. Inertial vibration in the floating mass transducer (100) produces vibrations in the inner ear. In an exemplary embodiment, the floating mass transducer comprises a magnet assembly (12) and a coil (14) secured inside a housing (10) which is attached to bone within the middle ear. The coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet. The magnet assembly and coil are configured such that conducting alternating electrical current through the coil results in vibration of the magnet assembly and coil relative to one another. The vibration is caused by the interaction of the magnetic fields of the magnet assembly and coil. Because the coil is more rigidly secured to the housing than the magnet assembly, the vibrations of the coil cause the housing to vibrate. The floating mass transducer may generate vibrations in the inner ear by being attached to the skull or through a mouthpiece.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for improving hearing, comprising:
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a housing adapted to be mounted to a skull bone of a person, the skull bone further comprising at least one of a plurality of skull bone segments; and a mass mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the mass vibrates relative to the housing in direct response to an externally generated electrical signal; whereby vibration of the mass causes inertial vibration of the housing producing vibrations in the skull bone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of improving hearing, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a housing to a skull bone of a person, the skull bone further comprising at least one of a plurality of skull bone segments, wherein the housing is mechanically coupled to an inertial mass which vibrates relative to the housing in response to an externally generated electrical signal; and connecting the housing to an external microphone which produces the electrical signal in response to ambient sound. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification