Method and apparatus for a programmable implantable hearing aid
First Claim
1. A hearing aid including a built-in electronics being in wireless and data communications with a programmer, the hearing aid and the programmer forming a system comprising:
- an implanted electronics system;
an input and an output transducer in electrical communication with the electronics system; and
the programmer including a transceiver means and telemetry means being in communications with the electronics system, the programmer including electronics for encoding settings provided thereto into a one of digital pulse code modulated format or digital pulse interval format;
wherein said implanted electronics system is adapted to be installed at least subcutaneously and said input and output transducers are adapted to be installed in an ear region of the patient wherein the programmer wirelessly communicates with the electronics system to influence operational parameters of the hearing aid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention discloses a programmable implantable hearing aid including built-in electronics being in wireless communications with a hand-held programmer. The programmer transmits digital code signals of the type including RF, infrared and ultrasonic, based on selected parameter settings. A receiver accepts the signals for transmission to an input transducer in the middle ear. The input transducer collects the middle ear'"'"'s response to the signals and transmits it to a circuit in the implanted hearing aid. The circuit searches for specific programming patterns and decodes the signals to effectuate the desired adjustment in the hearing aid. The conditioned signals are then transferred to an output transducer to operate the device at the adjusted signal level and condition. The invention enables both a patient and doctor to make unlimited number of adjustments in the implanted hearing aid without invasive surgery.
109 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hearing aid including a built-in electronics being in wireless and data communications with a programmer, the hearing aid and the programmer forming a system comprising:
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an implanted electronics system;
an input and an output transducer in electrical communication with the electronics system; and
the programmer including a transceiver means and telemetry means being in communications with the electronics system, the programmer including electronics for encoding settings provided thereto into a one of digital pulse code modulated format or digital pulse interval format;
wherein said implanted electronics system is adapted to be installed at least subcutaneously and said input and output transducers are adapted to be installed in an ear region of the patient wherein the programmer wirelessly communicates with the electronics system to influence operational parameters of the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an implanted hearing aid wherein a telemetry system comprising digital data streams is implemented to send and receive signals between a circuit in the implanted hearing aid and an external programmer, the telemetry system comprising:
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means for transmitting programmed signals from the programmer;
means for receiving said programmed signals in the circuit; and
means for identifying and decoding specific patterns in said programmed signals, said means for transmitting and said means for receiving being in wireless communication to enable remote adjustment of the implanted hearing aid based on said specific patterns of programmed signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of adjusting an implanted hearing aid using a programmer being in wireless communication with the hearing aid, the method comprising the device implemented steps of:
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transmitting signals having specific patterns from the programmer;
receiving the signals via a circuit in the hearing aid;
recording response signals within the middle ear via an output transducer;
analyzing the response signals from the transducer;
conditioning the response signals; and
transferring to an output transducer a conditioned set of response signals to make adjustments in the hearing aid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hearing aid including a built-in electronics being in wireless and data communications with a programmer, the hearing aid and the programmer forming a system comprising:
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an implanted electronics system;
an input and an output transducer in electrical communication with the electronics system; and
the programmer including a transceiver and telemetry components being in communications with the electronics system, wherein a digital data stream is used within said telemetry means;
wherein said implanted electronics system is adapted to be installed at least subcutaneously and said input and output transducers are adapted to be installed in an ear region of the patient wherein the programmer wirelessly communicates with the electronics system to influence operational parameters of the hearing aid.
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22. A hearing aid including a built-in electronics being in wireless and data communications with a programmer, the hearing aid and the programmer forming a system comprising:
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an implanted electronics system;
an input and an output transducer in electrical communication with the electronics system; and
the programmer including a transceiver and telemetry components being in communications with the electronics system, wherein the programmer is adapted to send encoded acoustic signals;
wherein said implanted electronics system is adapted to be installed at least subcutaneously and said input and output transducers are adapted to be installed in an ear region of the patient wherein the programmer wirelessly communicates with the electronics system to influence operational parameters of the hearing aid.
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Specification