Ear auxiliary microphone for behind the ear hearing prosthetic

• US 6,775,389 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Crawford, Scott, Segel, Philip A., Fernald, C. Geoffrey E., Hartley, Lee F., Harrison, William Vanbrooks
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/927,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326, 381/327, 381/328, 381/330, 381/380, 381/381, 381/312, 381/322, 381/375, 381/71.6, 607/56, 607/57, 128/903, 379/430, 379/52
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49176 with molding of electrically insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49178 by shrinking of cover

Abstract

An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In a preferred embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.

Claims

1. A method for improving the acoustic performance of an implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, comprising:

providing a microphone suitable for placement within the ear of a user;

electrically connecting the microphone to a speech processor of an ICS system;

placing the microphone in the ear of the user; and

holding an earpiece of a communications device against the ear;

wherein electrically connecting the microphone to a speech processor of an ICS system comprises electrically connecting the microphone to a speech processor of a Behind The Ear (BTE) ICS system; and

further comprising mechanically connecting the microphone to the BTE ICS system using a bendable, formable stalk, and wherein placing the microphone in the ear of the user comprises positioning the BTE ICS system on the ear, and bending the stalk to position the microphone in the ear.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein mechanically connecting the microphone to the BTE ICS system further comprises mechanically connecting the microphone to the BTE ICS system using a bendable, formable stalk and earhook, wherein the earhook is removable connectable to the BTE ICS, and the stalk connects the microphone to the earhook.

3. The method claim 2 wherein placing the microphone in the ear of the user comprises placing the microphone in the recessed area of the ear above and behind the tragus, whereby the microphone resides in the air space inside the ear wherein the microphone face the bottom mar of the ear.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein electrically connecting the microphone to a speech processor comprises attaching the earhook to the BTE ICS.