Bone conduction hearing assistance device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bone conduction hearing aid comprising:
- an acoustic vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and producing an acoustic vibration signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vibrations;
electronics for receiving and amplifying the acoustic vibration signal to produce an amplified acoustic vibration signal;
a power source for supplying electrical power to the electronics; and
an in-the-ear member having;
an insertion portion for being inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal adjacent the mastoid bone;
a non-insertion portion connected to said insertion portion and positioned in the concha of the user'"'"'s ear when said insertion portion is positioned in the user'"'"'s ear canal; and
a vibrator carried by said non-insertion portion and in vibrational communication with said insertion portion, said vibrator being configured to receive the amplified acoustic vibration signal and produce vibrations which are conducted by the insertion portion to the mastoid bone of the user.
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Abstract
A bone conduction hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component and a behind-the-ear (BTE) component. A bone vibrator is carried by the ITE component and positioned in the concha of the ear when in use. A vibrationally conductive structural member of the ITE component conducts vibration produced by the vibrator into the ear canal. From there, the vibration is transferred to a cochlea of the user by way of the mastoid bone, enabling enhanced hearing perception in patients with hearing loss.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A bone conduction hearing aid comprising:
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an acoustic vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and producing an acoustic vibration signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vibrations; electronics for receiving and amplifying the acoustic vibration signal to produce an amplified acoustic vibration signal; a power source for supplying electrical power to the electronics; and an in-the-ear member having; an insertion portion for being inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal adjacent the mastoid bone; a non-insertion portion connected to said insertion portion and positioned in the concha of the user'"'"'s ear when said insertion portion is positioned in the user'"'"'s ear canal; and a vibrator carried by said non-insertion portion and in vibrational communication with said insertion portion, said vibrator being configured to receive the amplified acoustic vibration signal and produce vibrations which are conducted by the insertion portion to the mastoid bone of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bone conduction hearing aid comprising:
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a behind-the-ear member for being worn behind the ear of a user, said behind-the-ear member having; an acoustic vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and producing an acoustic vibration signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vibrations; electronics for receiving and amplifying the acoustic vibration signal to produce an amplified acoustic vibration signal; and a power source for supplying electrical power to the electronics; and an in-the-ear member for being partially inserted into the ear canal of a user, said in-the-ear member having; an insertion portion for being removably inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal adjacent the mastoid bone; a non-insertion portion connected to said insertion portion and positioned in the concha of the user'"'"'s ear when said insertion portion is positioned in the user'"'"'s ear canal; and a vibrator carried by said non-insertion portion and in vibrational communication with said insertion portion, said vibrator being configured to receive the amplified acoustic vibration signal and produce vibrations which are conducted by the insertion portion to the mastoid bone of the user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A bone conduction hearing aid comprising:
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a behind-the-ear member for being worn behind the ear of a user, said behind-the-ear member having; an acoustic vibration sensor for sensing acoustic vibrations and producing an acoustic vibration signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vibrations; electronics for receiving and amplifying the acoustic vibration signal to produce an amplified acoustic vibration signal; and a power source for supplying electrical power to the electronics; and an in-the-ear member for being partially inserted into the ear canal of a user, said in-the-ear member having; an insertion portion for being removably inserted into a user'"'"'s ear canal adjacent the mastoid bone; a non-insertion portion connected to said insertion portion and positioned in the concha of the user'"'"'s ear when said insertion portion is positioned in the user'"'"'s ear canal, said non-insertion portion being fabricated from a vibration attenuating material; and a vibrator carried by said non-insertion portion and in vibrational communication with said insertion portion, said vibrator being configured to receive the amplified acoustic vibration signal and produce vibrations which are conducted by the insertion portion to the mastoid bone of the user.
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Specification