Listening device cap

• US 7,599,508 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Woods, Carla Mann, Lynch, Douglas P
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US10/823,880
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381322-324, 381326-328, 381/331, 381/381, 381/330, 600/25, 607 55- 57
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.

Claims

1. A system for an individual with impaired hearing, comprising:

a behind-the-ear (BTE) unit;

a head-mounted external component configured to communicate with the BTE unit and with an implanted device; and

an assistive listening device cap configured to attach to the head-mounted external component and to be worn external to a patient'"'"'s body;

wherein the assistive listening device cap includes data communication electronics;

wherein the assistive listening device cap is configured to mechanically attach to the exterior surface of the head-mounted external component; and

wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with corresponding communication electronics within the head-mounted external component.

2. The system of claim 1, the behind-the-ear unit including a cochlear implant speech processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with corresponding communication electronics of at least one of the behind-the-ear unit, the head-mounted external component, an earhook attached to the behind-the-ear unit, and a Bluetooth enabled phone adapter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with corresponding communications electronics implanted within the head of a patient with impaired hearing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with the communication electronics of the head-mounted external component through at least one of direct electrical contacts, wireless signals, and electrically conductive wire.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wireless signal is selected from the group comprising an infra-red signal, radio-frequency signal, optical data signal, and Bluetooth wireless signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are powered by at least one of a primary battery located within the assistive listening device cap, a rechargeable battery located within the assistive listening device cap, and an external power source capable of transmitting energy to the electronics of the assistive listening device cap.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the assistive listening device cap is configured to mechanically attach to the head-mounted external component by means of magnetic force.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with the communication electronics of the head-mounted external component through direct electrical contacts.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with the communication electronics of the head-mounted external component through wireless signals.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with the communication electronics of the head-mounted external component through electrically conductive wire.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are powered by a primary battery located within the assistive listening device cap.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are powered by a rechargeable battery located within the assistive listening device cap.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication electronics are powered by an external power source capable of transmitting energy to the electronics of the assistive listening device cap.

15. A method for a patient to use an implanted hearing device, comprising:

wearing a behind-the-ear (BTE) unit;

attaching to the head a head-mounted external component configured to communicate with the BTE unit and with an implanted device; and

mechanically attaching an assistive listening device cap to the head-mounted external component and external to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the assistive listening device cap includes data communication electronics configured to communicate with corresponding communication electronics within the head-mounted external component.

16. A system for an individual with impaired hearing, comprising:

an implantable hearing device;

a behind-the-ear unit;

a head-mounted external component configured to communicate with the behind-the-ear unit and the implantable hearing device; and

an assistive listening device cap configured to attach to the head-mounted external component and to be worn external to a patient'"'"'s body, wherein the assistive listening device cap includes data communication electronics configured to communicate with corresponding communication electronics within the head-mounted external component.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the implantable hearing device comprises a cochlear implant.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the implantable hearing device comprises an implantable hearing aid.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the data communication electronics are configured to communicate with the communication electronics of the head-mounted external component through at least one of direct electrical contacts, wireless signals, and electrically conductive wire.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the data communication electronics are powered by at least one of a primary battery located within the assistive listening device cap, a rechargeable battery located within the assistive listening device cap, and an external power source capable of transmitting energy to the electronics of the assistive listening device cap.