Bone conduction hearing aid devices and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via at least one tooth to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
- a bracket affixed to a surface of the at least one tooth; and
a housing assembly configured to engage more than one side of the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth,wherein the housing assembly is removably coupled to the bracket such that an actuatable transducer is placed in vibratory communication with the bracket and wherein the transducer conducts vibrations directly into the surface via the bracket.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may include a bracket which is adhered or affixed onto the tooth or teeth and an electronics and/or transducer assembly which may be removably coupled to the bracket. The electronic and/or transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to the bracket for transmission into the underlying tooth or other bone structure.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via at least one tooth to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
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a bracket affixed to a surface of the at least one tooth; and a housing assembly configured to engage more than one side of the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth, wherein the housing assembly is removably coupled to the bracket such that an actuatable transducer is placed in vibratory communication with the bracket and wherein the transducer conducts vibrations directly into the surface via the bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of transmitting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
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affixing a bracket onto a surface of the at least one tooth; coupling a removable housing assembly onto the bracket, wherein the housing assembly is configured to engage more than one side of the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth; and actuating a transducer within the housing assembly which is in vibratory communication with the bracket such that the transducer conducts vibrations directly into the surface via the bracket. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification