Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via bone or tissue to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
- an implant having an implant head and a threaded portion adapted to be positioned below a gum line; and
a housing which is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient; and
,an actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing and which is removable therefrom, wherein the transducer is removably coupled to the implant head such that when connected the transducer is in vibratory communication with the implant head and when removed the transducer is not in communication with the implant head.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and 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 a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via bone or tissue to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
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an implant having an implant head and a threaded portion adapted to be positioned below a gum line; and a housing which is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient; and
,an actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing and which is removable therefrom, wherein the transducer is removably coupled to the implant head such that when connected the transducer is in vibratory communication with the implant head and when removed the transducer is not in communication with the implant head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of transmitting vibrations via one or more dental implants, comprising:
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placing a threaded portion of the one or more dental implants below a gum line of a patient; and positioning an actuatable transducer which is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient, wherein the transducer is removable from the one or more dental implants such that when connected the transducer is in vibratory communication with the implant and when removed the transducer is not in communication with the implant. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification