Actuator systems for oral-based appliances

• US 7,724,911 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Menzel, Christoph, Abolfathi, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saunders, Jr., Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/741,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20080019542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 381/151, 381/190, 381/312, 381/315, 381/322, 381/324, 381/326, 381/328, 381/380, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 381/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0093 Features of implants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0098 Immediate loaded implants
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

a housing that is configured to engage the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth or bonding to the at least one tooth;

a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and configured to transmit vibrations to a surface of the at least one tooth; and

a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the housing whereby movement of the mass element generates a force transmittable through the surface of the at least one tooth,

wherein the transducer comprises a flexible cap disposed along a first surface of the transducer such that the mass element is coupled to the transducer via the flexible cap whereby vibration of the transducer induces the mass element to vibrate in a direction transverse to a direction of the vibration of the transducer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least two arm members configured to be placed against opposite sides of the at least one tooth in a secure manner and a span member joining the two arm members.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the housing is removably securable to the at least one tooth.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises at least a first arm member configured to be placed against a first side of the at least one tooth and at least a second arm member configured to be placed against a second side of the tooth, and a span member that joins the first and second arm members, wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with the second arm member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a reflective layer disposed between the second arm member and the transducer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an oral appliance that conforms to the at least one tooth.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and which is in communication with the transducer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly is encapsulated within the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a power supply in electrical communication with the transducer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the power supply is rechargeable by inductance.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a processor in electrical communication with the transducer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a microphone for receiving auditory signals and which is in electrical communication with the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a receiver in wireless communication with an externally located transmitter assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is disposed along an outer surface of the housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is disposed along an inner surface of the housing against the surface of the at least one tooth.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a coupling layer disposed between the transducer and the surface of the at least one tooth.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional transducer disposed within or upon the housing and configured to be in vibratory communication with a second surface of the at least one tooth or at least a second tooth.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is configured to be in vibratory communication with a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is configured to be in vibratory communication with a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is configured to be in vibratory communication with an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having the mass element freely movable relative to the transducer.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer having the mass element tethered with respect to the transducer.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in an elongate direction relative to the length of the transducer.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a unimorph or bimorph composite transducer configured to vibrate in a bending mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a symmetrically configured composite transducer.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is coupled to the mass element at a first end of the transducer and wherein the transducer is further coupled to the housing at a second end of the transducer.

32. The apparatus of claim 1. wherein the transducer is coupled to the mass element at a center of the transducer and wherein the transducer is further coupled to the housing around a circumference of the transducer.

33. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one coil positioned adjacent to the transducer whereby induction of a current through the coil induces vibration in the transducer.

34. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the force transmitted through the surface of the at least one tooth is constant over a frequency range of interest.

35. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor for processing auditory signals, wherein the processor is in communication with the transducer.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the processor is in electrical communication with the transducer.

37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the processor is in wireless communication with the transducer.

38. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus fits over at least a portion of gingival tissue.

39. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured as an integrated assembly.

40. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a polymeric material.

28. The apparatus of claim l wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

41. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a housing and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing;

positioning the housing onto the at least one tooth of a user, wherein the housing is configured to engage the at least one tooth without requiring anatomical modification of the at least one tooth or bonding to the at least tooth;

receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by the user;

actuating a transducer such that a mass element coupled to the transducer is vibrated relative to the housing, wherein the transducer vibrates according to the electronic signal, and further wherein actuating comprises actuating a flexible cap disposed along a first surface of the transducer such that the mass element is coupled to the transducer via the flexible cap whereby vibration of the transducer induces the mass element to vibrate in a direction transverse to a direction of the vibration of the transducer; and

transmitting the vibrations from the transducer to at least one surface of the at least one tooth.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein positioning comprises maintaining contact between the at least one surface of the at least one tooth such that the transducer remains in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein receiving an electronic signal further comprising receiving the auditory signal via a microphone.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein positioning comprises positioning an interface layer between the transducer and the surface of the at least one tooth through which vibratory communication is maintained.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein positioning comprises contacting the transducer against a lingual or a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein positioning comprises contacting the transducer against a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein receiving an electronic signal further comprises transmitting the electronic signal to the actuator.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the electronic signal to the actuator.

49. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating an electromagnetic transducer.

50. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating a transducer comprises actuating a piezoelectric transducer.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein actuating the piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein actuating the piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in an elongate direction relative to the length of the transducer.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein actuating the piezoelectric transducer comprises applying a current to the transducer to vibrate the transducer in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

54. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises actuating a unimorph or bimorph composite transducer to vibrate in a bending mode.

55. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises actuating a symmetrically configured composite transducer.

56. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises actuating the mass element coupled at a first end of the transducer with the transducer coupled to the housing at a second end of the transducer.

57. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises actuating the mass element coupled at a center of the transducer with the transducer coupled to the housing around a circumference of the transducer.

58. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises inducing a current through at least one coil positioned adjacent to the transducer such that the transducer is vibrated.

59. The method of claim 41 wherein actuating the transducer comprises actuating at least one additional transducer to vibrate against at least a second surface of the at least one tooth or at least a second tooth.

60. The method of claim 41 wherein transmitting the vibrations comprises transmitting a constant force through the surface of the at least one tooth over a frequency range of interest.

61. The method of claim 41 wherein the apparatus fits over at least a portion of gingival tissue.

62. The method of claim 41 wherein the apparatus is configured as an integrated assembly.

63. The method of claim 41 wherein the housing comprises a polymeric material.

64. An apparatus for conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

a first and a second housing configured to be secured along opposite surfaces of the at least one tooth via first and second arm members, respectively, wherein the arm members are securely pressed against their respective surfaces;

a transducer disposed within or upon the first housing and configured to be in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth such that a force generated by the transducer is transmittable through the at least one tooth;

an electronic assembly disposed within the second housing; and

a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the first housing.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first and second arm members are configured to be biased towards one another whereby the arm members securely pressed against their respective surfaces.

66. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first and second arm members are connected via at least one span member.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.

68. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein the span member is configured to be placed against an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

69. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first arm member is configured to be placed against the lingual or the buccal surfaces of the at least one tooth.

70. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first and second housings are removably securable to the at least one tooth.

71. The apparatus of claim 64 further comprising an impedance matching layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.

72. The apparatus of claim 64 further comprising a reflective layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.

73. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer is disposed along an outer surface of the first housing.

74. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer is disposed along an inner surface of the first housing against the at least one tooth.

75. The apparatus of claim 64 further comprising at least one additional transducer disposed within or upon the first housing and configured to be in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth.

76. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

77. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer is configured to transmit vibrations to a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

78. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer is configured to transmit vibrations to an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.

79. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer and the mass element is freely movable relative to the transducer.

80. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer and the mass element is tethered with respect to the transducer.

81. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.

82. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in an elongate direction relative to a length of the transducer.

83. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.

84. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing fit over at least a portion of gingival tissue.

85. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the apparatus is configured as an integrated assembly.

86. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing comprise a polymeric material.

95. The method of claim 85 wherein transmitting comprises vibrating through an interface layer disposed between the transducer and the surfaces of the at least one tooth such that vibratory communication is maintained.

87. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:

providing an apparatus having a first housing, a second housing, a transducer disposed within or upon the first housing, a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the first housing, and an electronics assembly disposed within or upon the second housing;

securing the first and the second housings along opposite surfaces of the at least one tooth via first and second arm members, respectively, wherein the arm members are securely pressed against respective opposing surfaces of the at least one tooth;

actuating the transducer such that the transducer is vibrated relative to the first housing; and

transmitting the vibrations from the transducer to at least one surface of the at least one tooth.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein securing comprises positioning the first arm member along a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.

89. The method of claim 88 further comprising positioning the second arm member along a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.

90. The method of claim 87 wherein securing comprises biasing the first and second arm members towards one another such that the transducer is secured relative to the at least one tooth.

91. The method of claim 87 further comprising receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by a user prior to actuating the transducer.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein actuating the transducer comprises vibrating the transducer according to the electronic signal.

93. The method of claim 87 wherein actuating comprises actuating an electromagnetic transducer.

94. The method of claim 87 wherein actuating comprises actuating a piezoelectric transducer.

96. The method of claim 87 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing fit over at least a portion of gingival tissue.

97. The method of claim 87 wherein the apparatus is configured as an integrated assembly.

98. The method of claim 87 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing comprise a polymeric material.