In the ear auxiliary microphone for behind the ear hearing prosthetic
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, the BTE including a removable earhook and the ICS system including a speech processor, the apparatus comprising:
- a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone, wherein the microphone includes means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor;
means for securing the microphone assembly to the BTE ICS system, andmeans for adjusting the microphone to receive sound waves through a port,wherein the securing means includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end directed towards the inside of a user'"'"'s ear;
wherein the microphone assembly is attached to the second end of the securing means; and
wherein the microphone assembly is adjusted so that when an earpiece of a communications handset is held to the ear, the port is open to the volume between the earpiece and the ear.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. The microphone includes means for adjusting the position of the microphone to receive sound waves through a port. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In an exemplary embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, the BTE including a removable earhook and the ICS system including a speech processor, the apparatus comprising:
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a microphone assembly, wherein the microphone assembly includes a microphone, wherein the microphone includes means for electrically connecting the microphone to the speech processor; means for securing the microphone assembly to the BTE ICS system, and means for adjusting the microphone to receive sound waves through a port, wherein the securing means includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end directed towards the inside of a user'"'"'s ear; wherein the microphone assembly is attached to the second end of the securing means; and wherein the microphone assembly is adjusted so that when an earpiece of a communications handset is held to the ear, the port is open to the volume between the earpiece and the ear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for use with a Behind The Ear Implantable Cochlear Stimulation system, comprising:
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an earhook configured to be removably attachable to a Behind The Ear (BTE) unit of an Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system; a microphone having a soundport; means for electrically connecting the microphone to a speech processor of the ICS system; means for securing the microphone to the BTE ICS system, and wherein the means for securing includes a first end attached to the earhook and a second end attached to the microphone, and wherein the microphone is adjusted to reside within the space defined by a concha of a users'"'"' ear when the BTE unit is worn on the user'"'"'s ear. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification