Actuator systems for oral-based appliances
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to engage at least one, wherein the housing is positioned below an occlusal surface of 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, wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth; and
at least one microphone in communication with the apparatus.
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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.
209 Citations
69 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a housing that is configured to engage at least one, wherein the housing is positioned below an occlusal surface of 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, wherein said apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth; and at least one microphone in communication with the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of conducting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
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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 positioned below an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth and the apparatus produces an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth; receiving a signal via at least one microphone in communication with the apparatus; actuating the transducer to vibrate relative to the housing; and transmitting the vibrations from the transducer to at least one surface of the at least one tooth. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification