Optically coupled bone conduction systems and methods
First Claim
1. A device to transmit a sound to a user having a cochlea on a first side and a second cochlea on a second side, the device comprising:
- an input assembly configured to receive a sound input, the input assembly comprising a light source to transmit a light; and
an output assembly comprising an output transducer configured to couple to a substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound and vibrate the cochlea on the first side with bone conduction of the substantially fixed bone tissue, wherein the sound transmitted to the cochlea is substantially attenuated at the second cochlea, the output assembly further comprising,at least one photodetector to receive the light,an anchor configured to affix the output transducer assembly to the substantially fixed bone tissue and support the output assembly with the substantially fixed bone tissue of the ear;
wherein the output transducer vibrates the substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction in response to the light and wherein the transducer is configured to vibrate the second cochlea located on the second side of the user with substantial attenuation of the sound at the second cochlea sufficient for the user to localize the sound to the first side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing device can allow a user to determine from side which a sound originates with bone conduction vibration of the cochlea and the user can also receive sound localization cues from the device, as feedback can be substantially inhibited with bone conduction vibration of the cochlea. An output transducer assembly can be positioned on a first side of the user to vibrate a first bone tissue near a first cochlea with a first amount of energy, such vibration of a second cochlea on a second side with a second amount of energy is attenuated substantially, for example at least about 6 db, such that the user can localize the sound to the first side. A microphone may be located on the first side and coupled to the output transducer assembly, such that the user localizes the sound to the first side detects sound localization cues.
344 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A device to transmit a sound to a user having a cochlea on a first side and a second cochlea on a second side, the device comprising:
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an input assembly configured to receive a sound input, the input assembly comprising a light source to transmit a light; and an output assembly comprising an output transducer configured to couple to a substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound and vibrate the cochlea on the first side with bone conduction of the substantially fixed bone tissue, wherein the sound transmitted to the cochlea is substantially attenuated at the second cochlea, the output assembly further comprising, at least one photodetector to receive the light, an anchor configured to affix the output transducer assembly to the substantially fixed bone tissue and support the output assembly with the substantially fixed bone tissue of the ear; wherein the output transducer vibrates the substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction in response to the light and wherein the transducer is configured to vibrate the second cochlea located on the second side of the user with substantial attenuation of the sound at the second cochlea sufficient for the user to localize the sound to the first side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system to transmit a sound to a user having a first ear on a first side and a second ear on a second side, the first ear having a first cochlea on the first side, the second ear having a second cochlea on the second side, the system comprising:
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a first input assembly configured to receive a first sound with a first microphone on the first side of the user, the first input assembly comprising a first light source to transmit a first light; a first output assembly comprising a first transducer configured to couple to a first substantially fixed bone tissue on the first side to transmit the first sound to the user with bone conduction of the first substantially fixed bone tissue, the output transducer assembly further comprising, at least one first photodetector to receive the first light, a first anchor configured to affix the first output transducer assembly to the first substantially fixed bone tissue and support the first output assembly with the first substantially fixed bone tissue of the ear, wherein the first output transducer vibrates the first substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the first sound to the user with bone conduction in response to the first light and wherein the first sound transmitted to the first cochlea is substantially attenuated at the second cochlea and wherein the first transducer is configured to vibrate the second cochlea located on the second side of the user with substantial attenuation of the sound at the second cochlea sufficient for the user to localize the sound to the first side; a second input assembly configured to receive a second sound with a second microphone on a second side of the user, the second output transducer assembly comprising a second light source to transmit a second light; and a second output assembly comprising a second transducer configured to couple to a second substantially fixed bone tissue of on the second side to transmit the second sound to the user with bone conduction of the second substantially fixed bone tissue, the output transducer assembly further comprising, at least one second photodetector to receive the second light, a second anchor configured to affix the second output transducer assembly to the second substantially fixed bone tissue and support the second output assembly with the second substantially fixed bone tissue, wherein the second output transducer vibrates the second substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the second sound to the user with bone conduction in response to the second light and wherein the second sound transmitted to the second cochlea is substantially attenuated at the first cochlea and wherein the second transducer is configured to vibrate the first cochlea located on the first side of the user with substantial attenuation of the sound at the first cochlea sufficient for the user to localize the sound to the second side. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of transmitting sound to a user having an ear comprising substantially fixed bone tissue, the user having a cochlea are located on a first side of the user and a second cochlea located on a second side opposite the first side, the method comprising:
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transmitting light energy from an input assembly to an output transducer connected to the substantially fixed bone tissue; receiving the light energy with at least one photodetector of an output assembly comprising the output transducer, and vibrating the substantially fixed bone tissue with the output transducer in response to the light energy to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction, wherein the transducer vibrates the cochlea with a first amount of energy in response to the light energy and vibrates the second cochlea with a second amount of energy in response to the light energy, and wherein the second amount is less than the first amount such that the user localizes the sound to the first side. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of providing an output assembly to transmit sound to a user having an ear comprising a substantially fixed bone tissue, the user having a cochlea are located on a first side of the user and a second cochlea located on a second side opposite the first side, the method comprising:
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providing the output assembly comprising an output transducer, the output assembly comprising at least one photodetector to receive a light energy; forming a channel in the substantially fixed bone tissue; and positioning an end of the assembly at least partially within the channel to couple the transducer to the substantially fixed bone tissue, wherein the output transducer vibrates the substantially fixed bone tissue in response to the light energy to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction, wherein the transducer vibrates the cochlea with a first amount of energy in response to the light energy and vibrates the second cochlea with a second amount of energy in response to the light energy, and wherein the second amount is less than the first amount such that the user localizes the sound to the first side. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A device to transmit a sound to a user having an ear having a substantially fixed bone tissue, the user having a cochlea are located on a first side of the user and a second cochlea located on a second side opposite the first side, the device comprising:
input assembly means for transmitting a light signal; and output assembly means for receiving the light signal and vibrating the substantially fixed bone tissue in response to the light signal to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction, wherein the output assembly means vibrates the cochlea with a first amount of energy in response to the light energy and vibrates the second cochlea with a second amount of energy in response to the light energy, and wherein the second amount is less than the first amount such that the user localizes the sound to the first side.
Specification