Directionality device for auditory prosthesis microphone

• US 9,295,836 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Van den Heuvel, Koen, Hillbratt, Martin Evert Gustaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US13/968,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20150051439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 381/313, 381/327, 381/330, 381/370, 381/371, 381/374, 381/381
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/06 Hearing aids construction of hearing aids H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/402 using contructional means
• 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

Abstract

Devices are used to receive sound so as to enhance directionality in a single microphone auditory prosthesis. A tube including a plurality of openings directs sound into a microphone located on the auditory prosthesis. Directionality of such a system is based on a constructive and destructive interference between added sound components as sound enters the openings on the tube. The spacing and size of the openings can be configured such that sounds coming towards the recipient from a predetermined direction are received, while sounds from less desirable directions are cancelled out due to sound wave phase differences.

Claims

1. An auditory prosthesis comprising:

a housing;

a microphone disposed in the housing;

a microphone inlet defined by the housing for receiving a sound; and

an inlet tube comprising a first open end, wherein the first open end is connected to the housing so as to substantially surround the microphone inlet, and wherein the inlet tube defines at least one opening disposed along an outer surface of the inlet tube.

2. The auditory prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to the microphone for converting the received sound into an output signal; and

a stimulation element operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the stimulation element receives the output signal from the processor and transmits to a recipient a stimulus based at least in part on the output signal.

3. The auditory prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising:

an insert; and

an outlet tube connecting the insert to the housing, wherein the stimulation element is disposed in at least one of the auditory prosthesis and the insert.

4. The auditory prosthesis of claim 3, wherein the stimulation element comprises a first stimulation element and a second stimulation element, wherein the second stimulation element is disposed in the insert.

5. The auditory prosthesis of claim 4, wherein the first stimulation element comprises at least one of an electrode array and a vibration device.

6. The auditory prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the first stimulation element is the electrode array and the stimulus stimulates at least one of the auditory nerve and a portion of the cochlea.

7. The auditory prosthesis of claim 6, wherein the second stimulation element comprises a speaker and the stimulus comprises an output sound.

8. The auditory prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the stimulation element is disposed in the housing.

9. The auditory prosthesis of claim 8, wherein stimulation element comprises an electrode array and the stimulus stimulates at least one of the auditory nerve and a portion of the cochlea.

10. The auditory prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the stimulation element comprises at least one of a vibration device to transmit a vibration stimulation, an electrode array to transmit an electrical stimulation, and an acoustic device to transmit an acoustic stimulation.

11. An auditory prosthesis comprising:

a wearable housing adapted to be located behind an ear of a recipient;

a microphone disposed within the wearable housing;

a tube defining at least one opening along at least a portion of the length of the tube, wherein the tube is configured to conform to a portion of an ear of a recipient, and wherein the tube terminates at an inlet to the microphone, wherein the auditory prosthesis comprises at least one of a bone conduction auditory prosthesis and a cochlear implant.

12. The auditory prosthesis of claim 11, further comprising an insert adapted to deliver an output sound to a recipient, wherein the tube connects the insert to the wearable housing.

13. The auditory prosthesis of claim 12, further comprising a stimulation element.

14. The auditory prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the stimulation element comprises a speaker disposed within the insert, wherein the speaker is electrically coupled to the wearable housing.

15. The auditory prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the stimulation element comprises a speaker disposed within the wearable housing.

16. The auditory prosthesis of claim 13, wherein the stimulation element comprises at least one of an electrode array and a vibration element.

17. The auditory prosthesis of claim 11, wherein the auditory prosthesis further comprises an acoustic hearing aid.

18. An auditory prosthesis comprising:

a microphone inlet;

a microphone in communication with the microphone inlet; and

an inlet tube comprising an outer wall defining a lumen, a first opening through the outer wall, and a second opening through the outer wall, wherein the inlet tube terminates at the microphone inlet, and wherein the first opening and the second opening are separated by a distance such that a sound having a predetermined frequency and passing through both the first opening and the second opening is transmitted in phase within the tube.

19. The auditory prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the lumen transmits to the microphone a sound received via both the first opening and the second opening.

20. The auditory prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the predetermined frequency is in a range of about 500 Hz to about 6000 Hz.

21. The auditory prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the predetermined frequency is in a range of about 1000 Hz to about 4000 Hz.

22. The auditory prosthesis of claim 18, further comprising:

an insert connected to the inlet tube; and

a stimulation element disposed in at least one of the insert and the auditory prosthesis.

23. The auditory prosthesis of claim 22, wherein the stimulation element is disposed within the auditory prosthesis.

24. The auditory prosthesis of claim 23, further comprising an outlet tube, wherein the inlet tube is connected to the outlet tube at a septum.

25. The auditory prosthesis of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of openings is at least partially covered with a membrane.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a lens;

an armature connected to the lens, wherein the armature is configured to enable the lens to be worn on a recipient, and wherein the armature defines a plurality of openings and a hollow lumen in communication with the plurality of openings;

a microphone located proximate an end of the lumen;

an auditory prosthesis adapted to be secured to the armature proximate the microphone, wherein the auditory prosthesis comprises a bone conduction device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

an auditory prosthesis secured to the armature, wherein the microphone is disposed within the auditory prosthesis.

28. The apparatus of claim 26,

wherein the apparatus is a pair of eyeglasses.