Anatomically customized ear canal hearing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a transducer;
a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and wherein the retention structure comprises a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user,wherein the layer comprising the one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) has a thickness to resist deflection away from the shape profile and wherein the layer comprises the shape profile in an unloaded configuration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods and apparatus suitable for use with hearing devices. A vapor deposition process can be used to make a retention structure having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue surface, such as a retention structure having a shape profile corresponding to one or more of an eardrum, the eardrum annulus, or a skin of the ear canal. The retention structure can be resilient and may comprise an anatomically accurate shape profile corresponding to a portion of the ear, such that the resilient retention structure provides mechanical stability for an output transducer assembly placed in the ear for an extended time. The output transducer may couple to the eardrum with direct mechanical coupling or acoustic coupling when retained in the ear canal with the retention structure.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and wherein the retention structure comprises a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the layer comprising the one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) has a thickness to resist deflection away from the shape profile and wherein the layer comprises the shape profile in an unloaded configuration. - 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, 38, 39)
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32. A method of manufacturing an output transducer assembly for placement within a canal of an ear of a user, the user having an eardrum, the method comprising:
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providing a retention structure sized to fit within the ear canal and contact one or more of a skin of the ear canal or an eardrum annulus, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene); coupling a support to the retention structure, wherein the support is sized to fit within the ear canal and defines an aperture; and coupling a transducer to the support, the transducer comprising an elongate vibratory structure, and wherein the transducer is coupled to the support such that the elongate vibratory structure extends through the aperture to couple the transducer to the eardrum when the elongate structure is placed within the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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40. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and has a thickness to resist deflection away from the shape profile and wherein the layer comprises the shape profile in an unloaded configuration; a support; a coupling structure shaped to engage an eardrum to vibrate the eardrum; and a biasing structure to adjust an offset between the support and the coupling structure. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and wherein the retention structure comprises a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the tissue comprises an eardrum having a first resistance to deflection and a bony portion of the ear canal having a second resistance to deflection greater than the first resistance and wherein the layer comprises a resistance to deflection greater than the eardrum and less than the bony portion of the ear canal.
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44. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and wherein the retention structure comprises a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the retention structure comprises a transparent material.
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45. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the layer comprises one or more of poly(chloro-p-xylylene), poly(p-xylylene), poly(dichloro-p-xylylene), or fluorinated poly(p-xylylene) and wherein the retention structure comprises a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the apparatus is a hearing device, a communication system, or an entertainment system.
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Specification