Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals

• US 9,781,526 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Soundmed, LLC
• Inventors: Abolfathi, Amir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Phan
• Application Number:
  US14/936,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 381326
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0093 Features of implants not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/0098 Immediate loaded implants
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/01 Hearing devices using active noise cancellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations comprising:

a transducer housing configured to engage a first portion of at least one tooth, wherein the first portion is on a lingual or a buccal side of the at least one tooth;

an actuatable transducer configured to transmit vibrations to the at least one tooth; and

an electronics housing configured to engage a second portion of the at least one tooth, wherein the second portion is opposite the first portion,

wherein the transducer housing and the electronics housing are biased to press against the at least one tooth to secure the apparatus to the at least one tooth.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer housing and/or the electronics housing comprise a polymer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to omit an occlusal surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuatable transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within the electronics housing, wherein the electronic assembly comprises a processor and/or a rechargeable power supply.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within the electronics housing, wherein the electronic assembly comprises a receiver in wireless communication with a transmitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic assembly; and

at least one microphone in communication with the electronic assembly for receiving an auditory signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one microphone is positioned within or upon the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one microphone comprises an intra-buccal microphone.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second microphone for receiving a second auditory signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuatable transducer is disposed within the transducer housing, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an electronic assembly disposed within an electronics housing; and

at least one microphone in communication with the electronic assembly for receiving an auditory signal.

11. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations comprising:

a transducer housing configured to engage a first portion of at least one tooth, wherein the first portion is on a lingual or a buccal side of the at least one tooth;

an actuatable transducer configured to transmit vibrations to the at least one tooth; and

an electronics housing configured to engage a second portion of the at least one tooth, wherein the second portion is opposite the first portion,

wherein the transducer housing and the electronics housing produce an interference fit between the apparatus and the at least one tooth.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one microphone is positioned within or upon the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one microphone comprises an intra-buccal microphone.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second microphone for receiving a second auditory signal.

16. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations comprising:

a transducer housing configured to engage at least a first portion of a tooth;

an actuatable transducer configured to transmit vibrations to the tooth; and

an electronics housing configured to engage at least a second portion of the tooth or at least a portion of another tooth, wherein the at least a second portion of the tooth or the at least a portion of another tooth is opposite the first portion,

wherein the transducer housing is biased to press against the tooth and the electronics housing is biased to press against the tooth or the another tooth to secure the apparatus to the tooth and/or the another tooth via an interference fit.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the actuatable transducer is disposed within the transducer housing, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an electronic assembly disposed within an electronics housing; and

at least one microphone in communication with the electronic assembly for receiving an auditory signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one microphone is positioned within or upon the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one microphone comprises an intra-buccal microphone.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a second microphone for receiving a second auditory signal.