Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bone conduction apparatus, comprising:
- a housing configured to engage at least a portion of at least one tooth of a subject;
a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with at least one 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 transducer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth 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. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other hone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
222 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A bone conduction apparatus, comprising:
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a housing configured to engage at least a portion of at least one tooth of a subject; a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with at least one 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 transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of transmitting vibrations via at least one tooth, comprising:
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engaging at least a portion of at least one tooth of a subject via an apparatus having a housing such that an occlusal surface of the tooth remains unobstructed by the housing and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing remains in vibratory communication with at least one surface of the at least one tooth, wherein the apparatus remains engaged via an interference fit between the apparatus and at least two surfaces of the at least one tooth; receiving an auditory signal via a microphone separated at a distance from the housing; and transmitting vibrations corresponding to the auditory signal to the surface of the at least one tooth. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification