METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING VIBRATIONS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via bone or tissue to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
- an implant having an implant head and a threaded portion adapted to be positioned below a gum line; and
a housing having a removable actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing, where the housing is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient and which is removably coupled to the implant head such that the removable actuatable transducer is in vibratory communication with the implant head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. 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 bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting vibrations via bone or tissue to facilitate hearing in a patient, comprising:
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an implant having an implant head and a threaded portion adapted to be positioned below a gum line; and a housing having a removable actuatable transducer disposed within or upon the housing, where the housing is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient and which is removably coupled to the implant head such that the removable actuatable transducer is in vibratory communication with the implant head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of transmitting vibrations via one or more dental implants, comprising:
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placing the one or more dental implants on a patient; and positioning an actuatable transducer which is sized for placement within a mouth of the patient and which is also removable from the one or more dental implants such that the implant and transducer remain in vibratory communication. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification