METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSCUTANEOUS PROXIMITY WIRELESS CONTROL OF A CANAL HEARING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A system for proximity wireless control of a canal hearing device comprising:
- a hand-held wireless controller configured to generate a magnetic field; and
a canal hearing device configured for positioning inside the ear canal, the canal hearing device having one or more reed switches incorporated within the canal hearing device, wherein one or more of the reed switches are configured to respond to the magnetic field when the magnetic field is applied non-invasively anterior to the ear at the temporomandibular joint region, said magnetic field being transmitted transcutaneously through the cartilaginous tissue to the in situ canal hearing device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Examples of systems and methods of wireless control of a canal hearing device by applying a magnetic field on the skin at the temporomandibular region of the head are described. An exemplary hearing device may include one or more magnetic sensors for wireless activation by the magnetic end of a remote control device applied inconspicuously to the anterior of the external ear. The activation of a reed switch magnetic sensor within the canal hearing device may be decoded by the electronics of the hearing device to implement a control command, such as volume change, program setting change, ON, or OFF. According to examples described, wireless control of the canal hearing device may be implemented with a natural, comfortable, and inconspicuous hand-arm motion. In some embodiments, multiple reed switches may be arranged to selectively respond to a magnetic field applied within distinct “hot spot” regions, for separate remote control commands.
26 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for proximity wireless control of a canal hearing device comprising:
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a hand-held wireless controller configured to generate a magnetic field; and a canal hearing device configured for positioning inside the ear canal, the canal hearing device having one or more reed switches incorporated within the canal hearing device, wherein one or more of the reed switches are configured to respond to the magnetic field when the magnetic field is applied non-invasively anterior to the ear at the temporomandibular joint region, said magnetic field being transmitted transcutaneously through the cartilaginous tissue to the in situ canal hearing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for wirelessly controlling a canal hearing device positioned inside the ear canal, the method comprising:
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positioning a remote control device externally at the temporomandibular region of the head anterior to the external ear; transmitting a magnetic field generated by the remote control device transcutaneously into the ear canal through the cartilaginous tissue; activating a reed switch incorporated within the canal hearing device in response to the magnetic field, the reed switch configured to generate a control command based on the activation of the reed switch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for wirelessly controlling a canal hearing device comprising:
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a hand-held remote control device configured to transmit a magnetic field; and a canal hearing device configured for positioning inside the ear canal, the canal hearing device having a plurality of magnetic sensors incorporated therein, wherein said magnetic sensors are configured to selectively respond to the magnetic field from the remote control device when said remote control device is positioned non-invasively at the temporomandibular region for transmitting the magnetic field transcutaneously to the canal hearing device through cartilaginous tissue. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of wirelessly controlling a canal hearing device positioned inside the ear canal comprising:
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positioning a remote control device configured to transmit a magnetic field non-invasively at the temporomandibular region of the head anterior of the external ear; transcutaneously transmitting the magnetic field into the ear canal through cartilaginous tissue to selectively activate one of multiple magnetic sensors incorporated within the canal hearing device positioned inside the ear canal; and decoding the activation of one or more magnetic sensors by the canal hearing device to implement a control command within said canal hearing device.
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- 34. A canal hearing device configured for placement inside the ear canal, the canal hearing device having one or more magnetic sensors incorporated therein and configured to respond to a magnetic field applied non-invasively anterior to the ear at the temporomandibular joint region and transmitted transcutaneously through cartilaginous tissue to the in situ canal hearing device.
Specification