In the ear auxiliary microphone system for behind the ear hearing prosthetic
First Claim
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1. A Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, comprising:
- a BTE device, wherein the BTE device includes speech processor;
an In The Ear (ITE) microphone, wherein the ITE microphone includes a soundport on one end and multiple terminals on the other;
means for electrically connecting the terminal end of the ITE microphone to the speech processor of the BTE device; and
a bendable, formable stalk having a first end attached to the BTE device and a second end adapted to be attached to the terminal end of the ITE microphone, wherein the stalk includes at least one stiffening member, and wherein the stalk is adapted to position the ITE microphone within the concha of a user'"'"'s ear so that the soundport of the ITE microphone points axially away from a longitudinal axis of the stalk.
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Abstract
An In The Ear (ITE) microphone improves the acoustic response of a Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system during telephone use. An acoustic seal provided by holding a telephone earpiece against the ear provides improved coupling of low frequency (up to about 1 KHz) sound waves, sufficient to overcome losses due to the near field acoustic characteristics common to telephones. In a preferred embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.
128 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A Behind The Ear (BTE) Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system, comprising:
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a BTE device, wherein the BTE device includes speech processor; an In The Ear (ITE) microphone, wherein the ITE microphone includes a soundport on one end and multiple terminals on the other; means for electrically connecting the terminal end of the ITE microphone to the speech processor of the BTE device; and a bendable, formable stalk having a first end attached to the BTE device and a second end adapted to be attached to the terminal end of the ITE microphone, wherein the stalk includes at least one stiffening member, and wherein the stalk is adapted to position the ITE microphone within the concha of a user'"'"'s ear so that the soundport of the ITE microphone points axially away from a longitudinal axis of the stalk. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An Implantable Cochlear Stimulation (ICS) system comprising:
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a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) speech processor, the BTE speech processor having an earhook adapted to allow the BTE speech processor to be worn behind the ear of a user; and a microphone assembly detachably connected to the BTE speech processor, comprising a microphone, and a bendable, formable stalk, wherein the microphone has a soundport and a plurality of terminals, and is adapted to be electrically connected to the BTE speech processor using a plurality of conductors attached to the plurality of terminals, and wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors is connected to the BTE speech processor through a mating connector, and wherein the bendable, formable stalk has a first end attached to the earhook and a second end attached to the microphone, and wherein the microphone is positioned on the second end of the stalk so as to be adapted to reside within a concha of a user'"'"'s ear with the soundport directed in a direction set by the user when the BTE unit is worn on the user'"'"'s ear.
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Specification