Non-air-conducted Sound Delivery Patents (Class 381/326)
  • Patent number: 8233654
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8229147
    Abstract: According to various embodiment of a method of operating a hearing instrument, an acoustic signal pathway is provided from a microphone through a signal processor to a hearing instrument (HI) receiver in an acoustic mode of operation. An RF transmit signal pathway is provided from the microphone to an RF transmitter, and an RF receive signal pathway is provided from the RF receiver through the signal processor to the HI receiver in an RF mode of operation. An input signal representative of sound detected by the microphone is adaptively filtered. A first adaptation rate is used for the acoustic mode of operation and a second adaptation rate is used for the RF mode of operation. The second adaptation rate is faster than the first adaptation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Strakey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon S. Kindred, Jeffrey Paul Solum
  • Patent number: 8224013
    Abstract: A digital audio player device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form an intraoral MP3 player. In another embodiment, the device provides an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a DAP. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir A. Abolfathi, Jason R. Shelton, Reza Kassayan
  • Patent number: 8223983
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fitting and verification of direct bone conduction hearing devices to a patient, wherein a. in a first step the hearing threshold and loudness discomfort levels are measured directly on a titanium implant of a patient, b. in a second step these hearing threshold and loudness discomfort levels are converted to equivalent force thresholds (FHT) and loudness discomfort levels (FLDL) on an artificial skull force measuring device, c. in a final step the output force levels of the direct bone conduction hearing device is measured in a free sound field with the device attached to the said artificial skull force measuring device and compared to the FHT and the FLDL as the base for final adjustments of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Osseofon AB
    Inventors: Bo Hakansson, William Hodgetts
  • Patent number: 8216287
    Abstract: A fixation system for a bone conduction device is disclosed. An abutment is coupled to a bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment pass into the bone anchor. The abutment defines a conduction path to the bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment are transferred to the bone anchor. The abutment comprises a plurality of shearing elements disposed adjacent the bone anchor, wherein the shearing elements form part of the conduction path. The fixation system also comprises a vibratory coupler extending from the bone conduction device, comprising a second conduction surface and a magnet, wherein the magnet attracts to the abutment so as to couple the second conduction surface to the abutment, thereby enabling vibrations to pass through the conduction path. The shearing elements are configured to slide laterally in response to tangential forces incident upon the abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: John Parker
  • Patent number: 8213645
    Abstract: A bone conduction assembly can include at least a microphone, an assembly stem, an ear cushion, and a microphone channel. The microphone can include an acoustic-to-electric transducer. The assembly stem can house the microphone and can be shaped for insertion into an ear canal of a user. The ear cushion can have an inner surface surrounding an outer surface of the assembly stem and an outer, contiguous, annular surface configured to maintain contact with an ear canal of a user when worn. The microphone channel can be shaped to channel vibrations resulting from bone conduction from the ear canal through the assembly stem to the microphone. In one embodiment, the bone conduction assembly can include a speaker having a speaker channel that is acoustically isolated from the microphone channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rye, Michael C. Aulert
  • Patent number: 8213644
    Abstract: A vibration speaker with facial plate has developed for delivering sound in a form of vibrational movement to a user's skin. The vibration speaker includes a voice coil to generate a magnetic force in response to application of a sound signal from an exterior, a magnet having a predetermined magnetic force to interact with the magnetic force from the voice coil, a basket to receive the magnet, a face plate to deliver upward and downward movement of the voice coil or the magnet to the user's skin, and a rear cover coupled to the face plate to constitute an appearance of the vibration speaker. The face plate is provided with a plate-shaped tensioner providing a predetermined tension for maintaining the face plate in a horizontal state to control upward and downward vibrational movement delivered from the vibration speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Seong Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 8213643
    Abstract: A sound transducer for the transmission of audio frequency signals with a pressure-voltage transducer is provided. This pressure-voltage transducer is disposed on a supporting plate and at least partially embedded in a sound-insulating, substantially incompressible material, for example a gel. The supporting plate rests herein in contact on a body part, for example a jaw or skull bone, of a person. If this person conducts a conversation, the vibrations of the bone generated through the conversation are transmitted to a supporting plate. This supporting plate subsequently transmits the vibrations onto the pressure-voltage transducer, for example a piezoelectric element or an electret element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ceotronics Aktiengesellschaft Audio, Video, Data Communication
    Inventor: Berthold Hemer
  • Patent number: 8189839
    Abstract: There is provided hearing device improvements using modulation techniques adapted to the characteristics of auditory and vestibular hearing. One embodiment provides for extending hearing to the infrasonic range by extracting sounds from the high ambient noise in this range and applying them to a carrier in the ultrasonic “quiet zone.” Further extension of hearing into the ultrasonic range is provided by a modulation scheme which uses a fluid conduction coupler to match impedance for a vibration transducer applied to the skin. A variation on this embodiment integrates this ultrasonic hearing extension with normal acoustic headphones. Another embodiment compensates for high frequency hearing loss by a modulation scheme which uses middle ear resonance as an amplifier. A further embodiment combines ultrasonic transposition with wireless modulation to obtain secure communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Martin Lenhardt, Douglas Richards
  • Patent number: 8189838
    Abstract: An electronic hearing device embedded thereinto a molded denture placed therein a user's mouth and fastened thereto the user's teeth allowing said teeth and related facial bone structure to conduct sounds received by said hearing device thereto the bones of the middle ear and subsequently to the brain for conversion into understandable language and sounds is herein disclosed. The hearing device may be used in conjunction with traditional ear-mounted hearing aids. The hearing device comprises expected electronic components such as an inout transducer, output transducers, a battery, a volume control, wires, and the like components fastened thereto or embedded thereinto a custom molded orthodontic appliance or normal denture plate and fastened to rear upper molars. The invention allows the user to turn the hearing device on and off or to adjust volume using their tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Donna L. Rich
  • Patent number: 8184840
    Abstract: A combined set including a vibration actuator and an implantable device provided to be implanted in an inner ear part is disclosed. The implantable device has a surface in contact with an inner ear fluid when inserted in said inner ear part. The implantable device includes a frame having an inner wall and a slidably movable member having an outer wall which is connected to the vibration actuator. The slidably movable member is provided for transferring energy supplied by the vibration actuator from and towards the inner ear fluid by means of a translational movement. The slidably movable member is at least partially mounted inside the frame in such a manner that a gap extending between the inner wall of the frame and the outer wall of the member is less than or equal to 0.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: 3Win N.V.
    Inventors: Hartmut Spitaels, Andrzej Zarowski, Nick Van Ruiten
  • Patent number: 8170253
    Abstract: An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics
    Inventors: Douglas P. Lynch, Carla Mann Woods
  • Patent number: 8170252
    Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; and dual percutaneous anchors coupled to the transducer and configured to receive and transmit the mechanical forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Parker, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: 8160279
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8150075
    Abstract: An intra-oral hearing appliance includes an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth without contacting the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
  • Patent number: 8150083
    Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal and an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal. The device further comprises a piezoelectric transducer comprising at least one piezoelectric element configured to deform along at least one axis in response to an application of the electrical signal thereto, the transducer configured to generate an transducer stroke based on the deformation, the stroke having a magnitude that exceeds the magnitude of the deformation, wherein the transducer stroke is utilized to generate a mechanical force for delivery to the recipient's skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Parker, Hans Jaeger, Christian M. Peclat
  • Patent number: 8144891
    Abstract: An earphone set includes a main device having a digital signal processor, and an earplug has an external microphone and a speaker electrically connected with the digital signal processor respectively. The external microphone converts an external sound wave into an electronic signal and transmits the electronic signal to the digital signal processor for processing. The speaker converts the electronic signal processed by the digital signal processor into a sound wave for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Merry Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hong-Ching Her, Hung-Yue Chang, Ton-Kun Ho
  • Patent number: 8144909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: 8144908
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for damping the resonance frequency in a vibrator for bone anchored hearing aids in which sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear of a person with impaired hearing. A microphone picks up the sound, a signal processor amplifies and filters the signal from the microphone and a vibrator converts the electrical signal into vibrations. The signal processor of the hearing aid is used for damping the resonance frequency peak of the vibrator. For this purpose the signal processor includes electronic filters that are arranged to reduce the amplification in the signal processing chain of the hearing aid as much as the desired dampening of the resonance frequency peak of the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB
    Inventor: Kristian Åsnes
  • Patent number: 8139802
    Abstract: Inductive transmission to a hearing apparatus and in particular to a hearing device is to be improved. To this end, it is proposed to equip the hearing apparatus with two or three orthogonal coils. The coil signals are added with different signs and that signal which exhibits the highest level is forwarded from the resulting signals for further processing. It is thus possible to ensure an optimum reception quality in all alignments of the hearing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lotter, Jürgen Reithinger
  • Patent number: 8130984
    Abstract: An acoustic vibration sensor, also referred to as a speech sensing device, is provided. The acoustic vibration sensor receives speech signals of a human talker and, in response, generates electrical signals representative of human speech. The acoustic vibration sensor includes at least one diaphragm positioned adjacent to a front port and at least one coupler. The coupler couples a first set of signals to the diaphragm while isolating the diaphragm from the second set of signals. The coupler includes at least one material with acoustic impedance matched to the acoustic impedance of human skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: AliphCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Asseily, Andrew E. Einaudi
  • Patent number: 8129871
    Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator is composed of vibration sheet, suspension edge, basin frame and magnetic return path system. The electromagnetic vibrator is prepared as connecting back surface of vibration sheet to voice coil being set in magnetic return path system, injecting the vibration sheet and suspension edge to be an integral unit, connecting suspension edge with basin frame by ultrasonic mode and connecting vice coil wire to terminal sheet on basin frame after the wire is connected by vibration sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Hsin Min Huang
  • Patent number: 8110951
    Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator includes a vibration sheet, suspension edge, basin frame and magnetic return path system. The electromagnetic vibrator is prepared as connecting back surface of vibration sheet to voice coil being set in magnetic return path system, injecting the vibration sheet and suspension edge to be an integral unit, connecting suspension edge with basin frame by ultrasonic mode and connecting vice coil wire to terminal sheet on basin frame after the wire is connected by vibration sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Hsin Min Huang
  • Patent number: 8107661
    Abstract: An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas P. Lynch, Carla Mann Woods
  • Patent number: 8107647
    Abstract: A ring transducer comprising an outer metal ring and an inner ceramic ring provides a device for the conduction of ultrasonic signals directly in the ear canal, thereby providing an efficient means for the conduction of such signals. In an alternate embodiment, stacks of piezoelectric film, optionally shaped into a ring, may be used for placement in the ear or outside the ear, such as on the ends of eyeglasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Biosecurity Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin L. Lenhardt
  • Publication number: 20120014545
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing instrument comprising an audio signal processing unit for processing audio signals and means for mechanically applying acoustic waves to the blood in a blood vessel of a user in the audible frequency range according to the processed audio signals in order to stimulate the user's hearing sense.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED BIONICS AG
    Inventor: Stefan Menzl
  • Publication number: 20110317859
    Abstract: A vibrator is provided with a spring having a first end and a second end and, a frame immovably attached to the second end where the frame is carrying a movable armature and at the second end of the spring a coupling with an armature plate is immovably attached. The armature plate and the movable armature are provided in close proximity with an air gap there between and a permanent magnet is associated with one or both of the armature plate and/or the movable armature and an electrical coil is associated with one or both of the armature plate and/or the movable armature. An adjustment screw is provided to displace the movable armature towards or away from the armature plate, wherein the screw is inserted in a bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventor: Lars JINTON
  • Patent number: 8073174
    Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Gerd M. Mueller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20110268303
    Abstract: A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a housing and a vibrating actuator movably suspended in the housing and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device The bone conduction device further includes a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to deliver to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating actuator, and a travel limit apparatus configured to limit a range of travel of the housing relative to the coupling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventor: Sami Ahsani
  • Publication number: 20110243356
    Abstract: Provided is a high-accuracy embedded audiphone. A transducer (34) made of a giant magnetostrictive element is provided in an intracorporeal unit (3) that is embedded in a skull (5). An audible sound modulation transmission signal (S1), which is amplitude-modulated by a sound collection signal generated in an extracorporeal unit (2), is transmitted from an extracorporeal transmitter coil (31) to an intracorporeal receiver coil (32) provided in the intracorporeal unit (3) with the help of a transmission magnetic flux (33). Moreover, because of an induced electromotive force of the intracorporeal receiver coil (32), the transducer (34) expands and contracts. Therefore, it is possible to highly accurately conduct an audible sound signal through bone with no power source or demodulation circuit provided in the intracorporeal unit (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Takuji Koike, Naohito Hato, Kensei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8023676
    Abstract: An electronic and transducer device can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a two-way communication assembly. The device contains a motion sensor to detect external forces imposed on the user such as an explosion, for example. The information is stored for medical treatment, among others. In another embodiment, the device provides an electronic and transducer device that can be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance or other oral device to form a medical tag containing patient identifiable information. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
  • Patent number: 8023669
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a sound originating from a body and enhancing signal-to-noise ratio with respect to noise originated outside the body is disclosed. The system comprises a light source for producing a quasi-monochromatic, spatially-coherent light beam; and interferometer for interfering alight beam originated from the source, incident upon the body and reflected from it, with a reference beam, which also originates from the light source; and a detector for detecting changes caused by motion of a least one interference fringe across the detector, and for generation a corresponding electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: Mordechay Segev, Zvika Katz
  • Patent number: 8023677
    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 an exemplary embodiment, the ITE microphone is connected to a removable ear hook of the BTE ICS system by a short bendable stalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: William Vanbrooks Harrison, Lee F Hartley, Philip A Segel, C. Geoffrey E Fernald, Scott Crawford
  • Patent number: 8014552
    Abstract: An improved communication coupling device having a coupler coil with about 125 turns of wire about a bar-shaped core for use with a hearing aid having a hearing aid coil to accommodate individuals with various degrees of hearing loss to use a sound generation device such as a telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Able Blanet, Incorporated
    Inventor: Joan Phillips Waldron
  • Patent number: 8014553
    Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for providing flexible audio communication solutions using ear-devices utilizing, e.g., electrode transducers with one or more sensors comprising a surface resonator cavity sensitive to a predetermined acoustic frequency range for using, for example, in headsets and hearing aids. The ear-device can be configured for inserting it into a human ear for a handsfree operation and the sensors can be configured to detect human tissue vibrations using the surface resonator cavity. The acoustic communication solutions with these ear-devices may include: providing two-way communications in normal conditions as well as in noisy conditions, providing protection of hearing, recording the true sound field bin-aurally, providing a playback capability, providing volume enhancement and equalization for persons with hearing defects, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Zoran Radivojevic, Matti Hämäläinen, Lauri Wirola, Ville Myllylä, Shinya Terasaki
  • Patent number: 8005248
    Abstract: An improved hearing aid device having a perceivable indicator such that when the wearer removes the device from the ear canal, the indicator is activated. The indicator permits the user to easily locate the hearing aid device when it is needed again. The indicator may be a light emitting diode (LED) which illuminates continuously or it may blink to make it even more conspicuous. When the hearing aid is placed back in the user's ear, the indicator will be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Taylor B. Davant
  • Patent number: 8005247
    Abstract: The hearing aid system has a sound-to-vibration conversion circuitry including a microphone system, an electronic amplifier and a vibrator. A housing accommodates the vibrator. The vibrator is connected to an abutment that goes through the skin. The abutment is connected to a fixture that is anchored in the skull bone. The sound-to-vibration conversion circuitry has an A/D converter that converts an analogue microphone signal into a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
  • Patent number: 8005249
    Abstract: A method of converting electrical signals into mechanical vibration by means of a transducer in the human ear, an ear canal transducer and a headset wherein a sensation of hearing is achieved by exciting the tissue of the ear canal directly with said transducer, whereby the vibrations propagate to the tympanic membrane and into the human sound sensing organs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Lauri Wirola, Leo Kärkkäinen
  • Patent number: 8000668
    Abstract: Structurally simple transmit/receive circuits for hearing devices are to be able to be deployed for higher frequencies as well. It is therefore proposed according to the invention that at least two PIN diodes should be connected in an anti-parallel manner between the receive oscillating circuit and the amplifier connected thereto to protect the amplifier. A capacitance diode can optionally be expanded so that larger component tolerances can be permitted for the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Mihail Boguslavskij, Peter Nikles, Jürgen Reithinger, Ulrich Schätzle
  • Patent number: 7983431
    Abstract: The object is to provide a bone conduction device and its tympanum, wherein the bone conduction device can be efficiently mounted without generating a dead space in a case having a limited installation space such as a cellular phone's case having a large display screen. A magnetic sound converter device has an outer magnetic structure wherein a voice coil (3) is mounted on a center magnetic pole (2) of a yoke (1) and a magnet (4) is arranged on the outer side of the voice coil (3). The yoke (1) and the center magnetic pole (2) thereof are vertically long, the magnet (4) is arranged on the short side edge parts on the both sides of the yoke, and a tympanum fixing part (6) is arranged on the outer side of each magnet (4) on a magnet arrangement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Temco Japan Co., Ltd,
    Inventor: Mikio Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7983435
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to assistive hearing devices. In one aspect, an apparatus for use in amplifying certain frequencies and canceling other frequencies is provided. The apparatus is insertable at least partially through a tympanic membrane of a user. The apparatus includes an actuator for stimulating an eardrum. The apparatus further includes an acoustic sensor for measuring a level of acoustic energy transmitted to an ear canal and/or the ear drum of the user. Additionally, the apparatus includes an electronics package for controlling the actuator and the acoustic sensor, wherein the electronics package is configured to transmit amplified selected sound waves while canceling out other sound waves having a particular frequency or frequencies. In another aspect, an apparatus for use in measuring a parameter in a body is provided. In a further aspect, a method of selectively transmitting sound waves having a predetermined frequency or frequencies is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Ron L. Moses
  • Publication number: 20110158443
    Abstract: A bone conduction device including a coupling configurable to form a coupling with a bone, a transducer module configurable to vibrate in accordance with one or more operational characteristics of the device; and a sensor module configurable to adjust the one or more operational characteristics in response to one or more of a reorientation of a portion of the device and a movement of the portion relative to the coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Kristian Åsnes, Patrik Wilhelm Strömsten, Marcus Andersson, Christian M. Peclat
  • Publication number: 20110158444
    Abstract: A hearing instrument having an audio signal processing unit (16) for processing audio signals and a device (20) for vibrating at least one of the a user's eyeballs (22) in the audible frequency range according to the processed audio signals in order to stimulate the user's hearing sense.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventor: Bernd Waldmann
  • Patent number: 7945068
    Abstract: An intra-oral hearing appliance includes an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
  • Publication number: 20110082327
    Abstract: A system and method for electromagnetic or piezoelectric direct drive hearing amplification using a magnetic or piezoelectric oscillator attached to a saline implant coupled to the round window membrane and secured by a titanium or platinum ribbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventor: Manning Miles GOLDSMITH
  • Patent number: 7889879
    Abstract: An auditory prosthesis (30) comprising a microphone (27) for receiving the sound and producing a microphone signal responding to the received sound, an output device for providing audio signals in a form receivable by a user of the prosthesis (30), a sound processing unit (33) operable to receive the microphone signal and carry out a processing operation on the microphone signal to produce an output signal in a form suitable to operate the output device, wherein the sound processing unit (33) is operable in a first mode in which the processing operation comprises at least one variable processing factor which is adjustable by a user to a setting which causes the output signal of the sound processing unit (33) to be adjusted according to the preference of the user for the characteristics of the current acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Harvey Dillon, Justin Andrew Zakis, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Gitte Keidser
  • Publication number: 20110026748
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining whether signals to be applied by a bone conduction device would be masked by signals arriving at the good ear of a single sided deaf patient. The bone conduction device then applies stimulation for frequency components of the sound received by the bone conduction device that would not be masked by sound received by the patient's good ear. In applying the stimulation, the bone conduction device may apply a gain to compensate for the head shadow effect. This gain may be determined by inverting at least a portion of a curve for the head shadow effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: John Parker
  • Publication number: 20110019851
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for providing hearing aid. An open ear canal hearing aid may be provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hearing aid may include a part that contains electronic components, a passive amplifier, and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may include bristles or balloons. The securing mechanism may have various configurations and be adjustable. In some embodiments, the hearing aid may transmit sound via bone conduction and air conduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Florent Nicolas Joseph MICHEL, Raphael Marie Michel, Daniel Zhiling Shen
  • Patent number: 7876906
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Publication number: 20110015466
    Abstract: There is provided a partially implantable hearing device for a user, comprising a microphone assembly (10) to be worn by the user outside the user's body (12) and comprising at least one microphone (18) for capturing audio signals from ambient sound; an audio signal processing unit (32, 32?) for processing the audio signals captured by the microphone; and an implantable assembly (14) comprising a power supply (38) and an electromechanical output transducer (36) for stimulating the user's hearing according to the audio signals processed by the audio signal processing unit, the microphone assembly comprising means (20, 21, 22) for transcutaneous transmission of audio signals captured by the microphone assembly to the implantable assembly and means (24, 25, 26) for receiving power; and the implantable assembly comprising means (28, 29, 30) for receiving the audio signals transmitted from the microphone assembly and means (40, 41, 42) for transcutaneous transmission of power to microphone assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicants: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Bernd Waldmann