Coupling apparatuses for transcutaneous bone conduction devices
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsTobias Good, Henrik Fyrlund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Presented herein are non-surgical or superficial coupling apparatuses for transcutaneous bone conduction devices. A coupling apparatus comprises a drive plate configured to be detachably connected to a transcutaneous bone conduction device. The drive plate is also connected to an earhook (ear hook) configured to fit over/around a recipient's pinna (auricle) to at least partially support the drive plate. An adhesive member may also be provided to secure the drive plate to the recipient's skin.
Claims23
A coupling apparatus for a transcutaneous bone conduction device, comprising:
- an external drive plate configured to be detachably mechanically connected to the transcutaneous bone conduction device and configured to transfer vibration from the transcutaneous bone conduction device to skin of a recipient;
- and
- an earhook extending directly from the external drive plate, wherein the earhook is configured to fit over a recipient's pinna to substantially support the external drive plate and the transcutaneous bone conduction device when connected to the external drive plate.
The coupling apparatus of 1, wherein the earhook is formed from a substantially rigid material and includes an outer covering formed from a compressible material.
An apparatus for coupling of a transcutaneous bone conduction device to a recipient, the apparatus comprising:
- a drive plate having a first surface that is detachably mechanically connected to the transcutaneous bone conduction device, wherein the drive plate is configured to transfer vibration from the transcutaneous bone conduction device to skin of the recipient;
- an adhesive member configured to adhere the drive plate to the skin of the recipient;
- and
- an earhook detachably mechanically connected to the drive plate and configured to be worn on the ear of the recipient.
A coupling apparatus for a transcutaneous bone conduction device, comprising:
- an external drive plate configured to be detachably mechanically connected to the transcutaneous bone conduction device and configured to transfer vibration from the transcutaneous bone conduction device to skin of a recipient;
- an earhook extending from the external drive plate, wherein the earhook is configured to fit over a recipient's pinna to substantially support the external drive plate and the transcutaneous bone conduction device when connected to the external drive plate;
- and
- an adhesive member configured to adhere a first surface of the external drive plate to skin of a recipient to fix a location of the external drive plate relative to the earhook, wherein the external drive plate comprises a second surface configured to couple to the transcutaneous bone conduction device, wherein the second surface is substantially opposite to the first surface.
A coupling apparatus for a transcutaneous bone conduction device, comprising:
- an external drive plate configured to be detachably mechanically connected to the transcutaneous bone conduction device and configured to transfer vibration from the transcutaneous bone conduction device to skin of a recipient;
- an earhook extending from the external drive plate, wherein the earhook is configured to fit over a recipient's pinna to substantially support the external drive plate and the transcutaneous bone conduction device when connected to the external drive plate;
- and
- an elastic adhesive carrier disposed adjacent at least a portion of the external drive plate, wherein the elastic adhesive carrier has an adhesive disposed on a skin-facing surface thereof and is configured to be stretched away from external drive plate and adhered to the skin while under tension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.