# US 11,439,821 B2 · Transformable speech processor module for a hearing prosthesis

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- Number: US 11,439,821 B2
- Document ID: US11439821B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/874,774
- Filed: 2018-01-18
- Published: 2018-06-07
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2003-12-24
- Assignees: Cochlear Limited
- Applicants: Cochlear Limited
- Inventors: Derek Ian Darley; Michael Goorevich; Peter Scott Single
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439821B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation}
- H04R 1/02: Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075})
- H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083}
- H04R 25/02: adapted to be supported entirely by ear
- H04R 25/60: {Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654)}
- H04R 25/603: {of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements}
- H04R 25/606: {acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window}
- H04R 25/65: {Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture}
- A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source}
- H04R 25/604: {of acoustic or vibrational transducers}
- H04R 25/607: {of earhooks}
- H04R 2225/021: Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
- H04R 2225/31: Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
- H04R 2225/49: Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
- H04R 2225/57: Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
- H04R 2225/67: Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
- H04R 2460/13: Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device, comprising:
a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a barrier configured to protect the speech processor from water, wherein
the speech processor is part of a behind-the-ear (BTE) device,
the barrier includes an interior compartment in which is located the speech processor,
the barrier protects against ingress of water into the interior compartment, and
a transcutaneous transfer coil assembly is in electrical communication with the speech processor through an opening in the protective barrier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the barrier includes two sections configured to be moved relative to one another, so that the barrier can be opened and closed so that the speech processor can be removed therefrom and installed therein, and wherein the device is configured such that when the two sections are brought into proximity with one another to protect the speech processor from water, a seal is established between the two sections preventing water from entering the barrier and reaching the speech processor, and wherein a first section of the two sections is sized and dimensioned to securely retain the speech processor in the first section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein:
the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly includes a cable that has a distal end at which is located a sealing component that seals the opening in the barrier, wherein the sealing component and the barrier are constructed and arranged to prevent water from entering into the interior compartment.

### Claim 4

A device, comprising:
a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a barrier configured to protect the speech processor from water, wherein
the speech processor is part of a behind-the-ear (BTE) device, and
the device further comprises:
a transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including a transcutaneous transfer coil and a cable, wherein
the device is configured to place the transcutaneous transfer coil into signal communication with the speech processor via the cable by way of a connection extending through a dedicated orifice in the barrier.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein:
the barrier is a protective case; and
the speech processor is removably received in the protective case.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein:
at least a portion of a body of the BTE device including the speech processor is removably received in the barrier;
the at least a portion of a body of the BTE device is secured in the barrier by structure of the barrier; and
the barrier protects the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device in the barrier from water.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein:
the barrier includes an interior compartment in which the least a portion of the body of the BTE device is located; and
the barrier protects against ingress of water into the interior compartment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein:
the barrier is configured to protect against substantially all fluid ingress into the barrier.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein:
the BTE device is configured to enable the evocation of a first hearing percept when the BTE device is located behind an ear of a recipient away from the barrier and when the BTE device is in signal communication with the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including a transcutaneous transfer coil which is in signal communication with another coil of an implanted hearing prosthesis implanted the recipient; and
the at least a portion the body of the BTE device including the speech processor is configured to enable the evocation of a second hearing percept when the at least a portion of a body of the BTE device is located in the barrier when the at least a portion of a body of the BTE device is in signal communication with the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including a transcutaneous transfer coil which is in signal communication with the another coil of the implanted hearing prosthesis implanted in the recipient.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein:
the barrier includes a main housing and a lid, the barrier including a gasket that seals an interior of the barrier from an exterior of the barrier; and
the speech processor is removably received in the barrier and the gasket seals the barrier.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein:
the barrier is transparent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein:
the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly is configured to mate with a connector of the speech processor, wherein the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly and the barrier are constructed and arranged to prevent water from entering into an interior of the barrier.

### Claim 13

A device, comprising:
a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a barrier configured to protect the speech processor from water, wherein
the speech processor is part of a behind-the-ear (BTE) device,
the BTE device includes a body, at least a portion of the body including the speech processor, the at least a portion of the body being configured to be removably received in the barrier, and
the barrier includes two sections configured to be moved relative to one another, so that the barrier can be opened and closed so that the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device can be removed and installed therein, and wherein the barrier is configured so that when the two sections are brought into proximity with one another to protect the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device from water, a seal is established between the two sections preventing water from entering the barrier and reaching the speech processor, and wherein the barrier includes an opening through which an electrical communication component extends, placing the body of the BTE device in signal communication with a transcutaneous transfer coil outside the barrier.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein:
the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device including the speech processor is removably received in the barrier; and
the device further comprises:
a transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including the transcutaneous transfer coil and a cable connected to the transcutaneous coil, wherein
the transcutaneous transfer coil is in signal communication with the speech processor via a connector connected to the cable at a distal end of the cable the connector extending through the opening, the connector corresponding to the electrical communication component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein:
the transcutaneous transfer coil is in signal communication with the speech processor via the electrical communication component, and
the device is configured to enable the evocation of a hearing percept when the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device is located in the barrier when the at least a portion of the body of the BTE device is in signal communication with the transcutaneous transfer coil located outside the barrier which is in signal communication with another coil of an implanted hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient.

### Claim 16

A device, comprising:
a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a barrier configured to protect the speech processor from water, wherein
the speech processor is part of a behind-the-ear (BTE) device, and
the device further comprises a transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including a coil and a housing, wherein the housing of the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly provides the same protection to at least one functional component of the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly as the barrier does to the speech processor, wherein the coil is located outside the barrier and the speech processor is located inside the barrier, and wherein the barrier includes an opening through which a jack extends, the jack placing the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly into signal communication with an interior of the barrier.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein:
the barrier includes a first portion configured to move relative to a second portion of the barrier to open and close the barrier to enable installation and removal of the speech processor, wherein the first portion and second portion of the barrier form an interior in which the speech processor is located and protected from water by a seal between the first portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier, wherein the second portion is sized and dimensioned to hold the speech processor in the barrier.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein:
the barrier is configured to prevent substantially all fluid ingress at elevated atmospheric pressures.

### Claim 19

A device, comprising:
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component including a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a protective barrier, wherein the protective barrier is a protective barrier for the BTE component including the speech processor of the hearing prosthesis, the protective barrier including:
a main body having a hollow portion configured to receive the BTE component; and
a lid configured to extend over the hollow portion of the main body, wherein
the protective barrier is configured to removably receive the BTE component and protect the BTE component from water,
the BTE component is removably received in the protective barrier, and the protective barrier protects against substantially all fluid ingress into the protective barrier, and
the barrier is configured to enable a connector of a cable to mate with the BTE component with the cable located outside the barrier and thus mate with the speech processor that is a part of the BTE component while the BTE component is located in the barrier such that the BTE component is protected from water.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The device of claim 19, wherein:
the protective barrier is transparent.

### Claim 21

A device, comprising:
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component including a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a protective barrier, wherein the protective barrier is a protective barrier for the BTE component including the speech processor of the hearing prosthesis, the protective barrier including:
a main body having a hollow portion configured to receive the BTE component; and
a lid configured to extend over the hollow portion of the main body, wherein
the protective barrier is configured to removably receive the BTE component and protect the BTE component from water,
the BTE component is removably received in the protective barrier, and the protective barrier protects against substantially all fluid ingress into the protective barrier, and
the protective barrier is configured to enable a connector of a cable to directly mate with the BTE component and the speech processor that is a part thereof while the BTE component is located in the barrier such that the BTE component is protected from water, thus providing electrical communication from the speech processor to a location outside the protective barrier.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein:
the protective barrier is configured to retain the BTE component on one side of the hollow portion relative to an opposite side of the hollow portion.

### Claim 23

A device, comprising:
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component including a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a protective barrier, wherein the protective barrier is a protective barrier for the BTE component including the speech processor of the hearing prosthesis, the protective barrier including:
a main body having a hollow portion configured to receive the BTE component; and
a lid configured to extend over the hollow portion of the main body, wherein
the protective barrier is configured to removably receive the BTE component and protect the BTE component from water,
the BTE component is removably received in the protective barrier, and the protective barrier protects against substantially all fluid ingress into the protective barrier, and
the protective barrier is configured to prevent substantially all fluid ingress at elevated atmospheric pressure when the lid is closed, and wherein an opening for a communications jack is located in the protective barrier.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The device of claim 23, further comprising:
a transcutaneous transfer coil assembly including a transcutaneous transfer coil and a cable and the communications lack, wherein
the transcutaneous transfer coil is in signal communication with the BTE component via the cable by way of the communications jack extending through the opening for the communications jack located in the protective barrier,
the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly has mated with a connector of the BTE component via the communications jack, and
the transcutaneous transfer coil assembly and the barrier are constructed and arranged to prevent water from entering the protective barrier.

### Claim 25

A device, comprising:
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component including a speech processor of a hearing prosthesis; and
a protective barrier, wherein the protective barrier is a protective barrier for the BTE component including the speech processor of the hearing prosthesis, the protective barrier including:
a main body having a hollow portion configured to receive the BTE component; and
a lid configured to extend over the hollow portion of the main body, wherein
the protective barrier is configured to removably receive the BTE component and protect the BTE component from water,
the BTE component is removably received in the protective barrier, and the protective barrier protects against substantially all fluid ingress into the protective barrier, and
the protective barrier is configured to enable the lid to move relative to the main body to open and close the protective barrier, wherein the main body and the lid form an interior in which, when the BTE component is removably received therein, the BTE component is protected from water by a seal between the main body and the lid, and wherein the main body is sized and dimensioned to securely hold the BTE component therein.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein:
the protective barrier is configured to enable a connector of a cable connected to a transcutaneous transfer coil to be inserted through an orifice of the protective barrier to establish communication between the cable and a connector of the BTE component while protecting the BTE component from water such that a hearing percept can be evoked by an implanted component based on speech processed by the speech processor of the BTE component using the transcutaneous transfer coil via communication between the transcutaneous transfer coil and the speech processor while the BTE component is located in the protective barrier such that the BTE device is protected from water.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The device of claim 25, wherein:
a connector of a cable connected to a transcutaneous transfer coil is inserted through an orifice in the protective barrier and has established communication between the cable and a connector of the BTE component while the protective barrier protects the BTE component from water such that a hearing percept can be evoked by an implanted component based on speech processed by the speech processor of the BTE component using the transcutaneous transfer coil via communication between the transcutaneous transfer coil and the speech processor while the BTE component is located in the protective barrier such that the BTE component is protected from water.

### Claim 28

A method of utilizing an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system, the method comprising:
operating a speech processor module of the external component of the cochlear implant in a stand-alone mode;
removably placing the speech processor module in an external device configured to have said speech processor module removably located therein and configured to protect the speech processor module from water;
placing a transcutaneous communication assembly that is located outside the external device into signal communication with the speech processor module in the external device by passing a jack of the transcutaneous communication assembly through an opening in the external device;
placing the transcutaneous communication assembly into signal communication with an implanted portion of the cochlear implant hearing system; and
operating the speech processor module in the external device to cause the implantable portion of the cochlear implant hearing system to evoke a hearing percept, wherein
the jack includes a component provided around a distal end of a cable of the transcutaneous communication assembly that prevents water from entering the external device.