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US 11,445,311 B2Granted
Bone conduction devices utilizing multiple actuators
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsWim Bervoets, Joris Walraevens, Patrik Kennes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bone conduction device includes split high-frequency and low-frequency actuators. The frequency response of the low-frequency actuator can be restricted to the lower range of hearing frequencies to improve performance. The high-frequency actuator can be implanted under tissue close to the cochlea to improve transmission efficiency, since high-frequency vibrations suffer greater attenuation.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- receiving a sound input;
- generating a first stimulation signal from the sound input comprising frequencies in a first frequency range;
- generating a second stimulation signal from the sound input comprising frequencies in a second frequency range;
- sending the first stimulation signal to a first vibration actuator that is configured to stimulate a cochlea of a recipient, wherein the first vibration actuator is configured to be worn by the recipient external to the recipient's skin;
- and
- sending the second stimulation signal to a second vibration actuator that is configured to stimulate the cochlea of the recipient, wherein the second vibration actuator is configured to be implanted under the recipient's skin adjacent a skull of the recipient,
- wherein the second vibration actuator is closer to the cochlea of the recipient than the first vibration actuator.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a sound input;
- determining a frequency of the sound input;
- converting the sound input into a stimulation signal;
- and
- sending the stimulation signal to at least one of a first vibration actuator or a second vibration actuator, the first vibration actuator and the second vibration actuator being included in a plurality of vibration actuators,
- wherein the first vibration actuator is configured to stimulate a cochlea of a recipient and is worn by the recipient external to the recipient's skin, and
- wherein the second vibration actuator is configured to stimulate the cochlea of the recipient, is configured to be implanted under the recipient's skin, and is configured to be secured to the recipient's skull via an anchor fixed to the recipient's skull.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a sound processor disposed in the housing and configured to:
- receive a sound input;
- generate a first stimulation signal from the sound input comprising frequencies in a first frequency range;
- generate a second stimulation signal from the sound input comprising frequencies in a second frequency range;
- send the first stimulation signal to a first vibration actuator that is configured to stimulate a cochlea of a recipient, is worn by the recipient external to the recipient's skin;
- and
- send the second stimulation signal to a second vibration actuator that is configured to stimulate the cochlea of the recipient, wherein the second vibration actuator is configured to be implanted under the recipient's skin,
- wherein the second vibration actuator is disposed remote from the first vibration actuator and closer than the first vibration actuator to the cochlea of the recipient.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.