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US 12,549,911 B2Granted
Direct drive hearing aid stimulation methods
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorHamid Djalilian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A direct hearing device includes an inner actuator element that interacts with a subject's tympanic membrane, the inner actuator element sitting in the subject's ear canal. The direct hearing device further includes an outer component that houses a microphone, circuitry that processes a signal from the microphone, and a battery. The outer component is configured to sit laterally in the subject's ear canal. Advantageously, the outer component is separable form the inner actuator element.
Claims25
A direct hearing device comprising:
- an inner actuator element that interacts with a subject's tympanic membrane, the inner actuator element positionable to sit in a subject's ear canal;
- and
- an outer component that includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry that processes a signal from the microphone, and a battery, the outer component in communication with the inner actuator element, wherein the outer component is removable and separatable from the inner actuator element, wherein the inner actuator element includes a mechanical transducer that moves a tip assembly response to an output signal from the signal processing circuitry and wherein the mechanical transducer includes an electromagnet, a first flexure, a second flexure, and at least one magnet positioned between the first flexure and the second flexure, the electromagnet being in electrical communication with the signal processing circuitry such that the at least on one magnet is moves responsively to the output signal from the signal processing circuitry with motion of the at least one magnet being transferred to a tip assembly.
A direct hearing device comprising:
- an inner actuator element that interacts with a subject's tympanic membrane, the inner actuator element positionable to sit in a subject's ear canal;
- and
- an outer component that includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry that processes a signal from the microphone, and a battery, the outer component in communication with the inner actuator element, wherein the outer component is removable and separatable from the inner actuator element and wherein the outer component can lock in and connect to the inner actuator element using at least one electromagnet.
A direct hearing device comprising:
- an inner actuator element that interacts with a subject's tympanic membrane, the inner actuator element positionable to sit in a subject's ear canal;
- and
- an outer component that includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry that processes a signal from the microphone, and a battery, the outer component in communication with the inner actuator element, wherein the outer component is removable and separatable from the inner actuator element, wherein the inner actuator element includes an actuator tip and a shaft with a flexible joint between the actuator tip and the shaft, thereby allowing the actuator tip to conform to the subject's tympanic membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.