Vibration isolation in a bone conduction device

A transcutaneous bone conduction device, comprising:

• a bone fixture adapted to be fixed to bone;
• and
• a vibratory element that is larger than the bone fixture and adapted to be rigidly attached to the bone fixture and configured to generate vibrational energy in response to a sound signal, wherein
• substantially all of the vibrational energy transmitted to the bone is transmitted to the bone via the bone fixture, and
• the bone fixture has a maximum outer diameter, when measured on a first plane tangential to and on the surface of the bone at a location where the bone fixture extends into the bone, of about 1% to about 20% of the wavelength of the vibrations producing the vibrational energy.

A method of enhancing hearing of a recipient, the method comprising:

• capturing a sound signal;
• vibrating a vibratory element in response to the captured sound signal, thereby generating vibrational energy;
• and
• conducting more of the vibrational energy from the vibratory element to bone of the recipient via an at least partially artificial pathway extending from the vibratory element to the bone than is otherwise conducted from the vibratory element to the bone, wherein
• an artificial portion of the at least partially artificial pathway has a maximum outer diameter, when measured on a first plane tangential to and on the surface of the bone at a location where the artificial portion of the artificial pathway contacts the bone, of about 1% to about 20% of the wavelength of the vibrations generational the vibrational energy.