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US 8,986,187 B2Granted
Optically coupled cochlear actuator systems and methods
AssigneeEarlens Corporation
InventorsRodney C. Perkins, Sunil Puria
Life of this patent
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AssigneeEarlens Corporation
InventorsRodney C. Perkins, Sunil Puria
Estimating the term…
A transducer is configured to couple to the cochlear fluid so as to transmit sound with low amounts of energy, such that feed back to a microphone positioned in the ear canal is inhibited substantially. The cochlear fluid coupled hearing device can allow a user to determine from which side a sound originates with vibration of the cochlea and the user can also receive sound localization cues from the device, as feedback can be substantially inhibited. The transducer may be coupled to the cochlear fluid with a thin membrane disposed between the transducer and the cochlear fluid, for example with a fenestration in the cochlea. In some embodiments, a support coupled to the transducer directly contacts the fluid of the cochlea so as to couple the transducer to the cochlear fluid.
A device to transmit a sound to a user having a middle ear and a cochlea comprising a cochlear fluid, the device comprising:
A method of transmitting a sound to a user having a middle ear and a cochlea comprising a cochlear fluid, the method comprising:
A device for implantation in a middle ear of a user, the middle ear having a stapes, the device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Of acoustic or vibrational transducers: acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular…
Transducers other than those covered by groups H04R9/00 - H04R21/00: using optical signals for detecting or generating sound
Using an external connection, either wireless or wired: using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups: completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
About 3 years 8 months of term left · ends 24 Jun 2030 (estimated)
NOT APPLICABLE
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to hearing systems, devices and methods. Although specific reference is made to hearing aid systems, embodiments of the present invention can be used in many applications in which a signal is used to stimulate the ear.
FIG. 1 shows a cochlear fluid vibration hearing system configured to provide sound localization cues to the user;
FIG. 1A shows an open canal hearing system comprising a BTE unit and a transducer coupled to a round window of a user with a support, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
FIG. 1A1 shows a hearing system comprising an ear canal module and a transducer coupled to a round window of a user with a support, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;
As used herein light encompasses infrared light, visible light and ultraviolet light.
Embodiments of the present invention can be used with many users to transmit many sounds. Examples of people who can benefit from the hearing devices described herein include people with conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss and mixed hearing loss. For example, people with mixed hearing loss can benefit from improved hearing with stereo sound based on bone conduction and sound localization cues based bone conduction. People with sensorineural hearing loss can receive sound localization cues, for example with frequencies above 4 kHz. The devices described herein can be integrated with communications devices, for example for cell phone calls and entertainment, with people who have healthy hearing.
FIG. 1 shows a cochlea actuated hearing system 10 configured to provide sound to a user U with fluidic coupling to the cochlea. The system 10 is configured to provide stereo sound based on cochlear fluid coupling and localization cues based on cochlear fluid vibration. The user has a midline M, a first side Si with a first ear E1, and a second side Si with a second ear E1. Ear E1 has a first pinna P1 and ear E2 has a second pinna E2. The first side is disposed opposite the second side.