Systems devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids

A bone conduction magnetic hearing aid, comprising:

• an electromagnetic (“EM”) transducer configured to generate sound waves, the EM transducer being disposed in a first housing;
• at least one microphone disposed in, on or near the first housing, at least one the microphone being configured to detect ambient sounds in a vicinity of the hearing aid, the EM transducer being configured to generate the sound waves in response to the external ambient sounds detected by the at least one microphone, and
• a microphone encapsulation second housing or compartment disposed around at least portions of the at least one microphone, the second housing or compartment being configured to block, absorb or attenuate sound waves generated by the EM transducer that propagate in the direction of the at least one microphone, the second housing or compartment having portions disposed directly between the transducer and the at least one microphone;
• wherein the second housing or compartment is configured to reduce or minimize undesired feedback between the EM transducer and the at least one microphone, the microphone encapsulation second housing or compartment comprises inner and outer microphone encapsulation compartments having a volume disposed therebetween, and the volume is filled or partially filled with at least one sound attenuating or absorbing material, liquid, gas or gel, or has been evacuated of gas or air.

A method of reducing feedback between an electromagnetic (“EM”) transducer and at least one microphone in a bone conduction magnetic hearing aid, the EM transducer being configured to generate sound waves, the EM transducer being disposed in a first housing, the at least one microphone being disposed in, on or near the first housing, the at least one microphone being configured to detect external ambient sounds in a vicinity of the hearing aid, the EM transducer being configured to generate the sound waves in response to the external ambient sounds detected by the at least one microphone, a transducer encapsulation second housing or compartment being disposed inside the first housing, the second housing or compartment being disposed around at least portions of the EM transducer, the second housing or compartment being configured to block, absorb or attenuate sound waves generated by the EM transducer that propagate in the direction of the at least one microphone, the second housing or compartment having portions disposed directly between the at least one microphone and the transducer, wherein the second housing or compartment is configured to reduce or minimize undesired feedback between the EM transducer and the microphone, the second transducer encapsulation housing or compartment comprises inner and outer transducer encapsulation compartments having a volume disposed therebetween, and the volume is filled or partially filled with at least one sound attenuating or absorbing material, liquid, gas or gel, or has been evacuated of gas or air, the method comprising:

• providing the transducer encapsulation second housing or compartment in the hearing aid.

A method of reducing feedback between an electromagnetic (“EM”) transducer and at least one microphone in a bone conduction magnetic hearing aid, the electromagnetic (“EM”) transducer being configured to generate sound waves, the EM transducer being disposed in a first housing, the at least one microphone being disposed in, on or near the first housing, the at least one microphone being configured to detect ambient sounds in a vicinity of the hearing aid, the EM transducer being configured to generate the sound waves in response to the external ambient sounds detected by the at least one microphone, and a microphone encapsulation second housing or compartment disposed around at least portions of the at least one microphone, the second housing or compartment being configured to block, absorb or attenuate sound waves generated by the EM transducer that propagate in the direction of the at least one microphone, the second housing or compartment having portions disposed directly between the transducer and the at least one microphone, wherein the second housing or compartment is configured to reduce or minimize undesired feedback between the EM transducer and the microphone, the microphone encapsulation second housing or compartment comprises inner and outer microphone encapsulation compartments having a volume disposed therebetween, and the volume is filled or partially filled with at least one sound attenuating or absorbing material, liquid, gas or gel, or has been evacuated of gas or air, the method comprising:

• providing the microphone encapsulation second housing or compartment in the hearing aid.