Devices and methods for hearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11057714-B2
Application number	US-201916260684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Sep 22, 2008
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A device to transmit an audio signal to a user comprises a transducer and a support. The support is configured for placement on the eardrum to drive the eardrum. The transducer is coupled to the support at a first location to decrease occlusion and a second location to drive the eardrum. The transducer may comprise one or more of an electromagnetic balanced armature transducer, a piezoelectric transducer, a magnetostrictive transducer, a photostrictive transducer, or a coil and magnet. The device may find use with open canal hearing aids.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of inductively transmitting an audio signal to a user, the method comprising:
inductively coupling a first coil to a second coil, wherein the first coil is placed in an ear canal of the user and the second coil is a part of a transducer placed at least partially against an eardrum of the user;
driving a current through a third coil, wherein the second coil is electrically connected to the third coil;
moving a balanced armature in response to the current driven through the third coil wherein the third coil is wrapped around at least a portion of the balanced armature;
vibrating the eardrum of the user through a reed post connected to the balanced armature; and
supporting the transducer while the balanced armature is moved in response to the current driven through the third coil, by providing a support configured for placement at least partially against an outer portion of the eardrum without penetrating the outer portion.

2. A method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of urging the transducer toward the eardrum when the transducer is placed at least partially against the eardrum.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the transducer is urged toward the eardrum by a compression structure.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the transducer is urged toward the eardrum by at least one spring.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the at least one spring comprises two springs.

6. A method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of urging the transducer toward the eardrum when the transducer is placed at least partially against the eardrum.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the transducer is urged toward the eardrum by a compression structure.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the transducer is urged toward the eardrum by at least one spring.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the at least one spring comprises two springs.

Assignees

• Earlens Corp

Inventors

• Puria Sunil
• Rosen Micha
• Fay Jonathan P
• Rucker Paul
• Stone James

Classifications

• H04R17/00

  Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers (piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners {H10N30/00}) · CPC title

• H04R25/606 Primary

  acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window · CPC title

• H04R25/65 Primary

  Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture · CPC title

• H04R25/652

  Ear tips; Ear moulds (hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659) · CPC title

• H04R11/02 Primary

  Loudspeakers · CPC title