Prosthesis functionality backup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11865338-B2
Application number	US-201816758585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2018
Priority date	Oct 23, 2017
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

A body worn device, including a chassis and a functional suite supported by the chassis, wherein the device is configured to be worn on a recipient of a prosthesis, and the device is configured such that the functional suite automatically provides second functionality when the chassis is removed from the body of the recipient, the second functionality being related to the prosthesis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A body worn device, comprising:
a chassis; and
a functional suite supported by the chassis, wherein
the device is configured to be worn on a recipient of a prosthesis, and
the device is configured such that the functional suite automatically provides second functionality when the chassis is removed from the body of the recipient, the second functionality being related to the prosthesis.

2. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the chassis is a chassis of a smartwatch.

3. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second functionality is a remote microphone functionality of the prosthesis, wherein the device is configured to communicate a signal indicative of a captured sound captured by the body worn device to the prosthesis.

4. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second functionality is a functionality of an OTE sound processor; and
at least one of the chassis or a component supported by the chassis is a ferromagnetic material such that the chassis can be held against skin of the recipient via an implanted magnet implanted in the recipient.

5. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is configured to automatically prompt a wearer for input as to whether the second functionality is desired.

6. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the body worn device is configured to wirelessly communicate with an implanted component of the recipient.

7. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is a consumer electronics device.

8. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is separate from the prosthesis.

9. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is configured to implement the second functionality without the prosthesis.

10. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
a functionality of the functional suite separate from the second functionality is conveyance of visual information to the recipient; and
the second functionality is a generation of a signal, the signal being of a kind that can transcutaneous communicate with the prosthesis.

11. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the device is configured to implement a functionality of the functional suite separate from the second functionality without the prosthesis.

12. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
device is configured to be worn away from a head of a recipient; and
the prosthesis is a hearing prosthesis.

13. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second functionality is an inductance communication functionality, the inductance communication functionality being a functionality enabling transcutaneous communication with the prosthesis, wherein the second functionality is previously deactivated prior to the automatically providing of the second functionality.

14. The body worn device of claim 1 , wherein:
the chassis has a generally rectangular shape.

15. A system, comprising:
the body worn device of claim 1 ; and
the prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis includes an implantable portion and an external portion.

16. A method, comprising:
utilizing a body wearable consumer electronics device as a head worn device to at least one of control or provide a signal to a prosthesis; and
utilizing a processor in the body wearable device to perform functions unrelated to the prosthesis while wearing the device on a portion of the body other than the head.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the action of utilizing the processor to perform functions unrelated to the prosthesis is executed while using a primary body wearable device of the prosthesis to at least one of control or provide a signal to the prosthesis, wherein the primary body wearable device is one of a BTE device or an OTE sound processor, and the consumer electronics device is different therefrom.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the action of utilizing the processor to perform functions unrelated to the prosthesis is executed at least once a day for a week before the action of using the body wearable device to at least one of control or provide a signal to the prosthesis.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the method further includes utilizing the consumer electronics device to access the internet; and
the method further includes wirelessly communicating with and thereby interacting with a different in kind consumer electronics device, wherein the different in kind consumer electronics device is a smart phone.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the action of using the processor to perform functions unrelated to the prosthesis includes using the consumer electronics device as a smartwatch while worn on a wrist of the recipient.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the action of utilizing the consumer electronics device as a head worn device includes utilizing the consumer electronics device as a remote mini-microphone.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the action of utilizing the consumer electronics device as a backup device as a head worn device consists of utilizing the consumer electronics device when a component of the prosthesis is functionally unavailable to at least partially achieve the functionality of the component.

Assignees

• Cochlear Ltd

Inventors

• Page Rowan Christopher
• Oplinger Kenneth

Classifications

• A61N1/36038 Primary

  Cochlear stimulation · CPC title

• A61N1/36031

  using physiological parameters for adjustment · CPC title

• A61N1/37247

  User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means · CPC title

• H04R25/554 Primary

  using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils · CPC title

• H04R25/558

  Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency · CPC title