Speech processor cases

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9554221-B2
Application number	US-201514886068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2015
Priority date	May 5, 2004
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for converting one type of speech processor unit into another type of speech processor unit.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method, comprising the steps of:
placing an entire behind-the-ear sound processor (BTE) unit that includes an external housing having an exterior, at least one user-manipulatable control element on the exterior of the external housing, a sound processor within the external housing that converts electrical signals from a microphone into a pulse sequence for a cochlear implant, and a removable power supply mounted to the external housing, into a BTE storage case that is not part of the BTE unit, that includes water-tight seals, and that is configured to receive the entire BTE unit; and
connecting a headpiece that is configured to communicate with the cochlear implant to the BTE unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the BTE unit includes a headpiece port; and
the step of connecting a headpiece to the BTE unit comprises connecting a headpiece that is configured to communicate with the cochlear implant to the BTE unit headpiece port.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the BTE storage case includes an opening;
one of the water-tight seals is associated with the opening; and
the step of connecting a headpiece to the BTE unit comprises connecting a headpiece that is configured to communicate with the cochlear implant to the BTE unit headpiece port by way of the water-tight seal associated with the opening.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
the BTE storage case includes a cover with an open position and a closed position;
the headpiece is connected to the BTE unit by a cable; and
the water-tight seal associated with the opening engages the headpiece cable when the cover is in the closed position.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the step of connecting a headpiece to the BTE unit comprises connecting a headpiece that is configured to communicate with the cochlear implant and is located outside the BTE storage case to the BTE unit headpiece port.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the microphone is carried on the BTE unit.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the microphone is carried on the headpiece.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the BTE storage case includes a cover with an open position and a closed position; and
the step of connecting a headpiece to the BTE unit comprises connecting a headpiece that is configured to communicate with the cochlear implant to the BTE unit when the cover is in the open position.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the BTE storage case is sized and shaped to receive the entire BTE unit.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the exterior of the BTE unit external housing defines a shape; and
the BTE storage case includes a storage area that defines a shape which corresponds to the shape of the BTE unit external housing.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein
the BTE storage case storage area is slightly smaller than the BTE unit such that an interference fit is created when the BTE unit is placed into the BTE storage case.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the exterior of the BTE unit external housing defines a shape; and
the BTE storage case includes a storage area with an abutment having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the BTE unit external housing.

Assignees

• Advanced Bionics Ag

Inventors

• Walsh Thomas Patrick
• Woods Carla Mann
• Ross Richard C
• Karunasiri Rankiri Tissa
• Arnold Anthony K
• Mishra Lakshmi Narayan

Classifications

• A61N1/36038

  Cochlear stimulation · CPC title

• H04R25/02

  adapted to be supported entirely by ear · CPC title

• H04R25/65 Primary

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

• H04R2225/31

  Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H04R25/604

  of acoustic or vibrational transducers · CPC title