Sound processor apparatus with dual-mode earhook interface assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9615180-B2
Application number	US-201314761003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2013
Priority date	Jan 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

An exemplary sound processor apparatus includes 1) an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect to a microphone assembly and an EAS receiver assembly by way of the plurality of contacts, and 2) a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that is configured to selectively operate in an input mode or in an output mode. While operating in the input mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly. While operating in the output mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system that also includes a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, the sound processor apparatus comprising:
an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect, by way of the plurality of contacts, to
a microphone assembly configured to detect one or more audio signals presented to the patient, and
an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) receiver assembly configured to apply acoustic stimulation representative of audio content included only in a particular frequency band to the patient, the particular frequency band not including at least one frequency represented by electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that is configured to selectively operate in an input mode or in an output mode;
wherein, while operating in the input mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly; and
wherein, while operating in the output mode, the control module uses the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly, the one or more EAS signals representative of the audio content included in the particular frequency band that does not include the at least one frequency represented by the electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant.

2. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a first contact and a second contact.

3. The sound processor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control module comprises analog front end circuitry, and, while operating in the input mode, the control module uses the first and second contacts as input ports by:
connecting a first signal line included within the microphone assembly to the analog front end circuitry; and
connecting a second signal line included within the microphone assembly to ground.

4. The sound processor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control module comprises an EAS driver, and, while operating in the output mode, the control module uses the first and second contacts as output ports by:
connecting a first signal line included within the EAS receiver assembly to a first output of the EAS driver; and
connecting a second signal line included within the EAS receiver assembly to a second output of the EAS driver.

5. The sound processor apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the EAS driver outputs the one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly by way of the first and second outputs in accordance with a differential signaling heuristic.

6. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control module comprises a first switch associated with the microphone assembly and a second switch associated with the EAS receiver assembly, wherein the control module:
closes the first switch and opens the second switch to operate in the input mode; and
opens the first switch and closes the second to operate in the output mode.

7. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control module:
detects a connection of the microphone assembly to the earhook interface assembly; and
automatically switches, in response to the connection of the microphone assembly to the earhook interface assembly, to operating in the input mode.

8. The sound processor apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control module:
detects a connection of the EAS receiver assembly to the earhook interface assembly in place of the microphone assembly; and
automatically switches, in response to the connection of the EAS receiver assembly to the earhook interface assembly, from operating in the input mode to operating in the output mode.

9. The sound processor apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the control module uses another audio source to receive one or more audio signals while the microphone assembly is disconnected from the earhook interface assembly.

10. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control module:
detects a connection of the EAS receiver assembly to the earhook interface assembly; and
automatically switches, in response to the connection of the EAS receiver assembly to the earhook interface assembly, to operating in the output mode.

11. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microphone assembly comprises a microphone configured to be located within a concha of an ear of a patient associated with the auditory prosthesis system.

12. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microphone assembly comprises a “T-MIC” microphone assembly.

13. The sound processor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the earhook interface assembly is further configured to interchangeably connect to an earhook assembly.

14. The sound processor apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the control module does not use the plurality of contacts as either input or output ports while the earhook assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly.

15. A sound processor apparatus included in an auditory prosthesis system that also includes a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a patient, the sound processor apparatus comprising:
an earhook interface assembly that includes a plurality of contacts and that is configured to interchangeably connect, by way of the plurality of contacts, to
a microphone assembly configured to detect one or more audio signals presented to the patient, and
an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) receiver assembly configured to apply acoustic stimulation representative of audio content included only in a particular frequency band to the patient, the particular frequency band not including at least one frequency represented by electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the plurality of contacts and that:
maintains data representative of a first program that utilizes the microphone assembly and a second program that utilizes the EAS receiver assembly;
operates in accordance with the first program by using the plurality of contacts as input ports to receive one or more audio signals detected by the microphone assembly while the microphone assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly;
receives input provided by a user and representative of a command for the control module to switch from operating in accordance with the first program to operating in accordance with the second program; and
switches, in response to the command, to operating in accordance with the second program by using the plurality of contacts as output ports to output one or more EAS signals to the EAS receiver assembly while the EAS receiver assembly is connected to the earhook interface assembly, the one or more EAS signals representative of the audio content included in the particular frequency band that does not include the at least one frequency represented by the electrical stimulation applied by the cochlear implant.

16. The sound processor apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a first contact and a second contact.

17. The sound processor apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the control module comprises analog front end circuitry, and, while operating in accordance with the first program, the control module uses the first and secon

Assignees

• Advanced Bionics Ag

Inventors

• Hartley Lee F
• Mishra Lakshmi N
• Karunasiri R Tissa
• Palmer Logan P

Classifications

• A61N1/36038 Primary

  Cochlear stimulation · CPC title

• H04R25/65

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

• H04R2225/0213

  Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material · CPC title

• H04R1/105

  Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks (for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335) · CPC title

• H04R2225/59

  Arrangements for selective connection between one or more amplifiers and one or more receivers within one hearing aid · CPC title