The present invention is directed to a wearable system wherein elements of the system, including various sensors adapted to detect biometric and other data and/or to deliver drugs, are positioned proximal to, on the ear or in the ear canal of a person. In embodiments of the invention, elements of the system are positioned on the ear or in the ear canal for extended periods of time. For example, an element of the system may be positioned on the tympanic membrane of a user and left there overnight, for multiple days, months, or years. Because of the position and longevity of the system elements in the ear canal, the present invention has many advantages over prior wearable biometric and drug delivery devices.

The present invention is directed to a wearable system wherein elements of the system, including various sensors adapted to detect biometric and other data and/or to deliver drugs, are positioned proximal to, on the ear or in the ear canal of a person. In embodiments of the invention, elements of the system are positioned on the ear or in the ear canal for extended periods of time. For example, an element of the system may be positioned on the tympanic membrane of a user and left there overnight, for multiple days, months, or years. Because of the position and longevity of the system elements in the ear canal, the present invention has many advantages over prior wearable biometric and drug delivery devices.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system including: an ear tip including a transmit circuit having a first Q value, wherein the ear tip includes a transmit coil wound on a ferrite core; a contact hearing device including a receive circuit having a second Q value, wherein the first Q value is greater than the second Q value; a receive coil positioned on the contact hearing device, wherein the receive coil includes a core of a non-ferromagnetic material.

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system including: an ear tip including a transmit circuit having a first Q value, wherein the ear tip includes a transmit coil wound on a ferrite core; a contact hearing device including a receive circuit having a second Q value, wherein the first Q value is greater than the second Q value; a receive coil positioned on the contact hearing device, wherein the receive coil includes a core of a non-ferromagnetic material.

Disclosed examples include devices that are wearable at a recipient’s pinna and configured to deliver bone-conduction vibrations directly to the pinna. The device can be so configured by having a vibration transfer surface disposed within the pinna when the device is worn. The devices can lack a component configured to deliver vibrations to a non-pinnal surface, such as the ear canal. The devices can include a projection configured to be disposed within a recipient’s ear canal that is vibrationally decoupled from the remainder of the device.

Disclosed examples include devices that are wearable at a recipient’s pinna and configured to deliver bone-conduction vibrations directly to the pinna. The device can be so configured by having a vibration transfer surface disposed within the pinna when the device is worn. The devices can lack a component configured to deliver vibrations to a non-pinnal surface, such as the ear canal. The devices can include a projection configured to be disposed within a recipient’s ear canal that is vibrationally decoupled from the remainder of the device.

Presented herein are low-power active bone conduction devices that comprise an actuator that is subcutaneously implanted within a recipient so as to deliver mechanical output forces to hard tissue of the recipient. The low-power active bone conduction devices include an energy recovery circuit configured to extract non-used energy from the actuator and to store the non-used energy for subsequent use by the actuator. The low-power active bone conduction devices may also include a multi-bit sigma-delta converter that operates in accordance with a scaled sigma-delta quantization threshold value to convert received signals representative of sound into actuator drive signals.

Presented herein are low-power active bone conduction devices that comprise an actuator that is subcutaneously implanted within a recipient so as to deliver mechanical output forces to hard tissue of the recipient. The low-power active bone conduction devices include an energy recovery circuit configured to extract non-used energy from the actuator and to store the non-used energy for subsequent use by the actuator. The low-power active bone conduction devices may also include a multi-bit sigma-delta converter that operates in accordance with a scaled sigma-delta quantization threshold value to convert received signals representative of sound into actuator drive signals.

The present disclosure relates to a loudspeaker. The loudspeaker may include a loudspeaker mechanism, a fixing mechanism, and a connector. The loudspeaker mechanism may be configured to generate a vibration signal and transmit the vibration signal to the human body. The fixing mechanism may be configured to support and maintain the position of the loudspeaker mechanism. The connector may be configured to connect the loudspeaker mechanism with the fixing mechanism. The loudspeaker mechanism may at least include a first fixed position and a second fixed position. The first fixed position may be a fixed position of the loudspeaker when the loudspeaker is in a non-working state. The second fixed position may be a fixed position of the loudspeaker when the loudspeaker is in a working state. The connector may be configured to switch the loudspeaker mechanism between the first fixed position and the second fixed position.

The disclosure relates to a hearing aid for placement in an ear canal, the hearing aid having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end is inserted into the ear canal to face the tympanic membrane, the distal end is opposite. The hearing aid comprises a shell customized for the ear canal. The shell comprises an inner space configured for at least partly receiving a rechargeable battery, a charging arrangement, at least one microphone arrangement, and an integrated circuit. The hearing aid comprises a faceplate comprising an upper face and a lower face, the upper face being exposed at the distal end when the shell is placed in the user's ear canal. The faceplate is configured for closing the inner space, wherein the IC is arranged between the faceplate and the proximal end.