Transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid with improved packaging

Abstract

A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device for a recipient patient is described. The transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device for a recipient patient comprising; a receiver coil for transcutaneous receiving of an externally generated communication signal; a signal processor configured for converting the externally generated communication signal into an electrical stimulation signal; an electromagnetic vibrator configured for receiving the electrical stimulation signal, and wherein the electromagnetic vibrator including; a coil unit configured to generate a dynamic magnetic flux based on the electrical stimulation signal; a permanent magnet configured to generate a static magnetic flux; a mass unit connected to the permanent magnet; a bobbin unit configured to engage with the coil unit, the permanent magnet, and the mass unit; a spring unit configured for maintaining an air gap below a moving mass, wherein the moving mass includes the coil unit, the permanent magnet, the mass unit and the bobbin unit, and where the moving mass and the spring unit is configured to generate an acoustical vibration; a vibrator plate configured to receive the acoustical vibration, and where the air gap is between the vibrator plate and a part of the moving mass, and wherein the mass unit has at least one insert configured to receive at least one of a group that includes at least a part of the permanent magnet, the coil unit, the vibrator plate and/or the spring unit.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device for a recipient patient comprising: a receiver coil for transcutaneous receiving of an externally generated communication signal, a signal processor configured for converting the externally generated communication signal into an electrical stimulation signal, an electromagnetic vibrator configured for receiving the electrical stimulation signal, and wherein the electromagnetic vibrator including: a coil unit configured to generate a dynamic magnetic flux based on the electrical stimulation signal, a permanent magnet configured to generate a static magnetic flux, a mass unit connected to the permanent magnet, a bobbin unit configured to engage with the coil unit, the permanent magnet, and the mass unit, a spring unit configured for maintaining an air gap below a moving mass, wherein the moving mass includes the coil unit, the permanent magnet, the mass unit and the bobbin unit, and where the moving mass and the spring unit are configured to generate an acoustical vibration, a vibrator plate configured to receive the acoustical vibration, and where the air gap is between the vibrator plate and a part of the moving mass, and wherein the mass unit has at least one insert on a bottom surface, wherein the insert is configured to receive at least the spring unit, and wherein the spring unit is arranged completely within the insert.

2. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, where the mass unit includes an aperture configured to receive the permanent magnet, the bobbin unit, and the coil unit.

3. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator includes a spring ring arranged beneath the spring unit.

4. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator has a transverse axis along a first length of the electromagnetic vibrator and a longitudinal axis along a second length of the electromagnetic vibrator, and wherein the second length is longer than the first length, and the transverse axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein: the mass unit has a mass height along the transverse axis, the coil unit has a coil height along the transverse axis, the permanent magnet has a magnet height along the transverse axis, the bobbin unit has a bobbin height along the transverse axis, and wherein the coil height, the bobbin height and the magnet height are less than the mass height.

5. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the mass unit circumference the bobbin unit, the permanent magnet and the coil unit, and the permanent magnet circumference the coil unit and a part of the bobbin unit.

6. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the permanent magnet is arranged radially to the mass unit, and wherein the coil unit is arranged radially to the permanent magnet.

7. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator has a bottom surface and an upper surface, where the upper surface is partially or fully parallel to the bottom surface, and wherein a distance between the upper surface and the bottom surface is less than the second length, and wherein the electromagnetic vibrator comprises: an interface unit configured for receiving the electrical stimulation signal, and wherein the interface unit is fully arranged between the upper surface and bottom surface.

8. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 7, wherein the interface unit includes a demodulator unit configured to receive and demodulate the electrical stimulation signal and transmit the demodulated electrical stimulation signal to the coil unit, and wherein the coil unit is configured to generate the dynamic magnetic flux based on the demodulated electrical stimulation signal.

9. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator includes a demodulator unit configured to receive and demodulate the electrical stimulation signal and transmit the demodulated electrical stimulation signal to the coil unit, and wherein the coil unit is configured to generate the dynamic magnetic flux based on the demodulated electrical stimulation signal, wherein the demodulator unit is arranged to fit in a cavity of the bobbin unit or the mass unit, or the demodulator unit is arrange in an air-gap between the bobbin unit and the upper surface.

10. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 9, wherein the demodulator unit is wired connected to the interface unit, and where the wired connection is guided by a guiding path in the mass unit.

11. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 10, wherein the guiding path is a guiding hole going through the mass unit or a guiding groove applied to a surface of the mass unit.

12. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator plate includes a first plate insert configured to receive at least a part of the spring unit and/or a vibrator plate ring arranged between the spring unit and the vibrator plate.

13. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the mass unit includes a second insert configured to receive at least a part of the permanent magnet and/or at least a part of the bobbin unit.

14. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 1, wherein the bobbin unit and the vibrator plate are made of a soft magnetic material.

15. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator includes a spring ring arranged beneath the spring unit.

16. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator has a transverse axis along a first length of the electromagnetic vibrator and a longitudinal axis along a second length of the electromagnetic vibrator, and wherein the second length is longer than the first length, and the transverse axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein: the mass unit has a mass height along the transverse axis, the coil unit has a coil height along the transverse axis, the permanent magnet has a magnet height along the transverse axis, the bobbin unit has a bobbin height along the transverse axis, and wherein the coil height, the bobbin height and the magnet height are less than the mass height.

17. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator has a transverse axis along a first length of the electromagnetic vibrator and a longitudinal axis along a second length of the electromagnetic vibrator, and wherein the second length is longer than the first length, and the transverse axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein: the mass unit has a mass height along the transverse axis, the coil unit has a coil height along the transverse axis, the permanent magnet has a magnet height along the transverse axis, the bobbin unit has a bobbin height along the transverse axis, and wherein the coil height, the bobbin height and the magnet height are less than the mass height.

18. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 2, wherein the mass unit circumference the bobbin unit, the permanent magnet and the coil unit, and the permanent magnet circumference the coil unit and a part of the bobbin unit.

19. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 3, wherein the mass unit circumference the bobbin unit, the permanent magnet and the coil unit, and the permanent magnet circumference the coil unit and a part of the bobbin unit.

20. A transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device according to claim 4, wherein the mass unit circumference the bobbin unit, the permanent magnet and the coil unit, and the permanent magnet circumference the coil unit and a part of the bobbin unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

(2) FIGS. 1A to 1E illustrates differ examples of an electromagnetic vibrator;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a top-view of the electromagnetic vibrator;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrate a cross-section of the electromagnetic vibrator;

(5) FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate different examples of the electromagnetic vibrator;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates an electromagnetic vibrator; and

(7) FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device implanted into a skull of a recipient patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units, modules, components, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using other equivalent elements.

(9) The hearing aid that is adapted to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through bone structure of the user's head.

(10) The hearing aid is adapted to be worn in any known way. This may include arranging a unit of the hearing aid attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or at least a part of the hearing aid may be an implanted part.

(11) A “hearing system” refers to a system comprising one or two hearing aids, and a “binaural hearing system” refers to a system comprising two hearing aids where the devices are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears or the hearing aid of bone conduction type may be part of a bimodal system comprising a cochlear implant and a bone conduction hearing aid. The system may further include auxiliary device(s) that communicates with at least one hearing aid, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing aids and/or benefiting from the functioning of the hearing aids. A wired or wireless communication link between the at least one hearing aid and the auxiliary device is established that allows for exchanging information (e.g. control and status signals, possibly audio signals) between the at least one hearing aid and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliary devices may include at least one of remote controls, remote microphones, audio gateway devices, mobile phones, public-address systems, car audio systems or music players or a combination thereof. The audio gateway is adapted to receive a multitude of audio signals such as from an entertainment device like a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatus like a mobile telephone or a computer, a PC. The audio gateway is further adapted to select and/or combine an appropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission to the at least one hearing aid. The remote control is adapted to control functionality and operation of the at least one hearing aids. The function of the remote control may be implemented in a SmartPhone or other electronic device, the SmartPhone/electronic device possibly running an application that controls functionality of the at least one hearing aid.

(12) In general, a hearing aid includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing aid further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

(13) The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment. In one aspect, the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include amplifier that is adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer for providing mechanical vibrations either transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone.

(14) Now referring to FIGS. 1A to 1E, different examples of an electromagnetic vibrator 10 are seen. The figures illustrate a cross-section of the electromagnetic vibrator 10, wherein the electromagnetic vibrator 10 includes a coil unit 2 and a permanent magnet 3. The coil unit 2 and the permanent magnet 3 may be glued together. Furthermore, the electromagnetic vibrator 10 includes a mass unit 4. The permanent magnet 3 may be glued together with the mass unit 4. The electromagnetic vibrator 10 includes a bobbin unit 5 which is arranged in the mass unit 4. The mass unit 4 may be of any shape which includes an aperture 13 configured to receive at least the bobbin unit 5, the permanent magnet 3 and the coil unit 2. The electromagnetic vibrator 10 includes a spring unit 7 arranged between a vibrator plate 6 and the bobbin unit 5. The spring unit 7 maintains an air gap between the vibrator plate 6 and the bobbin unit 5. Additionally, the spring unit 7 is received by an insert 8 provided into the mass unit 4. In FIG. 1A, at least a part of the spring unit 7 and at least a part of the vibrator plate are arranged within the insert 8. In FIG. 1B, the mass unit 4 includes a second insert 9, which in this example is configured to receive at least a part of the permanent magnet 3. In another example, the second insert 9 may receive the full permanent magnet 3 and at least a part of the coil unit 2. Yet, in another example, the bobbin unit may be received by the second insert 9 or by a third insert (not shown) in the mass unit 4. In FIG. 1C, the vibrator plate 6 includes a first plate insert 18 configured for receiving the spring unit 7. In this example, the first plate insert 9 is arranged on a circumferential part of the vibrator plate. In FIG. 1D, a spring ring 11 is arranged beneath the spring unit 7, and wherein at least a part of the spring ring 11 is arranged within the insert 8. In FIG. 1E, the vibrator plate 6 includes a second plate insert 19 arranged on the circumferential part of the vibrator plate 6 or the first plate insert 18. Furthermore, the electromagnetic vibrator 10 includes a vibrator plate ring 12 arranged within the second plate insert 19.

(15) FIG. 2 illustrates a top-view of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. In the figure, the mass unit 4 includes an aperture 13 configured to receive the permanent magnet 3, the bobbin unit 5, and the coil unit 2. The mass unit 4 circumference the bobbin unit 5, the permanent magnet 3, and the coil unit 2. The permanent magnet 3 circumference the coil unit 2 and a part of the bobbin unit 5.

(16) The permanent magnet 3 is arranged radially to the mass unit 4, and wherein the coil unit 2 is arranged radially to the permanent magnet 3. In this example, the mass unit 4, the permanent magnet 3, the bobbin unit 5 and the coil unit 2 are circular shaped, however, other shapes would also be suitable.

(17) Furthermore, FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 having a transverse axis 21 and a longitudinal axis 20.

(18) FIG. 3 illustrate a cross-section of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 having the transverse axis 21 along a first length of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 and the longitudinal axis 20 along a second length of the electromagnetic vibrator 10, and wherein the second length is longer than the first length, and the transverse axis 21 is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 20. Furthermore, the figure illustrates that the mass unit has a mass height 22 along the transverse axis 21, and that the coil unit 2 has a coil height 24 along the transverse axis 21. Additionally, the figure illustrates that the permanent magnet 3 has a magnet height 23 along the transverse axis 21, and that the bobbin unit 5 has a bobbin height 25 along the transverse axis 21. In this example, the coil height, the bobbin height and the magnet height are less than the mass height.

(19) FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate different examples of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. The figures illustrate a cross-section of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. In FIGS. 4A to 4B, the electromagnetic vibrator 10 has a bottom surface 30 and an upper surface 31, where the upper surface 31 is partially or fully parallel to the bottom surface 30, and wherein a distance between the upper surface 31 and the bottom surface 30 is less than the second length, and wherein the electromagnetic vibrator 10 comprises an interface unit 32 configured for receiving the electrical stimulation signal, and wherein the interface unit 32 is fully arranged between the upper surface and bottom surface. The interface unit 32 includes connectors configured to be connected with wires that are connected to a receiver coil 40, wherein the receiver coil 40 is configured for transcutaneously and inductively receiving an externally generated communication signal from an external device. Optionally, the interface unit 32 may include a demodulator unit 34 configured to receive and demodulate the electrical stimulation signal and transmit the demodulated electrical stimulation signal to the coil unit 2, and wherein the coil unit 2 is configured to generate the dynamic magnetic flux based on the demodulated electrical stimulation signal. In FIG. 4A, the interface unit 32 is arranged fully or partly outside a housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. In this example, the interface unit 32 is attached to an outer surface of the housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 and between the upper surface 31 and the bottom surface 30. In FIG. 4B, the interface unit 32 is arranged within the housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 and between the upper surface 31 and the bottom surface 30.

(20) FIGS. 4C and 4D illustrate different examples on how to arrange the demodulator unit 34 within the housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. The demodulator unit 34 is configured to receive and demodulate the electrical stimulation signal and transmit the demodulated electrical stimulation signal to the coil unit 2. In FIG. 4C, two different examples of how to arrange the demodulator unit 34 is seen. In one example, the demodulator unit 34 is arranged within the housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 such that it fits into a cavity 35 of the bobbin unit 5. The demodulator unit 34 is attached to the upper surface 31 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10, and when the bobbin unit 5 starts to vibrate then no collision will appear between the bobbin unit 5 and the demodulator unit 34. In another example, the demodulator unit 34 is arranged such that it first into a cavity 35 of the mass unit 4. In FIG. 4D, the demodulator unit 34 is arrange in an air-gap 36 between the bobbin unit 4 and the upper surface 31.

(21) FIG. 5 illustrates the electromagnetic vibrator 10 wherein the demodulator unit 34 is arranged within the housing 33 of the electromagnetic vibrator 10. The demodulator 34 unit is wired 37 connected to the interface unit 32, and where the wired 37 connection is guided by a guiding path 38 in the mass unit 4. The guiding part 38 may be a guiding hole going through the mass unit or a guiding groove applied to a surface of the mass unit 4. The wired 37 connection could include flexible PCB.

(22) FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device 1 implanted into a skull 60 of a recipient patient. In these examples, the transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device 1 includes a receiver coil 40 arranged within a first housing 50. The first housing 50 includes a magnet 51 configured to align with a second magnet of an external device such that a transmitter coil of the external device is optimal aligned with the receiver coil 40. In one example, the magnet 51 may be contained by a titanium housing which is arranged within the first housing 50. The receiver coil 40 is then connected to the interface unit 32 via a connection element 52 including multiple wires 53. In FIG. 6A, the transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device 1 includes a second housing 100 including a conventional electromagnetic vibrator, wherein furthermore, an interface unit 32 is not arranged between an upper and a bottom surface of the second housing 100. Thereby, bone work is needed for making a groove 100 where the conventional electromagnetic vibrator 100 is to be inserted and fixated onto the skull 60. In FIG. 6B, the transcutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid device 1 includes the electromagnetic vibrator 10 as described in the previous figures, and in this example, it is seen that no bone work is needed because of the reduce thickness of the electromagnetic vibrator 10 in view of the conventional electromagnetic vibrator 100.

(23) The first housing and/or the second housing may be made of silicone.

(24) As used, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, elements, components, and/or steps but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or steps thereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, but an intervening element may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method are not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.

(25) It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an aspect” or features included as “may” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

(26) The scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follow.