BONE ANCHORED HEARING IMPLANT DEVICE, HEARING DEVICE SYSTEM AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

A bone anchored hearing implant device for enhancing the hearing capability of a user is disclosed. The device includes at least one antenna element for receiving signals provided by an external device, in particular by at least one external hearing device, at least one modulation device for demodulating the signals received by the antenna element, at least one transducer, in particular for generating vibrations depending on the demodulated signals, at least one connection circuit for transferring the demodulated signals to the transducer, at least one protection circuit for at least partly short-circuiting the connection circuit, wherein the short-circuit at least partly prevents a transfer of the demodulated signals to the transducer. Additionally a hearing device system and a signal processing method are disclosed.

Claims

1. Bone anchored hearing implant device for enhancing the hearing capability of a user comprising: at least one antenna element for receiving signals provided by an external device, in particular by at least one external hearing device, at least one modulation device comprising a demodulation circuitry for demodulating the signals received by the antenna element, at least one transducer, in particular for generating vibrations depending on the demodulated signals, at least one connection circuit for transferring the signals received by the antenna element to the at least one modulation device and for transferring the demodulated signals to the transducer, at least one protection circuit for at least partly short-circuiting the connection circuit, wherein: the short-circuit at least partly prevents a transfer of the demodulated signals to the transducer if a certain threshold value indicative of a parameter of the demodulated signals is exceeded, or the short-circuit at least partly prevents a transfer of the signals received by the antenna element to the modulation device if a certain threshold value indicative of a parameter of the signals received by the antenna element is exceeded.

2. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 1, wherein, the parameter of the demodulated signal indicative of which the protection circuit short-circuits the connection circuit is a voltage, in particular a saturation voltage.

3. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 1, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one transistor, in particular at least one metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, wherein the transistor is activated when a voltage threshold is exceeded, and wherein an activation of the transistor at least partly prevents a transfer of the of the demodulated signals to the transducer or a transfer of the signals received by the antenna element to the modulation device.

4. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 3, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one diode, in particular a Z-diode or a Zener diode, wherein the diode is used to activate the transistor.

5. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 2, wherein, the transistor is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor comprising a source, a gate and a drain, wherein the diode is connected, in particular in series, to the gate and the drain, and wherein the saturation voltage substantially is defined as a sum of the diode voltage and the voltage of the gate to the source of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.

6. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 4, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one resistor, wherein the resistor is in particular connected in series to the diode.

7. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 3, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one capacitor, wherein the capacitor is in particular connected in parallel to the resistor.

8. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 7, wherein, the capacitor causes a delay of the protection circuit by applying a delay to the transistor, in particular a delay to the gate of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.

9. Hearing device system comprising: at least one bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 1, and at least one external hearing device for supplying the antenna element with signals.

10. Hearing device system according to claim 9, wherein, the at least one external hearing device comprises at least one housing, at least one energy supply, at least one microphone and at least one sound processor for supplying the antenna element with signals.

11. Signal processing method for protecting the user of a bone anchored hearing implant device from overstimulation, the method comprising: Receiving signals from an external device, Demodulating the received signals, Transferring the received signals to a modulation device comprising a demodulation circuitry if a parameter, in particular a voltage, of the received signals is below or substantially equal to a certain threshold, and preventing the transfer of the received signals to the modulation device comprising a demodulation circuitry via a protection circuit only if the parameter, in particular the voltage, of the received signals exceeds the certain threshold, or Transferring the demodulated signals to a transducer if a parameter, in particular a voltage, of the demodulated signals is below or substantially equal to a certain threshold, and preventing the transfer of the demodulated signals to the transducer via the protection circuit only if the parameter, in particular the voltage, of the demodulated signals exceeds the certain threshold.

12. Signal processing method according to claim 11, wherein, the protection circuit is activated with a delay after the parameter, in particular the voltage, of the demodulated signals or the received signals exceeds a certain threshold.

13. Signal processing method according to claim 11, wherein, protection circuit is activated during the use of the bone anchored hearing implant device.

14. Signal processing method according to claim 11, wherein, the certain threshold of the parameter, in particular of the voltage, of the demodulated signals or the received signals is configurable by selecting a suitable diode for the protection circuit.

15. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 2, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one transistor, in particular at least one metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, wherein the transistor is activated when a voltage threshold is exceeded, and wherein an activation of the transistor at least partly prevents a transfer of the of the demodulated signals to the transducer or a transfer of the signals received by the antenna element to the modulation device.

16. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 4, wherein, the transistor is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor comprising a source, a gate and a drain, wherein the diode is connected, in particular in series, to the gate and the drain, and wherein the saturation voltage substantially is defined as a sum of the diode voltage and the voltage of the gate to the source of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.

17. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 5, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one resistor, wherein the resistor is in particular connected in series to the diode.

18. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 4, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one capacitor, wherein the capacitor is in particular connected in parallel to the resistor.

19. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 5, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one capacitor, wherein the capacitor is in particular connected in parallel to the resistor.

20. Bone anchored hearing implant device according to claim 6, wherein, the protection circuit comprises at least one capacitor, wherein the capacitor is in particular connected in parallel to the resistor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] 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:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a bone anchored hearing implant device;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a protection circuit;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a hearing device system in a perspective view;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a modulation device; and

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of a modulation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] 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, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particular application, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or any combination thereof.

[0047] The electronic hardware may include micro-electronic-mechanical systems (MEMS), integrated circuits (e.g. application specific), microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, printed circuit boards (PCB) (e.g. flexible PCBs), and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure, e.g. sensors, e.g. for sensing and/or registering physical properties of the environment, the device, the user, etc. Computer program shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0048] A bone anchored hearing implant device may be or include a 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 to at least one of the user's cochleae. ‘Improving or augmenting the hearing capability of a user’ may include compensating for an individual user's specific hearing loss. 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 and/or through parts of the middle ear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to the cochlear nerve and/or to the auditory cortex of the user.

[0049] A “hearing system” refers to a system comprising one or two hearing devices, and a “binaural hearing system” or a bimodal hearing system refers to a system comprising two hearing devices where the devices are adapted to cooperatively provide audible signals to both of the user's ears either by acoustic and mechanical stimulation, mechanical stimulation only, acoustic and electrical stimulation, mechanical and electrical stimulation or only electrical stimulation. The hearing system, the binaural hearing system or the bimodal hearing system may further include one or more auxiliary device(s) that communicates with at least one hearing device, the auxiliary device affecting the operation of the hearing devices and/or benefitting from the functioning of the hearing devices. A wired or wireless communication link between the at least one hearing device 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 device and the auxiliary device. Such auxiliary devices may include at least one of a remote control, a remote microphone, an audio gateway device, a wireless communication device, e.g. a mobile phone (such as a smartphone) or a tablet or another device, e.g. comprising a graphical interface, a public-address system, a car audio system or a music player, or a combination thereof. The audio gateway may be 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, e.g. a PC. The auxiliary device may further be adapted to (e.g. allow a user 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 device. The remote control is adapted to control functionality and/or operation of the at least one hearing device. The function of the remote control may be implemented in a smartphone or other (e.g. portable) electronic device, the smartphone/electronic device possibly running an application (APP) that controls functionality of the at least one hearing device.

[0050] In general, a hearing device system includes an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal to at least one antenna element for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing device system, in particular the bone anchored hearing implant device further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing a signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

[0051] The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted to (relatively) enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment and/or to attenuate other sources (e.g. noise). 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 an 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 such as a loudspeaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal to the ear of the user, a mechanical stimulation applied transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone, an electrical stimulation applied to auditory nerve fibers of a cochlea of the user. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electrical stimulations such as in a Cochlear Implant, or the output unit may include one or more vibrators for providing the mechanical stimulation to the skull bone.

[0052] Now referring to FIG. 1, which shows a schematic diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary embodiment of a bone anchored hearing implant device 2. The bone anchored hearing implant device 2 may enhance the hearing capability of a user. The bone anchored hearing implant device 2 comprises at least one antenna element 4 for receiving signals provided by an external hearing device. The antenna element 4 is electrically connected via a connection circuit 6 with at least one modulation device 8 for demodulating the signals receives by the at least one antenna element 4. The modulation device 8 may for example comprise at least one capacitor switch circuit 50. The modulating device 8 is connected also via the connection circuit 6 with a transducer 10, wherein the transducer 10 may generate vibrations depending on the demodulated signals received from the modulation device 8. The connection circuit 6 is also connected with a protection circuit 12 located between the modulation device 8 and the transducer 10, which may at least partly short-circuit the connection circuit 6 and thus at least partly prevent a transfer of the demodulated signals to the transducer 10.

[0053] The protection circuit 12 can also be located between the antenna element 4 and the modulation device 8. In this implementation, the protection circuit 12 may at least partly short-circuit the connection circuit 6 and thus at least partly prevent a transfer of the received signals to the modulation device 8 (and therefore at least partly prevent a transfer of demodulated signals to the transducer 10).

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of said protection circuit 12. The protection circuit 12 comprises a Zener diode 14 which is connected to the gate 16 and the drain 20 of an n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect (MOSFET) transistor 18, which further comprises a source 22.

[0055] Further, the Zener diode 14 is connected in series with a resistor 24 and a capacitor 26 is arranged in parallel to the resistor 26. The resistor 24 and the capacitor 26 are connected to the gate 16 and the source 22 of the MOSFET transistor 18. The resistor 24 may allow the current flowing in the diode 14 to be limited. The capacitor 26 may cause a delay of the protection circuit by applying a delay to the MOSFET transistor 18. The protection circuit 12 may further comprise an electrical bonding 28.

[0056] If the voltage of the current in the connection circuit 6 is below the sum of the Zener diode voltage and the gate 16 to source 22 voltage of the MOSFET transistor 18, the MOSFET transistor 18 is deactivated. Therefore, no conductive channel from drain 20 to source 22 exists in the MOSFET transistor 18 if the voltage in the connection circuit 6 is below said sum of voltages.

[0057] If the voltage of the current in the connection circuit 6 is above the sum of the Zener diode voltage and the gate 16 to source 22 voltage of the MOSFET transistor 18, the MOSFET transistor 18 is activated. Therefore, a conductive channel from drain 20 to source 22 exists in the MOSFET transistor 18 if the voltage in the connection circuit 6 is above said sum of voltages.

[0058] When the MOSFET transistor 18 is active, the current in the connection circuit 6 is clamped, i.e. a short circuit is created in such a way that the current does not enter the transducer 10. Hereby, the performance of the transducer 10 is substantially only impacted if the voltage threshold is exceeded.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a hearing device system 30 in a perspective view. The hearing device system 30 comprises one bone anchored hearing implant device 2 and one external hearing device 32. The bone anchored hearing implant device 2 comprises a housing 34. The at least one antenna element 4 comprises an antenna coil 36. A middle part 38 of the bone anchored hearing implant device 2 comprises the connection circuit 6 and the protection circuit 12. The external hearing device 32 in particular comprises a housing 40 and a sound processor (not shown) for providing the antenna element 4 with signals.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of said modulation device 8. The modulation device 8 comprises a demodulation circuitry 42, wherein the demodulation circuitry 42 may demodulate the signals received by and/or delivered by the at least one antenna element 4. The demodulation circuitry further comprises a diode 44, in particular a rectifier diode, and a demodulation capacitor 46. The diode 44 and the demodulation capacitor 46 may be connected with the connection circuit 6, in particular coupled to the load. The value, in particular the capacity, of the demodulation capacitor 46 influences the power consumption of the bone anchored hearing implant device 2, the bandwidth of the signals, in particular of the demodulated signals and/or the total harmonic distortion of the bone anchored hearing implant device 2. Preferably, the capacity of the demodulation capacitor 46 is determined taking into account the parameters specified above and also the skin thickness measure of a user. The capacity of the demodulation capacitor 46 may for example be between 45 nF and 50 nF. The modulation device 8 may further comprise a ground 48.

[0061] The second exemplary embodiment of a modulation device 8 shown in FIG. 5 mainly corresponds to the modulation device 8 depicted in FIG. 4. Instead of the demodulation capacitor 46, a capacitor switch circuit 50 is arranged. The capacitor switch circuit 50 may in particular comprise a demodulation capacitor 46 and a processing unit. Said processing unit may be configured to control the capacity of the demodulation capacitor 46 depending on the power consumption of the bone anchored hearing device, the bandwidth of the signals, in particular of the demodulated signals, the total harmonic distortion of the bone anchored hearing implant device, the skin thickness of a user and/or the personal preferences of a user. This allows for an individualization of the bone anchored hearing implant device.

A Computer Program:

[0062] A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out steps of the method described above, in the ‘detailed description of embodiments’ and in the claims is furthermore provided by the present application.

A Computer Readable Medium

[0063] In an aspect, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a tangible computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium includes computer storage media adapted to store a computer program comprising program codes, which when run on a processing system causes the data processing system to perform at least some (such as a majority or all) of the steps of the method described above, in the and in the claims.

[0064] By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. In addition to being stored on a tangible medium, the computer program can also be transmitted via a transmission medium such as a wired or wireless link or a network, e.g. the Internet, and loaded into a data processing system for being executed at a location different from that of the tangible medium. </mention relevant parts of the method that may be implemented in software; if not all/>

A Data Processing System

[0065] In an aspect, a data processing system for preferably performing a signal processing method comprises a processor adapted to execute the computer program for causing the processor to perform at least some (such as a majority or all) of the steps of the method described above and in the claims. In particular, the processor is adapter for receiving signals from an external device, demodulating the received signals, transferring the received signals to a modulation device comprising a demodulation circuitry if a parameter, in particular a voltage, of the received signals is below or substantially equal to a certain threshold, and preventing the transfer of the received signals to the modulation device comprising a demodulation circuitry via a protection circuit only if the parameter, in particular the voltage, of the received signals exceeds the certain threshold, or transferring the demodulated signals to a transducer if a parameter, in particular a voltage, of the demodulated signals is below or substantially equal to a certain threshold, and preventing the transfer of the demodulated signals to the transducer via the protection circuit only if the parameter, in particular the voltage, of the demodulated signals exceeds the certain threshold.

[0066] It is intended that the structural features of the devices described above, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may be combined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by a corresponding process.

[0067] 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, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups 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. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. 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.

[0068] 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. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more.

[0069] Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follow.