Personal sound link module

Patent 6879695 Issued on April 12, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 3, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3068954

3557775

3844271

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Inventors

Assignee

Advanced Bionics Corporation

Application

No. 10264937 filed on 10/03/2002

US Classes:

381/315, Remote control, wireless, or alarm381/322, Specified casing or housing600/25SURGICALLY IMPLANTED VIBRATORY HEARING AID

Examiners

Primary: Kuntz, Curtis
Assistant: Ensey, Brian

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

19854360 DE 08/01/1999
19943907 DE 03/01/2001
20018528 DE 04/01/2001
20108827 DE 10/01/2001

International Class

H04R025/00

Abstract

A personal sound link module (60) is inserted into a tunnel (40) made through the soft tissue connecting the retro-auricular space (50) with the ear canal (30). The module contains an acoustic transducer (65), located at the distal part (68) of the module, close to or inside the ear canal, an antenna (64) that receives and also potentially sends signals to a remote source, signal processing circuitry (67), telemetry circuitry (69), a power source (66) that powers the module, and possibly a microphone (63). Signals transmitted from a remote source are received through the antenna and telemetry circuitry, processed, and presented to the acoustic transducer, where they are converted to sound waves broadcast into the user's ear canal. The remote source may be a radio station, radio receiver, CD player, DVD player, tape player, audio system, telephone, TV receiver or station, or other source of audio signals intended to be heard privately by the user.

Other References

Retro-X Technology, Auric Hearing Systems, “Das Horsystem Mit Retroauricularer Schallfuhrung”, printed Sep. 27, 2001, 1 page.
Tzivskos and Law inventors for AB-091U; U.S. Appl. Ser. No. 09/785,629 ; filed Feb. 16, 2001; entitled “Connector System for BTE Hearing Devices”.
Harrison inventor for AB-149U; U.S. Appl. Ser. No. 09/854,420 ; filed May 11, 2001; entitled “Implantable Microphone System for Use with Cochlear Implants and Implantable Hearing Aids”.