Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8170242B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:37:23+00:00

Document:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/741,648 filed Apr. 27, 2007 which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/809,244 filed May 29, 2006 and 60/820,223 filed Jul. 24, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An electronic and transducer device may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable dental or oral appliance to form an assembly which may conduct audio signals to a user via vibratory conductance through bone for utilization, e.g., as a hearing aid assembly or other audio transmission device. Such a removable oral appliance may be a custom-made device fabricated from a thermal forming process utilizing a replicate model of a dental structure obtained by conventional dental impression methods. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
Turning now to placement of the transducer assembly relative to the tooth or teeth and also with respect to the housing, any number of configurations is available for use. Generally, the housing may be comprised of a single continuous mechanical member configured to have portions of itself face opposite sides of the tooth or teeth. The actuator assembly may be effectively pressed against the tooth utilizing the housing as a, foundation and the housing itself may be symmetric or non-uniform in its configuration. With the transducer positioned within the housing, a coupling impedance matching material, such as silicone, may be placed between the piezoelectric transducer and the surface of tooth to optimize conductance of vibrations to the tooth. In other variations, one or more transducer may be placed along an outer surface of the housing and optionally along one or more teeth.
Aside from transducer and housing assemblies which are positioned along or against one or more teeth, transducer assemblies may be alternatively mounted along a retainer-like structure configured for placement adjacent or along the palate of the user. An arch may extend between coupling portions which are configured to extend from the arch for placement against the lingual surfaces of teeth on opposite sides of the user's dentition. Rather than utilizing transducer assemblies directly upon the teeth, the transducer may be removably or permanently integrated along the arch such that elongational vibration of the transducer conducts the vibrations along the arch for transmission through the coupling portions and into the user's teeth. Alternatively, one or more transducers may be positioned along the arch and actuated to directly conduct vibrations through the user's palatal bone.
FIG. 38 shows a top view of another variation of one or mote actuators positioned along a housing which is configured to be placed around a posterior surface of a tooth.
FIG. 40A shows a top view of an actuator having a mass attached to an arm which extends from the span of the housing.
Power supply 36 may be connected to each of the components in transmitter assembly 22 to provide power thereto. The transmitter signals 24 may be in any wireless form utilizing, e.g., radio frequency, ultrasound, microwave, Blue Tooth) (BLUETOOTH SIG, INC., Bellevue, Wash.), etc. for transmission to assembly 16. Assembly 22 may also optionally include one or more input controls 28 that a user may manipulate to adjust various acoustic parameters of the electronics and/or transducer assembly 16, such as acoustic focusing, volume control, filtration, muting, frequency optimization, sound adjustments, and tone adjustments, etc.
In yet another variation, FIG. 17 shows an actuator assembly 170 utilizing a symmetric (e.g., circularly or bilaterally symmetric) bender transducer assembly having one or more transducers 200, 202 attached to one another. The one or more transducers 200, 202 may be the same diameter or a second transducer 202 may have a diameter which is less than a diameter of the first transducer 200. Mass 172 may be coupled to second transducer 202 via anchoring point 204 along its central axis, in which case first transducer 200 may be coupled to assembly enclosure 170 via multiple anchors 206, 208 or via a circular anchoring element around a circumference of transducer 200.
at least one transducer coupled to the first housing such that the transducer is in vibratory contact with the one or more teeth, wherein said appliance produces an interference fit between the appliance and at least two surfaces of the one or more teeth.
2. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the housing defines a volume of less than 800 cubic millimeters.
3. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the housing has a thickness of about 0.4 mm.
4. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the span member has a length of about 10 mm.
5. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the housing has a length of about 7 mm.
6. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate relative to the one or more teeth.
7. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the transducer has a thickness of about 2 mm.
8. The appliance of claim 6 wherein the transducer has a height of between about 7 mm to 9 mm.
9. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a second housing sized for placement against a second set of one or more teeth, wherein the second housing is conformable therewith and where the first housing and second housing are positioned at or along opposing regions of the patient's dentition in a bi-lateral configuration.
10. The appliance of claim 9 further comprising a coupling member connecting the first housing and the second housing such that the coupling member is positioned adjacent to a lingual or buccal surface of the patient's dentition.
11. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the housing whereby movement of the mass element generates a force transmittable through the lingual and/or buccal surface.
12. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the first housing and which is in communication with the transducer.
13. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance fits over at least a portion of gingival tissue.
14. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is configured as an integrated assembly.
15. The appliance of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a polymeric material.
16. The appliance of claim 1 further comprising a power supply in electrical communication with the transducer.
an electronic assembly disposed within the second housing.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second arm members are configured to be biased towards one another wherein the arm members are securely pressed against their respective surfaces.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second arm members are connected via at least one connecting member.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the connecting member is configured to extend along a posterior surface of the at least one tooth.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the connecting member is configured to be placed against an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.
22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first arm member is configured to be placed against the lingual or the buccal surface of the at least one tooth.
23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second housings are removably securable to the at least one tooth.
24. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising an impedance matching layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.
25. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a reflective layer disposed between the transducer and the at least one tooth.
26. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer is disposed along an outer surface of the first housing.
27. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer is disposed along an inner surface of the first housing.
28. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising at least one additional transducer disposed within or upon the first housing and configured to be in vibratory communication with the at least one tooth.
29. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.
30. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.
31. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer is in vibratory communication with at least an occlusal surface of the at least one tooth.
32. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a mass element coupled to the transducer.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer.
34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer wherein the mass element is freely movable relative to the transducer.
35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the transducer comprises an electromagnetic transducer and the mass element is tethered with respect to the transducer.
36. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer.
37. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer which is configured to vibrate in a direction transverse to a length of the transducer.
38. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in an elongate direction relative to a length of the transducer.
39. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric transducer configured to vibrate in a shear mode such that opposing surfaces of the transducer vibrate in opposing directions.
40. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing fit over at least a portion of gingival tissue.
41. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the apparatus is configured as an integrated assembly.
42. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing comprise a polymeric material.
transmitting the vibrations from the transducer to at least one surface of the at least one tooth.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein securing comprises positioning the first arm member along a buccal surface of the at least one tooth.
45. The method of claim 44 further comprising positioning the second arm member along a lingual surface of the at least one tooth.
46. The method of claim 43 wherein securing comprises biasing the first and second arm members towards one another such that the transducer is secured relative to the at least one tooth.
47. The method of claim 43 further comprising receiving an electronic signal corresponding to an auditory signal perceived by a user prior to actuating the transducer.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein actuating the transducer comprises vibrating the transducer according to the electronic signal.
49. The method of claim 43 wherein actuating comprises actuating an electromagnetic transducer.
50. The method of claim 43 wherein actuating comprises actuating a piezoelectric transducer.
51. The method of claim 43 wherein transmitting comprises vibrating through an interface layer disposed between the transducer and the surfaces of the at least one tooth such that vibratory communication is maintained.
52. The method of claim 43 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing fit over at least a portion of gingival tissue.
53. The method of claim 43 wherein the first housing and/or the second housing comprise a polymeric material.
54. The method of claim 43 wherein said apparatus further comprises a mass element coupled to the transducer and movable relative to the first housing.
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References: Application No. 2007256878
 Application No. 2007256878
 Application No. 2007266517
 Application No. 2007266517
 Application No. 2007266518
 Application No. 07797846
 Application No. 2009
 Application No. 2009
 Application No. 2009
 Application No. 1000894