Patent ID: 8715153

Claim:
A device to transmit a sound to a user having a cochlea on a first side and a second cochlea on a second side, the device comprising: an input assembly configured to receive a sound input, the input assembly comprising a light source to transmit a light; and an output assembly comprising an output transducer configured to couple to a substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound and vibrate the cochlea on the first side with bone conduction of the substantially fixed bone tissue, wherein the sound transmitted to the cochlea is substantially attenuated at the second cochlea, the output assembly further comprising, at least one photodetector to receive the light, an anchor configured to affix the output transducer assembly to the substantially fixed bone tissue and support the output assembly with the substantially fixed bone tissue of the ear; wherein the output transducer vibrates the substantially fixed bone tissue to transmit the sound to the user with bone conduction in response to the light and wherein the transducer is configured to vibrate the second cochlea located on the second side of the user with substantial attenuation of the sound at the second cochlea sufficient for the user to localize the sound to the first side.