Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations

US8254611B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by

128References

78Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Sonitus Medical, Inc. · US

Inventors

Amir Abolfathi · Palo Alto, US
Vahid Saadat · Redwood Shores, US
Loc Phan · San Francisco, US

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 11, 2008
Grant date	Aug 28, 2012
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 20, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH04R2460/13
WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. 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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.