CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND
Field of the Technology
[0001] The present technology relates generally to hearing prostheses, and more particularly,
to filtering feedback from a hard-coupled vibrating transducer.
Related Art
[0002] Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types,
conductive and sensorineural. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is damage
to the inner ear, or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. Individuals
suffering from conductive hearing loss typically have some form of residual hearing
because the hair cells in the cochlea are undamaged. As a result, individuals suffering
from conductive hearing loss typically receive a prosthetic hearing device that generates
mechanical motion of the cochlea fluid. For example, acoustic energy may be delivered
through a column of air to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) via a hearing aid residing
in the ear canal. Mechanical energy may be delivered via the physical coupling of
a mechanical transducer (i.e. a transducer that converts electrical signals to mechanical
motion) to the tympanic membrane, the skull, the ossicular chain, the round or oval
window of the cochlea or other structure that will result in the delivery of mechanical
energy to the hydro - mechanical system of the cochlea.
[0003] Individuals suffering from conductive hearing loss typically receive an acoustic
hearing aid, referred to as a hearing aid herein. Unfortunately, not all individuals
who suffer from conductive hearing loss are able to derive suitable benefit from hearing
aids. For example, some individuals are prone to chronic inflammation or infection
of the ear canal thereby eliminating hearing aids as a potential solution. Other individuals
have malformed or absent outer ear and/or ear canals resulting from a birth defect,
or as a result of medical conditions such as Treacher Collins syndrome or Microtia.
Furthermore, hearing aids are typically unsuitable for individuals who suffer from
single-sided deafness (total hearing loss only in one ear). Hearing aids commonly
referred to as "cross aids" have been developed for single sided deaf individuals.
These devices receive the sound from the deaf side with one hearing aid and present
this signal (either via a direct electrical connection or wirelessly) to a hearing
aid which is worn on the opposite side. Unfortunately, this requires the recipient
to wear two hearing aids. Additionally, in order to prevent acoustic feedback problems,
hearing aids generally require that the ear canal be plugged, resulting in unnecessary
pressure, discomfort, or other problems such as eczema.
[0004] As noted, hearing aids rely primarily on the principles of air conduction. However,
other types of devices commonly referred to as bone conducting hearing aids or bone
conduction devices, function by converting a received sound into a mechanical force.
This force is transferred through the bones of the skull to the cochlea and causes
motion of the cochlea fluid. Hair cells inside the cochlea are responsive to this
motion of the cochlea fluid and generate nerve impulses which result in the perception
of the received sound. Bone conduction devices have been found suitable to treat a
variety of types of hearing loss and may be suitable for individuals who cannot derive
sufficient benefit from acoustic hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc., or for individuals
who suffer from stuttering problems.
[0005] US 2002/0122563 A1 relates to a bone conduction hearing aid and discloses all of the features in the
preamble of claim 1. A hearing aid with feedback cancellation is disclosed in
US 2008/0212816 A1
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention provides a hearing prosthesis as claimed in claim 1 and a method
of operating the hearing prosthesis as claimed in claim 1.0. Preferred embodiments
are defined in the dependent claims.
[0007] In one aspect, there is provided a stimulating hearing prosthesis, comprising: at
least one sound input device configured to sense a sound signal; and a transducer
configured to generate a vibration based on the sound signal; wherein the sound input
device is substantially rigidly coupled or hard coupled to the transducer.
[0008] In another aspect, there is provided a hearing prosthesis, comprising: at least one
sound input device configured to sense a sound signal; a transducer configured to
generate a vibration based on the sound signal; and a signal processor connected to
the sound input device and configured to filter well-defined mechanical feedback from
the vibration received by the sound input device.
[0009] In another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving an acoustic signal
with acoustic feedback and mechanical feedback; applying a first modification of the
signal to reduce well-defined mechanical feedback from signal; generating a stimulation
information based on the modified signal; and generating a mechanical force based
on the stimulation information.
[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment, there is a hearing prosthesis as detailed herein,
wherein an adaptation of the first part of the two part feedback management system
by the second part is configured to update less than about once every 160 milliseconds
or less than about one every 180 milliseconds.
[0011] According to an exemplary embodiment, there is a hearing prosthesis as detailed herein,
further comprising a two part feedback management system, wherein a first part of
the two part feedback management system is optimized to reduce low frequency feedback.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments of the present technology are described below with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a percutaneous bone conduction hearing prosthesis
in which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented;
FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction hearing
prosthesis in which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented;
FIG. 1C illustrates a perspective view of a behind-the-ear (BTE) transcutaneous bone
conduction hearing prosthesis on a recipient's head in which embodiments of the present
technology may be implemented;
FIG. 2A illustrates a cross sectional view of an external component with a hard coupled
transducer and sound input device, in which embodiments of the present technology
may be implemented;
FIG. 2B illustrates a cross sectional view of an external component with an hard-
coupled transducer and sound input device, not covered by the claims;
FIG. 2C illustrates a cross sectional view of an external component with an hard-
coupled transducer and two sound input devices, in which embodiments of the present
technology may be implemented;
FIG. 2D illustrates a cross sectional view of an external component with a hard- coupled
transducer and sound input device coupled via a connector, not covered by the claims;
FIG. 2E illustrates a cross sectional view of an external component with a hard- coupled
transducer and sound input device where the outer shell of the transducer acts as
the housing, in which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented;
FIG. 2F illustrates a cross sectional view of external component with an indirectly
hard-coupled transducer and sound input device, not covered by the claims.
FIG. 2G illustrates a cross sectional view of external component with an indirectly
hard-coupled transducer and sound input device, in which embodiments of the present
technology may be implemented.
FIG. 3A illustrates a processing pipeline by which embodiments of the present technology
may be implemented;
FIG. 3B illustrates a filtering bank feedback manager processing pipeline by which
embodiments of the present technology may be implemented;
FIG. 4A illustrates a flow chart in which embodiments of the present technology may
be implemented; and
FIG. 4B illustrates a flow chart in which embodiments of the present technology may
be implemented.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Aspects and embodiments of the present technology are directed to a mechanical stimulating
hearing prosthesis in which the sound input component and vibrating transducer are
rigidly or hard coupled, directly or indirectly. The phrases "rigidly coupled" and
"hard coupled," which are used to denote the same feature, mean that the sound input
device is intentionally connected to the transducer using a mechanical connection
that is stiff, firm, or otherwise substantially inflexible. The mechanical connection
can be any mechanical connection such as a direct connection where the sound input
device and transducer are coupled without an intervening element, or an indirect connection
using a metal shaft, bolt, threaded connection or adhesive connection, or any other
coupling mechanism that will produce a mechanical connection. Examples of these connections
are detailed further in this specification. Other mechanical connections, not herein
disclosed, are also contemplated providing they provide a rigid connection between
sound input device and the transducer.
[0014] Due to such hard-coupling, the vibration feedback to the sound input device can be
accurately defined. The prosthesis also includes a filter configured to substantially
remove or compensate for this well-defined vibration feedback. Hearing prostheses
that generate mechanical stimulation include, for example, a bone conduction device
and a middle ear implant. Aspects of the present technology are described next below
with reference to one type of mechanical stimulating hearing prosthesis, namely a
bone conduction device. It should be appreciated, however, that embodiments of the
present technology may be implemented in other mechanical stimulating hearing prostheses
now or later developed.
[0015] The hearing prosthesis generally comprises a sound input device to receive sound
waves and a vibrating transducer (e.g. actuator) hard-coupled to the sound input device
and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the sound input
device. A housing is configured to house one or more operational components, such
as a vibrating transducer and a sound input device, of the hearing prosthesis. The
outer shell of the vibrator itself may also act as the housing such that the vibrator
and housing are one and the same structure. Since the vibrating transducer is hard-coupled
to the sound input device, feedback from the vibrating transducer received by the
sound input device is more well-defined or accurate, and therefore easier to cancel
out using filters or other techniques, than if the vibrating transducer was not hard-coupled
to the sound input device.
[0016] As noted, hearing prosthesis such as bone conduction devices have been found suitable
to treat various types of hearing loss and may be suitable for individuals who cannot
derive suitable benefit from acoustic hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc. FIG. 1A
is a perspective view of a percutaneous bone conduction device 100A in which embodiments
of the present technology may be advantageously implemented. As shown, the recipient
has an outer ear 101, a middle ear 102 and an inner ear 103. Elements of outer ear
101, middle ear 102 and inner ear 103 are described below, followed by a description
of bone conduction device 100A.
[0017] In a fully functional human hearing, outer ear 101 comprises an auricle 109 and an
ear canal 106. A sound wave 107 is collected by auricle 109 and channeled into and
through ear canal 106. Disposed across the distal end of ear canal 106 is a tympanic
membrane 104 which vibrates in response to sound wave 107. This vibration is coupled
to oval window or fenestra ovalis 110 through three bones of middle ear 102, collectively
referred to as the ossicles 111 and comprising the malleus 112, the incus 113 and
the stapes 114. Bones 112, 113 and 114 of middle ear 102 serve to filter and amplify
sound wave 107, causing oval window 110 to articulate, or vibrate. Such vibration
sets up waves of fluid motion within cochlea 115. Such fluid motion, in turn, activates
tiny hair cells (not shown) that line the inside of cochlea 115. Activation of the
hair cells causes appropriate nerve impulses to be transferred through the spiral
ganglion cells and auditory nerve 116 to the brain (not shown), where they are perceived
as sound.
[0018] FIG. 1A also illustrates the positioning of bone conduction device 100A relative
to outer ear 101, middle ear 102 and inner ear 103 of a recipient of device 100A.
As shown, bone conduction device 100A includes external component 145 which may be
positioned behind outer ear 101 of the recipient and comprises a sound input device
126 to receive sound signals. Sound input device may comprise, for example, a microphone,
telecoil, etc. Sound input device 126 may also be a component that receives an electronic
signal indicative of sound, such as, for example, from an external audio device. For
example, sound input device 126 may receive a sound signal in the form of an electrical
signal from an MP3 player electronically connected to sound input device 126. As described
below, sound input device may be located, for example, on the device, in the device,
or on a cable extending from the device.
[0019] Also as described below, bone conduction device 100A may comprise a sound processor,
a vibrating transducer and/or various other operational components which facilitate
operation of the device. More particularly, bone conduction device 100A operates by
converting the sound received by sound input device 126 into electrical signals. These
electrical signals are utilized by the sound processor to generate control signals
that cause the transducer (located in housing 124) to vibrate. These control signals
are provided to the vibrating transducer. As described below, the vibrating transducer
converts the signals into mechanical vibrations used to output a force for delivery
to the recipient's skull.
[0020] In accordance with embodiments of the present technology, bone conduction device
100A further includes a housing 124, a coupling 140 and an implanted anchor 162 configured
to attach the device to the recipient. In the specific embodiments of FIG. 1A, coupling
140 is attached to implanted anchor 162, which is implanted in the recipient. In the
illustrative arrangement of FIG. 1A, implanted anchor 162 is fixed to the recipient's
skull bone 136. Coupling 140 extends from implanted anchor 162 and bone 136 through
muscle 134, fat 128 and skin 132 so that housing 124, or a component within housing
124, may be attached thereto. Implanted anchor 162 facilitates efficient transmission
of mechanical force to the recipient. It would be appreciated that embodiments of
the present technology may be implemented with other types of couplings and anchor
systems.
[0021] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a transcutaneous bone conduction device 100B in
which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented. In the embodiments
illustrated in FIG. 1B, bone conduction device 100B is positioned behind outer ear
101 of the recipient. Bone conduction device 100B comprises an external component
145 and an implantable component 150. Bone conduction device 100B includes a sound
input device 126 which is hard-coupled to the vibrating transducer (not shown), as
described further below.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1B, fixation system 162 may be used to secure implantable component
150 to skull 136. As described below, fixation system 162 may be a bone screw fixed
to skull 136, and also attached to implantable component 150.
[0023] In one arrangement of FIG. 1B, bone conduction device 100B is a passive transcutaneous
bone conduction device. That is, no active components, such as the transducer, are
implanted beneath the recipient's skin 132. In such an arrangement, the active transducer
is located in external component 145. External component 145 also includes a magnetic
pressure or magnetic plate 151. Implantable component 150 includes a magnetic plate
152. Magnetic plate 152 of the implantable component 150 vibrates in response to vibration
transmitted through the skin from external component 145, mechanically and/or via
a magnetic field, that are generated by external magnetic plate 151.
[0024] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) transcutaneous bone conduction
hearing prosthesis in which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented.
As shown, bone conduction device 100C is positioned behind outer ear 101 of a recipient
Bone conduction device 100C comprises a BTE 125, but no implantable component. Bone
conduction device 100C includes a sound input device 126 to receive sound waves. In
an exemplary embodiment, sound input device 126 may be located, for example, on or
in bone conduction device 100B, or otherwise hard-coupled to the bone conduction device,
as described further below. BTE 125 is affixed to skin 132 via an adhesive (not shown).BTE
125 is affixed to skin 132 at a location in which there is minimal subcutaneous fat
or muscle. A vibrating transducer in the BTE generates vibrations which are transcutaneously
transferred to skull bone 136, resulting in a hearing percept as described above.
[0025] As noted, sound input device 126 and vibrating transducer 206 are rigidly connected
or hard coupled to each other. Exemplary embodiments of how such a rigid connection
may be implemented are illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2G. Any of FIGS 2A-2G may be implemented
in any of the hearing prostheses described with respect to FIGS. 1A-1C above. FIGS.
2A-2G are cross-sectional diagrams of embodiments of external components 200A-200G,
respectively, of a bone conduction device. External Components 200 have a housing
124 in which a vibrating transducer 206 is suspended. In FIGs. 2A-2G, vibrating transducer
206 is mechanically coupled to components that facilitate the percutaneous or transcuateous
transfer of vibrations to the skull. FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of a vibrator,
to be used, for example, within a bone conduction hearing prosthesis, with a directly
hard-coupled transducer and sound input device, in which embodiments of the present
technology may be implemented. External component 200A is a passive device because
vibrating transducer 206 is located external to the recipient's body. Component 200A
may also be implemented as an active device, for example implanted in a recipient's
skull or within a middle ear implant. External component 200 includes housing 124.
Vibrating transducer 206 is located inside housing 124. External component 200A may
include a flat spring (not shown) between transducer 206 and housing 124. Sound input
device 126 is located within housing 124, and more specifically at least partially
within a wall of housing 124 so that sound input device 126 may have access to the
air outside housing 124 to receive sound waves. Sound input device 126, however, may
be located fully within housing 124 or may be located fully outside of housing 124
and connected to the outside of the housing. Vibrating transducer 206 is hard-coupled
or rigidly-coupled to sound input device 126. More specifically, transducer 206 and
sound input device 126 are physically and firmly connected to each other so as to
allow for the direct transmission of mechanical power between transducer 206 and input
device 126.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2A, transducer 206 may be rigidly and directly coupled to sound
input device 126 without any physical elements between transducer 206 and sound input
device 126. In other words, transducer 206 is directly hard-coupled to sound input
device 126 because it is directly connected to it, or in other words there is no other
structure separating transducer 206 and sound input device 126. A directly hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device, such as transducer 206 and sound input device 126
in FIG. 2A, may be beneficial because of the direct contact between the two elements
without any interference elements in between. In other words, a directly hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device may yield a slightly more well-defined feedback
path than a device that includes intermediate elements in between hard-coupled transducer
and sound input element. Since hard-coupled transducer and sound input device are
directly connected, the transducer will directly transfer any present mechanical feedback
directly to the sound input device. Similar benefits apply to other directly hard-coupled
systems, including those described in FIGS. 2C, 2E and 2G.
[0027] FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view of external component 200B with an indirectly hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device, not covered by the claims. As shown in FIG. 2B,
transducer 206 may be indirectly, but still rigidly, coupled to sound input device
126. More specifically, transducer 206 is coupled to sound input device 126 via rigid
shaft 207. Rigid shaft 207 may be a metal post, or any other coupling mechanism that
will produce a rigid connection between transducer 206 and sound input device 126.
An indirect hard-coupled transducer and sound input device, such as transducer 206
and sound input device 126 in FIG. 2B, may be beneficial because it allows for more
flexibility in manufacturing where different components within the system, such as
transducer 206, may be placed at various places within housing 124 while still maintaining
a hard-coupled connection between the transducer and sound input device. Similar benefits
apply to other indirect hard-coupled systems, including that described in FIG. 2D.
[0028] Due to the rigid coupling between transducer 206 and sound input device 126, vibrations
generated by transducer 206 travel through the rigid coupling to transducer 206 and
input device 126. More specifically, vibrations produced by vibrating transducer 206
may be picked up by sound input device 126 as mechanical (or acoustical) feedback.
Acoustic feedback heard by sound input element 126 may come from background noise,
noise from the transducer movement, noise from the housing, or noise from the rigid
connection between the transducer and either the sound input element or the housing
due to the movement of the transducer. If vibrating transducer 206 and sound input
device 126 were not rigidly coupled, and rather isolated from each other, sound input
device 126 may still pick up mechanical vibrations (and/or acoustic signals) as feedback
from transducer 206. However, such mechanical feedback may be unpredictable and/or
varying because of the physical and electrical space separation between transducer
206 and sound input device 126. Rigid coupling between transducer 206 and sound input
device 126, however, causes the mechanical feedback received by sound input device
126 from transducer 206 to be well-defined. While the mechanical feedback received
by sound input device 126 from transducer 206 may be stronger or of a higher magnitude,
the feedback is more predictable and substantially constant. In one form the feedback
is easily determinable or calculable based on one or more factors such as voltage
applied to the transducer or other known measurable factors.
[0029] Mechanical feedback, as described, is well-defined or well known when it is set or
measured during development of the hearing prosthesis or during the fitting process
of the hearing process to the recipient. In other words, the mechanical feedback path
is determinable and the feedback will not vary far from that determined feedback because
the mechanics of the system, due to the rigid connection, will not vary over time.
More specifically, the mechanics of the system, including the rigid coupling, should
not change over time even if the transducer and/or other components of the system
are shaken, dropped, or normal use events. As such, the set/measured feedback data
taken during manufacture or fitting will remain consistent. This concept may be most
reliable for lower frequencies, e.g. frequencies below 1 kHz, which are the most common
frequencies for the mechanical feedback discussed herein, but may also apply to higher
frequencies. On the other hand, prior art systems describe the opposite principle.
More specifically, prior art describes systems that isolate the sound input device
and insulate the sound input device from the actuator to try to reduce the feedback
reaching the sound input device as low as possible.
[0030] A well-defined feedback path, such as the feedback from a transducer rigidly coupled
to a sound input device, is more easily canceled by a filter or set of filters or
other noise cancelling technique because the mechanical feedback is not random and
can be accurately defined/predicted, as described. For example, such feedback may
be canceled by the use of a static or slow moving filter, such as, for example, an
all pass filter. However, it is understood that various other techniques for canceling
such feedback may be used, such as other types of filters and anti-feedback algorithms.
[0031] Vibrating transducer 206 is also coupled to shaft or post 210. Shaft 210 may be connected
to an anchor or abutment to be implanted in the skull of a recipient as part of a
percutaneous bone conduction device, as shown in FIG. 1A. Shaft 210 may be connected
to a plate as part of a transcutaneous bone conduction device, as shown in FIG. 1B.
The plate may be in the form of a permanent magnet and/or in another form that generates
and/or is reactive to a magnetic field, or otherwise permits the establishment of
magnetic attraction between the external device 200 and an implantable component in
the recipient's skull sufficient to hold the external device 200 against the skin
of the recipient. If vibrating transducer 206 were mechanically coupled to such a
plate, the vibrations from transducer 206 are transferred from the actuator to the
plate and to the recipient's skull.
[0032] FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view of an external component 200C with a hard-coupled
transducer and two sound input devices, in which embodiments of the present technology
may be implemented. A second input device may be added to the embodiments illustrated
in FIGS. 2A and 2B, such as sound input device 209. Sound input device 209 is located
within housing 124, and more specifically at least partially within a wall of housing
124 so that sound input device 209 may have access to the air outside housing 124
to receive sound waves. Sound input device 209, however, may be located fully within
housing 124 or may be located fully outside of housing 124 and connected to the outside
of the housing.
[0033] FIG. 2D is a cross sectional view of an external component 200D with a hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device coupled via a connector, not covered by the claims.
As shown in FIG. 2D, transducer 206 may be indirectly, but still rigidly, coupled
to sound input device 126. More specifically, transducer 206 is coupled to sound input
device 126 via connector 230. Connector 230 may be glue, solder, a printed circuit
board (PCB), or any other layer or component that will produce a rigid connection
between transducer 206 and sound input device 126. It is appreciated that while connector
230 is shown in FIG. 2D as spanning the width of sound input device 126, it may also
extend to other portions of transducer 206.
[0034] FIG. 2E is a cross sectional view of external component 200E with a directly hard-
coupled transducer and sound input device where the outer shell of the vibrating transducer
itself acts as the housing (such that the vibrating transducer and housing are one
and the same structure), in which embodiments of the present technology may be implemented.
Device 200E is a passive transcutaneous bone conduction device because vibrating transducer
206 is located external to the recipient's body. External device 200E includes vibrating
transducer 206 and sound input device 126. Vibrating transducer 206 is hard or rigidly
coupled to sound input device 126. More specifically, transducer 206 and sound input
device 126 are physically and firmly connected to each other so as to allow for the
direct transmission of mechanical power between transducer 206 and input device 126.
As shown in FIG. 2E, transducer 206 may be rigidly and directly coupled to sound input
device 126 without any physical elements between transducer 206 and sound input device
126. However, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, for example, a rigid shaft or other connector
may physically connect transducer 206 to sound input device 126, which may be integrated
into FIG. 2E. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2C, additional sound input devices may
be utilized.
[0035] FIG. 2F is a cross sectional view of external component 200F with an indirectly hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device, not covered by the claims. As shown in FIG. 2F,
transducer 206 may be indirectly, but still rigidly, coupled to sound input device
126. More specifically, transducer 206 is coupled to sound input device 126 via housing
124. Gap 246, which is a gap between transducer 206 and sound input device 126, shows
that transducer is not directly coupled to sound input device 126. Gap 246 should
be large enough such that transducer 206 and sound input device 126 do not touch while
transducer 206 is vibrating. Rigid coupling between transducer 206 and sound input
device 126, even if not due to direct rigid coupling between transducer 206 and sound
input device 126 or rigid coupling via a third component, as shown in other embodiments
of the present technology, may cause the mechanical feedback received by sound input
device 126 from transducer 206 to be well-defined. An indirect hard-coupled transducer
and sound input device, such as transducer 206 and sound input device 126 in FIG.
2F, may be beneficial because, in addition to those benefits described with respect
to FIG. 2B, no additional components are required to hard-couple transducer 206 to
sound input device 126 besides housing 206. A system that does not use such extra
components helps to conserve resources and manufacturing complexity.
[0036] FIG. 2G is a cross sectional view of external component 200G with a directly hard-coupled
transducer and sound input device, in which embodiments of the present technology
may be implemented. External component 200G is similar to external component 200A
in that vibrating transducer 206 is directly hard-coupled or rigidly-coupled to sound
input device 126. However, as shown in FIG. 2G, housing 124 is secured around each
edge of transducer 206 such that there is no space between housing 124 and transducer
206.
[0037] Embodiments of the present technology may also be implemented in a middle ear implant,
or direct mechanical stimulation system. Such an embodiment may be implemented with
similar features as explained in FIG. 2, but implanted deeper into a recipient's auditory
pathways.
[0038] FIG. 3A is an audio processing pipeline 300 which may be implemented in a bone conduction
device having a rigidly coupled microphone and transducer, as described above. Audio
processing pipeline 300 receives analog audio signals 312 generated by sound input
device 126, and generates control signals 320 for controlling the operation of the
vibrating transducer 206.
[0039] Initially, analog-to-digital conversion operations are performed on analog audio
signal 312 at block 302. The A/D conversion encodes analog audio signal 312 at a specified
sample rate, then further scales the encoded signal, prior to generating a digital
audio signal 314 representative of the received sound 107.
[0040] Pre-processing block 304 receives digital audio signal 314 and generates one or more
pre-processed digital signals to provide to vibration feedback manager 306. Examples
of operations that can be performed by pre-processing block 304 include various types
of signal conditioning, multi-channel compression, dynamic range expansion, noise
reduction and/or amplitude scaling.
[0041] Pre-processed digital audio signal 316 may contain noise from any one of a variety
of sources. For example, the feedback of transducer vibrations through sound input
device 126 will result in signal 316 having noise which could interfere with the fidelity
of the hearing percept invoked by the hearing prosthesis. As shown in FIG. 3A, a Vibration
Feedback Manager 306 filters such noise from digital audio signal 316. As noted, because
vibrating transducer 306 and sound input device 126 are rigidly coupled to each other,
the mechanical feedback received by sound input device 126 from transducer 306 is
predictable and substantially constant, a condition referred to herein as being well-defined.
Such feedback is effectively canceled by Vibration Feedback Manager 306.
[0042] Filter bank 308 separates pre-processed digital signals 317 into a plurality of frequency
bands for processing by sound processing block 310.
[0043] Filtered digital signals 318 are provided from filter bank 308 to sound processing
block 310. Sound processing 310 may include applying digital signal processing algorithms
to generate transducer control signals 320. Therefore, control signals 320 will be
a signal capable of being understood by transducer 206 to drive the transducer to
generate a mechanical force representative of the received sound. The output signal
of sound processing block 310 will represent generated stimulation information based
on the processed signals.
[0044] FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram of vibration feedback manager 306 illustrated
in FIG. 3A. In the illustrative embodiment, Vibration Feedback Manager 306 has two
filters that sequentially process digital audio signal 316: a static all-pass filter
372 that processes digital audio signal 316, followed by an adaptive feedback reduction
algorithm 374 that further processes the signal.
[0045] Static filter 372 may be, for example, a wholly static or slow moving all-pass filter,
such as an all pass filter with a static phase shift. However, a variety of other
filters may be used, including but not limited to an IIR filter, an all-pass phase
equalizer filter or an FIR filter. Filter 372 is used to cancel out at least the mechanical
feedback received by sound input device 126 (and other sound input devices, such as
sound input device 309, if present) picked up from vibrations by transducer 206. Such
mechanical feedback is generally at relatively lower frequencies, for example frequencies
less than 1 kHz, but may also have higher frequency components. Furthermore, the feedback
received by vibration feedback manager 306 generally comprises mechanical feedback,
but may also comprise acoustical feedback received from transducer 206 or from other
sources.
[0046] As noted, vibration feedback manager 306 also includes an adaptive feedback reduction
algorithm 374. Filtered signal(s) from filter 372 are passed to filter(s) 374, which
applies an adaptive feedback reduction algorithm to remove changes in the feedback
path as well as any acoustical feedback (generally at higher frequencies) that filter
372 did not cancel out. Filter 374, for example, may be implemented into the system
using software, a digital circuit, an analog circuit, or other implementations not
described herein. For example, vibration feedback manager 306 may include a microprocessor
or other signal processor device that executes filter 374. After adaptive feedback
reduction algorithm 374 is applied to the signal(s), signal 317 is sent out of the
vibration feedback manager 306 and to the next step in processing pipeline 300.
[0047] As noted, filter 372 may be static. Alternatively, filter 372 may be slow-moving
and therefore not completely static. Because the mechanical feedback received by a
microphone from the transducer is relatively consistent, and therefore, predictable,
filter 372 may be selected in production based on measurements of the feedback.
[0048] However, even well-defined feedback may adjust or vary slightly over time due to,
for example, aging of the device, changes in vibrating transducer load, or physical
environment, such as the recipient covering the bone conduction device. Therefore,
in the illustrative embodiment, adaptive feedback reduction algorithm 374 may dynamically
adjust the filter system based on changes in the feedback over time. Adaptive feedback
reduction algorithm 374 may compare the signal(s) received by the sound input devices
with the feedback signals that are being transmitted by the vibrating transducer to
determine any changes in the feedback. Vibration feedback manager 306 and, more specifically,
filter 374 may use this feedback information to adjust itself over time. However,
because mechanical feedback received by a microphone from a hard-coupled transducer
may be so well-defined, system adaptation may be set to occur at a rate as low as
160 milliseconds, or even slower. For example, the speed of system adaptation may
be set to directly correlate to frequency of the feedback, i.e. the lower the frequency,
the lower the adaptation time of the system.
[0049] Vibration feedback manager 306 may dynamically adjust the filtering system dynamically,
as described above, or feedback changes may also be noted and accounted for by an
audiologist fitting a recipient.
[0050] As noted, filter 372 generally cancels feedback at lower frequencies. However, filter
372 may cancel some feedback at higher frequencies. Furthermore, as noted, adaptive
feedback reduction algorithm 374 generally cancels feedback at higher frequencies.
However, adaptive feedback reduction algorithm 374 may also cancel other feedback
that was not canceled at filter 372, such as, for example, some lower frequency feedback.
[0051] FIGS. 4A and 4B are flow charts showing methods by which embodiments of the present
technology may be implemented. More specifically, FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the general
procedure by which one or more sound signals are treated when received by sound input
device 126. As noted in block 401, sound is received by the system at sound input
device 126 (or other sound input devices, such as sound input device 209, if present).
As noted in block 402, the inputted sound signals are then processed to, for example,
filter out any feedback or noise present in the signals. For example, this feedback
may include well-defined feedback from vibrations of transducer 206. As noted, this
feedback is well-defined because sound input device 126 is hard-coupled to transducer
206.
[0052] As noted in block 403, the processed and filtered signals are then passed to the
transducer as control/driver signals. As noted in block 404, the signals passed to
the transducer are used to generate a mechanical force to illicit a hearing perception
by the recipient. As noted, the mechanical force generated by transducer 206 will
be transmitted to the skull bone of the recipient by one or more of several methods
of bone conduction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, mechanical force may be transferred
to the skull bone of the recipient via percutaneous bone conduction or transcutaneous
bond conduction. Transcutaneous bond conduction may utilize magnetic plates (one implantable
and one external) or may adhere the bone conduction device to the side of the recipient's
head near the skull bone of the recipient.
[0053] FIG. 4B is a more detailed flow chart showing a method by which embodiments of the
present technology may be implemented. As noted in blocks 411a and 411b, signals received
by the bone conduction devices according to embodiments of the present technology
may be in the form of, for example, acoustic sound, which may include acoustic feedback,
or mechanical feedback. As noted, the source of the acoustic feedback heard the sound
input element may be from background noise, noise from the transducer movement, noise
from the housing, or the rigid connection. As noted in block 412, whichever signals
are received by the system at sound input device 126 (or other input devices, if present)
are pre-processed to generate electrical signals based on the information received
by the sound input device(s). The signals are processed to, for example, turn the
analog signals received by the microphone(s) into digital signals.
[0054] As noted in block 413, the digital signals received from pre-processing are then
modified to, for example, cancel the well-defined mechanical feedback received as
a result of the transducer's vibrations. As noted, this well-defined feedback may
be canceled using a static or slow-moving all-pass filter or other canceling devices.
However, other noise signals or feedback may be canceled due to this static or slow-moving
filter other than the feedback received from the vibrating transducer. If feedback
is left over (likely mostly acoustic feedback) after such a filter is applied, that
feedback will be canceled by an adaptive feedback reduction algorithm, as noted in
block 414.
[0055] After the digital signals are filtered, the system generates stimulation information
based on the processed and filtered signals to generate a mechanical force based on
that stimulation information, as noted in blocks 415 and 416, respectively. When stimulation
information based on a processed audio signal is sent to the transducer, the transducer
generates a mechanical force based on that information and the mechanical force is
delivered to the recipient to illicit a hearing perception, as noted in block 417.
As noted above and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanical force may be transferred
to the skull bone of the recipient via different types of bone conduction hearing
prostheses.
1. A hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C), comprising:
at least one sound input device (126) configured to sense a sound signal; and
a transducer (206) configured to generate a vibration based on the sound signal;
characterized by
the sound input device (126) being directly hard-coupled to the transducer (206) to
provide a defined mechanical feedback path, and
a signal processor (300) configured to filter mechanical feedback from vibration received
by the sound input device (126) via the defined mechanical feedback path.
2. The hearing prosthesis (100A 100B, 100C) of claim 1, wherein the signal processor
(300) filters the mechanical feedback using an all-pass filter and the all-pass filter
is static or slow moving.
3. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising one of:
a two part feedback management system, wherein a first part of the two part feedback
management system is configured to reduce low frequency feedback;
a second sound input device (209);
a housing, wherein the transducer and the housing are one and the same.
4. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising a two part
feedback management system, wherein a first part of the two part feedback management
system is configured to reduce low frequency feedback and wherein the low frequency
feedback includes the mechanical feedback from the
transducer (206) received by the sound input device (126),
or wherein a second part of the two part feedback management system is configured
to reduce high frequency feedback.
5. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising a two part
feedback management system, wherein a second part of the two part feedback management
system is configured to reduce high frequency feedback and wherein the high frequency
feedback is audible feedback from the vibration and is received by the sound input
device.
6. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising a two part
feedback management system, wherein a second part of the two part feedback management
system is configured to reduce high frequency feedback and wherein the second part
of the two part feedback management system is configured to utilize an adaptive feedback
reduction algorithm.
7. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising a two part
feedback management system, wherein a first part of the two part feedback management
system is configured to reduce low frequency feedback and wherein an adaptation of
the first part of the two part feedback management system is configured to update
less than once every 160, 180 or 200 milliseconds.
8. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of claim 1, further comprising a second
sound input device (209), wherein the second sound input device (209) is rigidly coupled
to the transducer (206).
9. The hearing prosthesis (100A, 100B, 100C) of any one of the claims 2 - 8,
wherein the signal processor (300) is configured to filter the mechanical
feedback at frequencies below 1 kHz.
10. A method of operating a hearing prosthesis as claimed in any one of the claims 1 -
9, comprising:
receiving an acoustic signal with acoustic feedback and mechanical feedback;
applying a first modification of the signal to reduce the mechanical feedback in the
signal;
generating a stimulation information based on the modified signal; and
generating a mechanical force based on the stimulation information.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
applying a second modification of the signal to reduce any feedback remaining in the
signal after the first modification is applied,
wherein applying the first modification is optimized to reduce low frequency feedback,
wherein applying the second modification is optimized to reduce high frequency feedback.
1. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C), umfassend:
wenigstens eine Klangeingabeeinrichtung (126), die konfiguriert ist zum Erfassen eines
Klangsignals, und
einen Wandler (206), der konfiguriert ist zum Erzeugen einer Vibration basierend auf
dem Klangsignal,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klangeingabeeinrichtung (126) direkt mit dem Wandler (206) hartgekoppelt ist,
um einen definierten mechanischen Rückkopplungspfad vorzusehen, und
einen Signalprozessor (300), der konfiguriert ist zum Filtern einer mechanischen Rücckopplung
von einer Vibration, die durch die Klangeingabeeinrichtung (126) über den definierten
mechanischen Rückkopplungspfad empfangen wird.
2. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Signalprozessor (300)
die mechanische Rückkopplung unter Verwendung eines Allpassfilters filtert, wobei
das Allpassfilter statisch ist oder sich langsam bewegt.
3. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin eines der Folgenden
umfasst:
ein zweiteiliges Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystem, wobei ein erster Teil des zweiteiligen
Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert ist zum Reduzieren einer niederfrequenten
Rückkopplung,
eine zweite Klangeingabeeinrichtung (209),
ein Gehäuse, wobei der Wandler und das Gehäuse identisch sind.
4. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin ein zweiteiliges Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystem
umfasst, wobei ein erster Teil des zweiteiligen Rücckopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert
ist zum Reduzieren einer niederfrequenten Rückkopplung und wobei die niederfrequente
Rückkopplung die durch die Klangeingabeeinrichtung (126) empfangene mechanische Rückkopplung
von dem Wandler (206) enthält,
oder wobei ein zweiter Teil des zweiteiligen Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert
ist zum Reduzieren einer hochfrequenten Rückkopplung.
5. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin ein zweiteiliges Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystem
umfasst, wobei ein zweiter Teil des zweiteiligen Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert
ist zum Reduzieren einer hochfrequenten Rückkopplung und wobei die hochfrequente Rückkopplung
eine akustische Rücckopplung von der Vibration ist und durch die Klangeingabeeinrichtung
empfangen wird.
6. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin ein zweiteiliges Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystem
umfasst, wobei ein zweiter Teil des zweiteiligen Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert
ist zum Reduzieren einer hochfrequenten Rückkopplung und wobei der zweite Teil des
zweiteiligen Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert ist zum Verwenden eines
adaptiven Rückkopplungsreduktionsalgorithmus.
7. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin ein zweiteiliges Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystem
umfasst, wobei ein erster Teil des zweiteiligen Rücckopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert
ist zum Reduzieren einer niederfrequenten Rückkopplung und wobei eine Adaption des
ersten Teils des zweiteiligen Rückkopplungsverwaltungssystems konfiguriert ist zum
Aktualisieren von weniger als einmal in 160, 180 oder 200 Millisekunden.
8. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach Anspruch 1, die weiterhin eine zweite Klangeingabeeinrichtung
(209) aufweist, wobei die zweite Klangeingabeeinrichtung (209) starr mit dem Wandler
(206) gekoppelt ist.
9. Gehörprothese (100A, 100B, 100C) nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 8, wobei der Signalprozessor
(300) konfiguriert ist zum Filtern der mechanischen Rückkopplung bei Frequenzen unter
1 kHz.
10. Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Gehörprothese gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, umfassend:
Empfangen eines akustischen Signals mit einer akustischen Rückkopplung und einer mechanischen
Rückkopplung,
Anwenden einer ersten Modifikation des Signals für das Reduzieren der mechanischen
Rückkopplung in dem Signal,
Erzeugen von Stimulationsinformationen basierend auf dem modifizierten Signal, und
Erzeugen einer mechanischen Kraft basierend auf den Stimulationsinformationen.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, das weiterhin umfasst:
Anwenden einer zweiten Modifikation des Signals, um eine nach dem Anwenden der ersten
Modifikation in dem Signal verbleibende Rückkopplung zu reduzieren,
wobei das Anwenden der ersten Modifikation optimiert ist für das Reduzieren einer
niederfrequenten Rückkopplung,
wobei das Anwenden der zweiten Modifikation optimiert ist für das Reduzieren einer
hochfrequenten Rückkopplung.
1. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C), comprenant :
au moins un dispositif d'entrée sonore (126) configuré pour détecter un signal sonore;
et
un transducteur (206) configuré pour générer une vibration fondée sur le signal sonore;
caractérisé par
le dispositif d'entrée sonore (126) étant directement couplé au transducteur (206)
pour fournir un chemin de rétroaction mécanique défini, et
un processeur de signal (300) configuré pour filtrer la rétroaction mécanique des
vibrations reçues par le dispositif d'entrée sonore (126) par le biais du chemin de
rétroaction mécanique défini.
2. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le processeur
de signal (300) filtre le feedback mécanique en utilisant un filtre passe-tout et
le filtre passe-tout est statique ou se déplace lentement.
3. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre
l'un des éléments suivants:
un système de gestion du Larsen en deux parties, dans lequel une première partie du
système de gestion du Larsen en deux parties est configurée pour réduire le Larsen
à basse fréquence;
un second dispositif d'entrée sonore (209);
un boîtier, dans lequel le transducteur et le boîtier sont une seule et même chose.
4. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre
un système de gestion de la rétroaction en deux parties, dans lequel une première
partie du système de gestion de la rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour
réduire la rétroaction à basse fréquence et
dans lequel la rétroaction basse fréquence comprend la rétroaction mécanique du transducteur
(206) reçue par le dispositif d'entrée sonore (126), ou dans lequel une seconde partie
du système de gestion de la rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour réduire
la rétroaction haute fréquence.
5. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre
un système de gestion de rétroaction en deux parties, dans laquelle une seconde partie
du système de gestion de rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour réduire la
rétroaction haute fréquence et dans laquelle la rétroaction haute fréquence est une
rétroaction audible provenant de la vibration et est reçue par le dispositif d'entrée
sonore.
6. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre
un système de gestion de la rétroaction en deux parties, dans lequel une seconde partie
du système de gestion de la rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour réduire
la rétroaction haute fréquence et dans lequel la seconde partie du système de gestion
de la rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour utiliser un algorithme adaptatif
de réduction de la rétroaction.
7. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) de la demande 1, comprenant en outre un système
de gestion de rétroaction en deux parties, dans lequel une première partie du système
de gestion de rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour réduire la rétroaction
à basse fréquence et dans lequel une adaptation de la première partie du système de
gestion de rétroaction en deux parties est configurée pour se mettre à jour moins
d'une fois toutes les 160, 180 ou 200 millisecondes.
8. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre
un second dispositif d'entrée sonore (209), dans laquelle le second dispositif d'entrée
sonore (209) est couplé de manière rigide au transducteur (206).
9. Prothèse auditive (100A, 100B, 100C) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à
8, dans laquelle le processeur de signal (300) est configuré pour filtrer le retour
mécanique à des fréquences inférieures à 1 kHz.
10. Procédé de fonctionnement d'une prothèse auditive selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1-9, comprenant:
la réception d'un signal acoustique avec une rétroaction acoustique et une rétroaction
mécanique;
l'application d'une première modification du signal pour réduire la rétroaction mécanique
dans le signal;
la génération d'une information de stimulation fondée sur le signal modifié;
et
la génération d'une force mécanique fondée sur les informations de stimulation.
11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, comprenant en outre:
l'application d'une seconde modification du signal pour réduire toute rétroaction
restant dans le signal après l'application de la première modification,
dans lequel l'application de la première modification est optimisée pour réduire la
rétroaction à basse fréquence,
dans lequel l'application de la seconde modification est optimisée pour réduire la
rétroaction à haute fréquence.