Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. 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.
1. An intraoral apparatus, comprising:
an actuatable transducer to generate sound through bone conduction;
a patch having one or more hook and loop fasteners which are configured to attach the actuatable transducer to one or more teeth or oral tissue; and
a microphone for receiving auditory signals and which is in electrical communication with the actuatable transducer.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each fastener comprises a hook layer and a loop layer.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fasteners apply a force parallel to the plane of the fastener surface to increase bonding strength.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing coupled to the patch through one of: an electro-magnetic coupling, a mechanical coupling, and a chemical coupling.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an electronic assembly disposed within or upon the housing and which is in communication with the transducer.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the electronic assembly is encapsulated within the housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a power supply in electrical communication with transducer.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a processor in electrical communication with the transducer.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electronic assembly further comprises a receiver in wireless communication with an externally located transmitter assembly.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the microphone is in electrical communication with the actuatable transducer via the electronic assembly.