Fascinating! Tooth-anchored hearing aid?

[rEliseMe]

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Just found this link on another forum:

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/print/008501print.html

It talks about a type of bone-conduction hearing aid with a BTE microphone and processor that transmits to a retainer-like device that sits in the mouth and conducts the sound to the ear via vibrating the teeth!

I don't know about you, but I'd rather just get a BAHA. I had braces and that's enough encroachment on my mouth for a whole lifetime.

Does anyone see this taking off?

 

[rEliseMe]

Here are some additional images:
http://www.sonitusmedical.com/product/images.cfm

 

[Cochlear]

Here are some additional images:
http://www.sonitusmedical.com/product/images.cfm

Wow interesting. I can see how this might be less invasive than the BAHA, surgery wise, but man it really looks like a pain to have to have that thing in the patient's mouth. What's the success rate look like? I'd like to see some studies on this for sure.

 

[rEliseMe]

What's the success rate look like? I'd like to see some studies on this for sure.

The disclaimer at the bottom of the Sonitus website says that the device is only available for investigative purposes.

Here is the patent for the device.

(And this appears to be the more accurate one.)

It looks like (in the first link) it's a patent for a range of bone-anchored hearing aids, including one anchored in the jaw (in place of a molar) instead of the mastoid process. I like the idea of that but it probably didn't fly because of the whole excising-a-tooth thing.

The second looks like the most recent patent application for the device, as the drawing looks most like the website.

Also, according to this article, Sonitus was just beginning clinical trials in February of this year, so there is likely very little data on the rates of success.



I would like to mention that this device has been passively compared to cochlear implants in the online 'print' media I've found. This chafes my chaps! Bone-anchored amplification and cochlear implants are VERY different animals, as I'm sure we all know. If you ever hear someone talk about the Soundbite (or tell them about it first), don't forget to mention that it's a BONE-ANCHORED HEARING AID, not a cochlear implant! We definitely don't need more misconceptions about CIs. 🙂