Patent Grant
7564989
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to hearing aids. In particular, it relates to an improved hearing aid and method that employs an in the concha bowl hearing aid structured to allow sound to pass into the ear canal to be combined with amplified sound from the hearing aid microphone inserted within the opening of the ear canal and sized not to obstruct the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Various hearing aids and earpiece devices are known in the art. Sodoma et al, U.S. Publication No. 2006/0147072A1 published Jul. 6, 2006 provides an open in the pinna of the ear hearing aid with its exterior components placed in and around the pinna connected to an interior in the canal section output port for emission of sounds with a short vent 22 to prevent occlusion (Claim 1, last line) so that the ear canal is at least partially open for directly receiving amplified sounds. It requires molding of both the exterior components as well as the canal components for proper fitting. It also is not designed to send natural sounds into the ear canal for admixing with the amplified sounds.
Lenz et al, U.S. Publication No. 2003/01652487A1 published Sep. 4, 2003, discloses a hearing aid adapted to be inserted within the auditory meatus of the user's ear. It includes passages for ventilation, but is not designed for allowance of natural sound transmission. Instead it employs sound-dampening material to prevent exterior sound interference with the amplified loudspeaker output into the ear canal.
Harada, U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,016B1 issued Feb. 22, 1983 discloses a vented ear tip for a hearing aid and adapter coupler mounted within the bowl of the ear as a multiple standard sized fitted earpiece with a vented ear tip is adapted for insertion into the external auditory canal of a user. The device requires a number of different sized in the bowl hearing aids to be available, which are then attached a tight sealed coupler inserted into the opening and in the auditory canal (col. 2, line 52-3), which blocks natural sounds from entering the ear canal.
Perkins et al, U.S. Publication No. 2006/002398A1 published Feb. 2, 2006 discloses a custom fitted transducer for activating a surgically implanted magnet affixed to an acoustic member (page 3, col. 2, last lines) to produce electromagnetic hearing (page 3, col. 2, lines 9-19).
Haussmann, U.S. Publication No. 2006/0045297A1 published Mar. 2, 2006 discloses another fitted earplug (page 3, col. 2, lines 9-12) worn in the ear that fills the entire ear canal of a user and may extend to the outer ear bowl of a user.
Lenz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,635 issued Jul. 6, 1999, discloses a hearing aid configured to be placed in the inlet of the external auditory meatus. A passage transmits sound waves picked up and treated by the auricle to the microphone 22 (Col 4, lines 11-13), but exterior natural sounds are blocked via sound dampening material forming a closed fit when the hearing aid is inserted.
Ryan, U.S. Publication No. 2004/0218772A1 published Nov. 4, 2004 discloses a hearing aid earpiece worn in the ear and a sound amplifier worn externally of the ear. It is removeably mounted within the ear canal with a vent tube, which reduces sound radiation from the vent opening using a passive structure (page 2, second column, lines 20-23) to provide feedback attenuation (page 3, first column, lines 32-33).
Stephens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,676,611, issued Jul. 11, 1972, is an earpiece for hearing aids having sound inlets for high frequencies. The earpiece collects sounds, sends them via a conduit to the amplifier for amplification, and then transmittal to the inner ear via another conduit in the earpiece. (Col 1, lines 32-44).
Yamagishi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,092 issued Sep. 10, 1991 is an electro acoustic transducer apparatus that is inserted into the cavum concha. It has an in-the ear type of headphone provided with an air passage portion so that a certain amount of sound escapes to the outside to obtain acoustic characteristics of substantially the same level from a low band to a high band (Abstract).
Fretz et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,596B1 issued Aug. 14, 2001 discloses an open ear canal hearing aid system with the speaker positioned in the ear canal leaving it partially open.
Cited for general interest is Posthuff et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,207B2 issued Feb. 1, 2000 discloses wireless open ear canal earpiece.
None of the above references provides a hearing aid positioned within the concha bowl of the ear, which provides an open ear canal hearing aid system wherein natural sound is blended with amplified sound to provide a more natural combined sound. Nor are special ear molds required by an audiologist.
The present invention comprises a removable in the concha bowl hearing aid having a housing with an interior and exterior sized to fit within the concha bowl of the outer ear. The concha bowl and other sound funneling structure of the outer ear are shown in FIG. 1—the Helix, Scapha, Tossa Trianguularis, Concha, Anti-Helix, Tragus, Anti-Tragus, and Lobule. The housing is structured to define at least one opening such as a vent, channel, or passageway in communication with the ear canal when positioned in the concha to allow sound to pass through the housing into the ear canal. In one preferred embodiment, the opening is located along the perimeter of the housing and is as large as possible to allow more natural sound to pass into the ear canal.
A microphone is attached to the exterior surface of the housing in a position when inserted within the concha bowl of the exterior ear to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling structure of the outer ear. The microphone than transfers electronic impulses via wire leads or a wireless connection to a sound processor/amplifier associated with a battery mounted within the interior of the housing.
The in the concha bowl hearing aid is held in place with at least two supports. The first bendable support is bent to removably secure to the fold of the inner ear canal proximate its opening. A preferred first bendable support attached to the housing is formed from bent wire leads in communication with and supporting a speaker to be located in the ear canal. These wire leads are attached to the exterior surface of the housing facing toward the inner ear, when inserted. The wire leads have a first end attached to and operably associated with the sound processor/amplifier and a second end. This first bendable support has its wire leads bent to form secure a segment against an interior wall fold proximate the ear canal opening as a first contact point to support the housing in position when inserted. Its other end is positioned so that the wire second end is directed toward the inner ear. This first bendable wire support is made of plastic, nylon, or other fluid resistant materials covered electrical wiring, which may be bent to hold its shape.
A speaker is attached to the wire second end of the first bendable support. The speaker and first bendable support are sized and positioned to fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through and direct amplified sound toward the inner ear. Thus positioned, it directs amplified sound for admixing and blending with natural sound entering the ear canal to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission.
At least one second support is attached to the housing opposite the first bendable support. A preferred second support comprises a plastic retainer rod inserted into one of a series of holes in the perimeter of the housing. It is cut to length to act as an additional anchor to secure the hearing aid into the concha bowl of the ear.
This second support is structured and adapted to secure the housing within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing a second contact point generally opposite the first contact point. As the exterior of the housing also contacts the concha, usually only one second support is required. However, additional supports associated with the housing, are included as required to assist in further securing the in the concha bowl hearing aid within the concha bowl of the ear.
If external feedback is a problem, the in the concha bowl hearing aid may include filters, such as a feedback compensation circuit associated with the amplifier to compensate for feedback signals and other interference. Other adaptive filters well known in the art that change impulse responses or compensate for static or out of phase interference may also be incorporated, if required.
The in the concha bowl hearing aid includes a power switch associated with the sound processor/amplifier and battery to turn the hearing aid on in one mode, and off in another mode. This not only conserves power drain, but allows the device to be shut off for use of the telephone.
Preferably, the speaker includes a wax cap to prevent its obstruction.
The housing design thus does not have to be individually fitted, reducing manufacturing cost and fitting time. The method of using an in the concha bowl hearing aid comprises first placing in the outer ear concha bowl an in the concha bowl hearing aid. As the housing is sized to fit within the outer ear concha bowl of the ear leaving an opening in communication with the ear canal, sound is allowed to pass through the housing into the ear canal.
The microphone attached to the exterior surface of the housing is positioned to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling of the outer ear structure, when inserted. The microphone converts sound into electronic impulses transferred via wires or other wireless electronic means to a sound processor/amplifier associated with a battery mounted within the interior of the housing,
The first bendable support affixed to the housing is then bent, fitted, and positioned against an interior wall fold of the ear canal opening to provide a first contact point for supporting the housing in position when inserted. The end of the first bendable support with the speaker attached is pointed toward the inner ear so that both fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through. The positioned speaker, when activated, directs amplified sound toward the inner ear for admixing and blending with natural sound entering the ear to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission.
At least one second support attached to the housing opposite the first support is then adapted to secure the housing within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing a second opposite contact point. The bendable supports are generally fitted in one visit to an audiologist to secure the hearing aid within the concha bowl and hold the speaker in position within the external auditory canal of the ear.
After the in the concha bowl hearing aid is fitted, it is then electively activated to combine external sound entering the ear canal with amplified sound from the speaker. If feedback or static is a problem, the in the concha bowl hearing aid filters associated with the amplifier are adjusted to compensate for feedback signals and other interference. These filters are selectively adjusted to provide the desired combination of external sound entering the ear canal with amplified sound from the speaker.
The present invention is therefore particularly adapted to provide an easily fittable in the bowl hearing aid with a speaker placed within an unobstructed ear canal to provide more natural combination amplified and natural sound pick up and transmission.
The in the concha bowl hearing aid 10 is shown in the attached drawings.
A microphone 3 is attached to the exterior surface of the housing 1 positioned to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling structure of the outer ear. The microphone 3 picks up the sound, changes it into electronic impulses, which are sent to a sound processor 4 associated with a battery 5 shown in
The sound wire 7 leading from the sound processor 4 to a speaker 8 acts as a first bendable support and is attached to the exterior surface of the housing facing toward the inner ear, when inserted. The sound wire 7 holds its position, when bent. It is fitted and positioned against an interior wall to removably hook against the inner fold of the ear canal proximate its opening as a first contact point to support the housing 1 in position when inserted. The other end of the wire 7 is directed toward the inner ear to align the speaker 8. The speaker 8 and sound wire 7 are sized and positioned to fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through. The natural sound is combined with amplified sound to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission.
At least one second plastic rod support 9 is attached to the housing 1 and cut to length opposite the first wire 7 bendable support. It is adapted to secure the housing 1 within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing a second opposite contact point. Additional rod supports 9 may be included as shown in
Filters 11 shown in
The exterior of the housing 1 includes a power switch 12 associated with the sound processor amplifier 4 and battery 5 to turn the hearing aid on in one mode, and off in another mode to conserve battery life and facilitate telephoning. It also includes a volume control 13 so the wearer has complete control over the amount of amplification for maximum listening comfort.
Preferably, the hearing aid speaker 8 includes a wax cap 14 shown in
The invention thus provides a new in the ear concha bowl hearing aid 10 with periphery openings 2 to provide channels leading into the ear canal, which allows the wearer to hear more natural sounds. The hearing aid is thus structured to fit entirely within the concha bowl of the ear without fully obstructing the ear canal opening. More natural hearing is accomplished when the sounds pass through the perimeter opening 2 in the body 1 of the in the concha bowl hearing aid 10. The sounds are supplemented and further amplified by amplified sounds from a speaker 8 positioned within the ear canal to direct combined sounds onto the inner ear. This employment of combination natural and amplified sound provides a more natural hearing system and method.
The above description and specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the appended claims. The claims themselves recite those features deemed essential for the invention.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3676611 | Stephens | Jul 1972 | A |
| 4375016 | Harada | Feb 1983 | A |
| 5048092 | Yamagishi et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
| 5201007 | Ward et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5920635 | Lenz | Jul 1999 | A |
| 6021207 | Puthuff et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
| 6275596 | Fretz et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 7421086 | Bauman et al. | Sep 2008 | B2 |
| 20030165248 | Lenz et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
| 20040218772 | Ryan | Nov 2004 | A1 |
| 20060023908 | Perkins et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
| 20060045297 | Haussmann | Mar 2006 | A1 |
| 20060147072 | Sodoma et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080123888 A1 | May 2008 | US |
