Fixing a sound tube in a hearing apparatus

Abstract

A thin hearing tube is to be fastened in a hearing apparatus such that it can be easily exchanged again. To this end, the end of the sound tube is melted, so that its diameter is enlarged. The sound tube can then be drawn into the bore, the inner diameter of which is smaller than the enlarged outer diameter of the end of the sound tube, until the extended end of the sound tube rests closely against one side of the bore. By cutting the sound tube end or by cutting through the tube at another point, it can be removed from the bore without any problem, so that a new tube can be fastened there.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, which shows a segment through a component of a hearing apparatus, in which a sound tube is fixed in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiment illustrated in more detail below represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

An otoplastic 1 is illustrated schematically in the FIG. The symbolically represented otoplastic 1 can also be an ITE shell for an in-the-ear hearing device or an adapter, which is inserted into an otoplastic or into a hearing device shell. A bore 2 is located in the otoplastic 1. This bore 2 closely surrounds a tube 3 inserted therein. This means that the inner diameter of the bore 2 is marginally larger than the outer diameter of the tube 3.

The tube 3 is used to transmit the sound from the hearing device into the auditory canal and is of a relatively thin design for optical reasons. It typically exhibits an outer diameter of less than 2.5 mm.

The thin tube 3 is to be secured on both sides of the otoplastic 1, so that it is not able to slide out of the bore in either of the two directions. For this reason, a rubber or plastic sleeve 4 is attached to the tube in a freely moveable fashion. During the assembly, the tube is firstly cut to the right length and is then moved through the bore 2 using the free end.

By heating the free end, the plastic softens and the heated tube end adopts a spherical design and/or extends its overall diameter by virtue of the production history (e.g. stretching during extrusion) or by virtue of the surface voltage. After cooling, the extended tube end 5 can no longer be pulled through the bore 2.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the bore 2 consists in said bore taking the form of a funnel or a cone on the end at which the tube 3 is expanded. This enables the tube with the heated, extended tube end 5 to be pulled back into the conical area 6 of the bore 2, where it is finally left to cool down. The extended end 5 of the tube 2 likewise herewith adopts the conical shape, thereby enabling an increased mechanical rigidity as well as an improved seal to be achieved between the tube and the bore. After drawing-in and fixing the tube 2 to the side with the extended tube end, the tube 3 is now also fastened to the opposite side of the bore 2 with the aid of the sleeve 4. This is carried out by moving the sleeve 4 towards the otoplastic 1 and potentially gluing it thereto, if the frictional forces between the tube 3 and the sleeve 4 are not sufficient for this. The tube 3 in the bore 2 is thus protected against movement in both directions.

The sleeve 4 is pulled away from the otoplastic 1 in order to remove the tube 3 from the bore 2, so that the extended end 5 of the tube 3 can be moved out of the bore 2 and cut off. The tube 3 is then able to be easily pulled out of the bore 2.

If the sleeve 4 is glued to the tube 3, it is possible to cut through the tube 3 between the sleeve 4 and the otoplastic 1 using a knife. The piece of tube 3 remaining in the bore can then be pushed out using a pin.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A hearing apparatus, comprising: a bore with an inner diameter; anda sound tube that is inserted into the bore for transmitting a sound,wherein one end of the sound tube is configured to have an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the bore.

12. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the one end of the sound tube is melted in order to obtain the larger outer diameter.

13. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a hearing device shell in which the bore is located.

14. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an otoplastic in which the bore is located.

15. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an adapter in which the bore is located.

16. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein one side of the bore has a conical shape.

17. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the one end of the sound tube having the larger outer diameter is located on the conical shape side of the bore to fasten the sound tube at the conical shape side of the bore.

18. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sound tube comprises a sleeve that is arranged on another side of the bore to fasten the sound tube at the another side of the bore.

19. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sleeve comprises a plastic or a rubber.

20. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sleeve is fastened to the sound tube by a friction.

21. The hearing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sleeve is glued to the sound tube.

22. A method for fastening a sound tube in a bore of a hearing apparatus, comprising: melting one end of the sound tube for enlarging an outer diameter of the one end of the sound tube to be greater than an inner diameter of the bore; andinserting the sound tube into the bore until the one end of the sound tube having the larger outer diameter rests against one side of the bore.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sound tube is fastened to another side of the bore by a sleeve.