The invention shall be described in more details with reference to the attached figures, in which
FIG. 1 shows schematically and in perspective view a hearing device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows possible positions of a microphone within the hearing device according to the present invention;
FIGS. 3
a and b show the resilient characteristic of the resilient portion of the hearing device according to the present invention, and
FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of an inventive hearing device within the ear shell of a user person.
FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a possible embodiment of a hearing device 1 according to the present invention. The hearing device 1 basically comprises two portions, one longitudinally elongated at least partially resilient portion 3 provided for being arranged within the concha of an ear shell. The second portion can be designated as so-called housing portion 5, which at least partially is provided for being inserted into an ear canal. At the front end of this housing portion 5 directed towards the inner ear a preferably exchangeable resilient eartip member 7 is arranged in the form of a shield, umbrella- or mushroom-like member.
Within the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 a microphone 11 is arranged at the connecting section between the housing portion 5 and the resilient portion 3. Further, within the resilient portion 3 a battery compartment 9 is arranged and a signal processing unit 13 within the housing portion provided for being projected into the ear canal.
The hearing aid as shown in FIG. 1 is provided for being located primarily at the entrance of the ear canal and in the concha and hence hardly visible from the front. With at least one microphone located in the concha, preferentially at a position which minimizes the risk of feedback and disturbance of wind noise and which maximizes the natural perception of sound (directionality, frequency response to the acoustic effects of the pinna) and the use of telephones. The receiver is located preferentially in the ear canal in a preferentially non-occluding manner, with an insertion loss preferentially of less than about 3 dB (measured with a real ear simulator). The signal processing unit preferably is located in the concha as well as the battery.
The hearing aid as shown in FIG. 1 has a universal shape which optionally can have different sizes. It is resilient over large parts of its length mainly along the extended resilient portion 3. This resilient elongated portion 3 is preferentially preshaped or biased-shaped to be fitted easily into the concha of an individual user. The shapes can be similar to so-called Jansen type non-occluding ear moulds.
The hearing aid as shown in FIG. 1 fits snugly and securely on one side in the concha by adapting itself to the shape of the concha wall while exerting some force to the concha walls. On the other side the housing portion 5 provided for being inserted into the ear canal is designed such that it does at most partially abut to the inner ear wall of the ear canal. In other words the housing portion 5 is firmly held within the ear canal by means of the eartip member, which is made of a resilient material and which with its periphery abuts to the inner wall of the ear canal.
The resilient portion 3 as well as the eartip member 7 are preferably made of an elastomeric material such as an elastomeric thermoplastic material or a silicone material, the elastomeric thermoplastic material having mechanical properties similar to silicone or rubber.
The hearing device as shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured in the style of a “retention element” which is well known in open fitting applications of BTEs. The receiver, the signal processing unit and the microphone can be assembled in a linear manner, the receiver projecting into the ear canal. The battery compartment is positioned on top of the electronics and is positioned in the concha.
The interconnections between the various elements and especially between the resilient portion 3 and the housing portion 5 can be realized either by using flexible wires or a flexible substrate. These components build a compact electronic module that is then embedded in e.g. a resilient elastomeric matrix.
In FIG. 2 two different possible positions of the microphone are shown. In one embodiment the microphone 11 is placed along the elongated resilient portion 3 to be arranged within the concha of the ear shell. According to another embodiment as also shown in FIG. 2 the microphone 11 is arranged at the interconnecting portion between the resilient portion 3 and the housing portion 5 near the entrance of the ear canal. Of course also the arrangement of two or more microphones is possible.
FIGS. 3
a and b show the resilient housing retention of the resilient portion 3 or 3′ respectively. The electronic components are moulded into a resilient matrix which allows large deformations of the instrument in order to fit comfortably in a larger number of ears.
FIG. 4 finally shows the view of the hearing device in an ear auricle 21 from the side. The hearing device is almost invisible, and the only part which can be totally recognized is the battery compartment 9 and part of the housing 5 extending into the ear canal 4. The resilient holding element 3 is arranged within the concha 6 of the auricle 21.
The embodiment of an inventive hearing instrument, as an example of a hearing aid as shown with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 represents only one example for the better understanding of the present invention. It can be modified or completed by adding further elements in any manner according to usual conventions in hearing aid systems. As a consequence one or more microphones can be arranged at various locations, which are appropriate for receiving audio signals from the outside area. Furthermore, the arrangement of the signal processing unit can be at any location between the resilient elongated member and the housing portion projecting into the ear canal. Preferably between a loudspeaker and the microphone an acoustic sealing is arranged. In addition, the resilient, elongated member opens up the possibility to integrate a large and therefore very sensitive antenna for binaural and remote communication.
Again, the choice of the resilient materials is not mainly part of the present invention, as any suitable elastic material can be used which is biocompatible and which shows high resistance to sweat and cerumen. Of course it is preferred, if the choice of the elastomeric material is such that the moulding process is cheap, fast and reliable. Depending on the intended use no repairs might be foreseen with the exception that damaged instruments can be replaced with new ones and usable components might be salvaged. Therefore, it is preferred if the elastomeric matrix material is easily removable from the components.
Finally it has to be pointed out that the term hearing instrument is not at all limited to a hearing aid, but that all kinds of devices such as hearing protection devices, earphone devices, etc. are included.
Patent Application
20070280496
