EP0451784A2 - Système modulaire de prothèse auditive - Google Patents

Système modulaire de prothèse auditive Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0451784A2
EP0451784A2 EP91105604A EP91105604A EP0451784A2 EP 0451784 A2 EP0451784 A2 EP 0451784A2 EP 91105604 A EP91105604 A EP 91105604A EP 91105604 A EP91105604 A EP 91105604A EP 0451784 A2 EP0451784 A2 EP 0451784A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shell
housing
distal end
region
ear
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91105604A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0451784A3 (en
Inventor
Mark Fowler Stanton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Beltone Electronics Corp
Original Assignee
Beltone Electronics Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Beltone Electronics Corp filed Critical Beltone Electronics Corp
Publication of EP0451784A2 publication Critical patent/EP0451784A2/fr
Publication of EP0451784A3 publication Critical patent/EP0451784A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
    • H04R25/60—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles
    • H04R25/603—Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Electric hearing aids
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/654—Ear wax retarders

Definitions

  • the invention pertains to hearing aids. More particularly, the invention pertains to modular hearing aid systems which can be positioned in an individual's ear.
  • Hearing aids of various types have long been known.
  • Some known prior art hearing aids have been formed with a custom exterior shell molded with a cavity therein.
  • the components of the hearing aid can be mounted in the cavity thereby forming a structure which fits comfortably in the ear and in part extends into the user's ear canal.
  • Modular hearing aid systems which include a custom shell with a cavity or region formed therein and a compatibly shaped housing.
  • One such product of this type was marketed in the United States at least as early as 1978 by the Oticon Corporation.
  • the Oticon system utilized a custom shell and a standard housing which could be releasably locked to the shell.
  • the Oticon system used a different housing for the right ear versus the left ear.
  • a modular hearing aid system incorporates a custom molded shell insertable into either the right ear or the left ear of an individual.
  • the shell can be custom molded of either a compliant or a rigid material.
  • the shell is formed with a proximal, exterior end; a distal, interior end and with an interior housing receiving region therebetween. Adjacent the distal end of the shell is an opening.
  • a corresponding housing has a selected standardized, elongated shape.
  • the housing has an enlarged or bulbous proximal end and a displaced smaller distal end.
  • the housing is shaped so as to be bilateral.
  • the same housing may be used with an ear shell formed for an individual's right ear or an individual's left ear.
  • the housing is releasably locked to the shell.
  • the housing carries part of the releasable locking member and the shell carries a second part thereof. When the two parts engage one another, the housing is releasably locked to the shell.
  • the system also includes a molded elongated vent formed in the shell adjacent an interface with the housing.
  • the vent extends from the distal end of the shell, located in the individual's ear canal, to the proximal end of the shell.
  • the system can be formed with the engaging member completely contained within the shell when the housing is locked thereto.
  • the housing can carry, at the smaller distal end, the first part of the latching member. This member will extend through the opening in the shell (when the housing has been properly positioned therein).
  • a snap-on or threaded second part can be coupled to the first part thereby locking the housing to the shell.
  • the housing can carry an enlarged annular region along its external periphery.
  • the shell includes a corresponding annular recess. When the housing is inserted into the shell the annular region extends into and is locked to the shell at the recess.
  • a plurality of spaced-apart laterally directed extensions or protrusions can be positioned around the external periphery of the housing.
  • Corresponding depressions or cavities can be formed in the shell.
  • the annular region can be located adjacent to proximal end of the housing. In another embodiment, the annular region can be located adjacent the distal end of the housing.
  • the housing is also usable with a customer ear shell or one or more standard shells as an alternate to a custom shell.
  • FIG. 1 A two-part modular hearing aid system 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1.
  • the system 10 includes an outer custom shell 12 and an inner standard housing 14.
  • the outer shell 12 reproduces and is in accordance with the shape of the ear canal of either the right ear or the left ear of the individual for whom the hearing aid is created. Hence, a separate and distinct shell is used for each ear.
  • the shell 12 includes a molded vent channel 20.
  • the vent channel 20 is molded into the shell 12 adjacent an interface with the housing 14. It will be understood that the shell 12 could be molded without the vent.
  • the shell 12 is formed with an external or a proximal end 22a and an internal or distal ear canal end 22b. When inserted, the distal end 22b is located in the ear canal of the individual using the aid.
  • the shell also includes an interior region 24 which has a shape that corresponds to the exterior shape of the housing 14.
  • An annular surface or depression 26 is formed in the region 24. This surface is part of the housing locking means.
  • the housing 14 has a selected, elongated shape with a bulbous proximal end 30 and a smaller displaced distal end 32.
  • the end 32 is positioned adjacent the distal end 22b of the shell.
  • the housing 30 is also formed with an external annular locking member 34.
  • the surface 26 and the locking member 34 releasably engage one another so as to lock the housing 14 to the shell 12. It will be understood that these two elements could be interchanged without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the housing 14 is formed with an internal component carrying region 36, illustrated in phantom in Figure 1.
  • the proximal end 30 is closed by a cover 38.
  • a top surface 40 of the cover 38 carries a volume control 42a and a battery chamber top 42b.
  • the housing 14 is shaped to be bilateral and usable with either the right ear or the left ear of an individual. This provides an important benefit from a manufacturing and an inventory control perspective.
  • the distal end 32 of the housing 14 terminates in a removable wax guard 46.
  • the wax guard 46 can be unscrewed from the distal end 32 or can be unsnapped therefrom.
  • Figure 2 illustrates the housing 14 being inserted into the shell.
  • the shell 12 can be removably locked together with the housing 14 by means of the two-part mechanism including surface 26 and annular ring 34.
  • FIG 3 a side view of the housing 14 illustrates the discontinuous nature of the annular locking member 34.
  • the discontinuity in region 34a provides an interface surface along which the vent channel 20 extends as illustrated in Figure 4.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an alternate modular system 10a formed of a custom ear shell 12a and a standard, bilateral housing 14a.
  • the housing 14a is removably locked to the compliant shell 12a by means of a plurality of locking protrusions 50a, 50b and 50c carried on an exterior surface of the housing 14a adjacent distal end 32a.
  • Each member of the plurality protrusions 50a, 50b and 50c is received in a depression 52a, 52b and 52c formed on an interior surface of the region 24a of the shell 12a.
  • Figure 7 illustrates the relationship of the protrusions 50a, 50b and 50c with respect to the outer circumference of the housing 14a.
  • Figure 8 illustrates the relationship of the vent channel 20 to the two adjacent locking depressions 52a and 52c.
  • the locking protrusions 50a, 50b and 50c are spaced from one another around the housing 14a on the order of 90°.
  • the approximate 180° spacing between the protrusions 50a and 50c provides a region 34b across which the channel 20 can pass.
  • FIG 8. An alternate modular hearing aid system 60 is illustrated in Figure 8.
  • the system 60 includes a custom ear shell 62 and a standardized housing 64.
  • the shell 62 and housing 64 are removably latched together by a threaded locking means.
  • the locking means includes a threaded boring 66 formed at the smaller or distal end 64a of the housing 64. It also includes an opening 68 formed at the smaller distal end 62a of the shell 62.
  • the locking means includes a wax guard 70 which has a threaded stem 72.
  • the stem 72 engages threads 66.
  • Wax guard 70 also includes an enlarged retaining member 74 which, when the system 60 is assembled, bears against distal end surface 62b of the shell 62 thereby locking the assembly together.
  • Figures 9 and 10 are alternate views of the system 60.
  • FIGS 11 and 12 illustrate an alternate embodiment 60a of the system 60.
  • the system 60a includes a standard housing 65a which carries a threaded member 80 extending from a distal end thereof.
  • a ring shaped wax guard 82 carries an internal threaded boring 84 which rotatably engages stem 80 so as to lock housing 65a into the corresponding shell 62.
  • Guard 82 bears against the distal end of the shell 62.
  • Figure 13 is a top plan view of system 10a of Figure 5.
  • Figure 14 is a side view of system 10a illustrating threaded wax guard 46.
  • Guard 46 has a threaded stud 46a which rotatably engages boring 33 of the housing 14a.
  • Figure 14 also illustrates, in phantom, various components carried in the internal region 36 of housing 14a.
  • an audio path is provided from the distal end of each of the above described standard housings such that amplified sound is injected into the user's ear canal.
  • the above described guards also include audio paths so as not to interfere with the passage of sound generated by the hearing aid and intended to be injected into the user's ear canal.
  • Figure 15 illustrates an alternate modular system 90 having a standard bilateral housing 92 and a custom ear shell 94.
  • the housing 92 has an enlarged external proximal end indicated generally at 96a and a smaller distal end 96b.
  • the proximal end 96a has formed thereon a locking annular region 96c.
  • the illustrated annular region 96c extends continuously about the proximal end 96a.
  • the region 96c can extend partly around the region 96a or can be formed of a plurality of spaced apart protruding members carried on the region 96a.
  • the shell 94 is formed with an exterior peripheral surface 94a which conforms to the shape of the ear of the intended user of the system 90.
  • the shell 94 also includes an internal region 94b.
  • the housing 94 can be inserted into the region 94b as illustrated by arrow 95.
  • the internal region 94b includes an annular depression 94c located adjacent a proximal end 94d of the shell 94.
  • the shell 94 also includes a distal end 94e.
  • the distal end 94e extends toward the auditory canal and the ear drum of the user.
  • the external locking region 96c slidably engages the retaining region 94c of the shell thereby removably locking the housing to the shell as illustrated in Figure 16.
  • the wax guard 46 extends from the shell adjacent to the distal end 94e.
  • modular hearing aid system could utilize one or more standard rather than custom ear shells.
  • the standard ear shells could be used for testing or evaluation if desired.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
EP19910105604 1990-04-12 1991-04-09 Modular hearing aid system Withdrawn EP0451784A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50877590A 1990-04-12 1990-04-12
US54762590A 1990-07-02 1990-07-02
US547625 1990-07-02
US508775 1995-07-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0451784A2 true EP0451784A2 (fr) 1991-10-16
EP0451784A3 EP0451784A3 (en) 1991-11-13

Family

ID=27056301

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910105604 Withdrawn EP0451784A3 (en) 1990-04-12 1991-04-09 Modular hearing aid system

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0451784A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH05111100A (fr)
CA (1) CA2040224A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0548580A1 (fr) * 1991-12-20 1993-06-30 Tibbetts Industries, Inc. Transducteur sans fermeture pour applications dans les prothèses auditives intra-auriculaires
DE29714437U1 (de) * 1997-08-12 1998-12-10 Lux-Wellenhof, Gabriele, 65830 Kriftel Hörgerät/Tinitusmasker-System
EP1427251A3 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2006-08-16 Phonak Ag Procédé de fabrication d' otoplastiques et otoplastique correspondant
US7443992B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2008-10-28 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Method and apparatus for modular hearing aid
EP3643077B1 (fr) 2017-06-23 2023-08-16 Usound GmbH Écouteur intra-auriculaire

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7092543B1 (en) * 1999-07-23 2006-08-15 Sarnoff Corporation One-size-fits-all uni-ear hearing instrument
CA2419950C (fr) * 2000-09-25 2012-07-17 Phonak Ag Otoplastique avec module integre, otoplastique place dans l'oreille et procede d'adaptation des otoplastiques

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8518681U1 (de) * 1985-06-27 1986-06-12 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Hörhilfe
DE3616648A1 (de) * 1986-05-16 1987-11-19 Siemens Ag In-dem-ohr-hoergeraet
US4716985A (en) * 1986-05-16 1988-01-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft In-the-ear hearing aid
DE8906695U1 (de) * 1989-06-01 1989-07-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Cerumen-Schutzkappe

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0548580A1 (fr) * 1991-12-20 1993-06-30 Tibbetts Industries, Inc. Transducteur sans fermeture pour applications dans les prothèses auditives intra-auriculaires
DE29714437U1 (de) * 1997-08-12 1998-12-10 Lux-Wellenhof, Gabriele, 65830 Kriftel Hörgerät/Tinitusmasker-System
EP1427251A3 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2006-08-16 Phonak Ag Procédé de fabrication d' otoplastiques et otoplastique correspondant
US7443992B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2008-10-28 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Method and apparatus for modular hearing aid
US8055002B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2011-11-08 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Method and apparatus for modular hearing aid
US8428282B2 (en) 2004-04-15 2013-04-23 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Method and apparatus for modular hearing aid
EP3643077B1 (fr) 2017-06-23 2023-08-16 Usound GmbH Écouteur intra-auriculaire

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2040224A1 (fr) 1991-10-13
JPH05111100A (ja) 1993-04-30
EP0451784A3 (en) 1991-11-13

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