EP1458217A2 - Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable - Google Patents

Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1458217A2
EP1458217A2 EP04010647A EP04010647A EP1458217A2 EP 1458217 A2 EP1458217 A2 EP 1458217A2 EP 04010647 A EP04010647 A EP 04010647A EP 04010647 A EP04010647 A EP 04010647A EP 1458217 A2 EP1458217 A2 EP 1458217A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
acoustic
hearing instrument
filtering element
hearing
opening
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Withdrawn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
EP04010647A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1458217A3 (fr
Inventor
Jan Angst
Hilmar Meier
Thomas Raymann
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.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
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 Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Priority to EP04010647A priority Critical patent/EP1458217A3/fr
Publication of EP1458217A2 publication Critical patent/EP1458217A2/fr
Publication of EP1458217A3 publication Critical patent/EP1458217A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/20—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics
    • H04R1/22—Arrangements for obtaining desired frequency or directional characteristics for obtaining desired frequency characteristic only 
    • 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
    • H04R25/45—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback
    • H04R25/456—Prevention of acoustic reaction, i.e. acoustic oscillatory feedback mechanically
    • 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
    • H04R25/48—Electric hearing aids using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response
    • 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 present invention refers to a hearing or acoustic instrument and a method of reducing the contamination of the hearing or acoustic instrument.
  • acoustic filters are used for different shaping of frequency responses in hearing instruments. These filters are placed in the acoustic channel, passage or tube respectively, called hook, which transmits the sound coming from the instrument to the ear and the filters are replaceable by changing the tube or acoustic channel respectively.
  • These acoustic filters are including an acoustic resistance which mainly damps the acoustic resonance and not the mechanical one. The quality of the damping screens is not always good enough which produces variation in sound quality.
  • the filters may be designed e.g. for a specific and special acoustic spectrum or noise spectrum and therefore are not always suitable for all requirements and especially for all environmental noise conditions. In other words the filters have to be changed from time to time according to the requirements, which can only be done by changing the acoustic channel or hook respectively.
  • a hearing instrument or acoustic device includes but is not limited to active and/or passive hearing aids, hearing protection devices, earphones, headphones, etc. and furthermore a method for protection of the hearing instrument or acoustic device against contamination according to the wording of claim 8.
  • the hearing instrument or acoustic device is characterized in that the acoustic filter being detachably placed at the or near by the opening for the acoustic output of the instrument or device respectively.
  • an exchangeable filtering element is used which can be replaceably attached e.g. to the mentioned opening for the acoustic output.
  • This element can be molded by using e.g. a suitable polymeric material and therefore can be made of a transparent material.
  • a molded element made out of a polymer material any kind of material may be used which is permeable to air.
  • sintered material can be used such as sintered metal material, sintered ceramic material or sintered fiber material in the sense of a non-woven fabric.
  • rubber parts, cloth fabrics and the like may be used.
  • the material can be coated with a hydrophobic material or be made out of a hydrophobic material such as e.g. a hydrophobic polymer like Teflon, polyethylene or the like.
  • a hydrophobic material such as e.g. a hydrophobic polymer like Teflon, polyethylene or the like.
  • the acoustic filter such as e.g. a sintered ceramic or metal material may be coated with a hydrophobic material such as e.g. a material based on silicon.
  • the hydrophobic coating or the use of a hydrophobic material does have the advantage that clogging with moisture and/or dirt is impossible, which means that the acoustic filter as an additional feature includes the protection of the hearing instrument or acoustic device respectively against contamination. In other words this filtering elements protects the acoustic instrument or receiver from being clogged with cerumen or moisture.
  • the filter is mainly placed between the hearing instrument or acoustic device respectively and the tube, acoustic channel or hook respectively. Other locations between the hearing instrument and the ear drum are possible too. It is preferred to place the filter element directly on the hearing instrument as mentioned above and not rigidly placed within the tube or hook, which means for replacing the acoustic filter the tube, acoustic channel or hook respectively does not have to be replaced.
  • the size of the damping element or acoustic filter is not related to the diameter of the tube or hook, which transmits the acoustic sound to the ear.
  • the filter element can be replaced by the acoustician e.g. and while each maintenance or servicing procedure with low cost.
  • the filter element may also be replaced by the end user.
  • acoustic filtering element as proposed within the present invention it is possible to reduce logistics and costs on one side for the companies producing hearing instruments and on the other side for the person wearing a hearing instrument or acoustic device respectively.
  • New filters can be introduced easily. Filters made of water repellent material will not clog and therefore guarantee a longer lifetime of the hearing instrument without servicing.
  • Fig. 1 shows in perspective view a hearing instrument 1 and an acoustic output opening 3 on which as proposed according to the present invention an acoustic filtering element 11 is placed. Also shown at the acoustic opening 3 are windings 5 provided for placing a tube, acoustic channel or hook respectively to connect the acoustic instrument to the ear canal.
  • acoustic filtering element or membrane 11 is shown with the openings 13 for giving way for the sound or acoustic signals.
  • the design of the openings 13 is responsible for the characteristics of the sound signals or acoustics respectively which is leaving the hearing instrument to the opening of the ear canal.
  • the membrane or acoustic filtering element may be made out of a polymer material such as e.g. Teflon, polyethylene or the like or can be made out of a sintered material, such as e.g. a sintered metal or ceramic material. Furthermore, it may consist out of a sintered fabric material, such as a so-called non-woven material.
  • the design of the pores through the sintered material is responsible for the characteristics of the sound or acoustic signals leaving the hearing instrument to the opening of the ear canal.
  • Fig. 3a shows in perspective view a further design of the acoustic filtering element 13, which includes a collar-like section 15 perpendicularly protruding from the element and being surrounded by an annular section 17. Within the collar-like section 15 again the openings or filter pores 13 are arranged for the throughput of the acoustic signals.
  • Fig. 3b shows the acoustic filtering element 11 or membrane respectively attached to the acoustic output opening 3 of the hearing instrument, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the windings 5 are visible provided for fixing a tube or hook channel for the connection of the hearing instrument to the ear canal.
  • other mechanical means may be provided for the connection of the hook onto the output opening as e.g. snapping elements, bayonet nut connecting means, etc.
  • the acoustic filtering element or membrane 11 respectively can easily be placed at the acoustic output opening and replaced by another element or membrane respectively if needed. For instance if another acoustic characteristic such as e.g. a different damping characteristics is needed, the element or membrane 11 respectively can be easily replaced.
  • Fig. 4 in longitudinal section view the tube or hook 21 respectively is shown, which is connected to the acoustic output opening 3 of the hearing instrument 5.
  • the tube is attached to the opening by screwing it onto the windings 5 of the opening 3.
  • Respective windings 23 are arranged within the connection opening 25 of the tube 21.
  • the acoustic filtering element or membrane 11 is placed between the acoustic output opening 3 of the hearing instrument 1 and the entrance into the acoustic channel 22, which transports the sound or acoustic signal to the entrance of the ear canal.
  • Fig. 5 shows the tube or acoustic hook 21 respectively of Fig. 4 in perspective view, the hearing instrument 1 being removed for better clarity. Again, the acoustic filtering element or membrane 11 is visible within the tube or hook 21 respectively at the entrance into the acoustic channel 22.
  • the drawings 1 to 5 are only showing examples and possible designs, and of course the present invention is not at all limited to the designs and the acoustic filtering elements and membranes as shown.
  • the filtering element may be e.g. introduced within the acoustic output channel of the hearing instrument in the sense of a plug-like element, the acoustic filtering element may be a fabric-like membrane, etc.
  • different materials can be used for manufacturing the acoustic filter elements or membranes respectively.
  • polymer materials may be used as well as sintered materials or any other suitable materials.
  • different methods may be used for producing the pores or openings different methods may be used. For instance by using different sintering procedures the porous structure may be influenced. For producing pores e.g. laser beams may be used.
  • the term acoustic device used throughout the present invention includes but is not limited to active and/or passive hearing aids, hearing protection devices, earphones, headphones and the like.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Filtering Materials (AREA)
  • Audible-Bandwidth Dynamoelectric Transducers Other Than Pickups (AREA)
EP04010647A 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable Withdrawn EP1458217A3 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04010647A EP1458217A3 (fr) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04010647A EP1458217A3 (fr) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1458217A2 true EP1458217A2 (fr) 2004-09-15
EP1458217A3 EP1458217A3 (fr) 2005-02-02

Family

ID=32749080

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04010647A Withdrawn EP1458217A3 (fr) 2004-05-05 2004-05-05 Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1458217A3 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008025355A1 (fr) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Widex A/S Filtre pour prothèse auditive et prothèse auditive
EP2068587A2 (fr) 2007-12-07 2009-06-10 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Plaque frontale dotée d'un dispositif de fermeture
JP2010515312A (ja) * 2007-01-03 2010-05-06 ヴェーデクス・アクティーセルスカプ 補聴器の構成要素および補聴器の構成要素を作製する方法
EP2001264A3 (fr) * 2007-06-04 2010-09-15 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Crochet de support doté d'une section de métal pour un appareil auditif
EP2088803A3 (fr) * 2008-02-05 2010-10-06 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Appareil auditif doté d'un amortisseur acoustique
EP2003931A3 (fr) * 2007-06-12 2011-01-05 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Procédé et appareil pour dispositif d'aide auditive avec revêtements super-hydrophobes
US8792665B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-07-29 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Foreign material mitigation for hearing assistance device components
US9369816B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2016-06-14 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Omniphobic perforated barrier for hearing aid transducers
US10264374B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2019-04-16 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Ball and socket connection with an acoustic seal and mounting interface for a hearing assistance device
US10284974B2 (en) 2013-07-10 2019-05-07 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Acoustically transparent barrier layer to seal audio transducers

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3930560A (en) * 1974-07-15 1976-01-06 Industrial Research Products, Inc. Damping element

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1221315A (fr) * 1984-10-19 1987-05-05 William J. Gastmeier Protecteur pour appareil acoustique
US5131128A (en) * 1987-10-14 1992-07-21 Gn Danavox A/S Protection element for all-in-the-ear hearing aid and tool for use in the replacement hereof
CA2052423A1 (fr) * 1991-09-26 1993-03-27 Manfred Karl Garbe Protecteur anti-cerumen pour prothese auditive avec pont integral
US5982908A (en) * 1997-12-22 1999-11-09 Bauman; Natan Ear wax collection device for a hearing aid

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3930560A (en) * 1974-07-15 1976-01-06 Industrial Research Products, Inc. Damping element

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8295522B2 (en) 2006-08-31 2012-10-23 Widex A/S Filter for a hearing aid and a hearing aid
WO2008025355A1 (fr) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-06 Widex A/S Filtre pour prothèse auditive et prothèse auditive
AU2006347791B2 (en) * 2006-08-31 2010-11-25 Widex A/S Filter for a hearing aid and a hearing aid
US8763238B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2014-07-01 Widex A/S Method of manufacturing a component for a hearing aid
JP2010515312A (ja) * 2007-01-03 2010-05-06 ヴェーデクス・アクティーセルスカプ 補聴器の構成要素および補聴器の構成要素を作製する方法
EP2001264A3 (fr) * 2007-06-04 2010-09-15 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Crochet de support doté d'une section de métal pour un appareil auditif
EP2003931A3 (fr) * 2007-06-12 2011-01-05 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Procédé et appareil pour dispositif d'aide auditive avec revêtements super-hydrophobes
US8238594B2 (en) 2007-12-07 2012-08-07 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Front plate with sealing apparatus
DE102007058987B3 (de) * 2007-12-07 2009-07-16 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Stirnplatte mit Verschlussvorrichtung
EP2068587A2 (fr) 2007-12-07 2009-06-10 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Plaque frontale dotée d'un dispositif de fermeture
EP2088803A3 (fr) * 2008-02-05 2010-10-06 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Appareil auditif doté d'un amortisseur acoustique
US8254607B2 (en) 2008-02-05 2012-08-28 Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. Hearing aid with acoustic damper
US8792665B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2014-07-29 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Foreign material mitigation for hearing assistance device components
US9369816B2 (en) 2009-12-31 2016-06-14 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Omniphobic perforated barrier for hearing aid transducers
US10264374B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2019-04-16 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Ball and socket connection with an acoustic seal and mounting interface for a hearing assistance device
US11076245B2 (en) 2011-03-18 2021-07-27 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Ball and socket connection with an acoustic seal and mounting interface for a hearing assistance device
US10284974B2 (en) 2013-07-10 2019-05-07 Starkey Laboratories, Inc. Acoustically transparent barrier layer to seal audio transducers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1458217A3 (fr) 2005-02-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6134333A (en) Disposable oleophobic and hydrophobic barrier for a hearing aid
USRE48921E1 (en) Audio device comprising a microphone
AU597815B2 (en) Ear wax barrier for hearing aids
JP4608095B2 (ja) 補聴器
US20050249369A1 (en) Flexible frequency response shaping
DK2416589T3 (en) Electroacoustic transducer and transducer device
EP1627553B1 (fr) Aide auditive
AU677647B2 (en) Hearing aid to be worn in the ear and method for its manufacture
US8270656B2 (en) Removable ear tip for earphone
EP1458217A2 (fr) Instrument auditif avec réponse fréquentielle ajustable
CN101161032B (zh) 防水助听器
US6105713A (en) Cover movable by rotation forming a cerumen barrier in a hearing aid
US20110091060A1 (en) Hearing instrument
CN102045633B (zh) 包括分开式滤垢器的听力仪器
US7471800B2 (en) Wax barrier system
US7793756B2 (en) Replaceable microphone protective membrane for hearing devices
EP1681904B1 (fr) Dispositif auditif à porter derrière l'oreille
EP0377074A2 (fr) Transducteur pour prothèse auditive
CN103873999A (zh) 可配置的听力仪器
CN104469642B (zh) 过滤件
US20120250923A1 (en) Auditory canal insert with a filter element and method of manufacturing the auditory canal insert
US7076074B2 (en) Bearing of an electroacoustic miniature transducer in a device, particularly a hearing aid device, as well as an electroacoustic miniature transducer
WO1997009864A1 (fr) Prothese auditive a protection contre la cire
US11871168B2 (en) Hearing device with two microphone filters
US20230362562A1 (en) Hearing device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL HR LT LV MK

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL HR LT LV MK

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20050218

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): CH DE DK LI

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20070307

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20080131