Adjustable venting for hearing instruments
First Claim
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1. An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device, the ear tip comprising:
- a malleable structure sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user, the malleable structure having a cross-section shaped to define at least one channel between an inner wall of the ear canal and an outer surface of the malleable structure for venting of the ear canal;
an output transducer positioned in the malleable structure,wherein the malleable structure is deformable to adjust the cross-section thereof so as to vary a size of the at least one channel to adjust a degree of venting provided by the at least one channel; and
an actuator coupled to the malleable structure and operable to cause the malleable structure to deform,wherein the actuator comprises a slider configured for translation and/or rotation relative to the malleable structure.
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Abstract
An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device is provided and comprises a malleable structure. The malleable structure is sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user. The malleable structure is deformable to allow an adjustable venting of the ear canal, thereby minimizing the occlusion effect. Methodology for adjusting a degree of venting of the ear canal is also provided, including the automatic adjustments. Adjusting the degree of venting may be done in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device, the ear tip comprising:
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a malleable structure sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user, the malleable structure having a cross-section shaped to define at least one channel between an inner wall of the ear canal and an outer surface of the malleable structure for venting of the ear canal; an output transducer positioned in the malleable structure, wherein the malleable structure is deformable to adjust the cross-section thereof so as to vary a size of the at least one channel to adjust a degree of venting provided by the at least one channel; and an actuator coupled to the malleable structure and operable to cause the malleable structure to deform, wherein the actuator comprises a slider configured for translation and/or rotation relative to the malleable structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification