Anatomically customized ear canal hearing apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
- a transducer;
a retention structure, the retention structure comprising;
a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the retention structure comprises;
a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the layer of polymer has a thickness to resist deflection away from the shape profile and wherein the layer comprises the shape profile in an unloaded configuration;
a curved portion having an inner surface toward an eardrum when placed and wherein the curved portion couples to an ear canal wall oriented toward the eardrum when placed to couple the transducer to the eardrum, wherein the curved portion couples to the ear canal on a first side of the ear canal; and
a coupling structure shaped to engage an eardrum to vibrate the eardrum, the coupling structure comprising an elastomer,wherein the curved portion and a second portion of the retention structure are connected so as to define an aperture extending there between to view at least a portion of the eardrum when the curved portion couples to the first side of the ear canal and the second portion couples to the second side.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods and apparatus suitable for use with hearing devices. A vapor deposition process can be used to make a retention structure having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue surface, such as a retention structure having a shape profile corresponding to one or more of an eardrum, the eardrum annulus, or a skin of the ear canal. The retention structure can be resilient and may comprise an anatomically accurate shape profile corresponding to a portion of the ear, such that the resilient retention structure provides mechanical stability for an output transducer assembly placed in the ear for an extended time. The output transducer may couple to the eardrum with direct mechanical coupling or acoustic coupling when retained in the ear canal with the retention structure.
665 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An apparatus for placement with a user, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer; a retention structure, the retention structure comprising; a layer of polymer having a shape profile corresponding to a tissue of the user to couple the transducer to the user, wherein the retention structure comprises; a resilient retention structure to maintain a location of the transducer when coupled to the user, wherein the layer of polymer has a thickness to resist deflection away from the shape profile and wherein the layer comprises the shape profile in an unloaded configuration; a curved portion having an inner surface toward an eardrum when placed and wherein the curved portion couples to an ear canal wall oriented toward the eardrum when placed to couple the transducer to the eardrum, wherein the curved portion couples to the ear canal on a first side of the ear canal; and a coupling structure shaped to engage an eardrum to vibrate the eardrum, the coupling structure comprising an elastomer, wherein the curved portion and a second portion of the retention structure are connected so as to define an aperture extending there between to view at least a portion of the eardrum when the curved portion couples to the first side of the ear canal and the second portion couples to the second side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification