Securing a hearing aid or an otoplastic in the ear

• US 20040240691A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Grafenberg, Esfandiar
• Application Number:
  US10/841,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

In an in-the-ear hearing aid, or a hearing aid with an in-the-ear otoplastic, a first magnetic or magnetizable element is arranged in or on the housing of the hearing air or, respectively, in or on the otoplastic. This element interacts with a second magnetic or magnetizable element arranged behind the ear or, respectively, implanted in the ear, so that the force of attraction of the two magnetic or magnetizable elements provides an additional holding and fixing of the hearing aid or the otoplastic, respectively, in the ear.

Claims

1. A hearing aid device that is an in-the-ear hearing aid with a housing, or a hearing aid with an in-the-ear otoplastic, comprising:

a first magnetic or magnetizable element arranged in or on the housing or, respectively, in or on the otoplastic; and

a second magnetic or magnetizable element arranged behind the ear or, respectively, implanted in the ear, which element interacts with the first magnetic or magnetizable element to hold or fix the housing or the otoplastic in the ear.

2. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing of the hearing aid or the otoplastic protrudes at least partially into the auditory canal of the ear, the first magnetic or magnetizable element being arranged in or on a subarea of the housing or the otoplastic protruding into the auditory canal.

3. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing of the hearing aid or the otoplastic is arranged at least partially in the concha of the ear, and the first magnetic or magnetizable element is arranged in or on a subarea of the housing or the otoplastic lying in the concha.

4. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second magnetic or magnetizable element is provided with a biocompatible covering.

5. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic or magnetizable element is arranged in or on the otoplastic, and the second magnetic or magnetizable element is arranged in or on the housing of the behind-the-ear hearing aid.