Novel hearing aid design

• US 20050031145A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Maltan, Albert A., McGivern, James P., Mann, Alfred E., Lee, Philip H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A hearing aid module is shaped for insertion into a tunnel made through the soft tissue that connects the retro-auricular space with the ear canal. The hearing aid module contains a speaker or auditory transducer, a battery or other power source powering the module, signal processing circuitry, and a microphone. Telemetry circuitry within the module allows the signal processing circuitry to be programmed with a desired frequency response or signal processing strategy using an external programming unit. A remote control unit permits the user to make simple adjustments, such as volume and/or tone (frequency) control.

Claims

1. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:

a hearing aid module comprising;

a case,

electronic circuitry housed in said case;

an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry;

a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry; and

a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;

wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and

wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal; and

further

wherein signal processing circuitry includes means for processing the signals sensed through the microphone so that the sound waves emitted towards the ear canal by the acoustic transducer are compatible with and augment the sound waves traveling naturally through the ear canal.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising signal processing circuitry that performs voice command recognition.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said acoustic transducer is located at a distal end of said case and said microphone is located at a proximal end of said case.

4. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said acoustic transducer is located at a distal end of said case and said microphone is located remotely from the hearing aid module.

5. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said microphone is located between distal and proximal ends of the case at a location that is about half way between the proximal and distal ends of said case.

6. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said microphone is located between distal and proximal ends of the case at a location that is closer to the distal end than to the proximal end.

7. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry includes a wireless link over which communicative signals may be transmitted to the hearing aid module from a remote location.

8. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry transmits to a remote location sounds spoken by a user of the hearing aid module, sensed by the microphone, and processed by the signal processing circuits.

9. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, wherein the telemetry circuitry includes means for sending and receiving signals that are coded so only designated target and source devices can be linked to the telemetry circuitry.

10. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the volume of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

11. The hearing aid of claim 13 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the frequency content of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

12. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

13. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a super capacitor.

14. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including an external programming unit coupled to the hearing aid through a suitable communications link.

15. The hearing aid of claim 14 wherein the external programming unit is coupled with a remote location through an existing telecommunications network.

16. The hearing aid of claim 1 further including a cable connector attached to the hearing aid module and adapted for communications with at least one external device.

17. The hearing aid of claim 16 wherein the at least one external device comprises an external power source, an external programming unit, a remote control unit, a remote microphone, and an external signal source.

18. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:

a hearing aid module comprising;

a case having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel;

electronic circuitry housed in said case;

an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case;

a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the proximal end of the case; and

a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;

wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and

wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal.

19. The hearing aid of claim 18 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry includes a wireless link over which communicative signals may be transmitted to the hearing aid module from a remote location.

20. The hearing aid of claim 18 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry transmits to a remote location sounds spoken by a user of the hearing aid module, sensed by the microphone, and processed by the signal processing circuits.

21. The hearing aid of claim 18 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, wherein the telemetry circuitry includes means for sending and receiving signals that are coded so only designated target and source devices can be linked to the telemetry circuitry.

22. The hearing aid of claim 18 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the volume of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

23. The hearing aid of claim 22 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the frequency content of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

24. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:

a hearing aid module comprising;

a case having a proximal end and a distal end and a mid point, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the mid point comprises a point approximately midway between the proximal end and the distal end;

electronic circuitry housed in said case;

an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case;

a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and positioned in said case so as to reside at a location between the mid point of the case and the distal end of the case; and

a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry;

wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and

wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal; and

further

wherein signal processing circuitry includes means for processing the signals sensed through the microphone so that the sound waves emitted towards the ear canal by the acoustic transducer are compatible with and augment the sound waves traveling naturally through the ear canal.

25. The hearing aid of claim 24 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry includes a wireless link over which communicative signals may be transmitted to the hearing aid module from a remote location.

26. The hearing aid of claim 24 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, which telemetry circuitry transmits to a remote location sounds spoken by a user of the hearing aid module, sensed by the microphone, and processed by the signal processing circuits.

27. The hearing aid of claim 24 further including telemetry circuitry housed in said case, wherein the telemetry circuitry includes means for sending and receiving signals that are coded so only designated target and source devices can be linked to the telemetry circuitry.

28. The hearing aid of claim 24 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the volume of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

29. The hearing aid of claim 28 further including means for allowing a user of the hearing aid to adjust the frequency content of the sound waves emitted from the acoustic transducer.

30. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:

a hearing aid module comprising;

a case having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel;

electronic circuitry housed in said case;

an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case; and

a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and

a microphone located remotely from the hearing aid module, wherein said microphone is electronically coupled with the electronic circuitry housed in said case;

wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and

wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal.