Hearing instrument

• US 20060159298A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gabathuler, Bruno, von Dombrowski, Sven, Leysieffer, Hans
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/330
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/24 Structural combinations of separate transducers or of two parts of the same transducer and responsive respectively to two or more frequency ranges
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• 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 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

According to the first aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing comprises at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers is placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. According to the second aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument comprising a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user'"'"'s ear canal or in the user'"'"'s ear as well as a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component is provided, where the connection link is reversibly pluggable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the in-the-ear-canal component and has a length that is reversibly adjustable. The hearing instrument also comprises fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link. A hearing instrument according to the third aspect comprises a fixation means separate from the in-the-ear-canal component. The fixation means may be positioned in the ear canal and rest therein. The in-the-ear-canal component may be connected to the fixation means and detached therefrom when the same is already in the ear canal. A hearing instrument according to the fourth aspect of the invention comprises an in-the-ear-canal component to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal and fixation means for fixing it in the ear canal. The fixation means comprise an outer shell which is shaped to fit (i.e. custom shaped to fit the specific user'"'"'s ear geometry) in the user'"'"'s ear canal and a mounting structure for holding the in-the-ear-canal component. The outer shell is preferably resilient, i.e. has an elasticity allowing temporal deformation.

Claims

1. A hearing instrument comprising at least one microphone, signal processing means, a first receiver adapted to be placed, in an operating state of the hearing instrument, outside a user'"'"'s ear canal, and a second receiver, the first and second receivers being operatively connected with the microphone via the signal processing means, the first and the second receivers having a different frequency response.

2. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the hearing instrument comprises a behind-the-ear component fitting behind a user'"'"'s ear, and wherein said behind-the-ear component comprises the signal processing means.

3. A hearing instrument according to claim 2 wherein the first receiver is placed in the behind-the-ear component.

4. A hearing instrument according to claim 2 wherein the first receiver is placed in an in-the-ear component adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s concha.

5. A hearing instrument according to claim 3 comprising a sound conduction tube leading from the first receiver to the ear canal.

6. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second receiver, is adapted to be placed, in an operating state, in the ear canal.

7. A hearing instrument according to claim 6, comprising a sound conduction tube leading from the first receiver to the ear canal.

8. A hearing instrument according claim 7, wherein an electric connection between the signal processing means and the second receiver is mechanically coupled to the sound conduction tube.

9. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second receiver is adapted to be placed, in an operating state, outside the ear canal.

10. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sound processing means are operable to feed the first receiver with a first signal of a first central frequency and the second receiver with a second signal of a second central frequency.

11. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means comprise a signal processing unit having an input, a first output and a second output, the input being operatively connected an output of the at least one microphone, the first output being operatively connected to the first receiver and the second output being operatively connected to the second receiver, wherein the signal processing unit is operable to produce a first output signal of a first central frequency and a second output signal with a second central frequency, wherein the first output signal is directed to the first output, wherein the second output signal is directed to the second output.

12. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means comprise two signal processing units, an input of both of which is operatively connected to an output of the microphone, and wherein the gain characteristics of the two signal processing units is such that one of the signal processing units is operable to predominantly amplify first proportions of an input signal and the other one is operable to predominantly amplify second proportions of an input signal.

13. A hearing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the signal processing means comprise a signal processing unit having an input and an output, the input being operatively connected to an output of the microphone, and a frequency separating filter an input of which is operatively connected to an output of the signal processing unit.

14. A hearing instrument according to claim 1 wherein the signal processing means comprise a signal processing unit having an input and an output, the input being operatively connected to an output of the microphone, the output being operatively connected to both, the first and the second receiver, so that both receivers, in an operating state, are fed by identical input signals.

15. A hearing instrument according to claim 1 comprising a behind-the-ear component which fits behind a user'"'"'s ear and contains the signal processing means and the first receiver, and an external component for being placed in the user'"'"'s ear or in the user'"'"'s ear canal and which comprises the second receiver, and a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component, the connection link comprising at least two electrical contact lines, the connection link being reversibly connectable to at least one of the behind-the-ear component and of the external component, the connection link having a length that is reversibly adjustable, and the hearing instrument comprising fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link.

16. A hearing instrument according to claim 1, comprising an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, which in-the-ear-canal-component comprises the second receiver, and further comprising a fixation means adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and to be fixed therein, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly connectable to the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal and reversibly detachable from the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal.

17. A hearing instrument according to claim 15, comprising an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, which in-the-ear-canal-component comprises the second receiver, and further comprising a fixation means adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and to be fixed therein, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly connectable to the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal and reversibly detachable from the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal.

18. A hearing instrument, according to claim 1, comprising an in-the-ear-canal component to be placed a user'"'"'s ear canal, which in-the-ear-canal-component comprises the second receiver, and further comprising a fixation means for fixing the in-the-ear canal component in a user'"'"'s ear, the fixation means comprising an outer shell shaped to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and an in-the-ear-canal component mounting structure mechanically coupled to the outer shell and being shaped to hold the in-the-ear-canal component, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly mountable to the fixation means, and wherein the fixation means is shaped so as to maintain a passage from an outside to an interior of the ear canal when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted.

19. A hearing instrument, according to claim 15, comprising an in-the-ear-canal component to be placed a user'"'"'s ear canal, which in-the-ear-canal-component comprises the second receiver, and further comprising a fixation means for fixing the in-the-ear canal component in a user'"'"'s ear, the fixation means comprising an outer shell shaped to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and an in-the-ear-canal component mounting structure mechanically coupled to the outer shell and being shaped to hold the in-the-ear-canal component, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly mountable to the fixation means, and wherein the fixation means is shaped so as to maintain a passage from an outside to an interior of the ear canal when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted.

20. A hearing instrument comprising at least one microphone, at least one signal processing unit and at least one receiver and comprising a behind-the-ear component which fits behind a user'"'"'s ear and contains at least the signal processing unit, and an external component adapted to be placed in the user'"'"'s ear or in the user'"'"'s ear canal and which comprises at least one of said at least one receivers, and a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component, the connection link comprising at least two electrical contact lines, the connection link being reversibly connectable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the external component, the connection link having a length that is reversibly adjustable, and the hearing instrument comprising fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link.

21. A hearing instrument according to claim 20, wherein the behind-the-ear component or the external component comprises a cavity, and wherein the connection link comprises a connection element that is partially insertable into said cavity to varying extents, so that the connection link'"'"'s length is adjustable.

22. A hearing instrument according to claim 21, wherein the external component is an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed in the user'"'"'s ear canal and comprising fixation means for fixing it therein, wherein the cavity is formed in the behind-the-ear component, and wherein the connection link is reversibly connectable to the external component.

23. A hearing instrument according to claim 21, wherein the behind-the-ear component comprises a hook for hooking the behind-the-ear component behind a user'"'"'s ear, and wherein the cavity is formed in the hook.

24. A hearing instrument according to claim 20, wherein a connection element forming the connection link has one end with an elongated shape defining a longitudinal direction and at least two first electrical contacts which co-operate with corresponding second electrical contacts of the behind-the-ear component or the external component, wherein at least one of the first electrical contacts and of the second electrical contacts is extended over range of positions or a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction so that an electrical contact between the first and second electrical contacts is formable in a range or a plurality of relative longitudinal positions of the first and second electrical contacts, and wherein the fixation means are operable to fix the relative longitudinal positions of the first and second electrical contacts.

25. A hearing instrument according to claim 24, wherein the first and second electrical contacts together form slider contacts.

26. A hearing instrument according to claim 25, wherein the first or the second electrical contacts are spring contacts producing a contact force between the first and the second electrical contacts.

27. A hearing instrument according to claim 25, wherein the fixation means comprise a threaded sleeve attached to the connection element or a threaded portion of the connection element, co-operating with a corresponding inside threaded counterpart of the behind-the-ear component or the external component, and wherein the at least two first electrical contacts or the at least two second electrical contacts or the at least two first electrical contacts and the at least two second electrical contacts comprise a cylindrical portion.

28. A hearing instrument according to claim 24, wherein the first and the second electrical contacts are threaded.

29. A hearing instrument according to claim 24, wherein the first or the second electrical contacts comprise at least one protrusion and wherein the second or the first electrical contacts, respectively, comprise a plurality of corresponding indentations.

30. A hearing instrument according to claim 20, wherein the fixation means comprise a set screw and wherein the connection link comprises a connection element with a section that is at least partially plastically deformable, and wherein the set screw is pressable into the at least partially plastically deformable section, whereby fixation is achieved.

31. A hearing instrument according to according to claim 20, wherein the fixation means comprise radially extending protrusions or radial indentations of the connection element co-operating with inverse structures of the behind-the-ear component or the external component, respectively.

32. A hearing instrument according to claim 24, wherein the fixation means comprise a set screw and wherein the connection link comprises a connection element with a section that is at least partially plastically deformable, and wherein the set screw is pressable into the at least partially plastically deformable section, whereby fixation is achieved.

33. A hearing instrument according to according to claim 24, wherein the fixation means comprise radially extending protrusions or radial indentations of the connection element co-operating with inverse structures of the behind-the-ear component or the external component, respectively.

34. A hearing instrument according to claim 20, wherein the external component is an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, the hearing instrument comprising a fixation means adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and to be fixed therein, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly connectable to the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal and reversibly detachable from the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal.

35. A hearing instrument according to claim 20 wherein the external component is an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, the hearing instrument comprising a fixation means for fixing the in-the-ear canal component in a user'"'"'s ear, the fixation means comprising an outer shell shaped to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and an in-the-ear-canal component mounting structure mechanically coupled to the outer shell and being shaped to hold the in-the-ear-canal component, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly mountable to the fixation means, and wherein the fixation means is shaped so as to maintain a passage from an outside to an interior of the ear canal when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted.

36. A method of adapting a hearing instrument to a user'"'"'s anatomy, the hearing instrument comprising a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user'"'"'s ear or in the user'"'"'s ear canal and which comprises at least one receiver, and a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the in-the-ear-canal component, the connection link comprising at least two electrical contact lines, the connection link being reversibly connectable to the behind-the-ear component or the external component, the method comprising the steps of placing the behind-the-ear-component behind the user'"'"'s ear, of placing the external component in the user'"'"'s ear canal or the user'"'"'s ear, of adjusting the length of the connection link until a comfort fit is achieved, and of applying a locking means to fix the length of the connection link.

37. A method of fixing an in-the-ear-canal component of a hearing instrument in a user'"'"'s ear canal comprising the steps of providing a fixation means adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and to be fixed therein, of placing said fixation means in the user'"'"'s ear canal, and of connecting the in-the-ear-canal component to the fixation means placed in the ear canal.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the fixation means is placed beyond the ear canal'"'"'s isthmus.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the fixation means comprises a compressible tube, the outer diameter of which, if it is in a de-compressed state, is larger than the outer diameter of the user'"'"'s ear canal, and wherein the method comprises the steps of, before introducing the fixation element in the ear canal, applying a compression force on said tube, and of, after placing said tube in the user'"'"'s ear canal, releasing said compression force.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the step of connecting the in-the-ear-anal component to the fixation means placed in the ear canal includes introducing the in-the-ear-canal component into an interior of said compressible tube.

41. A hearing instrument comprising an in-the-ear-canal component to be placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal and further comprising a fixation means adapted to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and to be fixed therein, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly connectable to the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal and reversibly detachable from the fixation means when the fixation means are positioned in the ear canal.

42. A hearing instrument according to claim 41, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component comprises at least a receiver.

43. A hearing instrument according to claim 42, wherein the receiver is an external receiver operatively connected to a signal processing unit placed in a component of the hearing instrument which is adapted to be placed outside the ear canal.

44. A hearing instrument according to claim 41, wherein the hearing instrument is a completely-in-the-canal hearing instrument comprising only the in-the-ear-canal component, and wherein the in-the-ear-canal component also comprises a microphone and signal processing means.

45. A hearing instrument according to claim 41, wherein the fixation means comprises a compressible tubular element.

46. A hearing instrument according to claim 45, wherein the tubular element comprises stopping means providing an abutment for displacement of the in-the-ear-canal component in a longitudinal direction.

48. A hearing instrument according to claim 45 wherein the tubular element has a wall with a mesh structure.

49. A hearing instrument according to claim 45, wherein the tubular element is a hollow tube of a reversibly compressible material.

50. A hearing instrument according to claim 45, wherein the fixation means comprises holding elements on an inside of the tubular element, the holding elements being elastically deformable by insertion of the in-the-ear-canal component and operable to exert a spring force on the inserted in-the-ear-canal component.

51. A hearing instrument according to claim 48, wherein the fixation means comprises holding elements on an inside of the tubular element, the holding elements being elastically deformable by insertion of the in-the-ear-canal component and operable to exert a spring force on the inserted in-the-ear-canal component.

52. A hearing instrument according to claim 50, wherein the holding elements are hair-like and protrude radially from the tubular element towards an inside thereof.

53. A hearing instrument according to claim 51, wherein at least one of the holding elements comprises a barb-like structure for enhancing the force against removal of the in-the-ear-canal component from the fixation means.

54. A hearing instrument according to claim 50, wherein holding elements in a section near an outer entrance of the tubular element have a stronger spring constant than holding elements in a central section of the tubular element.

47. A hearing instrument according to claim or 46, wherein the stopping means comprise grid means that are arranged transversal to an axis of the tubular element near an inner entrance of the tubular element.

55. A hearing instrument comprising an in-the-ear-canal component adapted to be placed a user'"'"'s ear canal and further comprising a fixation means for fixing the in-the-ear canal component in a user'"'"'s ear, the fixation means comprising an outer shell shaped to fit in the user'"'"'s ear canal and an in-the-ear-canal component mounting structure mechanically coupled to the outer shell and being shaped to hold the in-the-ear-canal component, wherein the in-the-ear-canal component is reversibly mountable to the fixation means, and wherein the fixation means is shaped so as to maintain a passage from an outside to an interior of the ear canal when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted.

56. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the minimal cross section of said passage is at least 3 mm².

57. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell is resilient.

58. A hearing instrument according to claim 55 wherein the mounting structure comprises an inner shell mechanically coupled to the outer shell, and wherein an inner surface of the inner shell is shaped so as to hold the in-the-ear-canal component.

59. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell, in a cross section, forms a closed contour.

60. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell, in cross sections along planes perpendicular to an ear canal axis does not form closed contours.

61. A hearing instrument according to claim 58, wherein the inner shell adjoins the outer shell in at least one position.

62. A hearing instrument according to claim 58, wherein the inner shell is held by a support structure in an interior of the outer shell at a distance from the outer shell.

63. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell has a wall with a wall thickness of less than 1 mm.

64. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell has a wall with openings.

65. A hearing instrument according to claim 55, wherein the outer shell has a meshed structure.

66. A hearing instrument according to any one of claims 55 to 65, wherein the outer shell is shaped to fit between the entrance and the isthmus of the user'"'"'s ear canal.

67. A hearing instrument according to any one of claims 55 to 65, wherein the mounting structure comprises snap-in locking means for automatically locking the connection between the in-the-ear-canal component and the mounting structure when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted in the ear canal component.

68. A hearing instrument according to claim 66, wherein the mounting structure comprises snap-in locking means for automatically locking the connection between the in-the-ear-canal component and the mounting structure when the in-the-ear-canal component is inserted in the ear canal component.