Sealing retainer for extended wear hearing devices

• US 20060291683A1
• Filed: 06/13/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Urso, Richard C., Shennib, Adnan, Ram, Sunder, Anderson, Greg, Tilson, Alex, Sadler, John, Buckley, James, Schindler, Robert, Day, Ian
• Application Number:
  US11/453,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell wall defines a cavity for retention of a hearing device component with at least a portion of the shell comprising a resilient material having sound attenuating properties. The shell has a structure such that a force for removal of the seal from the canal is greater than a force for insertion of the seal into the canal. That structure can have an umbrella or cup shape. The structure can be configured to act as a mechanical toggle when acted upon by a laterally applied force to the shell. The structure can also be configured to exert a constant frictional force against the canal wall during insertion into the ear canal.

Claims

1. A seal for retaining a hearing device within a portion of the ear canal, the seal comprising:

a curved shell having a wall and an opening at an apex portion of the shell, the shell wall defining a cavity for retention of a hearing device component, at least a portion of the shell comprising a resilient material having sound attenuating properties;

wherein the shell has a structure such that a force for removal of the seal from the ear canal is greater than a force for insertion of the seal into the canal.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the structure has one of an umbrella shape or a cup shape.

3. The seal of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to act as a mechanical toggle when acted upon by a laterally applied force.

4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to be put into compression when acted upon by a laterally applied force.

5. The seal of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to exert a increasing frictional force against the canal wall when acted upon by a laterally applied force.

6. The seal of claim 1, wherein the structure is configured to exert a constant frictional force against the canal wall during insertion into the ear canal

7. The seal of claim 1, wherein the shell is sized to be positioned in a bony portion of the canal such that a residual volume in the canal is less than about 0.5 cc.

8. The seal of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the seal includes an anti-microbial coating configured to produce about a three log reduction in colony forming units of bacteria contacting the coating.

9. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is configured to achieve at least about three decibels of attenuation in sound in the audible frequency range between a medial and lateral portion of the shell when the shell is positioned in the ear canal.

10. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal has an axial length in the range between about 5 to about 10 mms.

11. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is configured to be seated in a bony portion of the ear canal.

12. A CIC hearing aid for operation in a bony portion of an ear canal of a user, the hear aid comprising:

a microphone assembly;

a receiver assembly configured to supply acoustic signals received from the microphone assembly to a tympanic membrane of the user;

a battery assembly for powering the hearing aid, the battery assembly electrically coupled to at least one of the microphone assembly or the receiver assembly; and

the seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is coupled to one of the battery assembly, the microphone assembly or the receiver assembly.

13. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the seal comprises a first seal and a second seal.

14. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the first and second seals are configured to be medially and laterally positioned with respect to a bend in the ear canal.

15. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the seals retain the receiver assembly and the battery assembly at an angular offset with respect to each other.

16. The hearing aid of claim 13, wherein the first seal is coupled to the receiver assembly and the second seal is coupled to the battery assembly or the microphone assembly.

17. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the first seal centers the receiver assembly at a first location in the ear canal and the second seal centers the microphone or battery assembly at a second location in the ear canal.

18. A method for wearing a hearing device in the ear canal of a user, the method comprising:

providing a hearing device having a retaining seal configured to retain the device in the ear canal with a retaining force greater than an insertion force;

positioning the hearing device at a selected location in the ear canal; and

wearing the device in the canal while substantially retaining the device at the selected location.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

removing the hearing device from the ear canal, wherein the removal force is greater than the insertion force.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the selected location is in a bony portion of the canal.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the selected location is in a bony portion of the canal such that a residual volume in the canal is less than about 0.5 cc.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the hearing device is a CIC hearing aid.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the device is worn for a period of up to about six months.