HEARING AID MICROPHONE PROTECTIVE BARRIER

• US 20070003087A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Gable, Richard, Ram, Sunder, Ipsen, Michael, Johnson, Dean, Day, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,876,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/086 Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 19/016 for microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/00 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• 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 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.

Claims

1. A microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid, the assembly comprising:

a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and

a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, the barrier structure surrounding the microphone port, at least a portion of the barrier structure being hydrophobic, the barrier structure configured to channel fluid constrained between the housing surface and the another surface away from entry into the microphone port.

2. The microphone assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mesh coupled to the barrier structure, the mesh having a pore size configured to substantially prevent entry of cereumn particles into the port while allowing conduction of incoming acoustical signals to the port with minimal attenuation when the mesh is greater than about 25% patent.

3. A method for protecting a hearing aid microphone assembly from moisture, the method comprising:

positioning a hearing aid in the ear canal of user, the hearing aid comprising a microphone assembly having a housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface and a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, at least a portion of the barrier structure being hydrophobic, and

protecting the microphone port from the entry of fluid by utilizing the barrier to channel fluid away from entry into the port.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fluid is constrained between the housing surface and the another surface.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the barrier hydrophobically channels fluid away from the port.

6. A method for protecting a hearing aid microphone assembly from moisture, the method comprising:

positioning a hearing aid in the ear canal of user, the hearing aid comprising a microphone assembly having a housing a microphone port, and a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the barrier structure being hydrophobic, and

protecting the microphone port from the entry of fluid by utilizing the barrier to hydrophobically channel fluid away from entry into the port.

7. A microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid, the assembly comprising:

a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and

a protective porous barrier supported over the microphone port, the porous barrier having a pore size configured to substantially prevent entry of cereumn particles into the port while allowing conduction of incoming acoustical signals to the port with minimal attenuation when up to about 75% of the porous barrier is occluded.

8. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein a hearing aid output is not appreciably affected when up to about 75% of the porous barrier is occluded.

9. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the porous barrier is a mesh.

10. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the porous barrier is supported by a support structure coupled to the housing.

11. The microphone assembly of claim 10, wherein the support structure surrounds the microphone port.

12. The microphone assembly of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is hydrophobic.

13. The microphone assembly of claim 10, wherein the support structure comprises a fluidic barrier.

14. The microphone assembly of claim 10, wherein the support structure has a shape configured to minimize capillary attraction of liquids.

15. The microphone assembly of claim 10, wherein the support structure has an ring or a rectangular shape.

16. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the porous barrier is positioned at an offset from the housing surface, the offset defining an air volume to conduct sound to the microphone port.

17. The microphone assembly of claim 16, wherein the air volume provides a plurality of pathways for acoustical conduction to the microphone port.

18. The microphone assembly of claim 17, wherein the plurality of pathways maintains a level of acoustical conduction to the port when up to about 75% of the porous barrier is occluded.

19. The microphone assembly of claim 16, wherein the air volume provides a non-linear path of acoustical conduction to the microphone port.

20. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the porous barrier is hydrophobic.

21. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein a distance between the housing surface and the another surface is less than about 0.020 inches.

22. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the another component surface is battery assembly surface or a hydrophobic surface.

23. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the housing comprises a hydrophobic coating, fluoro-polymer coating or a parylene coating.

24. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein a pore size of the porous barrier is about 14 microns.

25. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein a thickness of the porous barrier is about 6 microns.

26. The microphone assembly of claim 7, wherein the porous barrier is configured to be mechanically over damped over the range of audible frequencies.

27. A CIC hearing aid device for operation in the bony portion of the ear canal, the device being resistant to water and cerumen ingress into microphone assembly components, the device comprising:

the microphone assembly of claim 7;

a receiver assembly configured to supply acoustical signals received from the microphone assembly to a tympanic membrane of a wearer; and

a battery assembly for powering the device, the battery assembly electrically coupled to at least one of the microphone assembly or the receive assembly, the battery assembly having a surface comprising the another component surface.

28. A method for protecting a hearing aid microphone assembly from moisture, the method comprising:

positioning a hearing aid in the ear canal of user, the hearing aid comprising a microphone assembly comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and

a porous barrier supported over the microphone port so as to define an air volume which provides a plurality of pathways of acoustical conduction to the microphone port,; and

utilizing the plurality of pathways to maintain a level of acoustical conduction to the port when up to about 75% of the porous barrier is occluded.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least a portion of the pathways to the microphone port are non-linear.