Flexible joint for extended wear hearing device

• US 20070036379A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Anderson, Greg, Tilson, Alex, Blumenkranz, Steve, Schindler, Robert, Day, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a flexible joint for extended wear hearing devices. One embodiment provides a flexible joint for a hearing device comprising a compliant tube having a lateral and a medial end, a pivotal portion and a lumen. The hearing device can include a CIC hearing aid positioned in the bony portion of the ear canal. The tube ends are configured to be coupled to lateral and medial device assemblies. The tube allows the lateral assembly to advance the medial assembly into the bony portion of the ear canal and have the lateral and medial assemblies conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement. The tube also acoustically decouples the two assemblies. The pivotal portion can comprise a necked portion or otherwise have decreased stiffness relative to other tube portions. The tube can be shaped to fit over and retain one or both assemblies

Claims

1. A flexible joint for a CIC hearing device positioned in a bony portion of an ear canal of a user, the joint comprising:

a compliant member having a lateral and a medial end, a pivotal portion and a lumen, the ends configured to be coupled to lateral and medial hearing device assemblies, the member configured to allow the lateral assembly to advance the medial assembly into the ear canal and have at least a portion of the device conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement of the lateral and medial assemblies, wherein the member acoustically decouples the two assemblies.

2. The joint of claim 1, wherein the medial assembly comprises a receiver assembly and the lateral assembly comprises a microphone assembly.

3. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion comprises a necked portion.

4. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion has a decreased stiffness relative to other portions of the member.

5. The joint of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the member comprises at least one of elastomer or a silastic.

6. The joint of claim 1, wherein the joint comprises a molded structure.

7. The joint of claim 1, wherein the joint comprises a single integral structure.

8. The joint of claim 1, wherein a lateral portion of the member is shaped to fit over and retain the lateral assembly.

9. The joint of claim 1, wherein a medial portion of the member is shaped to fit over and retain the medial assembly.

10. The joint of claim 1, wherein the medial portion of the member has a substantially rectangular shape.

11. The joint of claim 1, wherein the lateral portion of the member has a substantially oval cross section.

12. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion has sufficient torsional strength to allow rotation of the medial assembly in response to rotation of the lateral assembly when the device is positioned in the bony portion of the ear canal.

13. The joint of claim 1, wherein the member is configured to transmit a pull force from the lateral assembly to the medial assembly sufficient to remove the medial assembly from the ear canal when the hearing device is positioned in the ear canal.

14. The joint of claim 1, wherein the member is configured to minimize an application of force to a wire or structure positioned within the lumen, when the member is put in tension.

15. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion is configured to allow three degrees of rotation of the assemblies.

16. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion is configured to define a cone of pivotal movement of the medial assembly relative to a longitudinal axis of the lateral assembly.

17. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion is configured to bend in response to deformation of the ear canal with minimal pain to the ear canal of the user.

18. The joint of claim 1, wherein a bending force of the pivotal portion is less than a canal pain threshold of the wearer.

19. The joint of claim 1, wherein a bending force of the pivotal portion is less than a capillary venous return pressure of the canal epithelium.

20. The joint of claim 1, wherein the pivotal portion is configured to transmit no more than about 2.3 grams of force in response to a bending force exerted by either assembly.

21. The joint of claim 1, wherein the joint is configured to mechanically isolate the medial assembly from the lateral assembly such that a seal coupled to one assembly and seated in the ear canal, is not unseated or deformed in response to a force exerted by the other assembly.

22. The joint of claim 1, wherein the joint has a preformed bend angle between the lateral and medial portions.

23. The joint of claim 22, wherein the bend angle is about 15°

.

24. The joint of claim 1, wherein the joint includes a stop member to limit a maximum bend angle of the lateral portion with respect to the medial portion, at least a portion of the stop member disposed within the pivotal portion.

25. The joint of claim 24, wherein the maximum bend angle is in a range of about 30 to about 45°

.

26. An extended wear CIC hearing device for operation in a bony portion of an ear canal of a user, the hear device comprising:

a microphone assembly, the microphone assembly configured to be electronically coupled to a battery assembly for powering the hearing device;

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

the flexible joint of claim 1, wherein the joint couples the receiver assembly and the microphone assembly.

27. An extended wear CIC hearing device for operation in a bony portion of an ear canal of a user, the hear device comprising:

a microphone assembly, the microphone assembly configured to be electronically coupled to a battery assembly for powering the hearing device;

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

wherein the receiver assembly and the microphones assembly are coupled by a flexible joint configured to allow the microphone assembly to advance the receiver assembly into the ear canal with sufficient pivotal movement of the two assemblies for the device to conform to the shape of the ear, the joint minimizing direct acoustical transmission between the assemblies.

28. The hearing device of claim 27, wherein the joint is configured to mechanically isolate the microphone assembly from the receiver assembly such that a seal coupled to one assembly and seated in the ear canal, is not unseated or deformed in response to a force exerted by the other assembly.

29. A method for wearing a hearing device positioned in a bony portion of an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:

providing a hearing device having a flexible joint for coupling lateral and medial assemblies of the hearing device with minimal acoustical transmission between the assemblies, the joint configured to bend in the canal with minimal pain to the canal of the user;

inserting the hearing device into the bony portion of the canal of the user; and

wearing the device in the canal, wherein the joint bends in the ear canal with minimal pain to the user from forces exerted by the joint on the canal.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the force exerted by the joint is no more than about 2.3 grams.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the force exerted by the joint is less than the less than a capillary venous return pressure of the canal epithelium.