Concha bowl hearing aid apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An in the concha bowl hearing aid comprising:
- a. a housing with an interior and exterior sized to fit within the outer ear concha bowl, and defining at least one opening in communication with the ear canal to allow external natural sound to pass through the housing into the ear canal,b. a microphone attached to the exterior surface of the housing positioned to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling of the outer ear and translate sound into electronic impulses when the housing is placed in the concha bowl,c. a sound processor with an amplifier located within the housing interior in communication with the microphone to receive electronic impulses,d. a battery mounted within the interior of the housing operably associated to power the sound processor, amplifier, microphone, and a speaker,e. a first bendable support with first and second ends sized and positioned to fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through, the first end attached to the exterior surface of the housing and the second end structured to removably secure to a fold in the wall of the ear channel proximate its exterior opening, when inserted,f. electronic means associated with the bendable support to transfer electronic signals from the sound processor and amplifier,g. a speaker attached to the second end of the bendable support operably associated with the sound processor and amplifier by the electronic means to receive electronic signals and convert them to amplified sound for direction toward the inner ear for admixing and blending with natural sound entering the ear to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission, andh. at least one second support attached to the housing opposite the first bendable support adapted to secure the housing within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing opposite contact points.
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Abstract
A method and in the concha bowl hearing aid apparatus with sound processor/amplifier and speaker sized to be removably secured within the concha bowl of the ear and structured to allow sound to pass through the hearing aid into the ear canal so its speaker positioned within the external auditory canal of the ear blends and provides the desired combination of external sound entering the ear canal with amplified sound from the speaker.
18 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An in the concha bowl hearing aid comprising:
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a. a housing with an interior and exterior sized to fit within the outer ear concha bowl, and defining at least one opening in communication with the ear canal to allow external natural sound to pass through the housing into the ear canal, b. a microphone attached to the exterior surface of the housing positioned to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling of the outer ear and translate sound into electronic impulses when the housing is placed in the concha bowl, c. a sound processor with an amplifier located within the housing interior in communication with the microphone to receive electronic impulses, d. a battery mounted within the interior of the housing operably associated to power the sound processor, amplifier, microphone, and a speaker, e. a first bendable support with first and second ends sized and positioned to fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through, the first end attached to the exterior surface of the housing and the second end structured to removably secure to a fold in the wall of the ear channel proximate its exterior opening, when inserted, f. electronic means associated with the bendable support to transfer electronic signals from the sound processor and amplifier, g. a speaker attached to the second end of the bendable support operably associated with the sound processor and amplifier by the electronic means to receive electronic signals and convert them to amplified sound for direction toward the inner ear for admixing and blending with natural sound entering the ear to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission, and h. at least one second support attached to the housing opposite the first bendable support adapted to secure the housing within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing opposite contact points. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of using an in the concha bowl hearing aid comprising:
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a. placing in the outer ear concha bowl an in the concha bowl hearing aid with a sound processor/amplifier microphone and speaker powered by a battery within a housing with an interior and exterior sized to fit within the outer ear concha bowl, defining at least one opening in communication with the ear canal to allow sound to pass through the housing into the ear canal;
wherein the microphone is positioned on the exterior surface of the housing to pickup sound focused by the sound funneling structure of the outer ear, when the housing is inserted in the concha bowl, and convert sound into electronic impulses for transmission to a sound processor and amplifier; and
the speaker is structured to direct amplified sound toward the inner ear for admixing and blending with natural sound entering the ear to minimize echoes and provide more natural sound pick up and transmission;b. securing the hearing aid with a first bendable support with first and second ends sized and positioned to fit within and partially obstruct the interior ear canal to allow air and sound to flow there through, the first end attached to the exterior surface of the housing and the second end adapted to removably secure to a fold in the wall of the ear channel proximate its exterior opening, c. at least one second support attached to the housing opposite the first bendable support adapted to secure the housing within the concha bowl of the ear canal by providing opposite contact points, and d. selectively activating the in the bowl hearing aid to combine external sound entering the ear canal with amplified sound from the speaker. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification