COMBINED MICROPHONE AND RECEIVER ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDED WEAR CANAL HEARING DEVICES

• US 20090074220A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/325
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically

Abstract

An ultra miniature hearing device for extended wear entirely in the ear canal past the cartilaginous region is provided. The hearing device comprises a microphone and a speaker, each having a respective diaphragm. The speaker and microphone are placed parallel to each other in a single lateral assembly. The microphone and speaker can be arranged such that their diaphragms are orthogonal to one another so that cross coupling of vibrations is minimized, thus reducing internal feedback. Due to the parallel co-placement of the speaker and microphone in the single lateral assembly, the length of the device is substantially shorter than that of prior hearing aid devices. The hearing device is 12 mm or less in length to fit in the bony part of the ear canal for most individuals and is placed within approximately 3 mm from the eardrum.

Claims

1. A hearing device for placement entirely in the ear canal for extended wear therein, said hearing device comprising:

a. a power source;

b. an amplifier;

c. a microphone having a microphone diaphragm responsive to sound entering the ear canal; and

d. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for generating amplified sound;

wherein said microphone and speaker are combined adjacently in an assembly disposed within a lateral portion of said hearing device and arranged so as to minimize cross vibrations from said speaker to said microphone when said speaker is excited by said amplifier.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said speaker and said microphone are arranged so that the microphone diaphragm and the speaker diaphragm are positioned in orthogonal planes.

3. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a battery.

4. The hearing device of claim 3, wherein the battery has an oval cross section and tapered medial end.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein an acoustic output of said speaker is acoustically coupled to a residual volume between a medial end of the hearing device and the tympanic membrane via a narrow sound conducting channel.

6. The hearing device of claim 5, wherein said sound conducting channel comprises a tube with D-shaped cross section having an inside short diameter of 1 mm or less.

7. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the hearing device has a length 12 mm or less as measured from a lateral end of the hearing device to a medial end of the hearing device when the hearing device is placed entirely in the ear canal for extended wear therein, wherein the microphone and speaker are disposed at the lateral end.

8. The hearing device of claim 7, wherein the microphone and speaker from the lateral end.

9. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is adapted to be placed entirely in the bony part of the ear canal.

10. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said speaker comprises a dual diaphragm for reducing speaker case vibrations.

11. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is adapted to be disposable and discarded after at least two months of wear in the ear canal.

12. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein components within the hearing device are encapsulated and proofed to withstand water and debris present in the ear canal.

13. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a viscoelastic damper disposed between said microphone and said speaker, the viscoelastic damper adapted to reduce vibration coupling therebetween.

14. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the hearing device is adapted to be positioned in the ear canal by a physician or a hearing aid professional.

15. An extended wear hearing device for placement entirely in the bony part of the ear canal, the hearing device comprising a transducer assembly comprising

a. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for producing audible vibrations;

and

b. a microphone adjacent to said speaker, the microphone having a microphone diaphragm oriented substantially orthogonal to the speaker diaphragm;

wherein a length of said extended wear hearing device is 12 mm or less by virtue of parallel co-placement of said microphone and said receiver within a combined assembly, allowing for the device to be fit exclusively in the bony part of the ear canal and not subject to mobility and deformations present in the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal when said hearing device is placed in the ear canal for extended wear within.

16. The extended wear hearing device of claim 15, wherein the hearing device is adapted to be worn in the ear canal for at least 2 months.

17. An extended wear hearing device for placement entirely in the bony part of the ear canal, the hearing device comprising:

a. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for producing audible

vibrations,

b. a microphone having a microphone diaphragm oriented substantially orthogonal to the speaker diaphragm, said microphone is placed axially in parallel to said speaker;

wherein said extended wear hearing device is placed in the ear canal by a physician or a hearing professional to achieve safe placement within approximately 3 mm from the tympanic membrane.

18. A method for minimizing feedback caused by an acoustic coupling of a microphone and a receiver in a hearing device, the method comprising:

placing the microphone and the receiver axially in parallel; and

positioning the microphone and the receiver in relation to each other so as to place a microphone diaphragm of the microphone orthogonal to a receiver diaphragm of the receiver,

wherein orthogonal placement of the microphone diaphragm in relation to the receiver diaphragm minimizes cross vibrations between the speaker and the microphone.