Hearing Aid

• US 20090180653A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Songbird Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Songbird Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Needleman, Alyssa R., Sjursen, Walter P., Lee, Kyungmin Andy, Mohamed, Hassan A., Mulhauser, Paul J., Kirk, Karl D. III, DeSalvo, Michael, Treacy, Lyndon
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/356 Amplitude, e.g. amplitude shift or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• 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

A hearing aid includes a first portion adapted for behind-the-ear placement having a microphone, a second portion adapted for in-the-canal placement having a receiver and a cable that couples the first portion to the second portion, the cable having an adjustable length.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

a first portion adapted for behind-the-car placement having a microphone;

a second portion adapted for in-the-canal placement having a receiver;

a battery for powering the microphone and the receiver; and

a cable that couples the first portion to the second portion, the cable having an adjustable length.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the battery is located in the first portion and is non-replaceable.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the battery is located in the second portion and the second portion is replaceable.

4. The hearing aid of claim 1 wherein a portion of the cable is adjustably looped through the first portion.

5. A hearing aid comprising:

an enclosure adapted for behind-the-ear placement that houses a microphone for converting an acoustical input signal to an electrical signal and a sound processing circuit for processing the electrical signal;

an earpiece adapted for in-the-canal placement that includes a receiver for converting the processed electrical signal to an acoustical output signal;

a battery for powering the microphone, sound processing circuit and receiver; and

an electrical cable that electrically couples the processed electrical signal from the sound processing circuit to the receiver, the cable extending from the enclosure with an adjustable length.

6. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein a portion of the cable is adjustably looped through the enclosure.

7. The hearing aid of claim 6 further comprising a stop extending from the enclosure that provides a minimum radius for the looped cable portion.

8. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the earpiece includes a receiver holder element for holding the receiver and a handle element for gripping the earpiece.

9. The hearing aid of claim 8 wherein the earpiece further includes a retention element removably connected to the handle element configured for retaining the earpiece.

10. The hearing aid of claim 8 wherein the earpiece includes a disk element positioned on the receiver holder element that absorbs sound.

11. The hearing aid of claim 5 further comprising an ear hook extending from the enclosure for retaining the enclosure in position.

12. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the enclosure includes a sound port for directing acoustical energy to the microphone.

13. The hearing aid of claim 12 wherein the sound port is located along a symmetrical axis of the enclosure.

14. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the enclosure includes a friction element for frictionally holding the cable in position.

15. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the battery is located in the enclosure and is non-replaceable.

16. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the battery is located in the earpiece and the earpiece is replaceable.

17. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the cable is flexible.

18. The hearing aid of claim 17 wherein the earpiece is twistable for placement in either the left or right ear.

19. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the cable comprises clear insulation.

20. The hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the cable is formable.