Articulation assembly for intracanal hearing devices

• US 6,212,283 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1997
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Decibel Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorensen, Jorgen, Shennib, Adnan, Urso, Richard C., Fletcher, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US08/922,928
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 381/313, 381/315, 381/322, 381/323, 381/328, 381/329, 381/324
• US Class Current: 381/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

The invention provides a ball joint assembly for articulated hearing devices. The ball joint assembly acoustically and mechanically separates a receiver module, placed deeply within the ear canal near the tympanic membrane, from a main module, placed relatively distal to the tympanic membrane. The ball joint assembly allows for independent and free movement of the receiver module with respect to the main module. The ball joint assembly has a central axial conduit for conducting electrical wiring from the main module to the receiver module. The ball joint assembly has built in features to limit its range of motion to prevent damage to the wiring conducted within the ball joint assembly. The ball joint assembly and range limiting features are essentially fully contained within the wall of the main housing, thus minimizing the size of the hearing device and allowing for a deep and comfortable placement within the ear canal.

Claims

1. In a hearing device comprising at least two modules, an articulation assembly for separating said modules while allowing relative movement of said modules within an ear canal, said articulation assembly comprising:

a spherical ball associated with a first of said modules;

a ball socket associated with a second of said modules for receiving said spherical ball and for permitting movement of said spherical ball therein, wherein said ball socket has an elliptical shape and includes a spherical race, and wherein said elliptical ball socket includes one or more relieved areas along an axis thereof for limiting rotation; and

means entirely contained within said articulation assembly for restricting axial rotation of said modules relative to each other.

2. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein said articulation assembly is substantially contained along a wall of one of said modules and arranged for connection to another of said modules.

3. The articulation assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a conduit for routing electrical wiring between said modules.

4. The articulation assembly of claim 3, further comprising:

a strain relief for said electrical wiring located proximate to or within said conduit.

5. The articulation assembly of claim 4, said strain relief comprising at least one of a soft tubing and a non-hardening gel or gel-like material.

6. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein said ball socket is integrated with a housing of one of said modules.

7. The articulation assembly of claim 6, wherein said integrated ball socket and module housing are molded.

8. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein said spherical ball further comprises a shaft projecting therefrom for coupling said spherical ball to one of said modules.

9. The articulation assembly of claim 8, wherein said spherical ball and said shaft are integrated.

10. The articulation assembly of claim 9, wherein said spherical ball and said shaft are molded.

11. The articulation assembly of claim 9, wherein said spherical ball, said shaft, and a housing of one of said modules are integrated.

12. The articulation assembly of claim 11, wherein said spherical ball, said shaft, and said housing are molded.

13. The articulation assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a lubricant between said spherical ball and said ball socket.

14. The articulation assembly of claim 13, wherein said lubricant has viscoelastic properties for any of mechanical isolation and acoustic isolation.

15. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein said ball socket is connected to a rigid wall of one of said modules via a vibration dampening ring provided between said ball socket and said wall of said module.

16. The articulation assembly of claim 15, wherein said vibration damper material has viscoelastic properties.

17. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by said ball socket.

18. The articulation assembly of claim 10, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by the length of said shaft.

19. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by a housing of one of said modules.

20. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with a canal hearing aid.

21. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said modules contains a receiver and is positioned proximal to a user'"'"'s ear canal.

22. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal earpiece in conjunction with an external audio system connected thereto via either of a cable or wireless link.

23. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer comprising a receiver module for delivering acoustic stimuli within a user'"'"'s ear canal for hearing evaluation and hearing aid simulation.

24. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer having means for performing intracanal acoustic measurements.

25. The articulation assembly of claim 24, wherein said means for performing acoustic measurements comprise a probe tube.

26. The articulation assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer having means for simultaneously delivering acoustic stimuli within a user'"'"'s ear canal and means for performing intracanal acoustic measurements.

27. The articulation assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible covering boot for protecting said articulation assembly.

28. The articulation assembly of claim 27, said covering boot is adapted to be fitted to said articulation assembly via a boot groove.

29. The articulation assembly of claim 27, wherein said covering boot is replaceable.

30. The articulation assembly of claim 27, wherein said covering boot has elastomeric properties for biasing the orientation of said modules relative to each other.

31. The articulation assembly of claim 27, further comprising:

a tool for replacing said covering boot by expanding said covering boot for attachment around said articulation assembly.

32. The articulation assembly of claim 27, wherein said covering boot is formed of a viscoelastic material that provides mechanical and acoustic isolation between said modules.

33. The articulation assembly of claim 1, said means for restricting movement comprising one or more stop pin or stop columns on said spherical ball for limiting at least one degree of freedom of movement.

34. A hearing device comprising at least two modules, said hearing device having at least one articulation assembly for separating said modules and for allowing said modules to move relative to each other with an ear canal, said articulation assembly comprising:

a rigid spherical ball associated with a first of said modules;

a ball socket associated with a second of said modules for receiving said spherical ball, wherein said ball socket has an elliptical shape and includes an elliptical race and wherein said elliptical ball socket includes one or more relieved areas along an axis thereof for limiting rotation; and

means entirely contained within said articulation assembly for restricting axial rotation of said modules relative to each other.

35. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein said articulation assembly is substantially contained along a wall of one of said modules and arranged for connection to another of said modules.

36. The hearing device of claim 34, said articulation assembly further comprising:

a conduit for routing electrical wiring between said modules.

37. The hearing device of claim 36, said articulation assembly further comprising:

a strain relief for said electrical wiring located proximate to or within said conduit.

38. The hearing device of claim 37, said strain relief comprising at least one of a soft tubing and a non-hardening gel or gel-like material.

39. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein said ball socket is integrated with a housing of one of said modules.

40. The hearing device of claim 39, wherein said integrated ball socket and module housing are molded.

41. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein said spherical ball further comprises a shaft projecting therefrom for coupling said spherical ball to one of said modules.

42. The hearing device of claim 41, wherein said spherical ball and said shaft are integrated.

43. The hearing device of claim 42, wherein said spherical ball and said shaft are molded.

44. The hearing device of claim 42, wherein said spherical ball, said shaft, and a housing of one of said modules are integrated.

45. The hearing device of claim 44, wherein said spherical ball, said shaft, and a housing of one of said modules are molded.

46. The hearing device of claim 34, said articulation assembly further comprising:

a lubricant between said spherical ball and said ball socket.

47. The hearing device of claim 46, wherein said lubricant has viscoelastic properties for any of mechanical isolation and acoustic isolation.

48. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein said ball socket is connected to a rigid wall of one of said modules via a vibration dampening ring provided between said ball socket and said wall of said module.

49. The hearing device of claim 48, wherein said vibration damper material has viscoelastic properties.

50. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by said ball socket.

51. The hearing device of claim 41, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by the length of said shaft.

52. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein at least a single degree of freedom of movement is at least partially limited by a housing of one of said modules.

53. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with a canal hearing aid.

54. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein at least one of said modules contains a receiver and is positioned proximal to a user'"'"'s ear canal.

55. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal earpiece in conjunction with an external audio system connected thereto via either of a cable or wireless link.

56. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer comprising a receiver module for delivering acoustic stimuli within a user'"'"'s ear canal for hearing evaluation and hearing aid simulation.

57. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer having means for performing intracanal acoustic measurements.

58. The hearing device of claim 37, wherein said means for performing acoustic measurements comprise a probe tube.

59. The hearing device of claim 34, wherein one or more of said articulation assemblies are provided for use with an intracanal transducer having means for simultaneously delivering acoustic stimuli within a user'"'"'s ear canal and means for performing intracanal acoustic measurements.

60. The hearing device of claim 34, further comprising:

a flexible covering boot for protecting said articulation assembly.

61. The hearing device of claim 60, wherein said covering boot adapted to be fitted to said articulation assembly via at least one boot groove.

62. The hearing device of claim 60, wherein said covering boot is replaceable.

63. The hearing device of claim 60, wherein said covering boot has elastomeric properties for biasing the orientation of said modules relative to each other.

64. The hearing device of claim 60, further comprising:

a tool for replacing said covering boot by expanding said covering boot for attachment around said articulation assembly.

65. The hearing device of claim 60, wherein said covering boot is formed of a viscoelastic material that provides mechanical and acoustic isolation between said modules.

66. The hearing device of claim 34, said means for restricting movement comprising one or more stop pins or stop columns on said spherical ball for limiting at least one degree of freedom of movement.