Self-cleaning cerumen guard for a hearing device

• US 6,349,790 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonic Innovations Incorporated (William Demant Fonden)
• Original Assignee: Sonic Innovations Incorporated (William Demant Fonden)
• Inventors: Brimhall, Owen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US09/592,222
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 181/135, 181/130, 181/129, 181/134, 181/128, 181/126, 181/133, 381/322, 381/328, 381/312, 381/325, 381/330, 381/68, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69, 381/138
• US Class Current: 181/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

A self-cleaning cerumen guard includes a thermally activated element. The cerumen guard is mounted on the distal end of a hearing device adjacent to a sound port. The thermally activated element is oriented in a manner which causes it to retract when heated to a first temperature range and extend when cooled to a second temperature range, such that, upon removal of the hearing device from an ear canal, the self-cleaning cerumen guard will automatically remove any accumulated debris from the sound port.

Claims

1. A hearing device, comprising:

a cerumen remover mounted on the hearing device, the cerumen remover comprising a thermally activated material;

wherein the cerumen remover clears away accumulated cerumen from the hearing device in response to a temperature change.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the cerumen remover is mounted on a distal end of the hearing device.

3. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the cerumen remover maintains a first shape in a first temperature range and a second shape in a second temperature range.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the cerumen remover is generally elongate and is in a retracted position in a first temperature range and is in an extended position in a second temperature range.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein the cerumen remover has a first end and a second end, wherein the cerumen remover is circularly wound having an outer ring, and oriented such that the first end is radially disposed and the second end is centrally disposed.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, the hearing device including a housing having an interior surface, the cerumen remover further comprising a disk having a circumferential surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface, wherein the circumferential surface of the disk is connected to the interior surface of the housing.

7. The hearing device of claim 6, further comprising a generally elongate plunger having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the upper surface of the disk.

8. The hearing device of claim 3, wherein the first temperature range is approximately 95°

F. and higher, and the second temperature range is approximately 90°

F. and lower.

9. The hearing device of claim 3, wherein the first temperature range is approximately 90°

F. and lower, and the second temperature range is approximately 95°

F. and higher.