Custom-moulded ear-plug, and process for producing a custom-moulded ear-plug device

• US 6,766,878 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Widmer, Christoph, Hessel, Hans, Weidmann, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): San Martin, Edgardo
• Application Number:
  US10/305,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 181/135, 181/130, 181/129, 181/128, 181/126, 381/328, 381/322, 381/324, 381/330, 381/68.6, 381/68.7, 381/69, 381/138, 128/864, 128/865, 128/867, 220/9, 242/3, 700/163, 700/118, 700/166, 700/119, 700/120, 264/401, D24/106, D24/173, D24/174, D29/112
• US Class Current: 181/135
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/085 including an inner channel
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• 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 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A hearing device for inserting into or adjacent to the ear of an individual. A shell is custom-shaped to fit the individual. The shell is made mainly of a first material and includes a part made mainly of the first material. The part has an inner surface. A pattern of embossments or indentations is provided in the inner surface. The pattern is made out of the first material. The pattern represents an individualized identification code of the part or the device. The pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part. The pattern can be generated using a laser sintering process, a laser lithography process, a stereo lithography process, or a thermojet process.

Claims

1. A device for improving hearing, for inserting into or adjacent to the ear of an individual, comprising:

a shelf custom-shaped to fit the individual, said shell comprised substantially of a first material, said shell including a part, said part comprised substantially of said first material, said part having an inner surface;

a pattern of embossments or indentations of said inner surface, said pattern made out of said first material, wherein said pattern represents an individualized identification code of said part or said device, and further wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said shell is comprised mostly of said first material.

5. The device of one of claims 1-4, wherein at least a part of said pattern is coated with a second material.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said second material is selected from one of a paint and a varnish.

7. The device of one of claims 1-3, wherein said device is a hearing aid device.

3. A device for improving hearing, the device for inserting into or adjacent to the ear of an individual, comprising:

a part with an outer surface custom-shaped to fit the individual, said part including a first material, said part also having an inner surface;

a pattern of embossments or indentations of said inner surface, said pattern made out of said first material, wherein said pattern represents an individualized identification code of said part or said device, and further wherein said pattern is generated using one of a laser sintering process, a laser lithography process, a stereo lithography process, and a thermojet process.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.

8. A process for manufacturing a device for improving hearing comprising the steps of:

providing a part for said device custom-shaped for use in or adjacent to an ear of an individual, said part including a first material, said part also having surface;

applying a pattern to said surface of said part, wherein said pattern is formed by embossing or indenting said surface, and further wherein said pattern is made out of said first material; and

controlling subsequent manufacturing steps of said device or said part by reading said pattern.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein said pattern is customized to the individual.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein said pattern is generated using one of a laser sintering process, a laser lithography process, a stereo lithography process, and a thermojet process.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.

13. A device for improving hearing, for inserting into or adjacent to the ear of an individual, comprising:

a shell custom-shaped to fit the individual, said shell comprised substantially of a first material, said shell including a part, said part comprised substantially of said first material, said part having a surface;

a pattern of embossments or indentations of said surface, said pattern made out of said first material, wherein said pattern represents an individualized identification code of said part or said device, and further wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said shell is comprised mostly of said first material.

17. The device of one of claims 13-16, wherein at least a part of said pattern is coated with a second material.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said second material is selected from one of a paint and a varnish.

19. The device of one of claims 13-16, wherein said device is a hearing aid device.

15. A device for improving hearing, the device for inserting into or adjacent to the ear of an individual, comprising:

a part with an outer surface custom-shaped to fit the individual, said part including a first material, said part also having a marking surface;

a pattern of embossments or indentations of said marking surface, said pattern made out of said first material, wherein said pattern represents an individualized identification code of said part or said device, and further wherein said pattern is generated using one of a laser sintering process, a laser lithography process, a stereo lithography process, and a thermojet process.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said pattern is generated concurrent to the manufacture of said part.