BTE/CIC auditory device and modular connector system therefor

• US 7,016,512 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Hear-Wear Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Feeley, Jim, Feeley, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/651,879
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/326, 381/328, 381/330, 381/380, 381/381, 381/384, 381/325, 381/327, 381/329, 381/382, 181128-130, 181/135, 379/430
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/10 Details of earpieces, attachments therefor, earphones or monophonic headphones covered by H04R1/10 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/57 Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• 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 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/607 of earhooks

Abstract

In representative embodiments, the present invention is directed to an at least partially in-the-canal module. The module may include a speaker module that generates audio signals from an electrical driving signal. The speaker module has a tubular body with a diameter that is smaller than the ear canal of the user. The speaker module also includes an arcuate raised ridge. A cushion tip of deformable material may be used to enclose the speaker module within a tubular portion that applies an elastic force to the arcuate raised ridge to prevent removal of the speaker from the cushion tip. Also, the tubular portion is longer than the speaker module to cause the cushion tip to deflect during navigation through the canal. Further, the tip portion of the cushion tip possesses sufficient structural rigidity to prevent the speaker from being pushed through the cushion tip during navigation through the canal.

Claims

1. An at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid comprising:

a speaker module that generates audio signals from an electrical driving signal, said speaker module having a tubular structure with a diameter that is smaller than the canal, said speaker module including an arcuate raised ridge; and

a cushion tip of elastic deformable material, said cushion tip including a tubular body enclosing said speaker module that applies an elastic force to said arcuate raised ridge to prevent removal of said speaker module from said cushion tip, said tubular body being longer than said speaker module to cause said cushion tip to deflect during navigation through the canal, and wherein a tip portion of said cushion tip possesses sufficient structural rigidity to prevent said speaker module from being pushed through said cushion tip during navigation through the canal, wherein during deflection said tip portion assumes an offset angle relative to said tubular body and said speaker module.

2. The at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid of claim 1 further comprising:

an insulated wiring portion fixidly attached to said speaker module that enables said speaker module and said cushion tip to be removed from said canal and that communicates said electrical driving signal.

3. The at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid of claim 2 wherein said insulated wiring portion is terminated by a plurality of prongs that provide a detachable mechanical and electrical connection to an audio processing module.

4. The at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said elastic deformable material is a polymer material.

5. The at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said elastic deformable material is a silicone material.

6. The at least partially in-the-canal module for a hearing aid of claim 1 wherein said tip portion is sized to substantially seal said canal when said tip portion is inserted into the bony portion of the canal.

7. A hearing aid comprising:

a behind-the-ear module comprising a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a signal processing component for generating an electrical driving signal;

a speaker module that generates audio signals from said electrical driving signal, said speaker module having a tubular structure with a diameter that is smaller than the canal, said speaker module including an arcuate raised ridge; and

a cushion tip of elastic deformable material, said cushion tip including a tubular body enclosing said speaker module that applies an elastic force to said arcuate raised ridge to prevent removal of said speaker module from said cushion tip, said tubular body being longer than said speaker module to cause said cushion tip to deflect during navigation through the canal, and wherein a tip portion of said cushion tip possesses sufficient structural rigidity to prevent said speaker module from being pushed through said cushion tip during navigation through the canal, wherein during deflection during said navigation said tip portion assumes an offset angle relative to said tubular body and said speaker module.

8. The hearing aid of claim 7 further comprising:

an insulated wiring portion fixidly attached to said speaker module that enables said speaker module and said cushion tip to be removed from said canal and that communicates said electrical driving signal.

9. The hearing aid of claim 8 wherein said insulated wiring portion is terminated by a plurality of prongs that provide a detachable mechanical and electrical connection to said behind-the-ear module.

10. The hearing aid of claim 7 wherein said elastic deformable material is a polymer material.

11. The hearing aid of claim 7 wherein said elastic deformable material is a silicone material.

12. The hearing aid of claim 7 wherein said tip portion is sized to substantially seal said canal when said tip portion is inserted into the bony portion of the canal.