Disposable modular hearing aid

• US 7,403,629 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritz, Frederick, Preves, David A., Sjursen, Walter P., Margicin, John M., Mahoney, Derek D., Leedom, Marvin A., Tardugno, Michael H., Aceti, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
• Application Number:
  US09/524,666
• Time in Patent Office: 3,053 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/322, 381/324, 381/328, 381/380, 181/130, 181/135, 128/857, 128/866, 128/864
• US Class Current: 381/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• 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 present invention relates to a modular hearing aid having a base unit and a detachable earmold. A battery, an earmold tip and a receiver can be integrated with the earmold. The earmold can also include a removably attached module. The module can have a shell, electronics, a receiver or a microphone. A hearing aid also includes a flexible hearing aid tip having a vibration isolator portion and a mushroom shaped tip portion. The vibration isolator portion mechanically decouples a receiver from a hearing aid base unit while the mushroom shaped tip portion provides an acoustic seal in the ear canal of a user. The internal components of a hearing aid can be potted to attenuate vibrations created by the receiver during operation.

Claims

1. A modular hearing aid comprising:

a base unit adapted to contain any of a microphone, a receiver, a battery, electronics and controls, and wherein the base unit can be replaced after use; and

an earmold unit removably attached to the base unit, the earmold unit comprising a compliant material and having a shorter useful life than the useful life of the base unit, the earmold unit further comprising a retention mechanism for connection to the base unit such that the earmold unit can be connected to the base unit or removed from the base unit and replaced after use on a more frequent basis than the replacement of the base unit, the earmold unit adapted to contain both a battery and a hearing aid component non-removably integrated within the earmold unit, the hearing aid component comprising at least one of a receiver and hearing aid electronics.

2. The modular hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the earmold unit forms an earmold tip for attachment to a distal end of the base unit.

3. The modular hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the earmold unit forms an earmold sleeve for attachment to at least a portion of the base unit.

4. The modular hearing aid of claim 1 wherein the earmold unit forms an earmold tip and an earmold sleeve for attachment to the base unit.

5. A modular hearing aid comprising:

a base unit adapted to contain any of a microphone, electronics and controls; and

an earmold unit removably attached to the base unit, the earmold unit comprising a compliant material, a retention mechanism for connection to the base unit such that the earmold unit can be connected to the base unit or removed from the base unit and replaced after use, and the earmold unit comprising both a battery and a receiver non-removably integrated with the earmold unit.

6. The modular hearing aid of claim 5 wherein the earmold unit further comprises a shell non-removably integrated with the earmold unit, the shell housing the battery and the receiver.

7. A modular hearing aid comprising:

a base unit adapted to contain a microphone and electronics; and

an earmold comprising a compliant material, the earmold being non-removably integrated with both a battery and a receiver that are non-removable, the earmold having a flexible, mushroom shaped earmold tip adapted to create a seal with the bony portion of the ear canal, the earmold further comprising a retention mechanism for connection to the base unit such that the earmold can be connected to the base unit or removed from the base unit and replaced after use.

8. A method for replacing an earmold of a modular hearing aid comprising the steps:

providing a modular hearing aid having a base unit and an earmold comprised of a compliant material and having a shorter useful life than the useful life of the base unit, the earmold adapted to contain both a battery and a receiver non-removably integrated within the earmold;

releasing a securing mechanism between the earmold and the base unit, the securing mechanism capable of being released by a user without the use of a separate tool or instrument;

removing the earmold from the base unit;

discarding the earmold;

placing a second earmold onto the base unit; and

attaching the securing mechanism.