In-the-ear hearing device

• US 7,454,028 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sonova AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Phonak AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Mayer, Jorg, Bachler, Herbert, Hessel, Hans, Karamuk, Erdal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni; Suhan
• Application Number:
  US11/279,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381324-325, 381327-330
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• 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 25/656 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

An in-the-ear hearing device comprises an outside body, which is at least in part of textile material (3). The textile material allows to optimally adapt shape and shape dynamics as well as biocompatibility to the respective characteristics of an individual ear canal.

Claims

1. A method for applying a substance to an ear canal of an individual comprising the steps of:

providing an in-the-ear hearing device having a shape which is substantially similar to the shape of the ear canal and which defines an interspace between the in-the-ear hearing device and said ear canal;

applying a body with textile material to said in-the-ear hearing device to fill said interspace, said body with textile material having a thickness and thickness elasticity so as to snugly adapt to the shape and dynamic shape deformation of said ear canal when the in-the-ear hearing device is located in said ear canal;

providing a substance to said textile material; and

applying said substance to said individual'"'"'s body by applying said in-the-ear hearing device with said body with textile material snugly to said ear canal of said individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said substance is a medication substance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said medication substance is provided to penetrate the skin of the individual and to interact with said individual remote from said in-the-ear hearing device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said medication substance is provided to treat a disease adjacent to said in-the-ear hearing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said body with textile material is applied upon a shell of said in-the-ear hearing device.

6. The method of claim 5, further providing said body with textile material to be integral with said shell.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said body with textile material is replaced.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying said body with said textile materials forming one layer of an at least two-layer structure.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing said body with textile material as a hollow being open at least one of its ends and being applied over said in-the-ear hearing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said textile material comprises at least one of synthetic material and of natural material fibers.