Hearing aid with a flexible elongated member

• US 8,374,367 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Henrik, Maye, Vince, Hall, Goran, Mikes, Kevin, Tsuchiya, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Phan
• Application Number:
  US12/186,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20090092269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/313, 381/330, 381/328
• US Class Current: 381/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• 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 25/656 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 25/659 Post-processing of hybrid ear moulds for customisation, e.g. in-situ curing

Abstract

A hearing aid includes a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal, and a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end, wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that is for providing current to an electronic device, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to a user'"'"'s ear.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

a custom made shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal;

a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end, wherein the flexible elongated member has a shape such that when the flexible elongated member is placed in an ear of a user, the second free end is positioned inside a pinna and outside an ear canal of the user; and

a battery door with a portion that detachably couples to a part of the shell, wherein the elongated member is attached to the shell or to the battery door.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is attached to the shell with an adhesive.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is attached to the shell by a ball joint.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is removably attached to the shell.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 4, wherein the flexible elongated member is removably attached to the shell with a connector.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a faceplate and wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the faceplate.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is attached to the battery door.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 7, wherein the battery door is removably attached to the shell by a snap fit coupling.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 6, wherein the battery door is attached to the faceplate with a connector.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to abut the antihelix.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 10, wherein the flexible elongated member is further configured to extend at least to the inferior crus of the antihelix during use.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured so that the second end is positioned below the triangular fossa of the pinna during use.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to abut part of the concha at the antitragus when the shell has been inserted in the ear canal thereby applying a force to the shell towards the ear canal retaining the shell in a position in which the shell is pressed against an anatomical feature within the ear canal.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is substantially rigid in its longitudinal direction.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured for accommodation of at least one hearing aid component selected from the group consisting of an omni-directional microphone, a directional microphone, an array of microphones, a telecoil, a push-button, a dial, an inductive coil, and an antenna.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured for accommodation of a microphone, and wherein a part of the flexible elongated member accommodating the microphone has a larger cross-section than a remaining part of the flexible elongated member extending therefrom and towards the first end.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that provides current to an electronic device, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to a user'"'"'s ear.

18. The hearing aid according to claim 17, wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to push the shell towards a canal of the ear.

19. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the shell has a dimension that is specific for a user.

20. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the flexible elongated member is resilient in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the elongated member.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising the signal processor and receiver.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the flexible elongated member, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

29. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a faceplate and wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the faceplate;

and

wherein the flexible elongated member is configured for accommodation of a microphone, and wherein a part of the flexible elongated member accommodating the microphone has a larger cross-section than a remaining part of the flexible elongated member extending therefrom and towards the first end.

23. A hearing aid comprising:

a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal;

a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end;

a microphone at the second free end of the flexible elongated member; and

a battery door with a portion that detachably couples to a part of the shell;

wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that is coupled to the microphone, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to a user'"'"'s ear, and wherein the elongated member is attached to the shell or to the battery door.

24. The hearing aid according to claim 23, wherein the elongated member is configured to push the shell towards a canal of the ear.

25. The hearing aid according to claim 23, wherein the shell has a dimension that is specific for a user.

26. The hearing aid according to claim 23, wherein the elongated member is resilient in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the elongated member.

27. The hearing aid according to claim 23, further comprising the signal processor and receiver.

28. The hearing aid according to claim 23, further comprising a sensor coupled to the flexible elongated member, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

30. The hearing aid of claim 23, wherein the shell comprises a custom made shell.

31. A hearing aid comprising:

a custom made shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal;

a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end, wherein the flexible elongated member has a shape such that when the flexible elongated member is placed in an ear of a user, the second free end is positioned inside a pinna and outside an ear canal of the user; and

a battery door with a coupling mechanism for maintaining the battery door in a position relative to a part of the shell;

wherein the custom made shell is configured for placement in the ear canal of the user.