Method and apparatus for modular hearing aid

• US 8,428,282 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Fideler, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US12/240,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20090016554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/314, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/328, 381/330, 381/313, 381/355, 381/356, 381/357, 181/129, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49572 Hearing aid component making

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a modular hearing aid for a user having a hearing canal, including a microphone connected to signal processing electronics and a power supply, a housing shaped for use in at least a portion of the hearing canal and including at least one opening and a microphone hood detachably connected to the opening in the housing, wherein the microphone hood includes one or more external ports linked to an internal port such that air may flow between the one or more external ports and the internal port. In various examples, a microphone housing is adapted to mount to the housing and to fit within the at least one access port, and to connect to the microphone, the signal processing electronics and the power supply. In one variant, the apparatus includes a receiver connected to the signal processing electronics, and a fastener as a unitary connector of the cover and microphone housing to the housing. Other variations are presented herein.

Claims

1. A hearing apparatus, for a user having a hearing canal, comprising:

a microphone connected to signal processing electronics and a power supply;

a housing shaped for use in at least a portion of the hearing canal and including at least one opening;

a microphone hood detachably connected to the housing near the at least one opening, wherein the microphone hood covers the at least one opening and includes at least two external ports that redirect air flow laterally from the axis of the at least one opening; and

,

wherein the two external ports communicate with one another to allow passage of a cleaning element through both external ports.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microphone housing connecting the microphone hood to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the microphone, the microphone housing and microphone hood are connected, such that air may flow between the at least two external ports and the microphone.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a receiver assembly enclosed in the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the receiver assembly includes a tube and a receiver box coupled to the tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a receiver opening and an end of the tube is attached about the receiver opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a receiver opening and an end of the tube is attached about the receiver opening using glue.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the housing is comprised of sections.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two external ports are linked with a passageway which allows passage of a cleaning element through the at least two external ports.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an o-ring adapted to provide a seal between the microphone hood and the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a receiver assembly enclosed in the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiver assembly includes a tube and a receiver box coupled to the tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a receiver opening and an end of the tube is attached about the receiver opening.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the housing includes a receiver opening and an end of the tube is attached about the receiver opening using glue.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing is comprised of sections.

16. A hearing apparatus, for a user having a hearing canal, comprising:

a housing adapted to fit within at least a portion of the hearing canal, the housing having at least one access port;

a cover adapted for at least partially covering the at least one access port;

signal processing electronics connected to a microphone, the signal processing electronics adapted to fit within the at least one access port;

a microphone housing, adapted to mount to the housing and the access port, the microphone housing connected to the microphone;

a fastener as a unitary connector of the cover and microphone housing to the housing; and

a microphone hood detachably connected to the microphone housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the microphone hood includes one or more external ports linked to an internal port such that air may flow between the one or more external ports and the internal port.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the microphone hood includes at least two external ports and the external ports are linked with a passageway which allows passage of a cleaning element through the external ports.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an o-ring adapted to provide a seal between the microphone hood and the housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the microphone housing includes battery terminals and the cover is adapted to hold a battery, and the cover is further adapted to move the battery into and out of electrical communication with battery terminals.