Real ear measurement system using thin tube

• US 8,452,021 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Yanz, Jerry, Higgins, Sidney A., Jacoby, Robert P., Zhang, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US12/102,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 381/60, 381/330, 600/559
• US Class Current: 381/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0213 Constructional details of earhooks, e.g. shape, material
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308

Abstract

An embodiment of a hearing assistance apparatus for performing a Real Ear Measurement (REM), comprises a hearing assistance device housing, a microphone within the housing, an earhook connected to the housing, and a flexible tube. The house has a first opening for guiding sound into the housing to the microphone. The housing and the connected earhook form an interface, where the earhook has a shape to provide a slot near the interface of the housing and the earhook. The tube guides sound, and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible tube and the slot of the earhook cooperate to retain the first end of the flexible tube in the slot of the earhook and flush with the housing to provide a sound-tight connection with the first opening.

Claims

1. A hearing assistance apparatus for performing a real ear measurement, comprising:

a hearing assistance device housing;

a microphone within the housing;

the housing having a first opening for guiding sound into the housing to the microphone;

an earhook connected to the housing, wherein the housing and the connected earhook form an interface, wherein the earhook has a shape to provide a slot near the interface of the housing and the earhook; and

a flexible tube for guiding sound, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot of the earhook cooperate to retain the first end of the flexible tube in the slot of the earhook and flush with the housing to provide a sound-tight connection with the first opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earhook is detachably connected to the housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the earhook is detachably connected to the housing a threaded connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earhook has a proximate end to connect to the housing and a distal end, the housing includes a receiver, and the earhook accommodates the receiver to deliver sound from the receiver to the distal end of the earhook.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the earhook accommodates a receiver located remote from the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slot has a restricted opening, and the first end of the flexible tube is compressible to pass through the restricted opening of the slot and expand within the slot.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot have a matable profile where a recess mates with a raised portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a stretchable band of material to wrap round the housing and adapted to be manually positioned over the second opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a plug adapted to be inserted into the second opening.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hearing assistance apparatus is adapted to:

present a periodic signal to the receiver to provide sound in a user'"'"'s ear canal;

use the microphone and the flexible tube to capture a plurality of samples from the sound provided by the receiver for each desired frequency; and

store the plurality of sound samples in the memory.

11. A hearing assistance apparatus for performing a real ear measurement, comprising:

a hearing assistance device housing;

a microphone within the housing;

the housing having a first opening for guiding sound into the housing to the microphone;

an earhook detachably connected to the housing, wherein the housing and the connected earhook form an interface, wherein the earhook has a shape to provide a slot near the interface of the housing and the earhook; and

a flexible tube for guiding sound, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot of the earhook cooperate to retain the first end of the flexible tube in the slot of the earhook and flush with the housing to provide a sound-tight connection with the first opening,

wherein the hearing assistance apparatus is adapted to;

present a periodic signal to the receiver to provide sound in a user'"'"'s ear canal;

use the microphone and the flexible tube to capture a plurality of samples from the sound provided by the receiver for each desired frequency; and

store the plurality of sound samples in the memory.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the earhook is detachably connected to the housing a threaded connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the earhook has a proximate end to connect to the housing and a distal end, the housing includes a receiver, and the earhook accommodates the receiver to deliver sound from the receiver to the distal end of the earhook.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the earhook accommodates a receiver located remote from the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the slot has a restricted opening, and the first end of the flexible tube is compressible to pass through the restricted opening of the slot and expand within the slot.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot have a matable profile where a recess mates with a raised portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a stretchable band of material to wrap round the housing and adapted to be manually positioned over the second opening.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a plug adapted to be inserted into the second opening.

19. A hearing assistance apparatus for performing a real ear measurement, comprising:

a hearing assistance device housing;

a microphone within the housing;

the housing having a first opening for guiding sound into the housing to the microphone;

an earhook detachably connected to the housing, wherein the housing and the connected earhook form an interface, wherein the earhook has a shape to provide a slot near the interface of the housing and the earhook, wherein the earhook has a proximate end to connect to the housing and a distal end, the housing includes a receiver, and the earhook accommodates the receiver to deliver sound from the receiver to the distal end of the earhook; and

a flexible tube for guiding sound, the flexible tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot of the earhook cooperate to retain the first end of the flexible tube in the slot of the earhook and flush with the housing to provide a sound-tight connection with the first opening.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the earhook is detachably connected to the housing a threaded connector.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the slot has a restricted opening, and the first end of the flexible tube is compressible to pass through the restricted opening of the slot and expand within the slot.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first end of the flexible tube and the slot have a matable profile where a recess mates with a raised portion.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a stretchable band of material to wrap round the housing and adapted to be manually positioned over the second opening.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the housing includes a second opening for guiding sound into the housing, the apparatus further including a plug adapted to be inserted into the second opening.