Hearing aid microphone protective barrier
First Claim
1. A microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid, the assembly comprising:
- a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and
a protective porous barrier supported over the microphone port, the porous barrier having a pore size configured to substantially prevent entry of cereumn particles into the port while allowing conduction of incoming acoustical signals to the port with minimal attenuation when up to 75% of the porous barrier is occluded.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid, the assembly comprising:
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a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and a protective porous barrier supported over the microphone port, the porous barrier having a pore size configured to substantially prevent entry of cereumn particles into the port while allowing conduction of incoming acoustical signals to the port with minimal attenuation when up to 75% of the porous barrier is occluded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid, the assembly comprising:
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a microphone housing including a housing outer surface and a microphone port extending through the housing outer surface, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and a protective porous barrier supported over the microphone port at an offset from the housing outer surface, the offset defining an air volume between the housing outer surface and the porous barrier that conducts sound to the microphone port, the porous barrier having a pore size configured to substantially prevent entry of cereumn particles into the port while allowing conduction of incoming acoustical signals to the port with minimal attenuation when up to 75% of the porous barrier is occluded. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for protecting a hearing aid microphone assembly from moisture, the method comprising:
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positioning a hearing aid in the ear canal of user, the hearing aid comprising a microphone assembly comprising a microphone housing including a housing outer surface and a microphone port extending through the housing outer surface, the microphone housing sized to be positioned in close proximity to another hearing aid component surface, the port configured to conduct sound to a microphone device positioned within the housing; and a porous barrier supported over the microphone port so as to define an air volume between the porous barrier and the microphone port which provides a plurality of pathways of acoustical conduction to the microphone port; and utilizing the plurality of pathways provided by the air volume between the porous barrier and the microphone port to maintain a level of acoustical conduction to the port when up to 75% of the porous barrier is occluded. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification