Device and method to reduce ear wax clogging of acoustic ports, hearing aid sealing system, and feedback reduction system

• US 8,554,350 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diablo Canyon Collective LLC
• Original Assignee: Personics Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Keady, John P., Hoshizaki, Gary, Casali, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US12/579,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 700 97- 98, 700/118, 700/163
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 Acoustic transducer

Abstract

Devices and methods to reduce ear wax clogging of acoustic ports, hearing aid systems, and feedback reduction systems are provided. A conformal hearing aid includes a hearing aid body, where the hearing aid body houses a microphone and a receiver, where the microphone is positioned within the hearing aid body to measure acoustic signals from an ambient environment, and where the receiver is positioned within the hearing aid body to emit acoustic signals toward a tympanic membrane of a user; an expandable element, where the expandable element is operatively connected to the hearing aid body, and where the expandable element is configured to encompass a circumferential portion of the hearing aid body when expanded; and an inflation management system, where the inflation management system is configured to expand the expandable element when actuated.

Claims

1. A method of hearing aid fabrication comprising:

generating a simulated ear mold from a computer simulation of scanned ear mold data of an ear mold;

trimming the simulated ear mold using software tools to generate a simulated hearing aid body;

identifying at least one annular inflation groove on an outer surface of the simulated hearing aid body using the software tools;

modifying the simulated hearing aid body to include the identified at least one annular inflation groove on the outer surface, to form a modified simulated body; and

fabricating a hearing aid body from the modified simulated body.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fabricating of the hearing aid body includes fabricating the hearing aid body using a stereolithography apparatus (SLA).

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

attaching at least one inflation tube to the respective at least one annular inflation groove of the fabricated hearing aid body.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising, prior to fabricating the hearing aid body:

identifying at least one inflation channel in the simulated hearing aid body using the software tools, the modified simulated body being generated with the identified at least one inflation channel.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

disposing an inflation line in each inflation channel of the fabricated hearing aid body.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

attaching a first end of the inflation line to the at least one inflation tube; and

attaching an inflation pump to a second end of the inflation line, the inflation pump configured to control inflation of the at least one inflation tube.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to fabricating the hearing aid body:

identifying a wax shield region in the simulated hearing aid body using the software tools, the modified simulated body being generated with the identified wax shield region.

8. The method according to claim 1, prior to fabricating the hearing aid body:

identifying at least one acoustic channel in the simulated hearing aid body using the software tools, the modified simulated body being generated with the identified at least one acoustic channel.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

operatively coupling at least one transducer to the at least one acoustic channel of the fabricated hearing aid.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

operatively coupling an electronic circuit to the at least one transducer of the fabricated hearing aid.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one transducer includes at least one of a microphone or a receiver.