Tool for removal of canal hearing device from ear canal

• US 8,798,301 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: iHEAR Medical, Inc. (Innerscope Hearing Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Valenzuela, Victor, Contioso, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US13/461,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20130294631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 381/329, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture

Abstract

A removal tool for removing canal hearing devices from the ear canal, examples of which may include a hand piece and a removal loop having a wide section for placing over a knob handle structure incorporated within the canal hearing device, and a narrow section for interlocking with the knob handle to remove the hearing device from the ear. The removal loop is generally configured in the shape of keyhole to guide and transition of the knob and shaft of the knob handle into the narrow section for capture and interlocking therewithin. The removal tool may provide ease of use, particularly for individuals with poor dexterity and/or poor vision. In a preferred embodiment, the removal loop is made of a single formed wire for improved durability, lower cost of fabrication, and safe operation that minimizes contact with the walls of the ear canal.

Claims

1. A removal tool for removing a canal hearing device from the ear canal, comprising:

a hand piece element adapted for manual grasp; and

a loop element defining an aperture having a first section and a second section, the first section being wider than the second section, wherein the first section is adapted for placement over a knob handle attached to the canal hearing device and is configured to guide the knob handle from the first section into the second section for interlocking the knob handle within the second section for removing the canal hearing device from the ear canal.

2. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the loop element is made of a single formed metal wire.

3. The removal tool of claim 2, wherein the metal wire has a diameter of less than about 0.25 mm.

4. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein a width of the first section is in the range of about 4 to 7 mm.

5. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein a width of the second section is in the range of about 1.5 to 2.5 mm.

6. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the loop element is angled approximately between 35 and 55 degrees with respect to an axial orientation of the hand piece element.

7. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the loop element is curved.

8. The removal loop of claim 1, wherein the aperture of the loop element is in the shape of a keyhole.

9. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the removal tool is part of a multi-purpose tool for use with the canal hearing device.

10. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the loop element is configured for capturing and interlocking with the knob handle tactually.

11. The removal tool of claim 1, wherein the loop element is retractable within the hand piece element.

12. A method for removing a canal hearing device from the ear canal, the method comprising:

introducing a loop element of a removal tool towards the ear canal;

providing a first section of the loop element around a knob handle attached to the canal hearing device;

guiding the loop element relative to the knob handle to move a second section of the loop element into engagement with the knob handle, the second section being narrower than the first section; and

removing the canal hearing device from the ear canal by moving the loop element away from the ear canal while the knob handle is engaged with the second section of the loop element.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said providing the first section around the knob handle and said guiding the loop element relative to the knob handle are performed tactually and without visual observation.

14. A system for removing a canal hearing device from the ear canal, comprising:

a removal tool having a loop element comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is wider than the second section; and

a knob handle of a canal hearing device, the knob handle having a knob portion and a shaft element, wherein the first section of the loop element is adapted for placement around the knob handle, and is configured to guide the knob handle into the second section for interlocking within and for subsequently removing the canal hearing device from the ear canal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the loop element is made of a single formed metal wire.

16. The loop element of claim 15, wherein the metal wire has a diameter of less than about 0.25 mm.

17. The loop element of claim 14, wherein the first section includes a first rounded portion having a diameter in the range of about 4 to 7 mm.

18. The removal tool of claim 14, wherein the second section includes a second rounded portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the knob portion and wherein the diameter of the second rounded portion is in the range of about 1.5 to 2.5 mm.

19. The removal loop of claim 14, wherein the loop element is angled approximately between 35 and 55 degrees with respect to an axial orientation of a hand piece element.

20. The removal tool of claim 14, wherein the loop element is curved.

22. The removal tool of claim 14, wherein the loop element is configured for capturing and interlocking with the knob handle without visual observation.

23. The removal tool of claim 14, wherein the loop element is retractable.

24. The removal tool of claim 14, wherein the loop element is in the shape of a keyhole.

25. The knob handle of claim 14, wherein the knob portion has a diameter in the range of about 1.6 mm to about 2.6 mm.

26. The knob handle of claim 14, wherein the shaft element is angled approximately between 25 and 35 degrees with respect to an axial direction of a lateral portion of the hearing device.

27. The knob handle of claim 14, wherein a length of the knob handle is in the range of about 3 mm to about 5 mm.

28. The knob handle of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the shaft element is in the range of about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm.

21. The removal tool of 14, further being a part of a multi-purpose tool for use with the canal hearing device.