Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same

• US 8,808,906 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wenzel, Stuart, Lin, Chuangang, Wagner, Paul, Ladabaum, Igal
• Primary Examiner(s): SIDDIQUEE, MUHAMMAD S
• Application Number:
  US13/303,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 429/176, 429/163, 429/164, 429/175
• US Class Current: 429/176
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/102 characterised by their shape or physical structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/167 by crimping
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/171 using adhesives or sealing agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/03 Aspects of the reduction of energy consumption in hearing devices
• 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 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/60 Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/603 of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/652 Ear tips; Ear moulds hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 : Manufacture of housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Hearing devices configured to fit within the bony portion of the ear canal and batteries that may be used with same.

Claims

1. A battery, comprising:

a battery can including

a cathode portion having a first cross-sectional area,

an anode portion having a second cross-sectional area and including a longitudinally extending relatively flat surface to support an acoustic assembly, and

a neck portion having a third cross-sectional area that is less than the first and second cross-sectional areas, and which creates a longitudinally extending inwardly contoured gap defining an external retention ledge, at an intersection between the cathode portion and the anode portion,

wherein the cathode portion has a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end being closer to the anode portion than the second longitudinal end and the second end being crimped;

anode material within the battery can anode portion; and

a cathode assembly within the battery can cathode portion.

2. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external retention ledge is part of the cathode portion.

3. A battery as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external retention ledge is located at the first longitudinal end.

4. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the battery can defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the external retention ledge is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the battery can defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the battery can is asymmetric about the longitudinal axis.

6. A battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the anode portion and/or the cathode portion includes a substantially planar surface and a curved surface opposite the substantially planar surface.

7. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein

a ratio of the longest dimension of the battery can to the maximum dimension of the battery can that is perpendicular to the longest dimension is at least 2.0.

22. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the cathode portion and the anode portion are both part of a one-piece structure.

23. A battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the longitudinally extending relatively flat surface comprises a recessed surface between side protrusions and a lateral end protrusion.

8. A battery, comprising:

a one-piece battery can including a battery can anode portion, with an inwardly contoured region that defines an external retention ledge and a relatively flat support surface to support an acoustic assembly, and a battery can cathode portion that defines first and second longitudinal ends, the first end being closer to the anode portion than the second end, the anode and cathode portions defining respective first and second cross-sectional areas;

anode material within the battery can anode portion; and

a cathode assembly, including a cathode catalyst, a conductive base and an insulator is located between the cathode conductive base and the battery can cathode portion, located within the battery can cathode portion; and

a neck portion having a third cross-sectional area that is less than the first and second cross-sectional areas, and which creates a longitudinally extending inwardly contoured gap defining an external retention ledge, at an intersection between the cathode portion and the anode portion;

wherein the second longitudinal end of the battery can cathode portion is crimped over the cathode conductive base and insulator.

9. A battery as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the external retention ledge is part of the battery can cathode portion.

10. A battery as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the external retention ledge is located at the first longitudinal end.

11. A battery as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the battery can anode portion defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the external retention ledge is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. A battery as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the battery can anode portion defines a longitudinal axis;

and

the battery can anode portion is asymmetric about the longitudinal axis.

13. A battery as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the battery can anode portion and/or the battery can cathode portion includes a substantially planar surface and a curved surface opposite the substantially planar surface.

14. A battery as claimed in claim 8, wherein

a ratio of the longest dimension of the battery can to the maximum dimension of the battery can that is perpendicular to the longest dimension is at least 2.0.

15. A battery, comprising:

a battery can including

a cathode portion defining a first cross-sectional area, a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end,

an anode portion, defining a second cross-sectional area, that is closer to the first longitudinal end of cathode portion than it is to the second longitudinal end of the cathode portion, the anode portion including a longitudinally extending planar surface to support an acoustic assembly,

a neck portion defining a third cross-sectional area that is less than the first and second cross-sectional areas, and which defines a longitudinally extending external gap, at an intersection between the cathode portion and the anode portion, and

a retention ledge, associated with the neck portion, that supports the battery can on retention members as the second longitudinal end of the cathode portion is crimped;

anode material within the battery can anode portion; and

a cathode assembly within the battery can cathode portion.

16. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein the cross-sectional area of the cathode portion does not exceed 7 mm².

17. A battery as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the cross-sectional area of the neck portion does not exceed 2.5 mm² at its narrowest part.

18. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the neck portion is part of the anode portion.

19. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the anode portion includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced regions that define different cross-sectional shapes.

20. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the anode portion includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced regions that define different cross-sectional sizes.

21. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the anode portion includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced regions that define different cross-sectional shapes and different cross-sectional sizes.

24. A battery as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the longitudinally extending planar surface comprises a recessed planar surface between side protrusions and a lateral end protrusion.