Battery module for perpendicular docking into a canal hearing device

• US 8,855,345 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• 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): Le, Huyen D
• Application Number:
  US13/424,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20130243229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 381/314, 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/325, 381/326, 381/328, 381/380, 600/25, 607/56, 607/57
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries

Abstract

A modular canal hearing aid assembly having a main module and a disposable battery module that docks perpendicularly into the main module which surrounds the battery module circumferentially and laterally for secure connection that eliminates inadvertent separation of the modules during removal of the hearing aid assembly from the ear canal. The disposable battery module incorporates battery cell, sound port, and handle, in a unitary structure that is easy to handle and replace as an integrated unit when any of the degradables within are consumed. The disposable battery module also comprises a membrane filter for filtering out earwax and liquids. The perpendicular docking mechanism provides highly space efficient design for comfortable and inconspicuous fit deep in the ear canal.

Claims

1. A battery module for use with a main module of a hearing aid device, the battery module comprising:

an air port for allowing sound to reach to microphone provided in the main module of the hearing aid device;

a handle; and

a battery cell configured for insertion into the main module to form hearing aid assembly, Wherein the battery module is configured for insertion into the main module along a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of movement of the hearing aid device inside the ear canal, thereby necessitating removal of said hearing aid assembly from the ear canal for removal the battery module from the main module;

wherein the battery cell is substantially accommodated and enclosed, circumferentially laterally, within the main module when the battery module is inserted therein.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the air port comprises a membrane for allowing sound to be transmitted to the microphone within the main module while preventing water and debris from penetrating the membrane.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a shaft portion and a knob portion.

5. The battery module of claim 1, Wherein the battery module comprises an elastomeric ring sealably engaging with the main module.

4. The battery module of 1, wherein the handle is arranged at an angle of about 20°

to about 35°

with respect to the axial direction of the battery module.

6. A battery module for a hearing aid device comprising:

an air port for allowing sound to be transmitted to a microphone provided in the hearing aid device; and

a battery cell configured for insertion into the hearing aid device along a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hearing aid device inside the ear canal, thereby necessitating the removal of the hearing aid device from the ear canal for removal of the battery module from the main module;

wherein the battery cell is substantially accommodated and accommendated and enclosed, circumferentially and laterally, within the hearing aid device when the battery module is inserted therein.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the air port comprises a filter configured to allow sound to he transmitted to the microphone while preventing debris from penetrating the membrane.

8. The battery module of claim 7, wherein the filter is a porous membrane having a pore size of about 25 microns.

9. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the battery cell is a button cell type.

10. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the battery module comprises an elastomeric ring for preventing water from entering the interior of the hearing aid device.

11. The battery module of claim 6 further comprising a handle, wherein the handle is molded with the housing of said battery module.

12. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises a shaft portion and a knob portion.

13. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the handle is oriented at a angle between 20°

-35°

with respect to the general axial orientation of the battery module.

14. The battery module of claim 11, wherein said handle is configured to operably engage with any of a removal tool and an insertion tool.

15. The battery module of claim 6 further comprising an air port configured to allow air to reach the battery cell within.

16. A modular hearing device for inconspicuous wear inside the ear canal, the modular hearing device comprising:

a main module configured to be positioned substantially inside the ear canal, said main module including a microphone, an amplifier circuit, and a receiver, the main module further comprising a receiving portion for coupling a battery module to the main module, wherein the receiving portion is configured to releasably secure a battery module inserted into the main module in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to a direction of movement of the modular hearing device inside the ear canal;

a seal assembly disposed about a portion of said main module, the seal assembly configured to conform to walls of the ear canal in an acoustically sealing manner; and

a battery module comprising a battery cell, and an air port configured to allow sound to reach a microphone incorporated in said main module when the battery module is connected thereto forming a hearing device assembly, wherein the battery module is configured for insertion into the main module in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the hearing device inside the ear canal, and thereby necessitating removal of the modular hearing device from the ear canal for removal of the battery module from said main module;

wherein the battery cell is substantially accommodated and enclosed circumferentially and laterally, within the main module when the battery module is inserted therein.

17. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein the air port comprises a membrane for allowing sound to reach the microphone while preventing debris from penetrating the membrane.

18. The modular hearing device of claim 17, wherein the membrane is porous, with pore sizes of about 25 microns.

19. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein the air port is further configured to allow air to reach the battery cell when the battery module and the main module are in engagement.

20. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein h battery cell is a button cell type.

21. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein the battery module comprises an elastomeric ring configured to prevent liquids from entering the interior portion of said hearing device when the battery module and the main module are in engagement.

22. The modular hearing device claim 16, further comprising a handle.

23. The modular hearing device of claim 22, wherein the handle comprises a Shaft portion and a knob portion.

24. The modular hearing device of claim 22, wherein the handle is arranged at an angle of about 20°

to about 35°

with respect to a longitudinal directional of the battery module.

25. The modular hearing device of claim 22, wherein the handle is configured to operate with any of a removal tool and an insertion tool.

26. The modular hearing device of claim 16 wherein the axial direction of the battery module forms an angle of about 30°

with it longitudinal direction of the main module.

27. The modular hearing device of claim 16, further configured in a generally “

C”

shape configuration, such that the hearing aid device is insertable substantially in the first contour of the “

S”

shaped ear canal.

28. The modular hearing device of claim 16, further configured to be inserted inside the ear canal up to a distance of at least 8 mm from the eardrum.

29. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein the main module further comprises a switch.

30. The modular hearing device of claim 16, wherein the main module is configured to be coupled to a programming assembly comprising a programming plug adapted to be inserted into the main module when the battery module is removed.