Housing for a standard fit hearing assistance device

• US 9,002,049 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Sidney A., Schroeder, Aaron Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zenati, Amal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joshi, Sunita
• Application Number:
  US12/982,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 381/321, 381/324, 381/326, 381/325, 381/328, 381/318, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/328
• 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 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• 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

Abstract

A hearing aid kit includes a standard fit, completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid and a hearing aid tool set. The CIC hearing aid is for extended use and includes a core module inserted into a sleeve. The core module and the sleeve each include various features providing for a minimum overall size, ease of insertion, removal, and cleaning, and enhanced sound transmission. The tool set is configured to be stored and carried in a single piece and provides for adjustment and cleaning of the CIC hearing aid. Open ear fits and occlusive ear fits are possible using different sleeves.

Claims

1. A hearing aid for use in an ear canal, comprising:

a hearing aid circuit including a microphone having a microphone diaphragm, a receiver having a receiver diaphragm, and a processor circuit coupled between the microphone and the receiver; and

a case housing the hearing aid circuit, the case including;

a unitary base structure being a continuous wall structure and including a rear portion housing at least the microphone and having a first opening, a front portion housing at least the receiver and having a second opening, and a middle portion configured to hold a battery, wherein the first opening and the second opening are on planes that are approximately perpendicular to each other, and the microphone diaphragm and the receiver diaphragm are approximately perpendicular to each other; and

an end cap bonded to the base structure over the first opening, a snap cap seated on the end cap, and a slit formed between the end cap and the snap cap, the slit functioning as an inlet port for sound and air.

2. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the rear portion houses portions of the processor circuit.

3. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a receiver lid bonded to the front portion of the base structure over the second opening, the receiver lid including a receiver port.

4. The hearing aid of claim 3, wherein the middle portion comprises a battery cradle configured to hold the battery, the battery cradle having a low-profile wall allowing the battery to be rolled out of the case.

5. The hearing aid of claim 4, wherein the hearing aid circuit comprises a tactile snap providing for confirmation that the battery is inserted in proper orientation.

6. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the slit has a 360-degree perimeter.

7. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a collection chamber formed between the snap cap and the end cap and adjacent to the slit to collect earwax.

8. The hearing aid of claim 7, wherein the end cap comprises a neck ring including a plurality of radial ports to allow the sound and air to pass.

9. The hearing aid of claim 8, comprising a filter set including one or more filters each having a mesh allowing the air and sound to pass through a perimeter of the filter set, and wherein the neck ring is sized to accommodate the filter set.

10. The hearing aid of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve configured to accommodate a major portion of the case.

11. The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the case has an exterior surface comprising raised ribs creating an acoustic and environmental seal between the case and the sleeve.

12. A hearing aid for use in an ear canal, comprising:

a microphone and processor module including a microphone having a microphone diaphragm and at least a portion of a processor circuit including a digital signal processor (DSP);

a receiver module including at least a receiver having a receiver diaphragm; and

a case including a unitary base structure being a continuous wall structure including a microphone and DSP compartment housing the microphone and processor module, a receiver compartment housing the receiver module, a battery compartment coupled between the microphone and DSP compartment and the receiver compartment, an end cap bonded to the microphone and processor compartment, a snap cap seated on the end cap, and a slit formed between the end cap and the snap cap, the slit functioning as an inlet port for sound and air, wherein the microphone diaphragm is approximately perpendicular to the receiver diaphragm when the microphone and processor module is housed in the microphone and DSP compartment and the receiver module is housed in the receiver compartment.

13. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the microphone is bonded to the microphone and processor compartment using silicone and litz wires.

14. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the case is injection molded and made of a plastic material.

15. The hearing aid of claim 14, wherein the case is made of a nylon material.

16. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the microphone and DSP compartment comprises a rear cavity and a rear cavity opening, the rear cavity shaped to house the microphone and processor module and including molded-in guides for sliding the microphone and processor module into position.

17. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the receiver compartment comprises a front cavity and a front cavity opening, the front cavity shaped to house the receiver module, and the case comprises a receiver lid bonded to the receiver compartment over the front cavity opening.

18. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the end cap is bonded to the microphone and processor compartment over the rear cavity opening, and the slit has a 360-degree perimeter between the end cap and the snap cap.

19. The hearing aid of claim 18, wherein the case comprises a collection chamber formed between the snap cap and the end cap and adjacent to slit to collect earwax.

20. The hearing aid of claim 19, wherein the end cap comprises a neck ring including a plurality of radial ports to allow the sound and air to pass, and comparing one or more filters placed in the neck ring and each having a mesh allowing the air and sound to pass through.

21. The hearing aid of claim 12, wherein the microphone and DSP compartment has a first exterior surface, the receiver compartment has a second exterior surface, and the battery compartment comprises a battery cradle coupled between two substantially parallel walls being a portion of the first exterior surface and a portion of the second exterior surface.

22. The hearing aid of claim 21, comprising:

a battery held in the battery cradle; and

a sleeve configured to accommodate a major portion of the case holding the battery.

23. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the sleeve is liquid injection molded and made of a soft rubber material.

24. The hearing aid of claim 16, wherein the microphone has a microphone diaphragm, the receiver has a receiver diaphragm, and the microphone diaphragm is approximately perpendicular to the receiver diaphragm when the microphone is housed in the front portion of the unitary base structure and the receiver module is housed in the rear portion of the unitary base structure.