Canal hearing devices and batteries for use with same

• US 9,060,234 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• 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: Wagner, Paul, Wenzel, Stuart, Au, Michael, Ladabaum, Igal
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joshua A
• Application Number:
  US14/284,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20140254846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 381/312, 381/314, 381/315, 381322-324, 381/328, 381/329, 381/331, 381/374, 381/380, 381/384, 381/189, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/49 Reducing the effects of electromagnetic noise on the functioning of hearing aids, by, e.g. shielding, signal processing adaptation, selective (de)activation of electronic parts in hearing aid
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/61 Aspects relating to mechanical or electronic switches or control elements, e.g. functioning
• 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 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• 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 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/65 Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

Hearing devices configured to fit within the bony portion of the ear canal. The hearing device may include a hearing device core, with a battery, an acoustic assembly, a magnetically actuated switch, and a magnetic shield positioned between the battery and the magnetically actuated switch, and a seal apparatus on the hearing device core.

Claims

1. A hearing device, comprising:

a hearing device core including

a battery having an anode can,

an acoustic assembly with a microphone and a receiver,

a magnetically actuated switch associated with the acoustic assembly, and

a magnetic shield positioned between the battery anode can and the magnetically actuated switch; and

a seal apparatus on the hearing device core.

2. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the hearing device core defines a lateral end;

and

the magnetic shield is adjacent to the lateral end of the core.

3. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the battery defines a lateral end;

and

the magnetic shield is adjacent to the lateral end of the battery.

4. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the magnetic shield comprises a foil formed from a nickel alloy.

5. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

microphone defines a medial end and a lateral end, the receiver defines a medial end and a lateral end, and the microphone and receiver are positioned such that the lateral end of the receiver substantially abuts the medial end of the microphone;

and

the magnetically actuated switch abuts the microphone.

6. A hearing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the acoustic assembly includes a flexible circuit that has a flexible substrate, an amplifier and the magnetically actuated switch;

and

the flexible substrate is carried by at least one of the microphone and the receiver.

7. A hearing device as claimed in claim 6, comprising:

the battery and acoustic assembly are arranged such that one of the battery and acoustic assembly is superior to the other of the battery and acoustic assembly.

8. A hearing device as claimed in claim 5, comprising:

the battery and acoustic assembly are arranged such that one of the battery and acoustic assembly is superior to the other of the battery and acoustic assembly.

9. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microphone defines a microphone port and the receiver defines a receiver port, the hearing device further comprising:

encapsulant that encapsulates the acoustic assembly, but for the microphone and receiver ports, and encapsulates at least a portion of the battery.

10. A hearing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the hearing device core defines a medial end and a lateral end;

and

the encapsulant and at least a portion of the battery define the exterior surface of the hearing device core between the medial and lateral ends of the hearing device core.

11. A hearing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the magnetic shield is formed from a nickel alloy.

12. A hearing device, comprising:

a hearing device core including

a battery,

an acoustic assembly including a microphone mounted on the battery, a receiver defining an outer surface having superior, inferior, anterior and posterior portions mounted on the battery with one of the superior portion and the inferior portion of the outer surface facing the battery, and a flexible circuit including a flexible substrate on the other of the superior portion and the inferior portion of the outer surface and on the anterior and posterior portions of the receiver outer surface, an amplifier on the flexible substrate, and a magnetically actuated switch on the flexible substrate, and

a magnetic shield positioned between the battery and the magnetically actuated switch; and

a seal apparatus on the hearing device core.

13. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

a portion of the flexible substrate is positioned against the microphone;

and

the magnetically actuated switch is on the portion of the flexible substrate is positioned against the microphone.

14. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the battery defines a lateral end;

and

the magnetic shield is adjacent to the lateral end of the battery.

15. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the magnetic shield comprises a foil formed from a nickel alloy.

16. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the microphone defines a medial end and a lateral end, the receiver defines a medial end and a lateral end, and the microphone and receiver are positioned such that the lateral end of the receiver substantially abuts the medial end of the microphone.

17. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the microphone defines a microphone port and the receiver defines a receiver port, the hearing device further comprising:

encapsulant that encapsulates the acoustic assembly, but for the microphone and receiver ports, and encapsulates at least a portion of the battery.

18. A hearing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein

the magnetic shield is formed from a nickel alloy.