Combined microphone and receiver assembly for extended wear canal hearing devices
First Claim
1. A hearing device for placement entirely in the ear canal for extended wear therein, said hearing device comprising:
- a. a power source;
b. an amplifier;
c. a microphone having a microphone diaphragm responsive to sound entering the ear canal; and
d. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for generating amplified sound;
wherein the hearing device defines an overall length, a lateral portion that occupies the lateral 50 percent of the overall length and a medial portion that occupies the medial 50 percent of the overall length;
wherein at least a portion of the power source is located within the medial portion; and
wherein said microphone and speaker are combined adjacently and longitudinally aligned in an assembly that is at least partially disposed within the lateral portion of said hearing device and arranged so as to minimize cross vibrations from said speaker to said microphone when said speaker is excited by said amplifier.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultra miniature hearing device for extended wear entirely in the ear canal past the cartilaginous region is provided. The hearing device comprises a microphone and a speaker, each having a respective diaphragm. The speaker and microphone are placed parallel to each other in a single lateral assembly. The microphone and speaker can be arranged such that their diaphragms are orthogonal to one another so that cross coupling of vibrations is minimized, thus reducing internal feedback. Due to the parallel co-placement of the speaker and microphone in the single lateral assembly, the length of the device is substantially shorter than that of prior hearing aid devices. The hearing device is 12 mm or less in length to fit in the bony part of the ear canal for most individuals and is placed within approximately 3 mm from the eardrum.
92 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A hearing device for placement entirely in the ear canal for extended wear therein, said hearing device comprising:
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a. a power source; b. an amplifier; c. a microphone having a microphone diaphragm responsive to sound entering the ear canal; and d. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for generating amplified sound; wherein the hearing device defines an overall length, a lateral portion that occupies the lateral 50 percent of the overall length and a medial portion that occupies the medial 50 percent of the overall length; wherein at least a portion of the power source is located within the medial portion; and wherein said microphone and speaker are combined adjacently and longitudinally aligned in an assembly that is at least partially disposed within the lateral portion of said hearing device and arranged so as to minimize cross vibrations from said speaker to said microphone when said speaker is excited by said amplifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An extended wear hearing device for placement entirely in the bony part of the ear canal, the hearing device comprising a transducer assembly comprising
a. a speaker defining a longitudinal axis and having a speaker diaphragm for producing audible vibrations; -
b. a microphone defining a longitudinal axis adjacent to said speaker, the microphone having a microphone diaphragm oriented substantially orthogonal to the speaker diaphragm; c. a battery; and d. an encapsulant in which said speaker, microphone and battery are encapsulated, said encapsulant having a generally oval cross-sectional shape defining a major axis and a minor axis; wherein said extended wear hearing device defines a length of 12 mm or less; and wherein said speaker and said microphone are arranged such that their respective longitudinal axes are parallel and are spaced from one another in the major axis direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 19)
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17. A hearing device for placement entirely in the ear canal for extended wear therein, said hearing device comprising:
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a. a power source; b. an amplifier; c. a microphone having a microphone diaphragm responsive to sound entering the ear canal; and d. a speaker having a speaker diaphragm for generating amplified sound; wherein said microphone and speaker are combined adjacently in an assembly disposed within a lateral portion of said hearing device and arranged so as to minimize cross vibrations from said speaker to said microphone when said speaker is excited by said amplifier; and wherein the power source is medial of the microphone and the speaker. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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20. A hearing device, comprising:
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a core defining a longitudinal axis defining a medial/lateral direction and including an encapsulant, and a microphone with a microphone diaphragm, a speaker and a battery within the encapsulant, the encapsulant defining a core exterior that in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has a major axis and a minor axis, the major axis defining an inferior/superior direction and the minor axis defining a anterior/posterior direction, and the microphone, speaker and battery being positioned relative to one another such that at least two of the microphone diaphragm, speaker and battery have an inferior/superior spatial relationship with portions thereof coextensive along a common portion of the longitudinal axis, and the battery is medial of the microphone and speaker; and at least one seal carried on the core exterior. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification