Hearing aid

• US 9,210,522 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Original Assignee: GN Resound A/S (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Henrik, Obradovic, Gojko, Kristensen, Poul Rosenkilde
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ojo, Oyesola C
• Application Number:
  US13/084,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20110255723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 381 54- 67, 381 70- 89, 381312-331, 381337-433, 381/23.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/0216 BTE hearing aids having a receiver in the ear mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• 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 25/656 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 includes a receiver with a receiver housing, the receiver having a sound port opening, and being configured to be placed at least partly in an ear canal of a user, and a sound tube acoustically connected to the sound port opening of the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions, wherein the sound tube has a total length of at least 16 mm. A hearing aid includes a behind the ear (BTE) unit configured to process sound and generate an electrical signal, an earpiece, and a signal conductor configured to communicate the electrical signal to the earpiece, wherein the earpiece comprises a receiver that is configured to convert the electrical signal into a sound signal, and wherein the earpiece further comprises a sound tube that is coupled to a sound port opening at the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions.

Claims

1. A hearing aid comprising:

an earpiece comprising;

a receiver having a sound port and being configured to be placed at least partly in an ear canal of a user; and

a sound channel having a first end acoustically coupled to the sound port of the receiver, and a second end configured to provide sound for output by the earpiece, at least a part of the sound channel having a longitudinal extension in at least two non-parallel directions, wherein the sound channel is in the earpiece, and a length of the sound channel from the first end to the second end is between 18 mm and 26 mm.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a receiver housing, and the sound channel at least in part is defined by at least two sides of the receiver housing.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the receiver has a receiver housing, and wherein the hearing aid further includes a tube defining the sound channel located in the receiver housing.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the length of the sound channel from the first end to the second end is longer than a longitudinal length of the receiver.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound channel has at least two different cross sectional areas.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the earpiece further comprises a detachable electrical socket system.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound channel is formed as a predefined part to be mounted to the receiver.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a receiver housing, the sound channel is in the receiver housing, and the sound channel is defined by a material that forms the receiver housing.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound channel has a configuration that is user-specific.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the sound channel is in a component manufactured by a Rapid Prototyping Technology.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 10, wherein the Rapid Prototyping Technology comprises SLS.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 10, wherein the Rapid Prototyping Technology comprises SLA.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone that, during use, is configured to pick up sound from within the ear canal of the user.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein a cross sectional area of the sound channel increases along at least a part of a longitudinal extension of the sound channel from the sound port opening.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 14, wherein the cross sectional area of the sound channel increases gradually.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 14, wherein the cross sectional area of the sound channel increases in a stepwise manner.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 14, wherein the cross sectional area of the sound channel increases partly gradually and partly in a stepwise manner.

22. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the earpiece further comprises a tube defining the sound channel.

23. the hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the tube abuts a receiver housing of the receiver.

24. The hearing aid of claim 22, wherein the tube has a pre-determined shape.

25. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the sound channel has a curvilinear segment, and a first rectilinear segment connected to one end of the curvilinear segment.

26. The hearing aid of claim 25, wherein the sound channel has a second rectilinear segment connected to another end of the curvilinear segment.

27. The hearing aid of claim 26, wherein the first rectilinear segment and the second rectilinear segment form a 90°

angle.

28. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the sound channel has a spiral configuration.

29. The hearing aid of claim 1, wherein the earpiece further comprises an earpiece shell accommodating the receiver, the sound channel is in the earpiece shell, and the sound channel is defined by a material that forms the earpiece shell.

30. The hearing aid of claim 10, wherein the component comprises a receiver housing or an earpiece shell.

18. A hearing aid comprising:

a behind the ear (BTE) unit configured to process sound and generate an electrical signal;

an earpiece; and

a signal conductor configured to communicate the electrical signal to the earpiece;

wherein the earpiece comprises a receiver that is configured to convert the electrical signal into a sound signal, the receiver configured to be placed at least partially in an ear canal of a user;

wherein the earpiece further comprises a sound channel having a first end that is coupled to a sound port opening at the receiver, and a second end configured to provide sound for output by the earpiece, at least a part of the sound channel having a longitudinal extension in at least two non-parallel directions; and

wherein a length of the sound channel from the first end to the second end is between 18 mm and 26 mm.

19. The hearing aid of claim 18, wherein the receiver has a receiver housing, and the sound channel is in the receiver housing.

20. The hearing aid of claim 18, further comprising a tube in the earpiece, wherein the sound channel is defined by the tube.

21. The hearing aid of claim 18, wherein the sound channel is defined by a material that forms the earpiece.

31. A hearing aid comprising:

a receiver housing;

wherein the receiver housing has a sound channel, the sound channel having a first end, and a second end configured to provide sound for output by the hearing aid, at least a part of the sound channel having a longitudinal extension in at least two non-parallel directions, wherein a length of the sound channel from the first end to the second end is between 18 mm and 26 mm.

32. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein the sound channel is defined by the receiver housing.

33. The hearing aid of claim 31, further comprising an earpiece surrounding the receiver housing.

34. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the sound channel is defined by a side of the receiver housing.

35. The hearing aid of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the sound channel is defined by two sides of the receiver housing.