Canal hearing device with elongate frequency shaping sound channel

• US 9,788,126 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: iHEAR Medical, Inc. (Innerscope Hearing Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Valenzuela, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US14/853,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/48 using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response H04R25/652 takes precedence
• 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 25/654 Ear wax retarders

Abstract

Examples of canal hearing devices including a lateral section having a frequency shaping sound port system are disclosed. A lateral section includes an elongate sound channel for receiving an incoming sound and producing a frequency-shaped sound output. The hearing device includes a microphone, a speaker for transmitting sound to the eardrum, and a sound port to receive the frequency-shaped sound output from the elongate sound channel and provide a pathway for the frequency-shaped sound output to reach the microphone.

Claims

1. A canal hearing device comprising:

a housing configured to accommodate a battery cell at least partially within, the housing comprising an elongate sound channel configured to receive an incoming sound from a sound channel inlet and provide a frequency-shaped sound output at a sound channel outlet, wherein a height of the elongate sound channel is less than a height of the battery cell along an entire length of the of the elongate sound channel, and wherein the frequency-shaped sound output provides at least 3 dB of gain at a frequency within the range of 3-6 kHz; and

a microphone;

a speaker for transmitting sound to the eardrum; and

a sound port acoustically coupling the frequency-shaped sound output to the microphone.

2. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate sound channel is horn-shaped.

3. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the sound port comprises a manifold configured to acoustically couple the sound channel outlet with the microphone.

4. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a debris barrier coupled to the elongate sound channel.

5. The canal hearing device of claim 4, wherein the debris barrier comprises any of a mesh, a screen, or a membrane.

6. The canal hearing device of claim 4, wherein the debris barrier comprises alternating microstructures.

7. The canal hearing device of claim 4, wherein the debris barrier is provided by a maze structure within the elongate sound channel.

8. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate sound channel comprises any of hydrophobic, oleophobic, and oleophilic properties.

9. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein a partial disengagement of a lateral section of the canal hearing device from a main section of the canal hearing device provides the canal hearing device in an OFF condition.

10. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein a lateral section of the canal hearing device is removably coupled to a main section of the canal hearing device.

11. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further comprising the battery cell and wherein one side of the elongate sound channel is at least partially formed by the battery cell.

12. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further comprising the battery cell and wherein the battery cell is integrated into a lateral section of the canal hearing device.

13. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate sound channel is provided at least partially along an inner surface of the housing.

14. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the sound channel inlet is positioned lateral to a cavity configured to accommodate the battery cell therein.

15. The canal hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a handle.

16. The canal hearing device of claim 15, wherein the sound channel inlet is incorporated within the handle.

17. The canal hearing device of claim 16, wherein the sound channel inlet is positioned proximate to a base of the handle.

18. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein the elongate sound channel is at least 4 mm in length.

19. The canal hearing device of claim 1, wherein an average cross sectional area of the elongate sound channel is in the range of 1-2 mm².

20. A canal hearing device comprising:

a battery cell;

a housing configured to accommodate the battery cell at least partially within;

a microphone; and

a sound port system comprising an elongate sound channel formed at least partially by an inner surface of the housing, and an incoming sound inlet for receiving incoming sound, wherein the elongate sound channel is configured to provide an increase in gain of the incoming sound of at least 3 dB at a frequency within the range of 3-6 kHz to produce a frequency-shaped output, and wherein the sound port system is configured to couple the frequency-shaped output to the microphone.

21. The canal hearing device of claim 20, wherein the sound port system further comprises a debris barrier.

22. The canal hearing device claim 20 further comprising a handle.

23. The canal hearing device of claim 20, wherein the sound port system is configured to reduce feedback.

24. The canal hearing device of claim 20, wherein the elongate sound channel is at least 4 mm in length.

25. The canal hearing device of claim 20, wherein an average cross sectional area of the elongate sound channel is in the range of 1-2 mm².

26. A battery module for use with a canal hearing device, the battery module comprising:

a housing;

a battery cell integrated within the battery module;

a microphone; and

a sound port system comprising an elongate sound channel formed at least partially by a groove on an inner surface of the housing and an incoming sound inlet, the sound port system configured to receive an incoming sound, wherein the elongate sound channel is configured to perform frequency shaping of the incoming sound to produce a frequency-shaped output which provides at least 3 dB of gain at a frequency within the range of 3-6 kHz, wherein the frequency-shaped output is coupled to the microphone, and wherein the incoming sound inlet is positioned lateral to the battery cell.

27. The battery module of claim 26, wherein the sound port system comprises a debris barrier.

28. The battery module of claim 26, wherein the incoming sound inlet and the elongate sound channel are configured to reduce feedback.

29. A canal hearing device comprising:

a housing;

a battery cell integrated, at least partially, within the housing;

a microphone; and

a sound port system comprising an elongate sound channel and an incoming sound inlet positioned lateral to the battery cell, the sound port system configured to receive an incoming sound through the incoming sound inlet, wherein the elongate sound channel is formed by one side of the battery cell and a groove formed on an inner surface of the housing, and wherein the sound channel is configured to amplify the incoming sound by at least 3 dB at a frequency within the range of 3-6 kHz to provide an amplified sound to the microphone.

30. A canal hearing device comprising:

a housing configured to accommodate a battery cell and a microphone at least partially within, the housing comprising a sound channel including a sound channel inlet positioned lateral to the battery cell and a sound channel outlet positioned medial to the battery cell, wherein the sound channel is configured to receive incoming sound from the sound channel inlet, wherein the sound channel is configured to amplify the incoming sound by at least 3 dB at a frequency within the range of 3-6 kHz and transmit the amplified sound to the sound channel outlet for coupling the amplified sound to the microphone.

31. The canal hearing device of claim 30, further comprising an air tab at least partially inserted within the sound channel, wherein the air tab is attached to the battery cell blocking an air inlet of the battery cell, and wherein the air tab is removably attached to the battery cell.

32. The canal hearing device of claim 31, wherein the air tab comprises a first portion attached to the battery cell and a second portion attached to the first portion and extending from the sound channel outlet of the lateral section.

33. The canal hearing device of claim 30, further comprising a debris barrier.

34. The canal hearing device of claim 30, further comprising the battery cell.