METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODULAR HEARING AID

• US 20080304685A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Starkey Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Fideler, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/604 of acoustic or vibrational transducers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49572 Hearing aid component making

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a modular hearing aid for a user having a hearing canal, including a housing adapted to fit within at least a portion of the hearing canal, and having at least one access port, a cover adapted for at least partially covering the at least one access port, and signal processing electronics connected to a microphone and a power supply. In various examples, a microphone housing is adapted to mount to the housing and to fit within the at least one access port, and to connect to the microphone, the signal processing electronics and the power supply. In one variant, the apparatus includes a receiver connected to the signal processing electronics, and a fastener as a unitary connector of the cover and microphone housing to the housing. Other variations are presented herein.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a hearing apparatus, for a user having a hearing canal, comprising:

making a housing shaped for use at least partially inside the hearing canal, the housing including an access port and an opening;

assembling a microphone, a receiver, and signal processing electronics to a microphone housing;

inserting the microphone housing, microphone, receiver, and signal processing electronics into the housing through the access port;

placing a cover to at least partially close the access port; and

using a fastener as a unitary connector of the cover and the microphone housing to the housing.

2. The method of claim 1, including making the housing from sections.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the making the housing comprises combining a shell and a faceplate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the combing the shell and the faceplate includes trimming the faceplate.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising assembling a microphone hood to the faceplate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein assembling a microphone hood includes placing a o-ring about an acoustic port of the faceplate;

7. The method of claim 5, wherein assembling a microphone hood to the faceplate includes snapping the microphone hood into an acoustic port of the faceplace.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the making the housing comprises combining a shell and a bezel to define an access port.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the combining the shell and bezel includes gluing the bezel to the shell.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes sealingly connecting the receiver to the housing opening.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sealingly connecting includes trimming the receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing apparatus includes a power supply.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hearing aid housing includes terminals which connect to the power supply.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hearing aid housing is adapted to connect to a hearing aid programmer.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein placing a cover includes placing a cover having a battery holder.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein making a housing includes making a customized housing shaped for a particular user.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprises assembling wireless communication electronics to the microphone housing.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling telecoil electronics to the microphone housing.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling a microphone hood to the microphone housing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein assembling a microphone hood includes placing a o-ring about an acoustic port of the microphone housing;

21. The method of claim 19, wherein assembling a microphone hood to the microphone housing includes snapping the microphone hood into an acoustic port of the microphone housing.