Canal Hearing Device with Disposable Battery Module

• US 20110058697A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K/S HIMPP
• Original Assignee: iHEAR Medical, Inc. (Innerscope Hearing Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Valenzuela, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/02 adapted to be supported entirely by ear
• 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 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/654 Ear wax retarders
• 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

Abstract

A modular canal hearing aid assembly having a main module positioned in the ear canal and a disposable battery module laterally positioned in the ear canal. The main module incorporates the durable components of a hearing device including the receiver, microphone and electronics. The disposable battery module comprises consumable elements including battery and incoming sound port. The disposable battery module provides a unitary structure that is easier to handle, remove from the main module, and replace when any of the consumable elements is depleted or degraded. The canal hearing device assembly is generic in shape and provided with assorted seal tips for “instant fitting” without resorting to custom manufacturing.

Claims

1. A modular hearing device, comprising;

a main module adapted for being positioned entirely in the ear canal past the aperture, said main module comprising durable elements comprising a microphone for receiving incoming sound, an amplifier circuit for amplifying electrical signal representative of incoming sound, and a receiver for delivering amplified sound to the eardrum;

a disposable module adapted for being laterally positioned in the ear canal, comprising a battery and a sound port for receiving incoming sound and delivering said incoming sound to said microphone within said main module when said disposable module is connected to said main module forming the modular hearing device;

said disposable module is removably connected electrically, mechanically and acoustically to said main module for operation of the modular hearing device in the ear canal and is removable from said main module for disposal replacement thereof.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a retainer seal assembly connected medially to said main module, said retainer seal assembly is adapted for being positioned in the bony region of the ear canal and delivers amplified sound therein in proximity to the eardrum, said retainer seal assembly comprises thin sound conduction tubing and a compliant seal tip concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tubing for compression concentrically onto and conforming against the walls of the ear canal in said bony region to acoustically seal and prevent feedback and acoustic occlusion effects.

3. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein said retainer seal assembly is removable from said main module.

4. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein said seal tip assembly is of one of assorted sizes to fit a variety of ear canals in the bony region.

5. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein said sound conduction tube has diameter not exceeding 2.5 mm to allow for significant concentric compression for said seal tip over said sound conduction tubing.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising a lateral retainer concentrically positioned over the hearing device about the area of interface between the main module and the disposable module.

7. The hearing device of claim 6, wherein said lateral retainer is removable from said hearing device for either washing or disposal thereof.

8. The hearing device of claim 6, wherein said lateral retainer is integrated within said disposable module for disposal thereof along with said disposable module.

9. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising an acoustically transparent barrier made of air permeable film or membrane.

10. The hearing device of claim 9, wherein said acoustically transparent barrier is resistant to water ingress.

11. The hearing device of claim 9, wherein said acoustically transparent barrier imposes minimal acoustic loss not exceeding 2 dB at any frequency within the range between 250 and 6,000 Hz.

12. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said hearing device is programmable.

13. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said disposable module and main module are formed of generic shape thus not requiring custom manufacturing for fitting an individual.

14. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said disposable module is oriented at an angle between 20°

-35°

with respect to the main module.

15. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein said seal tip comprises compliant polyurethane material.

16. The hearing device of claim 2, wherein said seal tip comprises medical grade silicone material.

17. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising means to remove said disposable module and replace with a programming cable assembly, wherein said programming cable provides power and programming signal to said main module.

18. The hearing device of claim 17, wherein said programming cable assembly further delivers audio signal to said hearing device.

19. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting to the Internet for performing a fitting process over the Internet.

20. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said disposable module is formed substantially in the shape of the battery cell housed within.

21. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein placement of said disposable module at the aperture area of the ear canal resulting in an inconspicuous accessible wear in the ear canal.

22. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said disposable module is colored in black or dark color resembling the dark cavity of the unoccluded ear canal.

23. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting the disposable module mechanically to a tool to facilitate either of insertion or removal of the assembled hearing device.

24. A disposable module for connecting and forming a canal hearing aid assembly, said disposable module comprises;

a power source;

a sound port for receiving incoming sound and delivering said incoming sound to a microphone port;

an acoustically transparent debris barrier for preventing contamination of components connected to said disposable module;

a connector system for electrically, mechanically and acoustically coupling said disposable module within said canal hearing aid assembly;

wherein said disposable module is removable from within said canal hearing aid assembly for disposal and replacement of said disposable module.

25. A modular hearing aid assembly for wear into the ear canal comprising;

a disposable battery module laterally positioned in the ear canal having a structure extended medially for electrically, mechanically and acoustically connecting to a main module placed entirely inside the ear canal, said main module containing a microphone within, wherein said disposable battery module comprises a battery and a sound port, said battery module is oriented at an angle in the range of 20-35°

with respect to the main module;

wherein said disposable battery module is removable for disposal or replacement.

26. A method of fitting a hearing aid assembly for a hearing impaired comprising the steps of:

removing a disposable battery assembly comprising a battery and a sound port from a main module comprising a microphone, receiver and programmable electronics;

connecting a programming cable assembly to said main module;

inserting the main module in the ear canal of individual while being connected to said programming cable assembly;

delivering power and programming signal to said main module via said programming cable;

removing said programming cable assembly from said main module;

connecting a disposable battery assembly to said main module forming a canal hearing aid assembly; and

inserting said hearing aid assembly into the ear canal of a hearing impaired individual.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of delivering audio signal to said main module via said programming cable when connected thereto and said main module is placed in the ear canal.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of connecting said hearing aid assembly to the Internet via said programming cable.