Cleanable in-the-ear electroacoustic transducer
First Claim
1. A cleanable electroacoustic transducer device of the kind that fits into an ear canal of a user, comprising:
- a housing having a size and configuration adapted to fit into said ear canal;
a sound outlet passage extending from an inner end in an interior of the housing to an outer end that opens into the ear canal of the user;
an acoustic chamber positioned within the housing, in communication with the inner end of the sound outlet passage;
a sound generating diaphragm mounted in the acoustic chamber;
acoustic drive means, mounted in the housing, for driving the diaphragm;
actuating means, including a microphone and amplifier mounted in the housing, for actuating the acoustic drive means;
and a cleaning passage, extending into the housing and into communication with the inner end of the sound outlet passage, the two passages comprising a continuous conduit such that a solvent pumped into one end of the cleaning passage from outside the housing flows through the full length of the outlet passage to clean out accumulated cerumen without disassembly of the device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid including a microphone, an adjustable amplifier, and a transducer comprising an acoustic driver driving a diaphragm disposed within an acoustic chamber, all mounted in an in-the-ear housing having a sound outlet passage leading from the acoustic chamber into the user'"'"'s ear canal, is provided with a cleaning passage that is accessible from the outside of the housing and that connects to the inner end of the sound outlet passage, through a portion of the acoustic chamber. Throughout internal cleaning is effected by pumping a solvent through the continuous conduit formed by the cleaning passage, the acoustic chamber, and the sound outlet passage, without disassembly of the hearing aid.
149 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A cleanable electroacoustic transducer device of the kind that fits into an ear canal of a user, comprising:
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a housing having a size and configuration adapted to fit into said ear canal; a sound outlet passage extending from an inner end in an interior of the housing to an outer end that opens into the ear canal of the user; an acoustic chamber positioned within the housing, in communication with the inner end of the sound outlet passage; a sound generating diaphragm mounted in the acoustic chamber; acoustic drive means, mounted in the housing, for driving the diaphragm; actuating means, including a microphone and amplifier mounted in the housing, for actuating the acoustic drive means; and a cleaning passage, extending into the housing and into communication with the inner end of the sound outlet passage, the two passages comprising a continuous conduit such that a solvent pumped into one end of the cleaning passage from outside the housing flows through the full length of the outlet passage to clean out accumulated cerumen without disassembly of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electroacoustic transducer for a hearing aid device that fits into an ear canal of a user, the device being of the kind that includes:
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a housing having a size and configuration adapted to fit into said ear canal; and a sound outlet passage, extending from an inner end in an interior of the housing, to an outer end that opens into the ear canal of the user; the transducer comprising; an acoustic chamber adapted to be positioned within the housing in communication with the inner end of the sound outlet passage; a sound generating diaphragm mounted in the acoustic chamber; acoustic drive means for driving the diaphragm; and a cleaning port in the acoustic chamber adapted for connection to a cleaning passage opening into the housing, to pass a solvent pumped into the cleaning passage through the entire outlet passage to clean out accumulated cerumen without disassembly of the device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification