Disposable extended wear canal hearing device

• US 7,215,789 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Insound Medical Incorporated (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Shennib, Adnan, Urso, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Huyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US10/052,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/324, 381/325, 381/328, 381/323, 181/130, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/023 Completely in the canal [CIC] 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 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/602 of batteries
• 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 disposable hearing device is adapted to be positioned entirely within an ear canal for extended wear therein. The device includes a core assembly and a sealing retainer. The core assembly includes a lateral section of generally oval cross-section and generally elongated cylindrical shape for alignment substantially along the ear canal'"'"'s longitudinal axis, and a receiver section having a receiver coupled to the lateral section for medial positioning in the ear canal'"'"'s bony region. The lateral section includes a microphone and a battery assembly, and is dimensioned to avoid occluding the ear canal while it is at least partially laterally suspended therein. The sealing retainer is concentrically positioned over the receiver section, and has a composition to conform to the ear canal'"'"'s bony region wall to seat the hearing device and acoustically seal it in the ear canal to inhibit feedback therein.

Claims

1. A single use disposable hearing device adapted for continuous extended wear entirely within an ear canal, comprising:

a core assembly including a lateral section having a microphone and an incorporated, non-removable battery assembly, and a receiver section having a receiver; and

a sealing retainer concentrically positioned over said receiver section for conforming to the walls substantially at the bony region of the ear canal, for seating the hearing device in the ear canal and for acoustical sealing against feedback within the ear canal;

said lateral section being of generally oval cross-sectional perimeter with a long diameter D_L and a short diameter D_S and of generally cylindrical and elongated shape along its longitudinal axis, said lateral section being adapted for at least partial lateral suspension in the ear canal without occlusion thereof when said hearing device is seated in the ear canal for allowing said hearing device to comfortable fit in the ear canal and operate continuously therein without daily removal, for an extended period of at least one week.

2. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said lateral section is medially tapered.

3. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said lateral section further comprises a stabilizer for positioning between the outer surface of said lateral section and the walls of the ear canal to center and stabilize said lateral section within the ear canal when said device is inserted therein.

4. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said core assembly comprises a thin moisture-proof encapsulation with its outer surface at least partially exposed directly to the environment of the ear canal when said device is inserted therein.

5. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said receiver section is flexibly connected to said lateral section to facilitate insertion of said core assembly within the ear canal, and to allow movement of said lateral section in response to canal movements or to accumulation of debris within the ear canal.

6. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustically-transparent moisture-proof debris guard for protecting a sound port of at least one of said microphone and said receiver.

7. The hearing device of claim 1, further comprising an air vent for pressure equalization.

8. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said microphone includes an amplifier integral therewith for processing acoustic signal.

9. The hearing device of claim 1, further including programming means for selectively adjusting electroacoustic parameters of said hearing device.

10. The hearing device of claim 1, further including remote control means for controlling at least one control parameter of said hearing device.

11. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said sealing retainer has an oval cross-sectional perimeter.

12. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said sealing retainer is composed of compressible material.

13. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said sealing retainer is composed of conforming material.

14. The hearing device of claim 13, wherein said sealing retainer is composed of silicone or polyurethane foam.

15. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said sealing retainer is configured to form an air-gap relative to said receiver section when fitted thereon.

16. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said sealing retainer further comprises medication material selected from a group including anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agents.

17. The hearing device of claim 1, including an assortment of different sizes and shapes of said sealing retainer for assembly of a selected sealing retainer of said assortment with said hearing device to optimally accommodate the dimensions of an individual ear canal.

18. The hearing device of claim 1, wherein said oval cross-sectional perimeter of said lateral section has a long diameter D_L to short diameter D_S ratio of approximately 1.4.

19. A single-use disposable hearing device adapted to be positioned entirely within an ear canal for continuous extended wear therein, comprising:

a core assembly including;

a lateral section containing a microphone and a battery assembly, said battery assembly being non-removably integrated within said lateral section, said lateral section having a generally oval cross-sectional perimeter with long and short diameters, and

a receiver section containing a receiver, said receiver section coupled to said lateral section and adapted to be medially positioned in a bony region of the ear canal when said hearing device is inserted within the ear canal; and

a sealing retainer concentrically positioned over said receiver section and conforming to the walls of the ear canal at the bony region thereof, for seating said hearing device in the ear canal and providing an acoustic seal to inhibit feedback therein, and for at least partially laterally suspending said lateral section in the ear canal;

said lateral section being dimensioned to be substantially non-occluding with minimal or no contact with the walls of the ear canal when said hearing device is inserted therein for allowing said hearing device to fit comfortably and operate continuously therein without daily removal for an extended period exceeding one week.

20. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 19, wherein said coupling of the receiver section to the lateral section is a flexible connection.

21. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 19, wherein said sealing retainer is composed of conforming material.

22. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 19, wherein said sealing retainer has an air-gap therein.

23. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 19, wherein said sealing retainer further comprises medication material selected from a group including anti-bacterial and anti-microbial agents.

24. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 19, including an assortment of different sizes and shapes of said sealing retainer, for assembly of a sealing retainer of selected size and shape among said assortment with the core assembly, to optimally accommodate dimensions of an individual ear canal.

25. The single-use disposable hearing device of claim 21, wherein said sealing retainer comprises polyurethane foam or silicone.

26. A generic single-use disposable hearing device adapted to be positioned entirely within an ear canal for continuous extended wear therein, comprising:

a core assembly with a lateral section of generally oval cross-section and generally elongated cylindrical shape for alignment substantially along an ear canal'"'"'s longitudinal axis, and with a receiver section having a receiver coupled to said lateral section for medial positioning in an ear canal'"'"'s bony region;

said lateral section being dimensioned to avoid occluding the ear canal while at least partially laterally suspended therein, with a microphone and a battery assembly incorporated in said lateral section;

said battery assembly being non-removable such that the device is to be discarded when the battery power is depleted, and

a sealing retainer concentrically positioned over said receiver section, of a composition to conform to a wall of the ear canal'"'"'s bony region wall to seat said hearing device and acoustically seal it in the ear canal to inhibit feedback therein;

wherein said hearing device minimally occludes the ear canal laterally, thereby allowing for comfortable continuous extended wear, including during periods of sleep and shower, for a period approaching depletion of said battery power without resorting to daily removal of the hearing device.