Contamination resistant ports for hearing devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hearing device adapted to be worn entirely within an ear canal of a patient, said device comprising:
- a metal air battery;
a housing having an exterior, an interior in which the metal air battery is located, and an opening defining an air exchange path between the exterior and the interior that permits sufficient air to enter to operate the battery and permits sound transmission;
a receiver;
a microphone in the housing; and
structures disposed along or across the air exchange path to inhibit the passage of liquid water or oil from the exterior to the interior of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages.
97 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A hearing device adapted to be worn entirely within an ear canal of a patient, said device comprising:
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a metal air battery; a housing having an exterior, an interior in which the metal air battery is located, and an opening defining an air exchange path between the exterior and the interior that permits sufficient air to enter to operate the battery and permits sound transmission; a receiver; a microphone in the housing; and structures disposed along or across the air exchange path to inhibit the passage of liquid water or oil from the exterior to the interior of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hearing device adapted to be worn entirely within an ear canal of a patient, said device comprising:
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a housing having an exterior, an interior, and an opening defining an air exchange path between the exterior and the interior; at least one of a receiver, a battery assembly, and a microphone assembly positioned within the housing; and a cap which is disposed over the opening in the housing, the cap including screen, with a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface and openings with a width in the range from 50 microns to 200 microns, which allows air exchange and inhibits the passage of liquid water, oil and cerumen intrusion from the exterior to the interior of the housing.
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22. A hearing device adapted to be worn entirely within an ear canal of a patient, said device comprising:
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a metal air battery; a housing having an exterior, an interior in which the metal air battery is located, and an opening defining an air exchange path between the exterior and the interior that permits sufficient air to enter to operate the battery; a receiver and a microphone; structures disposed along or across the air exchange path to inhibit the passage of liquid water or oil from the exterior to the interior of the housing; and a rigid barrier having a plurality of holes to block the entry of solid cerumen and other debris.
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23. A method of improving a patient'"'"'s hearing, said method comprising:
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positioning a hearing device within an ear canal of the patient, wherein at least a portion of the device resides beyond the bony junction and wherein the device has at least one opening in a wall of a housing that is susceptible to water and cerumen contamination; and providing a barrier which inhibits the intrusion of water and cerumen into said opening while permitting air sufficient exchange through said opening to allow functioning of an air-metal battery and sufficient to allow sound waves to enter an interior of the housing which includes a receiver. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of improving a patient'"'"'s hearing, said method comprising:
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positioning a hearing device within an ear canal of the patient, wherein at least a portion of the device resides beyond the bony junction and wherein the device has at least one opening in a wall of a housing that is susceptible to water and cerumen contamination; and forming micropillars or ridges on a pair of surfaces on opposite sides of the air exchange path which inhibit the intrusion of water and cerumen into said opening while permitting air exchange through said opening.
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27. A method of improving a patient'"'"'s hearing, said method comprising:
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positioning a hearing device within an ear canal of the patient, wherein at least a portion of the device resides beyond the bony junction and wherein the device has at least one opening in a wall of a housing that is susceptible to water and cerumen contamination; and positioning a cap over the opening, that provides a capillary barrier which inhibits the intrusion of water and cerumen into said opening while permitting air sufficient exchange through said opening to allow functioning of an air-metal battery.
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28. A hearing device defining a medial end and a lateral end and adapted to be worn entirely within an ear canal of a patient, the hearing device comprising:
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a receiver, a metal-air battery including an input port that is located adjacent to the lateral end of the hearing device, and a microphone including an input port that is located adjacent to lateral end of the hearing device; and a screen positioned adjacent to and lateral of the metal-air battery input port and the microphone input port, the screen being configured to permit sound transmission and the passage of sufficient air to enter to operate the battery and to inhibit the passage of liquid water and oil into the metal-air battery input port and the microphone input port. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification