Hearing aid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10034107-B2
Application number	US-201313764751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2013
Priority date	Jun 23, 2006
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A hearing aid includes a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, and a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal, and a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second free end, wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that is for providing current to an electronic device, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to a user's ear.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing aid comprising:
a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal, and a rechargeable battery, wherein the signal processor is programmable to compensate for a hearing loss; and
a flexible elongated member with a first end coupled to the shell, and a second end, the second end of the flexible elongated member being a free end, wherein the flexible elongated member has a shape such that when the flexible elongated member is placed in an ear of a user, the second end is positioned inside a pinna and outside an ear canal of the user;
wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to push the shell towards the canal of the ear.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the shell with an adhesive.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the shell by a ball joint.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is removably coupled to the shell.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 4 , wherein the flexible elongated member is removably coupled to the shell with a connector.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a faceplate and wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the faceplate.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 6 , wherein the shell comprises a portion covering the rechargeable battery, and wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the portion of the shell.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 7 , wherein the portion comprises a battery door.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 8 , wherein the battery door is removably attached to the shell by a snap fit coupling.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 8 , wherein the battery door is attached to the faceplate with a connector.

11. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to abut an antihelix.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 11 , wherein the flexible elongated member is further configured to extend at least to an inferior crus of the antihelix during use.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is configured so that the second end is positioned below a triangular fossa of the pinna during use.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is configured to abut a part of a concha at an antitragus when the shell has been inserted in the ear canal thereby applying a force to the shell towards the ear canal retaining the shell in a position in which the shell is pressed against an anatomical feature within the ear canal.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is substantially rigid in its longitudinal direction.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is configured for accommodation of at least one hearing aid component selected from the group consisting of an omni-directional microphone, a directional microphone, an array of microphones, a telecoil, a push-button, a dial, an inductive coil, and an antenna.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is configured for accommodation of a microphone, and wherein a part of the flexible elongated member accommodating the microphone has a larger cross-section than a remaining part of the flexible elongated member extending therefrom and towards the first end.

18. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that provides current to an electronic device, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to the ear.

19. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the shell has a dimension that is specific for the user.

20. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongated member is resilient in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the elongated member.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , further comprising the signal processor and receiver.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the flexible elongated member, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

23. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , further comprising the rechargeable battery.

24. The hearing aid according to claim 1 , wherein the shell comprises a custom made shell.

25. A hearing aid comprising:
a shell for accommodation of a signal processor for processing an audio signal into a processed audio signal, a receiver that is connected to an output of the signal processor for converting the processed audio signal into an acoustic sound signal, and a rechargeable battery;
a flexible elongated member with a first end attached to the shell, and a second end, the second end being a free end; and
a microphone at the free end of the flexible elongated member;
wherein the flexible elongated member comprises a lumen for housing a wire that is coupled to the microphone, the flexible elongated member having a shape for stabilizing the shell relative to an ear of a user; and
wherein the elongated member is configured to push the shell towards a canal of the ear.

26. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , wherein the shell has a dimension that is specific for the user.

27. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , wherein the elongated member is resilient in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the elongated member.

28. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , further comprising the signal processor and receiver.

29. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , further comprising the rechargeable battery.

30. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , wherein the shell comprises a portion covering the rechargeable battery.

31. The hearing aid according to claim 30 , wherein the portion of the shell comprises a battery door.

32. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the flexible elongated member, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a pressure sensor.

33. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , wherein the shell comprises a faceplate and wherein the first end of the flexible elongated member is coupled to the faceplate; and
wherein a part of the flexible elongated member accommodating the microphone has a larger cross-section than a remaining part of the flexible elongated member extending therefrom and towards the first end.

34. The hearing aid according to claim 25 , wherein the shell comprises a custom made shell.

Assignees

• Gn Hearing As

Inventors

• Nielsen Henrik
• Maye Vince
• Hall Goran
• Mikes Kevin
• Tsuchiya Brian

Classifications

• H04R25/652

  Ear tips; Ear moulds (hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659) · CPC title

• H04R25/658 Primary

  Manufacture of housing parts · CPC title

• H04R2225/63

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04R25/656

  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 title

• H04R25/405

  by combining a plurality of transducers · CPC title