Hearing systems, sensor systems, and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11115764-B2
Application number	US-201916587759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2019
Priority date	Sep 30, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing system configured to assist a user in hearing, the hearing system comprising:
an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, the ITE component comprising a shell that is formed of a conductive material and that is configured to fit at least partially within the ear canal of the user;
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component that is communicatively coupled to the ITE component;
a cable that couples the BTE component to the ITE component;
a first sensor electrode provided on an outer surface of the shell of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user; and
a second sensor electrode provided as part of a conductive outer coating of the cable and configured to contact at least some of the outer ear tissue between the BTE component and the ITE component when the hearing system is worn by the user,
wherein the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode are configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user.

2. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the ITE component further comprises a faceplate configured to fit within an opening provided in the shell and face out of the ear canal of the user when the shell is inserted into the ear canal of the user; and
the first sensor electrode is configured to contact a wall of the ear canal when the ITE component is inserted within the ear canal of the user.

3. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor electrode is configured to contact a wall of the ear canal when the ITE component is worn by the user.

4. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein the physiological attribute comprises at least one of brain activity indicated in an electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement and a heartbeat attribute indicated in an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement.

5. A sensor system for use with an in-the-ear (ITE) component and a behind-the-ear (BTE) component of a hearing system configured to assist a user in hearing, the sensor system comprising:
a first sensor electrode provided on an outer surface of a shell of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user;
a second sensor electrode provided as part of a conductive outer coating of a cable that couples the BTE component to the ITE component, the second sensor electrode configured to contact at least some of the outer ear tissue between the BTE component and the ITE component when the hearing system is worn by the user; and
a processor configured to control operation of the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode that are configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user,
wherein the shell of the ITE component is formed of a conductive material and is configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user.

6. The sensor system of claim 5 , wherein the physiological attribute comprises at least one of brain activity indicated in an electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement and a heartbeat attribute indicated in an electrocardiogram (ECG) measurement.

7. A method comprising:
directing, by a processor of a hearing system configured to assist a user in hearing, a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode to record electrical activity associated with the user, the first sensor electrode in contact with outer ear tissue of the user and provided on an outer surface of a shell of an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of a user, the shell being formed of a conductive material, the second sensor electrode provided as part of a conductive outer coating of a cable that couples a behind-the-ear (BTE) component to the ITE component, the second sensor electrode configured to contact at least some of the outer ear tissue between the BTE component and the ITE component when the hearing system is worn by the user; and
determining, by the processor of the hearing system based on the electrical activity recorded by the first and second sensor electrodes, a physiological attribute of the user.

8. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein an entire outer surface of the shell implements the first sensor electrode.

9. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive outer coating of the cable covers an entire outer surface of the cable.

10. The hearing system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive outer coating of the cable is provided on only part of an outer surface of the cable.

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Silberzahn Konstantin
• Mueller Markus
• Thumm Natasha
• Leuthold Markus
• Frei Christian

Classifications

• H04R25/652

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

• H04R25/65 Primary

  Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture · CPC title

• H04R2225/021

  Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids · CPC title

• A61B5/6826

  Finger · CPC title

• H04R2225/025

  In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids · CPC title