Hearing assistance device housing for improved biometric sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12239461-B2
Application number	US-202017597870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 31, 2019
Publication date	Mar 4, 2025
Grant date	Mar 4, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a hearing assistance device housing for biometric sensing. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device for a wearer includes a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear. The housing is configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer, and a biometric sensor is included on a surface of the housing. According to various embodiments, the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hearing assistance device for a wearer, comprising:
a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear, the housing configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer; and
a biometric sensor on a surface of the housing,
wherein the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an antenna for wireless communication with the hearing assistance device, wherein the antenna is included in the housing.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the biometric sensor includes one or more of a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a glucose sensor, or a microphone.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a custom shell manufactured for the wearer using ear geometry of the wearer.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the housing is manufactured using an impression of an ear canal of the wearer.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plastic material.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a metal with a spring characteristic to provide a constant force to ensure continuous contact with the inner portion of the car of the wearer.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes one or more of a thermal memory material or an electroactive polymer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the hearing assistance device includes a hearing aid.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid includes an on-the-ear (OTE) hearing aid.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid includes an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid includes a completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the hearing aid includes a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid.

15. A housing for a hearing assistance device, the housing comprising:
a surface configured to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear;
a biometric sensor on the surface,
wherein the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.

16. The housing of claim 15 , wherein the biometric sensor includes one or more of a heart rate sensor, a temperature sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a glucose sensor, or a microphone.

17. The housing of claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a C-shaped housing.

18. A method of forming a hearing assistance device for a wearer, comprising:
providing a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear, the housing configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer; and
providing a biometric sensor on a surface of the housing,
configuring the housing to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
providing a skim plate on the housing, the skim plate configured to cover an opening in the housing.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein providing the housing includes providing a housing configured to provide continuous contact with the inner portion of the ear in at least three locations.

Assignees

• Starkey Labs Inc

Inventors

• Stewart Jay
• Sacha Michael Karl
• Olson Kyle

Classifications

• H04R2225/77

  Design aspects, e.g. CAD, of hearing aid tips, moulds or housings · CPC title

• H04R25/658

  Manufacture of housing parts · CPC title

• H04R25/652 Primary

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

• A61B5/6843

  Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B5/14551

  for measuring blood gases · CPC title