Adjustable venting for hearing instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016150331-A1
Application number	US-201414554606-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device is provided and comprises a malleable structure. The malleable structure is sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user. The malleable structure is deformable to allow an adjustable venting of the ear canal, thereby minimizing the occlusion effect. Methodology for adjusting a degree of venting of the ear canal is also provided, including the automatic adjustments. Adjusting the degree of venting may be done in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device, the ear tip comprising:
a malleable structure sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user, the malleable structure having a cross-section shaped to define at least one channel between an inner wall of the ear canal and an outer surface of the malleable structure for venting of the ear canal, wherein the malleable structure is deformable to adjust the cross-section thereof so as to vary a size of the at least one channel to adjust a degree of venting provided by the at least one channel.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator coupled to the malleable structure and operable to cause the malleable structure to deform.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a slider configured for translation and/or rotation relative to the malleable structure.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the slider comprises one or more threads to facilitate rotation relative to the malleable structure.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein translating the slider toward the malleable structure deforms the malleable structure to increase the size of the at least one channel to reduce the degree of venting provided by the at least one channel.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the actuator further comprises an elongate element coupled to the malleable structure and the slider, wherein the malleable structure is disposed over the elongate element and the slider is translatable over the elongate element.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the elongate element comprises one or more of a shaft, wire, or a post.

8 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is configured to vary the degree of venting provided by the at least one channel in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises one or more of a circuitry, a processor, or a mechanical element adapted to be responsive to one or more of the detected feedback or the environmental cue.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the detected feedback or the environmental cue is indicated from a sensor in communication with the actuator.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a microphone, an accelerometer, a vibration sensor, an internal sensor of the ear tip apparatus, or a sensor of a control device external of the ear tip apparatus.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the communication is at least partially electronic or at least partially wireless.

13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to vary the degree of venting provided by the at least one channel in response to one or more of a volume or a sound directionality of an ambient environment.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is configured to increase the degree of venting in a loud ambient environment, thereby allowing the user to hear more unprocessed sound, or to decrease the degree of venting in a loud ambient environment, thereby allowing the user to hear more processed sound.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the malleable structure is deformable between a low cross-sectional area configuration and a high cross-sectional area configuration, the at least one channel providing more venting when the malleable structure is in the low cross-sectional area configuration than when in the high cross-sectional area configuration.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the malleable structure is biased to assume the low cross-sectional area configuration.

17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the malleable structure has one or more of a Y-shaped, X-shaped, or cross-shaped cross-section.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the malleable structure comprises a gel.

19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the malleable structure comprises a fluid-filled bladder, the fluid-filled bladder comprising a bladder wall and a bladder fluid, and wherein the bladder wall comprising one or more of a stiff plastic or an elastomeric material.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the stiff plastic or elastomeric material comprises one or more of silicone, parylene, nylon, a PEBA material, Pebax, or polyurethane.

21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the bladder fluid comprises one or more of a gas, a liquid, or a gel.

22 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the gel comprises one or more of a silicone gel, a viscous hydrophilic fluid, a viscous hydrophobic material, a thixotropic material, a viscoelastic material, a dilatant material, a rheopectic material, Nusil MED-6670, Nusil MED-6346, Nusil MED-6345, a polyurethane gel, a polyvinylpyrrolidone gel, a polyethylene glycol gel, glycerol, thickened glycerol, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, lanolin, silicone oil, or grease.

23 . A method for reducing occlusion in a hearing device placed in an ear canal of a user, the method comprising:
deforming a malleable structure placed in the ear canal to vary a size of at least one channel to adjust a degree of venting provided by the at least one channel, wherein the malleable structure is sized and configured for placement in the ear canal and has a cross-section shaped to define the at least one channel between the inner wall of the ear canal and an outer surface of the malleable structure.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein deforming the malleable structure comprises one or more of translating or rotating a slider relative to the malleable structure.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the slider is translated or rotated over an element, wherein one or more of the slider or the malleable structure is disposed over the element.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein translating or rotating the slider relative to the malleable structure transitions the malleable structure from a low cross-sectional area configuration to a high cross-sectional area configuration.

27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the malleable structure comprises a gel.

28 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising adjusting the degree of venting in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the detected feedback or the environmental cue is indicated from a sensor and wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a microphone, an accelerometer, a vibration sensor, an internal sensor of the hearing device, or a sensor of a control device external of the hearing device.

30 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising increasing the degree of venting in a loud ambient environment, thereby allowing the user to hear more unprocessed sound or decreasing the degree of venting in loud ambient environment, thereby allowing the user to hear more processed sound.

31 . An ear tip apparatus comprising:
a hard core configured for placement in an ear canal, the hard core having a lateral portion and a medial portion; and a gel portion disposed over at least the medial portion of the hard core, the gel portion being configured to deform and conform to the ear canal.

32 . The ear tip apparatus of claim 31 , wherein an exposed outer surface of the hard core has a length that does not extend past an isthmus of the ear

Assignees

• Earlens Corp

Inventors

• Wenzel Stuart W

Classifications

• H04R2460/11

  Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion · CPC title

• H04R2460/09

  Non-occlusive ear tips, i.e. leaving the ear canal open, for both custom and non-custom tips (H04R2460/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R25/456 Primary

  mechanically · CPC title

• H04R25/652 Primary

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