Hearing aid device and hearing aid device system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016309266-A1
Application number	US-201615132684-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user is disclosed. The hearing aid device comprises a receiver (loudspeaker) adapted to generate and send an air-borne acoustic signal towards the eardrum when the hearing aid device is partly or fully inserted into the ear canal. The hearing aid device further comprises a microphone configured to receive acoustic signals. The hearing aid device comprises a processing unit configured to determine if the hearing aid device is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal on the basis of the acoustic signals received by the microphone.

First claim

1 . A hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user, which hearing aid device comprises a receiver (loudspeaker) adapted to generate and send an air-borne acoustic signal towards the eardrum when the hearing aid device is partly or fully inserted into the ear canal, which hearing aid device further comprises a microphone configured to receive acoustic signals, wherein the hearing aid device comprises a processing unit configured to determine if the hearing aid device is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal on the basis of the acoustic signals received by the microphone.

2 . The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a memory unit configured to store identification data.

3 . The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the identification data is a distance value and the processing unit is configured to process reflections from acoustic signals reflected by the eardrum and determine the distance between the receiver and the eardrum on the basis of the reflections.

4 . The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the identification data is an identification signal, and the processing unit is configured to process a predefined acoustic signal sound sent by the receiver and received by the microphone and determine if the signal received by the microphone corresponds to the predefined identification signal and hereby determine if the hearing aid device is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal.

5 . The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a sound guide unit configured to generate an acoustic signal to the hearing aid user during positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, wherein the acoustic signal depends on the position of the hearing aid device.

6 . The hearing aid device according to claim 5 , wherein the acoustic signal generated by the sound guide unit is generated on the basis of comparison of the signal received by the microphone and the stored identification data.

7 . The hearing aid device according to claim 5 , wherein the sound guide device is configured to stop generating an acoustic signal when a predefined position is achieved, preferably a position defined or measured relative to the eardrum.

8 . The hearing aid device according to claim 1 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a sealing retainer (dome) adapted to seat within and occlude the bony region of the ear canal and to snugly support the hearing aid device in said bony region when the hearing aid device is fully seated in the ear canal, whereby said sealing retainer provides acoustic sealing of said bony region of the ear canal to prevent or reduce acoustic feedback.

9 . A hearing aid system comprising a hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user, wherein the hearing aid system comprises a tool for positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, which tool comprises a connection structure, which connection structure is provided with a magnetic or magnetizable member in its distal end.

10 . The hearing aid system according to claim 9 wherein the hearing aid device comprises a connection member configured to engage with the connection structure and thereby fixate the tool to the hearing aid device to ensure secure removal and placement of the hearing aid device in an ear canal of the user.

11 . The hearing aid system according to claim 10 , wherein the hearing aid device, e.g. the connection member, is provided with a connection surface configured to engage with the magnetic or magnetizable member of the connection structure.

12 . The hearing aid system according to claim 9 , wherein the tool or the hearing aid device comprises an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field capable of attracting or repelling an opposite magnetic or magnetizable member, wherein the tool comprises an activation unit configured to directly or indirectly activate the electromagnet and hereby make it attract or repel an opposite magnetic or magnetizable member.

13 . The hearing aid system according to claim 9 , wherein two or more (e.g. three) radially extending arms are provided in the distal end of the connection structure, wherein the connection member of the hearing aid device comprises one or more engaging structures, e.g. including a connection surface configured to simultaneously engage with the magnetic or magnetizable member of the connection structure of the tool, configured to allow the arms of the tool to assume an engaging position.

14 . The hearing aid system according to claim 9 , wherein two or more (e.g. three) radially extending arms are provided in the distal end of the connection structure, wherein the grip of the hearing aid device comprises two or more non-magnetic wire members and an angled slide configured to guide the arms of the tool in an engaging position within the wire members.

15 . A hearing aid system comprising a hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user, wherein the hearing aid system comprises a tool for positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, which tool comprises a connection structure, which connection structure is provided with a magnetic or magnetizable member in its distal end, wherein the hearing aid device is a hearing aid device according to claim 1 .

16 . The hearing aid device according to claim 3 , wherein the identification data is an identification signal, and the processing unit is configured to process a predefined acoustic signal sound sent by the receiver and received by the microphone and determine if the signal received by the microphone corresponds to the predefined identification signal and hereby determine if the hearing aid device is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal.

17 . The hearing aid device according to claim 2 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a sound guide unit configured to generate an acoustic signal to the hearing aid user during positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, wherein the acoustic signal depends on the position of the hearing aid device.

18 . The hearing aid device according to claim 3 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a sound guide unit configured to generate an acoustic signal to the hearing aid user during positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, wherein the acoustic signal depends on the position of the hearing aid device.

19 . The hearing aid device according to claim 4 , wherein the hearing aid device comprises a sound guide unit configured to generate an acoustic signal to the hearing aid user during positioning the hearing aid device in the ear canal, wherein the acoustic signal depends on the position of the hearing aid device.

20 . The hearing aid device according to claim 6 , wherein the sound guide device is configured to stop generating an acoustic signal when a predefined position is achieved, preferably a position defined or measured relative to the eardrum.

Assignees

• Oticon As

Inventors

• Olsen Thor Højlund
• Koch Povl
• Pedersen Troels Holm
• Nielsen Claus
• Laugesen Søren
• Rasmussen Karsten Bo
• Sommer Peter
• Christensen Kåre Tais
• Petersen Svend Oscar
• Johansen Jørn
• Severin Bent
• Frantzen Jan
• JØRGENSEN Lars Lund
• Jensen Glenn
• Thomsen Anders Højsgaard
• Munk Steen Michael
• Olsen Henrik Lodberg
• Hebsgaard Anders
• BHAT Vijay Kumar

Classifications

• H04R2225/023

  Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R25/305 Primary

  Self-monitoring or self-testing · CPC title

• H04R25/652

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

• H04R2460/17

  Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R2225/025

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