Molding structure for a hearing apparatus, hearing apparatus, and method of producing the molding structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9313588-B2
Application number	US-201313857297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2013
Priority date	Jul 5, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

Hearing apparatuses should be manufactured as simply as possible and with the closest possible fit. Accordingly, a molding structure is provided, which represents a model for the direct shaping of an otoplastic of a hearing apparatus. The molding structure has a sealing element, which can be positioned in the auditory canal. A molding mass is inserted into the auditory canal to a side of the sealing element facing the outlet of the auditory canal. The molding mass and the sealing element here are connected to form the model of the hearing apparatus and the sealing element has the exact shape of a part of the hearing apparatus.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A molding structure representing a model for a direct shaping of an otoplastic for a hearing apparatus, the molding structure comprising:
a sealing element for positioning in an auditory canal, and when inserted into the auditory canal, having a side facing an outlet of the auditory canal, and a molding mass, which, when inserted into the auditory canal, comes up against said side of said sealing element facing the outlet of the auditory canal and at least partially fills the auditory canal, said molding mass and said sealing element are connected to form the model and said sealing element having a shape identical to a respective part of the hearing apparatus, wherein said sealing element has a fastening element, on which a coupling element for connecting said sealing element to said molding mass is disposed.

2. The molding structure according to claim 1 , wherein said sealing element is made of plastic foam.

3. The molding structure according to claim 1 , wherein said sealing element is made of polyurethane foam.

4. A hearing apparatus for wearing in an auditory canal, the hearing device comprising: an otoplastic; a molding structure representing a model for a direct shaping of said otoplastic, said molding structure containing a sealing element for positioning in the auditory canal, and when inserted into the auditory canal, having a side facing an outlet of the auditory canal, said otoplastic connected to a part of the hearing apparatus corresponding to said sealing element, a shape of said otoplastic being configured at least in parts according to said molding structure; and a connecting element; wherein the part of the hearing apparatus corresponding to said sealing element has a fastening element; and wherein said otoplastic and said part are connected to said connecting element, which is coupled pivotably to said fastening element of said part.

5. The hearing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said connecting element is configured to transmit sound between said otoplastic and said part of the hearing apparatus corresponding to said sealing element.

6. The hearing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said sealing element has a through opening formed therein, which extends from an end face of said sealing element facing away from said otoplastic to said connecting element.

7. A method for producing a molding structure representing a model for a direct shaping of an otoplastic for a hearing apparatus, which comprises the steps of:
positioning a sealing element in an auditory canal, the sealing element, when inserted into the auditory canal, having a side facing an outlet of the auditory canal;
inserting a molding mass into the auditory canal, so that the molding mass comes up against the side of the sealing element facing the outlet of the auditory canal and at least partially fills the auditory canal;
removing the molding mass and the sealing element from the auditory canal; and
connecting the molding mass and the sealing element to one another to form the model, wherein the sealing element defines a shape of a part of the hearing apparatus.

8. The method according to claim 7 , which further comprises:
scanning the model resulting in captured data; and
forming the otoplastic from the captured data.

Assignees

• Sivantos Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Gebert Anton
• Kexel Stefan
• Rosenberger Frank
• Schmidt Benjamin
• Weistenhoefer Christian

Classifications

• H04R25/658

  Manufacture of housing parts · CPC title

• H04R25/65

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

• H04R2225/023

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

• H04R25/652 Primary

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