Method of fitting a hearing instrument, and impression tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9654884-B2
Application number	US-201314892531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2013
Priority date	May 21, 2013
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method of fitting a hearing instrument to a user's ear is provided. The method comprises taking an impression of the user's ear canal and manufacturing, based on geometrical data of the impression, an earmold. In accordance with the aspect of the invention, the method comprises the further step of performing an acoustical measurement while the impression is being taken.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of fitting a hearing instrument to a user's ear, the ear including an ear canal and an eardrum, the method comprising the steps of:
taking an impression of the user's ear canal by inserting an impression tool into the ear canal such that a remaining volume is defined between the impression tool and the eardrum, the impression tool including impression material, at least one measurement tube extending through the impression material and having a first end that opens into the remaining volume and a second end, a receiver in acoustic communication with the second end of the measurement tube, and a microphone in acoustic communication with the second end of the measurement tube;
performing an acoustic measurement while the impression is being taken and prior to removal of the impression tool from the ear canal by
transmitting a sound signal from the receiver through the measurement tube to the remaining volume, and
measuring a response acoustic signal that travels from the remaining volume through the measurement tube to the microphone; and

generating geometrical data of the impression.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
manufacturing an earmold based on the geometrical data of the impression.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
determining an acoustic impedance from the acoustic measurement.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the step of determining an acoustic impedance comprises determining an acoustic ear canal impedance.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of:
using the acoustic impedance to calculate an acoustic transfer quantity representative of a sound pressure transfer to the eardrum.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
using the acoustic impedance to calculate a real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD).

7. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
using the acoustic impedance and frequency dependent, ear independent reference characteristics of an acoustic quantity of the hearing instrument coupled to a reference acoustic coupler to calculate a real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD).

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the impression tool includes an elastically deformable impression stop formed from acoustically transparent material and having an inner side; and
the step of taking an impression of the user's ear canal includes dispensing the impression material into the ear canal and to the inner side of the impression stop.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the impression tool includes an inflatable element; and
the step of taking an impression of the user's ear canal includes inflating the inflatable element within the ear canal with the impression material and scanning a shape taken up by the inflated inflatable element.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
based in part on information concerning a difference between a shape of the impression and a shape of the earmold, calculating an acoustic transfer quantity representative of a sound pressure transfer to the eardrum.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
measuring the remaining volume between the impression tool and the eardrum by measuring at least one of an acoustic parameter when a static pressure is applied, an air flow, and a pressure difference.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
prior to or during the step of taking an impression of the user's ear canal, measuring a tympanogram.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmitted sound signal is controlled by an acquisition system integrated in a behind-the-ear component of the hearing instrument; and
a result of the acoustic measurement is acquired by the acquisition system.

14. An impression tool for taking an impression of an ear canal, the impression tool comprising:
an impression device, selected from the group consisting of a flow stop that confines a flow of impression material within the ear canal and an inflatable element that is inflated with impression material, that is configured to be positioned within the ear canal such that a remaining volume is defined between the impression device and the eardrum;
at least one measurement tube that extends through the impression material; and
an acquisition system, including a receiver, a microphone and an electronics unit operably connected to the receiver and the microphone, acoustically coupled to the at least one measurement tube such that a sound signal emitted by the receiver will pass through the at least one measurement tube and into the remaining volume and then return from the remaining volume through the at least one measurement tube and be picked up by the microphone.

Assignees

• Sonova Ag

Inventors

• Hug Roland
• Stirnemann Alfred
• Frei-Krumme Christian
• Probst Daniel
• Meier Hilmar
• Roth Martin
• Leuthold Markus

Classifications

• H04R25/70

  Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting · CPC title

• H04R2225/021

  Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids · CPC title

• H04R2460/15

  Determination of the acoustic seal of ear moulds or ear tips of hearing devices · CPC title

• H04R25/30 Primary

  Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power · CPC title

• H04R25/658

  Manufacture of housing parts · CPC title