Hearing aid device with positioning guide and hearing aid device system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9860653-B2
Application number	US-201615132684-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A hearing aid device configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user, the hearing aid device comprising:
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;
a microphone configured to receive acoustic signals; and
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,
wherein a first end of the hearing aid device is configured with an elongated connection member having a connection surface comprising a magnetic or magnetizable structure, and wherein the hearing aid device comprises an engaging structure on said first end configured to engage with a tool, wherein the tool comprises:
a holding structure configured to be gripped by a user,
a connection structure extending from said holding structure, and provided with a magnetic or magnetizable member configured to engage with said magnetic or magnetizable member of said hearing aid, and
a mechanical engagement structure, wherein said mechanical engagement structure is configured to connect with at least a part of the elongated connection member of said hearing aid, wherein said tool is configured to be handled by a user for guiding the hearing aid into the ear of a user.

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. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. A hearing aid positioning system comprising:
a hearing aid configured to be partly or fully inserted into the ear canal of a user; and
a tool configured for engaging with a first end of the hearing aid,
wherein the hearing aid comprises:
a receiver adapted to generate and send an acoustic signal towards the eardrum of a hearing aid user,
a microphone configured to receive acoustic signals,
a processing unit configured to determine if the hearing aid is positioned in a correct position in the ear canal on the basis of acoustic signals received by the microphone as reflected signals from the eardrum, and
an elongated connection member in said first end, said elongated connection member being configured with a connection surface comprising a magnetic or magnetizable member,

wherein said tool comprises:
a holding structure configured to be gripped by a user,
a connection structure extending from said holding structure, and provided with a magnetic or magnetizable member configured to engage with said magnetic or magnetizable member of said hearing aid, and
a mechanical engagement structure, wherein said mechanical engagement structure is configured to connect with at least a part of the elongated connection member of said hearing aid, wherein said tool is configured to be handled by a user for guiding the hearing aid into the ear of a user.

15. The hearing aid positioning system according to claim 14 , wherein the tool or the hearing aid 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 thereby make it attract or repel an opposite magnetic or magnetizable member.

16. The hearing aid positioning system according to claim 14 , wherein said mechanical engagement structure of said tool is configured as two or more radially extending arms provided in a distal end of the connection structure of the tool and wherein the elongated connection member of the hearing aid comprises an engaging structure, configured to engage with the magnetic or magnetizable member of the connection structure of the tool simultaneously with said arms of the tool while the tool is in an engagement position relative to said elongated connection member of said hearing aid.

17. T

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

• 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

• H04R25/604

  of acoustic or vibrational transducers · CPC title

• G01S15/08

  Systems for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S15/46) · CPC title

• G01S15/88

  Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications (seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00) · CPC title