Patent classifications
H04R25/02
Miniature ear canal type hearing aid
The present invention discloses a miniature ear canal hearing aid, electronic elements other than a receiver being wrapped inside a housing, a front end of the housing being sealed and fixed at a rear end of the receiver, a sound outlet of the receiver being exposed to an outside of the housing, the receiver being wrapped with an eardrum head thereon, the eardrum head being fixed at the front end of the housing in a detachable manner, and the sound outlet of the receiver being located inside the eardrum head. The structure of the present invention can increase a degree of curvature of a portion going deep into the ear canal, reduce a volume of the hearing aid, and improve adaptability, comfort and concealment.
IMPLEMENT TO BE WORN ON OUTER EAR
A ready-made device attachable to an outer ear achieving excellent feeling of attachment and high stability is provided. The device attachable to an outer ear according to this invention includes an inserting part of a tubular shape to be inserted into an external auditory canal and a setting part to be set in a cavity of concha, and the inserting part and the setting part are disposed on an imaginary spherical surface, and the inserting part is rotatable around a longitudinal axis thereof inside the external auditory canal. Since the setting part is arranged on the same imaginary spherical surface as the inserting part, the setting part is disposed along an inner wall of a cavity of concha in a state where the inserting part is inside the external auditory canal.
IMPLEMENT TO BE WORN ON OUTER EAR
A ready-made device attachable to an outer ear achieving excellent feeling of attachment and high stability is provided. The device attachable to an outer ear according to this invention includes an inserting part of a tubular shape to be inserted into an external auditory canal and a setting part to be set in a cavity of concha, and the inserting part and the setting part are disposed on an imaginary spherical surface, and the inserting part is rotatable around a longitudinal axis thereof inside the external auditory canal. Since the setting part is arranged on the same imaginary spherical surface as the inserting part, the setting part is disposed along an inner wall of a cavity of concha in a state where the inserting part is inside the external auditory canal.
Compact hearing aids
The present disclosure relates to compact hearing aids, components thereof, and support systems therefor, as well as methods of insertion and removal thereof. The compact hearing aids generally include a sensor, such as a microphone, an actuation mass, an energy source for providing power to the compact hearing aid, a processor, and an actuator enclosed in a housing that is designed to be inserted through the tympanic membrane during a minimally-invasive outpatient procedure. In operation, the microphone receives sound waves and converts the sound waves into electrical signals. A processor then modifies the electrical signals and provides the electrical signals to the actuator. The actuator converts the electrical signals into mechanical motion, which actuates the actuation mass to modulate the velocity or the position of the tympanic membrane.
Adaptor system for eyewear and cochlear implants
An adaptor system to facilitate use of eyewear with an audio processor for a cochlear hearing implant. The system includes an audio processor adaptor configured to mount to the audio processor and an eyewear adaptor configured to mount to the eyewear. The audio processor adaptor and the eyewear adaptor can be selectively connected to join the eyewear and the audio processor. The audio processor adaptor may include an ear hook portion that allows the audio processor to be worn over a wearer's ear even when separated from the eyewear. The adaptor system may be provided as a kit including a plurality of audio processor adaptors configured to mount to different audio processors and/or a plurality of eyewear adaptors configured to mount to different eyewear. The adaptors may include universal connectors that allow any audio processor adaptor to be interconnected with any eyewear adaptor.
Partial HRTF compensation or prediction for in-ear microphone arrays
In some embodiments, an ear-mounted sound reproduction system is provided. The system includes an ear-mountable housing that sits within the pinna of the ear and occludes the ear canal. In some embodiments, the ear-mountable housing includes a plurality of external-facing microphones. Because the external-facing microphones may be situated within the pinna of the ear but outside of the ear canal, the microphones will experience some, but not all, of the three-dimensional acoustic effects of the pinna. In some embodiments, sound is reproduced by an internal-facing driver element of the housing using a plurality of filters applied to the signals received by the plurality of external-facing microphones to preserve three-dimensional localization cues that would be present at the eardrum in the absence of the housing, such that the housing is essentially transparent to the user. In some embodiments, techniques are provided for deriving the plurality of filters.
Partial HRTF compensation or prediction for in-ear microphone arrays
In some embodiments, an ear-mounted sound reproduction system is provided. The system includes an ear-mountable housing that sits within the pinna of the ear and occludes the ear canal. In some embodiments, the ear-mountable housing includes a plurality of external-facing microphones. Because the external-facing microphones may be situated within the pinna of the ear but outside of the ear canal, the microphones will experience some, but not all, of the three-dimensional acoustic effects of the pinna. In some embodiments, sound is reproduced by an internal-facing driver element of the housing using a plurality of filters applied to the signals received by the plurality of external-facing microphones to preserve three-dimensional localization cues that would be present at the eardrum in the absence of the housing, such that the housing is essentially transparent to the user. In some embodiments, techniques are provided for deriving the plurality of filters.
MODULATION IN A CONTACT HEARING SYSTEM
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.
MODULATION IN A CONTACT HEARING SYSTEM
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a contact hearing system comprising: an ear tip including a transmit coil, wherein the transmit coil is connected to an audio processor, including an H Bridge circuit; a first input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an AND circuit wherein a first input to the AND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the AND circuit comprises an output of a delta sigma modulation circuit, wherein the delta sigma modulation circuit is a component of the audio processor; and a second input to the H Bridge circuit comprising an NAND circuit wherein a first input to the NAND circuit comprises a carrier signal and a second input to the NAND circuit comprises an output of the delta sigma modulation circuit.
OPEN FIT CANAL HEARING DEVICE
A hearing aid device adapted for use within the ear canal and of partially exposed in the canal types. This aid allows an air gap to substantially surround the hearing aid shell and air passages which communicate with the inner ear minimizing occlusion sensations and providing the user with an enhanced natural hearing experience. An aspect of this device is the provision of air passages in the mounting insert which securely positions the hearing aid shell in the wearer's canal. These passages are designed to stay open after insertion of the aid in the ear canal. In use, unamplified sound from the outside passes around the hearing aid shell, through the air passages in the mounting insert blending with the amplified sound emanating from the receiver. The area of air passages in the mounting insert can be tailored by the technician adapting to the bearing loss characteristics of the user.