Hydrophobic structure for hearing device

Abstract

A hearing device is provided. The hearing device is suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal is provided. The hearing device comprises a barrier. The barrier is configured to prevent foreign matter inside the ear canal from passing. The barrier comprises a body and a structure. The body has a surface. The structure is a microstructure or a nanostructure. The structure is formed on at least a first part of the surface. The first part is thus configured to hinder the foreign matter from adhering thereto. The structure and the body are monolithic.

Claims

1. Hearing device having a housing suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal, comprising: a barrier configured to be releasably connectable to the housing and the barrier being configured to prevent foreign matter inside the ear canal from passing, the barrier being constituted by a dome, the barrier comprising: a body having a surface, and a first part of the body having formed thereon a structure, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, wherein the part of the body outside the first part having a first hydrophobicity and the first part having a second, higher, hydrophobicity, and the first part is a filter thus configured to hinder the foreign matter from adhering thereto, the filter being integral with the dome, and the structure and the body are monolithic.

2. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the first part is at least partially constituted by a membrane and/or a guiding structure of the dome.

3. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier has openings being small enough to prevent the foreign matter from passing but being large enough to allow soundwaves or air for pressure equalization and/or ventilation to pass.

4. Hearing device having a housing suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal, comprising: a barrier configured to be releasably connectable to the housing and the barrier being configured to prevent foreign matter inside the ear canal from passing, the barrier being constituted by a filter of a transducer or by holes and sharp edges of the hearing device being configured to allow soundwaves to pass, the barrier comprising: a body having a surface, and a first part of the body having formed thereon a structure, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, wherein the part of the body outside the first part having a first hydrophobicity and the first part having a second, higher, hydrophobicity, the first part is thus configured to hinder the foreign matter from adhering thereto, the structure and the body are monolithic, and the barrier is integral with a dome.

5. Hearing device according to claim 4, wherein the surface has a second part, which is configured to promote the foreign matter in adhering thereto.

6. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the first part is at least partially constituted by a sound canal of a transducer.

7. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the barrier has openings being small enough to prevent the foreign matter from passing but being large enough to allow soundwaves or air for pressure equalization and/or ventilation to pass.

8. Hearing device according to claim 7, wherein the openings are arranged in the first part or are surrounded by the first part without being arranged in the first part.

9. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the surface has a second part, which is configured to promote the foreign matter in adhering thereto.

10. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the second part is arranged to surround the first part.

11. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the structure is a nanostructure having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 100 nm.

12. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the surface has in the first part a contact angle being more than 12° larger than a contact angle of a surface with the same surface material not having the structure.

13. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the first part is superhydrophobic and the surface has in the first part a contact angle of 150° or more.

14. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the barrier is formed of a polymer based on polypropylene or polyamide.

15. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the structure is a nanostructure having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 100 nm.

16. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the surface has in the first part a contact angle being more than 12° larger than a contact angle of a surface with the same surface material not having the structure.

17. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the first part is superhydrophobic and the surface has in the first part a contact angle of 150° or more.

18. Hearing device according to claim 1, wherein the barrier is formed of a silicone material.

19. Method for manufacturing a hearing device, which is suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal, comprising the steps of forming a texture, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, on at least a first portion of a surface of a mold cavity of a mold, and molding a barrier, constituted by a dome, of a hearing device comprising a body having a surface by use of the mold, the barrier being configured to prevent foreign matter inside the ear canal from passing, wherein the texture impresses a structure, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, on a first part of the surface during the molding so that the first part is a filter thus configured to hinder the foreign matter from adhering thereto, the filter being integral with the dome, and the structure and the body are monolithic.

20. Method according to claim 19, comprising: forming the texture by laser etching, and/or molding being performed by injection molding or compression molding.

21. Hearing device according to claim 5, wherein the barrier is formed of a polymer based on amorphous polyamide with or without glass fibers.

22. Hearing device according to claim 4, wherein the barrier is formed of a polymer based on semi-crystalline polyamide with glass fibers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details to improve the understanding of the claims, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects. These and other aspects, features and/or technical effects will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the structure of a hydrophobic surface according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a droplet on a surface;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates domes according to embodiments of the disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a dome according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates filters according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. Several aspects of the apparatus and methods are described by various functional units, modules, components, processes, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”).

(8) A hearing device may include a hearing aid that is adapted to improve or augment the hearing capability of a user by receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings, generating a corresponding audio signal, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signal as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. The “hearing device” may further refer to a device such as an earphone or a headset adapted to receive an audio signal electronically, possibly modifying the audio signal and providing the possibly modified audio signals as an audible signal to at least one of the user's ears. Such audible signals may be provided in the form of an acoustic signal radiated into the user's outer ear, or an acoustic signal transferred as mechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through bone structure of the user's head and/or through parts of middle ear of the user or electric signals transferred directly or indirectly to cochlear nerve and/or to auditory cortex of the user.

(9) The hearing device is adapted to be worn in any known way. This may include i) arranging a unit of the hearing device behind the ear with a tube leading air-borne acoustic signals into the ear canal or with a receiver/loudspeaker arranged close to or in the ear canal such as in a Behind-the-Ear type hearing aid, and/or ii) arranging the hearing device entirely or partly in the pinna and/or in the ear canal of the user such as in a In-the-Ear type hearing aid or In-the-Canal/Completely-in-Canal type hearing aid, or iii) arranging a unit of the hearing device attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant, or iv) arranging a unit of the hearing device as an entirely or partly implanted unit such as in Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant.

(10) In general, a hearing device includes i) an input unit such as a microphone for receiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing a corresponding input audio signal, and/or ii) a receiving unit for electronically receiving an input audio signal. The hearing device further includes a signal processing unit for processing the input audio signal and an output unit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on the processed audio signal.

(11) The input unit may include multiple input microphones, e.g. for providing direction-dependent audio signal processing. Such directional microphone system is adapted to enhance a target acoustic source among a multitude of acoustic sources in the user's environment. In one aspect, the directional system is adapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction a particular part of the microphone signal originates. This may be achieved by using conventionally known methods. The signal processing unit may include amplifier that is adapted to apply a frequency dependent gain to the input audio signal. The signal processing unit may further be adapted to provide other relevant functionality such as compression, noise reduction, etc. The output unit may include an output transducer such as a loudspeaker/receiver for providing an air-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously to the skull bone or a vibrator for providing a structure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal. In some hearing devices, the output unit may include one or more output electrodes for providing the electric signals such as in a Cochlear Implant.

(12) In the present disclosure, instead of using the chemical coating (or in addition thereto), a structure (imprinted from a textured mold) of the surfaces of e.g. domes and filters (or potentially also the shell parts) of the hearing device are made. However, especially with regards to surfaces which are in contact with a user's fingers (such as e.g. the shells), also a chemical hydrophobic coating is needed. This is due to the fact, that if the user touches the laser structured surface, the dirt, sweat etc. from the skin of a user will potentially damage or impair the structure. Thus for especially the hearing aid shells, a double feature in the form of both structure (1st) and chemical hydrophobic coating (2nd) is used to get a superhydrophobic surface. Again, the chemical nanocoating is not used for the dome surfaces or filters due to potential clogging of the holes in the domes or filters.

(13) In view of especially the domes, it is relevant that the silicone material, which domes are normally made form in itself has a hydrophobic surface. Thus, by applying the imprinted structure to the already hydrophobic material of the dome material, a superhydrophobic surface of the domes (and similarly the filters) is achieved.

(14) Incidentally, the structure on the finished surface of e.g. the dome, filter, shell etc. is dependent on the properties of the material which is to be molded into a specific shape. That is, the more floating property of the material, the more likely the material is to seek into any small holes (texture) in the mold, so as to create a very fine structure imprinted by the texture of the mold. Thus a material which has less floating capability (which is more viscous) is more prone to create a less structured surface. This influences the (super)hydrophobic properties of the surface of the barrier.

(15) The fine structure according to the disclosure is especially relevant for domes, since the silicone material is introduced to the mold in a floating manner, whereby the silicone is able to seek into all grooves, gaps, etc. (texture) of the mold, and thereby create a fine structured surface of the texture in the mold onto the dome as a structure.

(16) With regard to the filters, the same principles apply accordingly. A chemical hydrophobic nanocoating is not applied due to the risk of clogging the filter holes. Accordingly, the imprinted structure is used instead to make the surface (super)hydrophobic without any chemical coating.

(17) Now referring to FIG. 1, which illustrates a shape of a (super)hydrophobic structure of a surface according to an aspect of the disclosure. The figure shows an exemplary zoom of an imprinted surface. In case of a nanostructure, the ridges and the bottoms of the irregular structure have a mean distance of 0.1 to 100 nm. In case of a microstructure, the distance is 0.1 to 100 μm. The depicted structure of the surface of a dome, filter etc. is formed with the body of the dome, filter etc. integrally (in one piece), without any (recognizable) transition or border.

(18) On the other hand, micro- and nanostructures, which are applied to body surfaces by chemical coatings have a different consistency (e.g., grain structure and size/shape). There is a more or less sharp separating line between the body and the structured surface in a sectional view of the chemically coated element, e.g., a shell.

(19) FIG. 2 shows a contact angle θ.sub.0, being less than 90°. Accordingly, the depicted surface is non-hydrophobic, i.e., is hydrophilic. The figure only serves for illustrating the principle of wetting of a surface by a droplet.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a dome 10 as one example of a barrier according to one aspect of the disclosure. In the upper row, a front, side and back view of the dome 10 is presented. In the middle and lower row, different types of domes 10 are depicted in the front view. The middle row shows domes 20 having integrally provided filter elements, while the lower row shows domes 20 having an integrally provided membrane. All the depicted examples can be combined.

(21) The dome 10 has a body 11 and a surface 12. The surface 12 can be a surface, which is arranged on the outside of the dome 10, i.e., which is directly disposed to the ear canal 1 (which faces the ear canal walls, the ear canal opening and the ear drum). The surface 12 can also be a surface, which is arranged on the inside of the dome 10, e.g., in a through or blind hole of the dome 10.

(22) The dome 10 has openings 14. The openings 14 can be provided for sound transmission. Examples of this kind of openings (sound canals) are denoted with reference numeral 14 in the middle row of FIG. 3. The openings 14 can be provided for pressure equalization and/or ventilation. An example of this kind of opening 14 is denoted with reference numeral 14 in the lower row of FIG. 3. The left domes 10 in the middle and lower row do not have the ventilation/pressure equalization feature. All depicted openings 14 are small enough to not allow debris to pass through.

(23) In FIG. 3, reference number 13 denotes the first part of the surface 12, i.e., the part, to which the micro- or nanostructure according to the disclosure is imprinted during molding by the texture of the mold.

(24) The first part 13 is (super)hydrophobic by the structure and further by the choice of the material of the dome 10.

(25) In the middle row of FIG. 3, the first part 13 corresponds to a filter, which is integrally provided in the dome 10. In the lower row of FIG. 3, the first part 13 corresponds to a membrane of the dome 10.

(26) Reference number 15 in FIG. 3 depicts the second part of the surface 12 according to the disclosure. The second part 15 is non-(super)hydrophobic. Preferably, the second part 15 is hydrophilic, so as to guide debris away from the first part 13.

(27) FIG. 4 shows a dome 10 in a sectional view being inserted into an ear canal 1. The transducer (receiver) of the hearing aid is shown in a side view.

(28) The dome 10 shown in FIG. 4 has a body 11 having a (general) surface 12, which has a first part 13 and a second part 15. The first part 13 is exemplarily constituted by the branch of the through hole (canal) of the dome 10, which directly leads to the transducer. In FIG. 4, the first part 13 is represented by a thick line of (a part of) the canal of the dome 10. The second part 15 is exemplarily constituted by the outer portion of the front (upper in the figure) surface 12 of the dome 15. Thus, debris (ear wax in the FIG. 2 is guided to the outer periphery of the dome 10 and away from the (main) canal of the dome 10.

(29) Although not depicted in FIG. 4, the entire (main) canal (through hole) of the dome 10 can be provided with the structure according to the disclosure, i.e., can correspond to the first part 13 of the surface 12. Thus, the ear wax 2, which is not led to the outer periphery of the dome 10 can be efficiently guided thorough the dome 10 and towards the opening of the ear canal 1. This movement of the ear wax 2 through the dome 10 is represented by the broken line in FIG. 4.

(30) By utilizing combinations of hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces it possible to create labyrinths, pockets, traps and barriers to guide the ear wax 2.

(31) FIG. 5 shows exemplary embodiments of a filter 20 according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 5, the left column shows a front view of the filter 20, the middle column shows a side view of the filter 20 and the right column shows a back view of the filter 20. All the depicted examples can be combined.

(32) The filter 20 has a body 21 and a surface 22. The surface 22 can be a surface, which is arranged on the outside of the filter 20, i.e., which is directly disposed to the ear canal 1 (which faces the ear canal walls, the ear canal opening and the ear drum). The surface 22 can also be a surface, which is arranged on the inside of the filter 20, e.g., in a through or blind hole of the filter 20.

(33) The filter 20 has openings 24. The openings 24 are provided for sound transmission. All depicted openings 24 are small enough to not allow debris to pass through. The openings 24 can have any desired shape.

(34) In FIG. 5, reference number 23 denotes the first part of the surface 22, i.e., the part, to which the micro- or nanostructure according to the disclosure is imprinted during molding by the texture of the mold.

(35) The first part 23 is (super)hydrophobic by the structure and further by the choice of the material of the filter 20.

(36) In the upper row of FIG. 5, the first part 23 exemplarily corresponds to the inner periphery of the (main) through hole of the filter 20. Thus, even if foreign matter unexpectedly enters the filter 20, it is guided to the outside thereof.

(37) In the middle row of FIG. 5, the first part 23 exemplarily corresponds to a the faceplate of the filter 20, in which the sound transmission openings 24 are provided.

(38) Reference number 25 in FIG. 5 depicts the second part of the surface 22 according to the disclosure. The second part 25 is non-(super)hydrophobic. Preferably, the second part 25 is hydrophilic, so as to guide debris away from the first part 23. The second part 25 surrounds the first part 23 so as to guide debris to the outside periphery of the filter 20.

(39) In the lower row of FIG. 5, the first part 23 exemplarily corresponds the outer periphery of the (central) through hole or of the membrane of the filter 20. Preferably, the first part 23 is constituted by the front surface of the front flange of the filter 20. In the depicted embodiment, the faceplate including the openings 24 has been left out and replaced by a membrane. The first part 23 arranged around the membrane is sufficient to guide debris to the outer periphery of the filter 20 and thus away from the membrane.

(40) The micro- or nanostructures are used locally in the filters 20 to protect the membrane or sound canals against foreign matter.

(41) Generally, the present disclosure relates to:

(42) 1 A hearing device suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal (1), comprising a barrier (10, 20) configured to prevent foreign matter (2) inside the ear canal (1) from passing, the barrier (10, 20) comprising a body (11, 21) having a surface (12, 22), and a structure, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, wherein the structure is formed on at least a first part (13, 23) of the surface (12, 22), and the first part (13, 23) is thus configured to hinder the foreign matter (2) from adhering thereto, and the structure and the body (11, 21) are monolithic.

(43) 2. Hearing device according to item 1, wherein the barrier (10, 20) is constituted by a dome, by a filter of a transducer or by holes and sharp edges of the hearing device being configured to allow soundwaves to pass.

(44) 3. Hearing device according to item 1, wherein the barrier (10) is constituted by a dome and the first part (13) is at least partially constituted by a membrane and/or a guiding structure of the dome.

(45) 4. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the first part (13, 23) is at least partially constituted by a sound canal of a transducer.

(46) 5. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the barrier (10, 20) has openings (14, 24) being small enough to prevent the foreign matter (2) from passing but being large enough to allow soundwaves or air for pressure equalization and/or ventilation to pass.

(47) 6. Hearing device according to item 5, wherein the openings (14, 24) are arranged in the first part (13, 23) or are surrounded by the first part (13, 23) without being arranged in the first part (13, 23).

(48) 7. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the surface (12, 22) has a second part (15, 25), which is configured to promote the foreign matter (2) in adhering thereto.

(49) 8. Hearing device according to item 7, wherein the second part (15, 25) is arranged to surround the first part (13, 23).

(50) 9. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the structure is a nanostructure having a thickness in the range of 0.1 to 100 nm.

(51) 10. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the surface (12, 22) has in the first part (13, 23) a contact angle being more than 12° larger than a contact angle of a surface with the same surface material not having the structure.

(52) 11. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the first part (13, 23) is superhydrophobic and the surface (12, 22) has in the first part (13, 23) a contact angle of 150° or more.

(53) 12. Hearing device according to any of the preceding items, wherein the barrier (10, 20) is formed of a polymer based on polypropylene or polyamide, preferably on amorphous polyamide with or without glass fibers and most preferably on semi-crystalline polyamide with glass fibers.

(54) 13. Method for manufacturing a hearing device, which is suitable for being at least partially inserted into an ear canal (1), comprising the steps of forming a texture, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, on at least a first portion of a surface of a mold cavity of a mold, and molding a barrier (10, 20) of a hearing device comprising a body (11, 21) having a surface (12, 23) by use of the mold, the barrier (10, 20) being configured to prevent foreign matter (2) inside the ear canal (1) from passing, wherein the texture impresses a structure, which is a microstructure or a nanostructure, on a first part (13, 23) of the surface (12, 22) during the molding so that the first part (13, 23) is thus configured to hinder the foreign matter (2) from adhering thereto, and the structure and the body (11, 21) are monolithic.

(55) 14. Method according to item 13, wherein the texture is formed by laser etching, and/or the molding is injection molding or compression molding.

(56) 15. Method according to item 13 or 14, wherein the barrier (10, 20) is formed of a polymer based on polypropylene or polyamide, preferably on amorphous polyamide with or without glass fibers and most preferably on semi-crystalline polyamide with glass fibers

(57) It is intended that the structural features of the devices described above, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may be combined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by a corresponding process.

(58) As used, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element but an intervening elements may also be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any disclosed method is not limited to the exact order stated herein, unless expressly stated otherwise.

(59) It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an aspect” or features included as “may” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects.

(60) The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more.

(61) Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims that follow.