MULTI-PART EARDRUM-CONTACT HEARING AID PLACED DEEP IN THE EAR CANAL

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing aid comprising a an eardrum module and an ear canal module, the eardrum module being able to be arranged to be in contact with the eardrum of a person and the ear canal module being able to be arranged in the ear canal of the person.

Claims

1. A hearing aid, comprising an eardrum module arranged to be in contact with an eardrum of a person, an ear canal module configured to be placed in the ear canal of a person, wherein the eardrum module and the ear canal module are, when they are disposed in an ear of the person, connected to each other only by at least one cable, wherein the eardrum module and the ear canal module are electrically contacted with each other via the at least one cable.

2. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable is extendable.

3. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable is at least one of: elastically extendable from a wound or folded state or the cable is made of an elastic material.

4. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable is wound into a spiral shape.

5. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable comprises a flexible laminate, said flexible laminate comprising at least one electrically insulating layer and at least one electrically conductive layer.

6. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable is connected to the ear canal module via at least one of: a plug connection or an abutting connection.

7. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the cable is connected to the eardrum module in at least one of: a nondetachable or integrally bonded manner.

8. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the eardrum module has at least one actuator and is configured such that a vibration of the actuator is transmissible to the eardrum when the eardrum module is in contact with the eardrum.

9. The hearing aid according to claim 8, wherein the actuator has a membrane structure, the membrane structure having at least one carrier layer and at least one piezo layer arranged on the carrier layer and comprising at least one piezoelectric material, so that vibrations of the membrane structure can be generated by applying a voltage to the piezo layer.

10. The hearing aid according to claim 9, wherein the membrane structure is divided into at least two or more segments by at least one intersecting line intersecting all layers of the membrane structure, so that the membrane structure is mechanically decoupled at the intersecting line.

11. The hearing aid according to according to claim 1, wherein the ear canal module has a storage for electrical energy, and wherein the storage is rechargeable.

12. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the ear canal module comprises at least one microphone.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein electrical energy is capable of being wirelessly supplied to the ear canal module.

14. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein electrical energy is capable of being supplied to the ear canal module via at least one of: a reconnectable detachable, positive, or a nonpositive connection.

15. The hearing aid according to claim 1, further comprising an external module which is configured to be connected to the ear canal module for supplying the ear canal module with at least one of: electrical energy, an information signal, or which is configured to be connected to the ear canal module for supplying the eardrum module with the at least one of: electrical energy or information signal.

16. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module comprises a battery, and wherein the battery is rechargeable.

17. The hearing aid according to claim 16, wherein the external module is connectable to the ear canal module via at least one of: a wireless connection, reconnectable detachable, positive, or a nonpositive connection for supplying the ear canal module with electrical energy.

18. The hearing aid according to claim 16, wherein the external module has at least one ear part shaped so that the at least one ear part is capable of being held by the ear of the person.

19. The hearing aid according to claim 18, wherein the external module comprises a bracket on which the at least one ear part is located and which is configured so that it can reach over a head of the person.

20. The hearing aid according to claim 19, wherein the at least one ear part is sized and shaped or otherwise configured to be placed in one ear canal of the person.

21. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module has at least one microphone.

22. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein a signal transmission connection e is capable of being established between the external module and the ear canal module.

23. The hearing aid according to claim 22, wherein the signal transmission connection is independent of the connection for supplying the ear canal module with electrical energy or wherein the signal transmission connection is made via the connection for supplying the ear canal module with electrical energy.

24. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module has an interface for establishing a connection to an external device.

25. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module has an interface for at least one of: receiving an operating command or for receiving an audio signal from an audio source.

26. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module has at least one operating element with which the hearing aid is operated.

27. The hearing aid according to claim 15, wherein the external module is connected via a cable to an intermediate module that is configured to be placed in the ear canal of the person, wherein the intermediate module comprises a transmitting device for at least one of: a wired power transmission, a wired signal transmission, a wireless power transmission, or a wireless signal transmission, and wherein the ear canal module has a receiving device for at least one of a wired energy transmission, a wired signal transmission, a wireless energy transmission, or a wireless signal transmission.

28. The hearing aid according to claim 1, wherein the ear canal module has at least one throughhole which extends from a side of the ear canal module facing the eardrum to a side of the ear canal module facing outwards.

29. A method for arranging a hearing aid in an ear of a person, the method comprising: arranging an eardrum module to be in contact with an eardrum of the person, wherein a cable is located outside the ear with an end facing away from the eardrum module; leading the cable through a throughhole in an ear canal module; and guiding the ear canal module on the cable into the ear canal of the person.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the cable has at least one contact point in electrical contact with the ear canal module when the ear canal module is arranged in the ear canal.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the cable has a marking at a position where the ear canal module is located on the cable, the ear canal module being guided on the cable into the ear canal of the person to at least one of: the marking or to a defined distance from the marking.

Description

[0078] In the following, the invention will be exemplified by some figures. Identical reference signs indicate identical or corresponding characteristics. The characteristics shown in the examples can also be realized independently of concrete examples and combined between the examples.

[0079] In the drawings:

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary design of a hearing aid according to the invention,

[0081] FIG. 2 shows a design of a spiral flexible cable to connect an eardrum module to an ear canal module,

[0082] FIG. 3 shows a spiral-shaped, stretchable cable in the expanded state,

[0083] FIG. 4 shows an expandable cable with two connected spirals in expanded state,

[0084] FIG. 5 shows a hearing aid according to the invention in two ears,

[0085] FIGS. 6 to 10 show exemplary block diagrams of hearing aids according to the invention,

[0086] FIG. 11 shows a hearing aid with an energy transmission combining wired energy transmission with wireless energy transmission, and

[0087] FIG. 12 shows a design of the invention in which a cable is passed through a through-hole in the ear canal module to connect an eardrum module to an ear canal module.

[0088] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a hearing aid according to the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the hearing aid has an eardrum module 1 that is disposed to be in contact with a person's eardrum 9. The hearing aid shown in FIG. 1 also has an ear canal module 2 which is located deep in the ear canal 7 of the person. The eardrum module 1 and the ear canal module 2 are located in the person's ear 6 and are connected to each other there only by a cable 4. The eardrum module 1 and the ear canal module 2 are electrically connected to each other via the cable 4.

[0089] In the example shown, eardrum module 1 has an actuator that is not shown and is designed in such a way that an oscillation of the actuator can be transmitted to the eardrum 9 when the eardrum module 1 is in contact with the eardrum 9. Such an actuator can, for example, be designed as a membrane structure comprising a carrier layer and a piezo layer, wherein the piezo layer contains a piezoelectric material so that by applying a voltage to the piezo layer, oscillations of the membrane structure can be generated which can be transmitted to the eardrum 9. The membrane structure may, for example, be divided into at least one, two or more segments in an area of the membrane structure by at least one intersecting line intersecting all layers of the membrane structure, so that the membrane structure is mechanically coupled at the intersecting line.

[0090] In the example shown, the ear canal module 2 has an electrical energy storage device (not shown) that may be rechargeable. Furthermore, in the example shown, the ear canal module 2 has at least one microphone, which is also not shown.

[0091] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the hearing aid also has an external module 3, which here functions as a charging module 3. The charging module 3 is coupled to the ear canal module 2 via a wireless interface 5, through which electrical energy and data signals such as audio signals can be transmitted from the charging module 3 to the ear canal module 2.

[0092] It can be seen that the ear canal module 2 is entirely disposed deep in the ear canal 7 of the person. In this condition, it can only be removed by a specialist. However, the external module 3 partially protrudes from the ear canal 7 and can be removed by the user. The external module 3 may itself have a battery that can be charged in the ear or by the user when removed.

[0093] The external module 3 also has an interface which can be used to transmit and receive radio signals 8. These radio signals can be used to receive data, such as configuration data and/or audio signals from an external device and/or send them to an external device.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows an example of a possible design of a cable 4 to connect eardrum module 1 and ear canal module 2. Cable 4 here is designed to be elastically stretchable, cable 4 being stretchable from a coiled, helical state. In the example shown in FIG. 2, cable 4 has a flexible laminate with an electrically insulating layer on one side and a structured electrically conductive layer 41 on the other. The cable 4 has a flat helical shape in a relaxed state and has a diameter of the helical shape of, for example, 5 mm. In this way, if ear canal module 2 and eardrum module 1 are positioned in ear canal 7 as intended, it can be rolled up and fit into the external ear canal 7.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows the design of cable 4 in an expanded state as shown in FIG. 2. It can be seen that the cable runs spirally in the expanded state and tapers towards the middle.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows a design of the elastically stretchable cable 4 with two halves 4a and 4b, halves 4a and 4b being joined together in the middle. FIG. 4 shows cable 4 in stretched condition. It can be seen that halves 4a and 4b widen away from the connecting point in the middle according to their respective spiral shape. In the non-expanded state, the two halves 4a and 4b can each have a helical shape, the two helical shapes being connected to each other in their centres.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows a 3-part design arranged in both ears 6a and 6b of a person 11. In each ear 6a and 6b of person 11, an eardrum module 1a and 1b is placed in contact with the respective eardrum 9a, 9b. In addition, an ear canal module 2a or 2b is arranged in each ear canal 7a or 7b of the person. Each ear 6a or 6b also contains an external module 3a or 3b. The external module modules 3a and 3b are designed so that they each have a section 31a and 31b, respectively, which has a diameter larger than the diameter of the ear canal 7a and 7b, respectively. The external modules 3a and 3b also have a section 32a and 32b, respectively, with diameters smaller than the diameters of the corresponding ear canals 7a and 7b, respectively.

[0098] The information in FIG. 1 applies accordingly with regard to the coupling of the external modules 3a and 3b with the ear canal modules 2a and 2b and the ear canal modules 2a and 2b with the eardrum modules 1a and 1b.

[0099] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the external modules 3a and 3b have interfaces that allow them to be coupled with an external device 61 such as a smartphone 61. In addition, the two external modules 3a and 3b have interfaces with which the two external modules 3a and 3b can be coupled together. This connection can be used, for example, to exchange data between the two external modules and thus enable binaural hearing aid functions.

[0100] FIG. 6 schematically shows an interconnection of two hearing aids, each having an external module 3a, 3b, an ear canal module 2a, 2b and an eardrum module 1a, 1b. In the following, the construction of only one of the hearing aids will be described. The above applies to the other hearing aid accordingly.

[0101] The external module 3a has a microphone 71 which is connected to a signal processor 72. The external module 3a also has an energy management unit 73 which is connected to an energy storage unit 74. The energy management unit 73 can also be connected to the signal processing unit 72 to exchange information. The energy management unit 73 can be supplied with electrical energy via an optional charging interface to charge the energy storage unit 74, provided that it is rechargeable. The energy management unit 73 supplies all active elements in the external module 3a with energy. For this purpose, corresponding connections are available, but they are not shown in this and the following figures.

[0102] The external module 3a can also have an antenna 75, which is connected to the signal processing unit 72 via a transceiver 76. It can be used to enter control commands, read out information and/or transmit audio signals. Optionally, a user interface can also be connected to the signal processing unit 72, which allows the user to adjust the volume, change programs, or switch the device off and on or into an energy-saving mode.

[0103] The external unit 3a also has a transmitter and receiver 77 for wireless data transmission, which allows data to be exchanged with a wireless transmitter and receiver 79 in the ear canal module 2a. The external module 3a also has a wireless transmitter 78 for wireless transmission of electrical energy to a receiver 80 of the ear canal module 2a. In the ear canal module 2a the receiver 79 is coupled to a signal processing unit 83 via a data transceiver 81. The wireless receiver 80 for electrical energy is connected to an energy management unit 84 via a transceiver 82 for energy transmission. The energy management unit 84 is coupled with an energy storage unit 85 and is also connected to the signal processing unit 83 for the exchange of information. The energy management unit 84 supplies all active elements in the ear canal module 2a with energy. For this purpose, corresponding connections are available, but they are not shown in this and the following figures. The ear canal module 2a also has a microphone 86, by means of which the sound to be heard can be picked up if the external module 3a is not disposed in the ear canal.

[0104] The ear canal module 2a has an amplifier 89 which amplifies the output signals of the signal processing unit 83 intended for eardrum module 1a. To transmit the signals, the ear canal module 2a is connected to the eardrum module 1a via a cable 4.

[0105] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the external modules 3a and 3b each have an inductive interface consisting of a transceiver 87 and an antenna 88, shown here explicitly as a coil, via which data can be transmitted between the external modules 3a and 3b.

[0106] FIG. 7 schematically shows circuitry for another exemplary design of a hearing aid according to the invention. The hearing aid shown in FIG. 7 has one eardrum module 1a and 1b each and one ear canal module 2a and 2b each. The eardrum module 1a, 1b and the ear canal module 2a, 2b are in turn connected to each other by means of a cable 4, via which electrical contact is made. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the hearing aid also has an external unit 3a, 3b, which in this case is designed to be worn permanently in the ear, but which can be removed by the user without professional help to recharge a battery 74 of the external module 3a, 3b. Since the external module in the example shown is worn permanently in the ear and has a battery 74, the ear canal module 2a, 2b does not need to have its own energy storage. This means that the ear canal module 2a, 2b can be made significantly smaller. To transfer energy from the external module 3a, 3b to the ear canal module 2a, 2b, an inductive energy transfer, e.g. by means of inductive transmission, is provided here.

[0107] Since the external module 3a, 3b is worn permanently in the ear, it impedes the surge path to the ear canal module 2a, 2b. For this reason, a microphone 71 is provided here in the external module 3a, 3b to pick up sound. An optical connection 10 is provided between the external module 3a, 3b and the ear canal module 2a, 2b for signal transmission. The transmitting and receiving elements 77 and 79 are therefore explicitly shown in this example as a combination of light-emitting diode and photodiode. The audio signal picked up by the microphone of the external module 3a, 3b is transmitted via the optical interface 10 to the ear canal module 2a, 2b and from there via cable 4 to the eardrum module 1a, 1b.

[0108] FIG. 8 shows another example of a hearing aid according to the invention with one ear canal module 2a and 2b and one eardrum module 1a and 1b in each ear of the person. The ear canal modules 2a and 2b and the eardrum modules 1a and 1b are constructed as shown in FIG. 6. Reference is made to the description there.

[0109] While FIG. 6 shows two external modules 3a and 3b, FIG. 8 shows only one external module 3. This external module 3 contains all the antennas that were distributed between the two external modules 3a and 3b in FIG. 6. Therefore, the external module 3 in FIG. 8 contains two data outputs 77a and 77b and two outputs 78a and 78b, which can be used to transmit data or power to the corresponding inputs 79 and 80 of the ear canal modules 2a and 2b.

[0110] In the example shown in FIG. 8, the external unit 3 has a left microphone 71a and a right microphone 71b coupled with a common signal processing unit 72. The external module 3 also has an energy management unit 73, which can be supplied with electrical energy via an external interface and is coupled with an energy storage unit 74. It can also be connected to the signal processing unit 72 for information exchange. The energy management unit 73 also supplies all active units of the external module 3a, 3b with energy via connections (not shown). The signal processing unit 73 is in turn connected to the outputs 77a, 78a, 77b, 78a via data or power transmitters.

[0111] In FIGS. 6 to 8, both energy and data are transmitted from the external modules 3a, 3b and 3, respectively, to the ear canal modules 2a, 2b. Both transmissions are wireless. FIG. 9, on the other hand, shows a design as in FIG. 6, with a separate external module 3a and 3b being provided for each ear. In contrast to FIG. 6, the external modules 3a and 3b are each connected to the corresponding ear canal modules 2a, 2b by a cable 91, via which both power and data signals are transmitted. For this purpose, the external units 3a and 3b each have a common output 92 for energy and data, which is connected to both the energy management unit 73 and the signal processing unit 72 in the corresponding external module 3a or 3b. On the side of the external modules 2a and 2b, cable 91 is connected to the ear canal module 2a and 2b via a detachable plug connection 80. Connector 80 for data and power is connected to a data processing unit 83 and an energy management unit 84. The energy management unit 84 is connected to an energy storage device 85, which can be charged via connector 80 and can supply the active units of the ear canal module with energy.

[0112] In FIGS. 6 to 9, the ear canal modules 2a and 2b contain active circuit elements that require an auxiliary power supply. FIG. 10 shows an inventive design of the hearing aid in which the ear canal modules 2a and 2b contain only passive electrical components and conduct signals from the external module 3a, 3b to the eardrum module 1a, 1b. As before, the eardrum module 1a, 1b is connected to the ear canal module 2a, 2b via a cable 4. The ear canal module is connected to the external module 3a, 3b via a cable 91 and a detachable plug connector 80. The latter is intended to be worn on the ear, for example in the form of a behind-the-ear device. As in FIG. 7, it can be removed by the user without professional assistance for recharging or replacing a battery 74. The ear canal module establishes a passive electrical connection between connector 80 on the outside and cable 4 to the eardrum module 1a, 1b and serves as a strain relief when removing the external module 3a, 3b.

[0113] At the contact point 92 between cable 91 and the external module 3a, 3b, the signal amplified by amplifier 89 disposed in the external module 3a, 3b is introduced for the sound transducer integrated in the eardrum module 1a, 1b.

[0114] The external module 3a, 3b has an energy management unit 73 which is connected to an energy storage unit 74. If the energy storage is rechargeable, the external module 3a, 3b has a charging interface which is connected to the energy management unit 73. The external module 3a, 3b also has a signal processing unit 72. This can be connected to the energy management unit 73 for information exchange. It also generates the signal for the transducer, which is routed to amplifier 89. It is furthermore connected to a microphone 71 integrated in the external module 3a, 3b, which picks up audio signals from the surroundings. An inductive data transmission unit 87 with antenna coil 88 is used for data exchange between the two external modules 3a and 3b. Optionally, the external module 3a, 3b can have a radio signal transmitter and receiver unit 76 with an antenna 75 to exchange data with peripheral devices such as a smartphone.

[0115] FIG. 11 shows an advantageous design of the invention in which the external module 3 is connected to the eardrum module 2 via a wire 5b. The wire 5b is arranged with its one end on the external module 3 and with its opposite end on an intermediate module 102a, which has a transmitting device for a wired and/or wireless energy and/or signal transmission, for example contact pins, a light source, a coil and/or a capacitor plate.

[0116] Ear canal module 2 has a receiving device 102b for wired and/or wireless energy transmission, which, corresponding to the transmitting device in intermediate module 102a, may have, for example, electrical contact surfaces, a device for converting light energy into electrical energy, a coil or a capacitor plate. In the example shown, ear canal module 2 is connected to eardrum module 1 via cable 4. For example, intermediate module 102a and/or ear canal module 2 can be held in ear canal 7 by means of an anchoring device 102c, which is located on an outer side of the respective components and touches the wall of the ear canal.

[0117] FIG. 12 shows an optional configuration of the invention in which the ear canal module has a through-hole 100. The cable 4 connected to the eardrum module 1 can be led therethrough to the outside. In a method in accordance with the invention, the eardrum module 1 can then first be arranged on the eardrum 9. Cable 4 can be held outside the ear canal and the ear canal module 2 can be slid onto cable 4 by passing cable 4 through opening 100. The ear canal module 2 can then be inserted into the ear canal and the cable 4 pulled through the opening 100. Cable 4 may have a marking 101 which indicates whether the ear canal module has been advanced sufficiently far along the cable. Cable 4 may have a contact point 102 which can be used to make electrical contact with contacts 103 of the ear canal module. The contact point 102 is located on the cable where the contacts of the ear canal module 103 are located when arranged as intended.