Hearing aid

Abstract

A hearing aid comprises a microphone on a proximal side of a device housing and a loudspeaker which via a transmission channel is in open communication with a sound-emitting opening of the device. A sound processing device serves to generate sound received by the microphone to the loudspeaker in amplified form. The device housing is provided on a distal side with an optionally sealed battery chamber for receiving a battery therein. The transmission channel is at least almost wholly separated from the microphone acoustically in order to prevent acoustic feedback. The battery chamber comprises ventilation means for the purpose of increasing the lifespan of the battery.

Claims

1. A hearing aid adapted to be received deeply in an auditory canal of a user in at least a locally fitting manner, so that substantially no parts thereof protrude or are visible from outside the ear, comprising: a fitting body that comprises a cavity that is open on at least one side, and a sound emitting opening; and a device housing that comprises a microphone on a proximal side of the device housing, a loudspeaker which is in open communication with the sound-emitting opening, a battery chamber for receiving a battery therein, and a sound processing device for generating sound received by the microphone to the loudspeaker in at least a partly processed manner, wherein the device housing is configured to be releasably placed in said cavity of the fitting body, the fitting body having an outer wall which is configured to lie at least locally sealingly against a wall of said auditory canal of the user, wherein the fitting body is a resilient sleeve that forms the sound-emitting opening and that forms a sound transmission channel between the loudspeaker and the sound emitting opening, and wherein the fitting body further comprises a pull member extending substantially parallel to a center line of the cavity, past the proximal side of the device housing in the cavity, as an integral extension of the resilient sleeve.

2. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer wall of the device housing and an inner wall of the fitting body are mutually provided with a peripheral rib or an at least almost complementary peripheral groove, which are able and adapted to co-act in a mutually sealing manner.

3. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral wall of the fitting body is at least locally flexible and is adapted and able to adjust itself to a natural anatomy of the auditory canal.

4. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the peripheral wall of the fitting body comprises one or more flexible fins which extend all around and are able and adapted to lie close-fittingly in the auditory canal of the user.

5. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove in an outer wall of the device housing forms at least a part of the sound transmission channel between the loudspeaker and the sound-emitting opening.

6. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein a groove in an inner wall of the fitting body forms at least a part of the sound transmission channel between the loudspeaker and the sound-emitting opening.

7. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission channel between the loudspeaker and the sound-emitting opening comprises a buffer space for cerumen.

8. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transmission channel between the loudspeaker and the sound-emitting opening comprises at least one curve.

9. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound-emitting opening opens into a recess in a distal end of the fitting body.

10. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the recess comprises at least one groove in the distal end.

11. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one groove extends, at least in projection, in different directions.

12. The hearing aid as claimed claim 1, wherein the battery chamber extends at least partly distally from the loudspeaker, wherein the loudspeaker is in open communication with said sound-emitting opening via at least one transmission channel, and wherein the at least one transmission channel in the device is at least almost wholly acoustically isolated from the microphone.

13. The hearing aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the battery chamber is in open communication via at least one ventilation channel with a ventilation opening on the proximal side of the device housing, and wherein the transmission channel is acoustically at least almost wholly separated from the battery chamber.

14. A fitting body for a hearing aid, comprising: a resilient sleeve having a peripheral wall which is, at least locally, flexible to be able and adapted to conform to a natural anatomy of the auditory canal, wherein said peripheral wall encloses a cavity for accommodating a device housing of said hearing aid, wherein said fitting body further comprises a pull member which extends proximally of the cavity and at least substantially parallel to a center line of the cavity as an integral extension of said resilient sleeve, and wherein said fitting body further comprises a sound emitting opening at a side remote from the pull member.

15. The fitting body according to claim 14, wherein said pull member comprises a tab which extends as an integral part from said peripheral wall.

16. The fitting body according to claim 14, wherein the peripheral wall of the fitting body comprises one or more flexible fins which extend all around and are able and adapted to lie close-fittingly in the auditory canal of the user.

17. The fitting body according to claim 14, wherein the fitting body is provided with a sound-emitting opening in the peripheral wall, and wherein said sound-emitting opening opens into a recessed portion in a distal end of the fitting body.

18. The fitting body according to claim 17, wherein the recessed portion comprises at least one groove in the distal end of the fitting body.

19. The fitting body according to claim 18, wherein the at least one groove extends, at least in projection, in different directions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and an accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a proximal view of an exemplary embodiment of a hearing aid according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a distal view of the hearing aid of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of the fitting body of the hearing aid of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a distal view of the device housing of the hearing aid of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a further view of the device housing of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further distal view of the device housing of FIG. 4 without battery;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of the internal parts of the device housing of FIG. 4; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a side view of a flexible carrier of the internal parts of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) The figures are for the most part schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular can be exaggerated to a greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.

(11) The hearing aid of FIG. 1 comprises a device housing 10 in which all active components of the device are accommodated. The device housing comprises as such a microphone 31, a programming connector 33 and an electronic or magnetic pulse switch 32 on a proximal side 11. Device housing 10 is form-retaining and manufactured from a relatively hard plastic, such as in this case ABS, and forms with the electronic components accommodated therein a standard module which can be manufactured serially.

(12) For an optimal fit in an auditory canal of a user the device housing 10 is mounted releasably on its distal side in a fitting body 20 which provides the contact with the auditory canal. Device housing 10 herein protrudes into a central cavity 21 of fitting body 20, see also FIGS. 2 and 3, which thus extends as a sleeve round device housing 10. Other than device housing 10, fitting body 20 is manufactured from a soft, relatively flexible plastic, such as for instance a silicone or other synthetic rubber, so that it can adjust itself in comfortable and efficient manner to the natural anatomy of the auditory canal. A biocompatible plastic is preferably used for fitting body 20.

(13) On an outer wall 22 fitting body 20 comprises a number of relatively thin, flexible fins 23 which further contribute toward the ability of the whole to adjust to the shape of the auditory canal and to ensure an adequate acoustic sealing. Fins 23 furthermore limit the physical contact between fitting body 20 with device housing 10 therein and the inner wall of the auditory canal, whereby so-called occlusion phenomena are also reduced. Not only is a close fit of the device in the ear thus obtained, the relatively soft fitting body thus also contributes toward the user comfort of the device.

(14) The fitting body is also a serially produced, standard article which need thus be supplied in a limited number of sizes so as to provide a satisfactory fit for diverse users. Within the scope of the invention it is otherwise also possible to apply a flexible or firmer, form-retaining fitting body, which is specifically made to measure and formed individually to size so as to thus fit as precisely as possible onto the auditory canal of the user. The shown flexible fitting body does however have the advantage that such an individual dimensioning can be dispensed with, and use can be made instead of only a limited number of standard sizes, which will in practice satisfactorily cover the great majority of cases.

(15) Owing to the close fit of fitting body 20 in the ear there is substantially no acoustic path along outer wall 21 of the device from distal side 12 to proximal side 11 of the device. In order to also prevent such an acoustic return path between device housing 10 and fitting body 20, the device housing comprises over the whole periphery of an outer wall thereof a peripheral groove 13 which falls close-fittingly into a complementary rib 24 in an inner wall 25 of cavity 21 in fitting body 20. By placing device housing 10 into fitting body 20 the groove 13 eventually snaps over rib 24. Groove 13 and rib 24 thus provide an acoustic sealing between the two parts 10,20, and moreover provide a precise mutual fixation and positioning. If desired, groove 13 can conversely be provided in an inner wall of the fitting body and the rib on the outer wall of the device housing, whereby mutatis mutandis the same mutual sealing and axial fixing of the two parts can be ensured.

(16) On a distal end 12, see FIG. 2, the fitting body comprises an out-of-centre sound-emitting opening 26 which opens into a recess 27 in outer wall 21. For this purpose a star-shaped groove 27 in which sound-emitting opening 26 debouches is provided at this position in the outer wall. A cross or star with four or even more branches or one or more mutually connected rings can optionally also be used as recess 27. Such a cross or other groove shape extending in different, optionally orthogonal directions, with sound-emitting opening 26 in a bottom thereof, provides a free (under) passage from which the sound can escape from sound-emitting opening 26, even in the unfortunate case of a strong local curving of the auditory canal.

(17) In order to enable problem-free removal of the device from the ear, fitting body 20 is provided with a pull member 28 in the form of a monolithic tab which is formed thereon as integral part and which extends beyond the proximal side 11 of device housing 10. The device can be grasped by this tab 28 to thus integrally remove fitting body 20 with device housing 10 therein. Instead of or in addition to such a pull-tab, it is otherwise possible to provide another pull member, such as for instance a pull-cord, on device housing 10 with which the device can be removed from the ear.

(18) A loudspeaker 34 of the device is in open communication via an internal transmission channel 14-16 with sound-emitting opening 26 for the purpose of transmitting processed and/or amplified sound thereto during operation. This is further shown in the cut-away view of FIGS. 4 and 5. In this case transmission channel 14 comprises two curved legs 15 through which sound is carried from loudspeaker 34 to sound-emitting opening 26. The curve 15 provides a barrier for encroaching cerumen, which could enter via sound-emitting opening 26. A buffer space 16 is in addition provided in the transmission channel between loudspeaker 34 and sound-emitting opening 26, in this case just in front of opening 26, in which possible cerumen can moreover accumulate before penetrating further, which could otherwise eventually result in malfunctioning of the device, for instance because loudspeaker 34 is fouled or the transmission channel becomes completely blocked. Both buffer space 16 and transmission channel 14,15 are relatively easy to clean, making use of common cleaning agents. A cerumen protection 15,16 is thus provided in the transmission channel, which significantly enhances the useful life and operation of the device.

(19) Apart from being accommodated in the outer wall of device housing 10, the transmission channel can otherwise also be wholly or partially accommodated in fitting body 20. For this purpose a corresponding groove can for instance be provided in the inner wall of cavity 21 of fitting body 20 at the appropriate location between loudspeaker 34 and sound-emitting opening 26. A cerumen protection as described above can in that case also be wholly or partially integrated into such a groove in the inner wall of the fitting body.

(20) Also situated on the distal side of device housing 10 is a battery chamber 17, see also FIG. 6, with a button battery 35 therein. Transmission channel 14-16 is fully separated acoustically from battery chamber 17 by a dividing wall 18 which, in assembled state, connects close-fittingly to flexible inner wall 25 of cavity 21 in fitting body 20. Furthermore, a re-placeable cover, not shown here, can optionally be placed over battery 35, which cover fully seals battery chamber 17 acoustically from transmission channel 14-16, even without fitting body 20. On an opposite side the transmission channel 14-16 is acoustically bounded by groove 13, which also seals acoustically all around on the inner wall of the fitting body. Transmission channel 14-16 is thus at least almost wholly insulated acoustically from the remaining part of device housing 10, and thereby in particular from microphone 31, so as to prevent acoustic feedback.

(21) In order to ensure an adequate ventilation of battery 35, battery chamber 17 is in open communication with fresh outside air via a ventilation channel 19 provided for this purpose which debouches with a ventilation opening adjacently of microphone 31 on the proximal side 11 of device housing 10.

(22) Programming means provided for the purpose with which a personal processing characteristic can be loaded into a sound processing device 37 of the hearing aid can be connected to programming connector 33. The device can thus be adjusted to the individual requirement of the user. Owing to connector 33 this characteristic can be adjusted and fine-tuned at all times without having to take the device apart or even remove it from the ear. During operation microphone 31 receives sound on the proximal side and transmits it to a signal input of sound processing device 37. Sound processing device 37 amplifies and processes the input signal on the basis of the processing characteristic programmed therein, and generates this as output signal to loudspeaker 34. From the loudspeaker the sound signal is carried via transmission channel 14-16 to sound-emitting opening 26 of the device, where it enters the auditory canal and is perceived by the auditory organs of the user in amplified and possibly processed form. Since there is no open acoustic connection from this distal side of the device to the proximal side, acoustic feedback of sound is effectively countered.

(23) For a simplified assembly of the device all electronic components, such as microphone 31, programming connector 33, switch 32, sound processing device 37, loudspeaker 34 and a set of battery contacts 36 of the device, are pre-mounted on a slightly flexible carrier 30, see FIGS. 7 and 8. In this example use is made for the carrier of a polyimide film commercially available under the brand name Kapton®, although other materials are also suitable in this respect within the scope of the invention. In addition, carrier 30 comprises the conductor tracks necessary for connecting the different components to each other. The components are thus fixed precisely relative to each other and can be pretested for correct operation before the whole is provided with a device housing 10. Loudspeaker 34 is herein not mounted directly against the other part of the components but via a loop-shaped extension 38 of carrier 30, which moreover thus provides a certain vibration and shock-absorbing capacity. It has been found that direct mounting of a vibrating transducer, such as here loudspeaker 34, on a more or less rigid carrier 30 can result in vibrations being transmitted to the other components, and in particular to another transducer, such as microphone 31. Vibration-absorbing means, such as here loop-shaped extension 38, suppress this phenomenon and thus prevent the otherwise occurring risk of acoustic feedback between the various components 31,34 on carrier 30.

(24) Carrier 30 is accommodated in folded state in housing 10, wherein the various components are thus each positioned at the correct position. Device housing 10 can herein be cast around carrier 30 with the components thereon, or be placed therearound as two or more separate shell parts. A sealing ring or sealing sleeve of flexible material (not further shown) round the loudspeaker or a loudspeaker housing provides an adequate acoustic sealing from the device housing. Exceptionally efficient and reliable manufacture is thus possible.

(25) Although the invention has been further elucidated above with reference to only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many more variations and embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.