Detachable filter member for hearing aid device

Abstract

A replaceable filter member for a hearing aid device is disclosed. The filter member comprising an unit with a housing configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a user of the hearing aid device. The filter member is configured to prevent ear wax from entering an opening in the housing. The filter member is a one-piece body that is configured to cover several openings in the unit while being attached to the unit.

Claims

1. A detachable filter member for a hearing aid device, the hearing aid device comprising a housing of a speaker unit configured to be inserted into the ear canal of a user of the hearing aid device, the filter member being configured to prevent ear wax from entering an opening in the housing, the filter member comprising: a one-piece body that is configured to cover the opening in the housing while attached to the housing of the speaker unit; and an attachment member configured to be attached to a proximal end of the housing and thereby provide a detachable attachment of the detachable filter member to the housing of the speaker unit, wherein the filter member forms a flexible sock-like member that is formed by woven or knitted material that is configured to tightly surround the housing of the speaker unit.

2. The filter member according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the housing is one of one or more openings along a length of the housing and is disposed at a distal end of the housing, another opening of the one or more openings is at the proximal end of the housing, and the filter member is configured to cover all openings in the housing while the filter member is attached to the housing.

3. The filter member according to claim 1, further comprising: a flexible member configured to allow for attachment of the filter member to the housing and to allow for detachment of the filter member from the housing.

4. The filter member according to claim 1, wherein the filter member comprises an attachment member or a holding member configured to be attached to the housing and provide a detachable attachment of the filter member to the housing.

5. The filter member according to claim 4, wherein the attachment member or the holding member is configured to be attached to the proximal end of the housing and provide a detachable attachment of the filter member to the housing.

6. The filter member according to claim 1, wherein the filter member comprises a cover member configured to be attached to the housing and provide a detachable attachment of the filter member.

7. The filter member according to claim 6, wherein the cover member includes a base member that extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, and one or more openings are provided in the base member so that the openings allow for sound propagation or ventilation through the openings.

8. The filter member according to claim 1, further comprising: a first lattice; and a second lattice of different structure than the first lattice.

9. The filter member according to claim 8, wherein the first lattice is arranged in such a way that it covers one or more openings of the housing, the opening in the housing at the distal end is a sound opening, and the second lattice covers the sound opening when the filter member is attached.

10. The filter member according to claim 9, wherein the first lattice is a fine mesh lattice and the second lattice is coarser mesh lattice than the first lattice.

11. The filter member according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the housing is at a distal end of the housing, one or more additional openings are along a length of the housing, one proximal opening is at the proximal end of the housing, and the filter member is configured to cover all openings in the housing while the filter member is attached to the housing.

12. A hearing aid, comprising: a housing of a speaker unit to be positioned in an ear canal of a user, the housing having a distal end to be positioned near the ear drum and a proximal end to be positioned near the opening of the ear canal; a detachable filter member attached to the housing, the filter member being configured to prevent ear wax from entering an opening in the housing, the filter member being a one-piece body that is configured to cover an opening in the housing while attached to the housing of the speaker unit, wherein the filter member includes an attachment member configured to be attached to the proximal end of the housing and thereby provide a detachable attachment of the detachable filter member to the housing of the speaker unit, wherein the filter member forms a flexible sock-like member that is formed by woven or knitted material that is configured to tightly surround the housing of the speaker unit.

13. The hearing aid according to claim 12, wherein the hearing aid is a receiver-in-the-ear type hearing aid or an in-the-ear-canal type hearing aid.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 a) shows a schematic side view of a filter member according to the invention arranged next to a speaker unit of a hearing aid device;

(3) FIG. 1 b) shows a schematic side view of the speaker unit shown in FIG. 1 a) covered by the filter unit shown in FIG. 1 a);

(4) FIG. 1 c) shows a schematic side view of the speaker unit shown in FIG. 1 b) having a dome attached to it;

(5) FIG. 2 a) shows a schematic view of a dome being detached from a speaker unit of a hearing aid device;

(6) FIG. 2 b) shows a schematic view of a filter member according to the invention attached to a speaker unit of a hearing aid device;

(7) FIG. 2 c) shows a schematic view of a dome being attached to the speaker unit shown in FIG. 2 b);

(8) FIG. 3 a) shows a schematic perspective view of a filter member according to the invention being attached to a RITE hearing aid device;

(9) FIG. 3 b) shows a schematic perspective view of the filter member shown in FIG. 3 a) being attached to the RITE hearing aid device shown in FIG. 3 a);

(10) FIG. 4 a) shows a schematic perspective view of a filter member according to the invention being attached to a speaker unit of a RITE hearing aid device;

(11) FIG. 4 b) shows a schematic perspective view of the filter member shown In FIG. 4 a) being attached to the speaker unit of the RITE hearing aid device shown in FIG. 3 a);

(12) FIG. 5 a) shows a schematic perspective view of a filter member according to the invention attached to a speaker unit of a RITE hearing aid device and

(13) FIG. 5 b) shows a schematic perspective view of another filter member according to the invention attached to a speaker unit of a RITE hearing aid device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, different views of a filter member 2 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.

(15) FIG. 1 a) illustrates a schematically side view of a filter member 2 according to the invention arranged next to a speaker unit 4 of a hearing aid device.

(16) The speaker unit 4 comprises a basically cylindrical housing 6 provided with a first microphone or ventilation opening 10 and a second microphone or ventilation opening 12. The microphone or ventilation openings may be part of a vent system or they may form part of a microphone inlet system for a number of microphones 9,11 as indicated with a dashed line in FIG. 1b. Thus “speaker unit” designates a unit comprising at least a speaker, and possibly one or more microphones having each their sound or ventilation opening. The microphones 9, 11 may be part of the in the ear device in any of the other figures, even if it is not shown. A dome 8 is arranged next to the distal end 42 of the speaker unit 4. A centrally arranged sound outlet 34 is provided at the periphery of the dome 8. A tube 14 is provided in the proximal end 48 of the speaker unit 4, and inside the tube 14 leads (not shown) are provided which connects microphones and receiver or speaker to a sound processor placed elsewhere such as in a BTE unit.

(17) A filter member 2 is arranged adjacent to the speaker unit 4. The filter member 2 is basically shaped as a sock. The filter member 2 has a closed end 46 configured to cover the distal end 42 of the speaker unit 4 and an open end 44 positioned in the opposite end of the filter member 2.

(18) A holding member 16 having two legs 50, 50′ constituting a right angle is provided at the open end 44 of the speaker unit 4. The filter member 2 is attached to the second leg 50′, while the first leg 50 is configured to bear against the proximal end 48 of the speaker unit 4 while being attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(19) The filter member 2 comprises a first structure 52 that is configured to cover the distal end 42 of the speaker unit 4. The filter member 2 comprises a second structure 54 that is configured to cover the majority of the remaining portion of the speaker unit 4. The second structure 54 covers the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 as well as the second microphone or ventilation opening 12 of the speaker unit 4.

(20) The first structure 52 and the second structure 54 may be different from one another. In one embodiment of a filter member according to the invention the first structure 52 is configured to protect ear wax from damaging the speaker unit by entering through the sound outlet 34 in the dome 8. The first structure may comprise a rather coarse lattice structure (big-meshed).

(21) The second structure 54 is preferably configured to provide an optimum protection against ear wax from entering and clogging the microphone or ventilation openings 10, 12 in the speaker unit. The first structure 52 may comprise a coarse and big-meshed lattice structure while the second structure 54 may comprise a fine mesh lattice structure.

(22) The first structure 52 and the structure 54 of the filter member 4 may comprise an elastic member so that the filter member 2 is tight-fitting while being attached to the housing of the unit. The filter member 2 may be made in an elastic material or a material comprising elastic portions.

(23) FIG. 1 b) illustrates schematically a side view of the speaker unit 4 shown in FIG. 1 a) covered by the filter member 2 shown in FIG. 1 a). It can be seen that the legs 50, 50′ of the holding member 16 secure the holding member 16 and hence the filter member 2 to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(24) The first microphone or ventilation opening 10 as well as the second microphone or ventilation opening 12 are covered by the filter member 2, however the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 and the second microphone or ventilation opening 12 are indicated with a dotted line for illustration purposes only.

(25) The filter member 2 is configured to protect ear wax from entering the openings in the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 including the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 and the second microphone or ventilation opening 12.

(26) The filter member 2 is easy to attach to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 and it is possible and advantageous to change the filter member 2 regularly, e.g. on a daily basis, simply by replacing a used filter member 2 by a new one. The filter member 2 prevents ear wax accumulation.

(27) Next to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 a dome 8 is shown.

(28) In FIG. 1 c) the dome 8 is attached to the distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The speaker unit 4 is configured to receive the dome 8 while the housing 4 of the speaker unit 4 is covered by the filter member 2.

(29) When the filter member 2 and the dome 8 is attached to the speaker unit 4, like illustrated in FIG. 1 c), the speaker unit 4 is ready for being placed in the ear canal of the user of the hearing aid device.

(30) FIG. 2 a) illustrates a schematically view of a dome 8 being detached from a speaker unit 4 of a hearing aid device. The speaker unit 4 comprises an elongated basically cylindrical housing 6 provided with a microphone or ventilation opening 12 and connected to a tube 14. The user of the hearing aid device uses two fingers 40 to grip against the dome 8 in order to pull it off the distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(31) In FIG. 2 b) the dome 8 has been removed from the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. Besides a filter member 2 according to the invention has been attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The filter member 2 covers the microphone or ventilation opening 12 (visible in FIG. 1 a)) as well as the opening (not shown) in the distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The user is holding the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 with two fingers 40.

(32) In FIG. 2 c) a dome 8 is being attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The attachment of the dome 8 is carried out by pushing the dome 8 into firm mechanical engagement with the distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 is configured to receive the dome 8. The user applies a finger 40′ from the other hand to push the dome in engagement with the distal portion of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(33) FIG. 3 a) illustrates schematically a perspective view of another filter member 2 according to the invention. The filter member 2 is being attached to a RITE hearing aid device comprising a speaker unit 4 having a housing 6. The housing 6 is basically cylindrical and has a plane circular bottom surface 22 provided with a recess 20 extending along a minor portion of the length of the housing 6.

(34) A microphone or ventilation opening 12 is provided in the housing and a tube 14 enters the bottom surface 22 of the housing 6 and is hereby connected to the speaker unit 4. A dome 8 is attached to the distal end of the housing 6 and a filter member 2 shaped a flexible sock covers and is attached to the distal portion of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(35) A basically ring-shaped holding member 16 is attached to the distal end of the filter member 2 and the holding member 16 surrounds the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The holding member 16 is provided with a gripping member 18 configured to be fixed to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 by placing the gripping member 18 in the recess 20.

(36) In FIG. 3 b) the filter member 2 has been attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The gripping member 18 of the holding member 16 is fixed in the recess 20 of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(37) It can be seen that the filter member 2 covers the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 as well as the second microphone or ventilation opening 12 in the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. However, a minor portion of the housing 6 is not covered by the filter member 2.

(38) It is possible to apply other means for attaching the filter member 2 to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. However, the shown holding member 16 is easy to use and reliable since it is secured to the housing 6 because the holding member 16 surrounds the housing and is attached to the housing 6.

(39) FIG. 4 a) illustrates a schematically perspective view of a filter member 2 according to the invention being attached to the speaker unit 4 of a RITE hearing aid device. The filter member 2 is being attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4 of the RITE hearing aid device.

(40) The housing 6 has a basically cylindrical structure and a plane essentially circular bottom surface 22. A tube 14 enters the housing 6 near the bottom surface 22. A dome 8 is attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(41) The filter member 2 comprises a bucket-shaped holding member 16 having a plane bottom member 26 and an essentially cylindrical side member 28 extending from the periphery of the bottom member 26. An aperture 24 is provided in the side member 28 of the holding member 16. The aperture 24 is configured to give room for the tube 14 to extend radially and axially from the housing 6 (see FIG. 4 b).

(42) The filter member 2 covers a first microphone or ventilation opening 10 of the housing 6 while the second opening 12 is intended to be covered by the filter member 2 when the filter member 2 is attached to the housing (see FIG. 4 b).

(43) FIG. 4 b) illustrates a schematically perspective view of the speaker unit 4 and the filter member 2 shown in FIG. 4 a). The filter member 2 is detachably attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The holding member 16 encases the proximal end of the housing 6 and hereby the filter member 2 is detachably attached to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. The recess 24 provides free access to the tube 14.

(44) The filter member 2 covers the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 as well as the second microphone or ventilation opening 12 in the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. However, a portion of the housing 6 is not covered by the filter member 2.

(45) The illustrated holding member 16 provides an easy useable and highly reliable attachment tool that can be used to secure the filter member 2 to the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4.

(46) FIG. 5 a) illustrates a schematically perspective view of a filter member 2 according to the invention attached to the speaker unit 4 of a RITE hearing aid device.

(47) The speaker unit 4 has a cylindrical housing 6 with a plane circular bottom surface 22, a first microphone or ventilation opening 10 and a second microphone or ventilation opening 12. A dome 8 is attached to the distal end of the housing 6 of the speaker unit 4. A tube 14 enters the speaker unit 4 through a hole in the bottom surface 22 of the housing 6.

(48) A filter member 2 is detachably attached to the distal portion of the housing 6 (under the dome) and to the proximal end of the housing 6 by means of an attachment member 32 that is fixed to the bottom surface 22 of the housing 6. The filter member 2 comprises a first lattice 30 covering the first microphone or ventilation opening 10 of the housing 6 and a second lattice 30′ covering the second microphone or ventilation opening 12. The filter member 2 also comprises a lattice (not shown) that covers an opening (not shown) in the distal end of the housing 6. It is possible to apply a fine mesh to cover e.g. the microphone or ventilation openings 10, 12 and to use a big-meshed lattice to cover the lattice that covers an opening in the distal end of the housing 6.

(49) FIG. 5 b) illustrates a schematically perspective view of another filter member 2 according to the invention attached to a speaker unit 4 of a RITE hearing aid device. The filter member 2 comprises a cover 56. The speaker unit 4 comprises a housing 6 to which a dome 8 is attached. The dome 8 comprises a sound outlet 34 covered by a lattice 30″ that is part of the filter member 2.

(50) The cover 56 has a basically plane rectangular base member 36 that extends along the longitudinal axis X of the housing 6. The cover 56 has an end member 38 that encases the proximal end of the housing 6 and hereby is attached to the housing 6.

(51) The filter member 2 comprises a first lattice 30 covering a first microphone or ventilation opening 10 of the housing 6 and a second lattice 30′ covering a second microphone or ventilation opening 12. The filter member 2 also comprises a lattice 30″ that is visible through the sound outlet 34 in the dome 8. The lattice 30″ covers an opening (not shown) in the distal end of the housing 6, through which opening sound waves are transferred further out through the sound outlet 34 in the dome 8.

(52) The cover member 56 may be produced in a flexible material such as silicone so that the cover member 56 has a flexibility that makes it possible to attach the cover member 56 to the housing 6 and detached the cover member 56 from the housing 6.

(53) The filter member 2 may be shaped as a one-piece body formed as a lattice. The filter member 2 may comprise several sections having different characteristics (e.g. one section having a big-meshed lattice and another section comprising a fine mesh lattice). The filter member 2 may be replaced on a daily basis so that accumulation of ear wax can be prevented. In this way it is possible to maintain a well-functioning hearing aid device.

(54) The filter member may comprise a flexible woven, knitted or felted material consisting of a network of artificial fibres or natural fibres. The fibres may comprise be any suitable type of thread or yarn.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(55) 2—Filter member 4—In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid device, speaker unit or in-the-canal hearing aid device. 6—Housing 8—Dome 9—First microphone 10—Microphone or ventilation opening 11—Second microphone 12—Microphone or ventilation opening 14—Tube 16—Holding member 18—Gripping member 20—Recess 22—Bottom surface 24—Aperture 26—Bottom member 28—Side member 30, 30′, 30″—Lattice 32—Attachment member 34—Sound outlet 36—Base member 38—End member 40, 40′—Finger 42—Distal end 44—Open end 46—Closed end 48—Proximal end 50, 50′—Leg 52—First structure 54—Second structure 56—Cover member X—Longitudinal axis