Patent ID: 6254526
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: B01J,C07B,C07D,C07H,C12Q,C40B,G01N,H04R

Abstract:
A hearing aid that is adapted to be positioned in the ear during use, comprising:a) a mounting member providing a support for holding one or more electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto, the mounting member having medial and lateral side portions;b) a soft polymeric body that engages the medial surface portion of the mounting member and encapsulating at least some of the electronic hearing aid components, the soft polymeric body providing an interface and having an outer surface that is shaped to closely conform to the ear canal of a user;c) a bonding layer that affixes the soft polymeric body to the lateral side of the mounting member;d) the soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components defining a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use, the polymeric body being substantially solid in between the encapsulated electronic hearing aid components and the ear canal so that it is free of void spaces between the electronic components and ear canal; ande) the combination of the soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components enabling a precise representation of the user's ear canal, flexing with jaw motion, and a cushioning of the interface between ear canal and electronic hearing aid components.