Patent ID: 6097826
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H04R

Abstract:
A hearing aid to be worn completely within the wall of the auditory canal of a patient and reaching a depth in the auditory canal at which contact with the wall causes discomfort, the hearing aid comprisinga body produced by casting within the auditory canal, or within a model of said canal, so as to conform to the shape of said canal, said body having a central axis and includingan outer face with an opening for allowing a curable casting material to be poured therethrough,an inner face having an outer surface with a diameter smaller than said auditory canal and constituting an innermost end of said hearing aid, andan elastic membrane surrounding and extending between said outer and inner faces, said membrane defining a casting cavity before casting, for receiving the casting material and for conforming to the canal wall shape after casting;components for enhancing hearing function carried by said body, said components including a receiving device, an amplifier and a loudspeaker;a positioning tip removably attached to said inner face and including a cap portion surrounding said innermost end of said hearing aid and radially spacing said innermost end from walls of said auditory canal during casting of said body, said positioning tip being removed after casting said body so that, when said hearing aid is placed in the auditory canal, said innermost end is substantially centered in said auditory canal and remains spaced from walls of the canal around the innermost end thereof.