Abstract:
A tip for use in a hearing assistance device has multiple sound ports and is dimensioned for placement in the ear canal of a user. The tip includes a channel portion for conducting acoustic energy which includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a central channel that extends between the proximal end and distal end. The tip further includes a tip portion having at least two sound ports in direct communication with the central channel of the channel portion to receive the acoustic energy therefrom. Each of the sound ports conducts acoustic energy from the central channel of the channel portion into the ear canal of the user.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to hearing aids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tip having multiple sound ports for use with a hearing assistance device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are many types of hearing assistance devices, also referred to herein as hearing aids, which vary in size, power, circuitry and features. One type of hearing aid is a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid as shown in  FIG. 1 , which has a BTE housing  30  that contains a microphone, amplifier, and processing and control electronics. Thin-tube and receiver-in-the-canal (RIC) instruments are also a class of BTE hearing aids. Some other types of hearing aids are placed into the ear canal and completely or partially obstruct the ear canal. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a small tube  23 , referred to as a “thin tube,” runs from the BTE housing  30  and into the ear canal of the user to deliver the amplified sound. A small sound emitting structure, referred to as a tip  2 , is connected to the opposite end of the tube  23  and is placed into the user&#39;s ear canal. RIC models also use a BTE housing with a thin wire connected to the body of the BTE housing which runs to a receiver in the ear canal. RIC models also use tips attached to the receiver to transfer sound into the ear canal. 
         [0003]    The tip  2  serves several purposes: (1) providing an acoustic seal to block unwanted noise interference, (2) directing sounds generated by the hearing aid device into the user&#39;s ear canal, (3) holding a thin tube or RIC in the ear canal, and (4) providing various levels of venting from open to closed.  FIG. 9  shows a prior art tip  2  for use in a thin tube hearing aid, the features of which are well known in the art. In general, the tip  2  is a bud-like attachment for a hearing aid device, which is constructed to fit into the ear canal of a user. As shown in  FIG. 9 , a conventional tip  2  comprises a first end  4 , which is spaced apart from a second end  6 . A central channel  8  traverses the length of the tip  2 , originating at the first end  4  and terminating in a sound port opening  10  at the second end  6 . Conventional tips include only a single sound port opening  10 . 
         [0004]    In operation, the tip  2  is placed into the ear canal of the user such that the sound port opening  10  faces the user&#39;s eardrum. Acoustic energy (i.e., sound), originating from the hearing aid device, enters the tip  2  at the first end  4 , travels along the central channel  8 , and exits through the port  10  and into the ear canal of the user. 
         [0005]    One recurring problem that plagues hearing aids, and thin tube and RIC hearing aids in particular, is that ear wax (i.e., cerumen) in the ear canal tends to build up and completely or partially block part of the sound port in the tip. This blockage may cause many problems while using the hearing aid apparatus, including impairing the sound quality or potentially making the hearing aid device unusable. 
         [0006]    What is needed, therefore, is a hearing assistance device that mitigates the loss of sound output from the hearing aid due to sound port blockage in the tip. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The above and other needs are met by a tip for use in a hearing aid apparatus for imparting acoustic energy to a user for assistance in hearing. The tip is dimensioned for placement in an ear canal of the user. The tip includes a channel portion for conducting acoustic energy which includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a central channel that extends between the proximal end and distal end. The tip further includes a tip portion connected to the distal end of the channel portion that is dimensioned for placement in the ear canal of the user. The tip portion includes at least two sound ports in direct communication with the central channel of the channel portion to receive the acoustic energy therefrom. Each of the sound ports conducts acoustic energy from the central channel of the channel portion into the ear canal of the user. 
         [0008]    In one preferred embodiment, the tip portion has a substantially hemispherical surface and includes a central sound port placed substantially along a longitudinal axis of the tip. A plurality of peripheral sound ports are disposed in the substantially hemispherical surface at a substantially equal radial spacing around the central sound port. The tip portion of this embodiment includes a plurality of peripheral sound port bores connecting the peripheral sound ports to the central channel of the channel portion at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tip. The tip also includes a central sound port bore connecting the central sound port to the central channel of the channel portion. 
         [0009]    In another preferred embodiment, the tip portion has a substantially cylindrical surface and includes a central sound port placed substantially along a longitudinal axis of the tip. Four or more peripheral sound ports are disposed in the substantially cylindrical surface of the tip portion at a substantially equal radial spacing around the central sound port. The tip portion of this embodiment includes four peripheral sound port bores connecting the four peripheral sound ports to the central channel of the channel portion at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tip. The tip further includes a central sound port bore connecting the central sound port to the central channel of the channel portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a behind-the-ear hearing aid with various components positioned on and in the ear of a user; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a tip according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the tip shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the tip shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a tip, a connector member, and a thin tube according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of a second exemplary embodiment of a tip according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a third exemplary embodiment of a tip according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C depict a fourth exemplary embodiment of a tip; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  depicts a prior art tip for a hearing aid apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings Some of these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. The definitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words being defined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If the definition of any term below diverges from the commonly understood and/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions below control. 
         [0021]    A first exemplary embodiment of a multi-port tip  12  is depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 . The elongate multi-port tip  12  is sized to be disposed in the ear canal of the user, and includes a first end  14  and a second end  16 . In preferred embodiments, the tip  12  is molded from a relatively soft and flexible plastic. In other embodiments, hard materials could be used. A central channel  18  traverses the length of the tip  12  and conducts acoustic energy there through. The channel  18  originates at the first end  14  and terminates in the second end  16  at a central sound port  20 . 
         [0022]    The tip  12  includes at least two sound ports—the central sound port  20  and at least one peripheral sound port  22 —which are in direct communication with the central channel  18 . The sound ports  20 ,  22  receive acoustic energy from the hearing aid device through the central channel  18  and conduct the acoustic energy into the ear canal of the user. As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , the central sound port  20  is disposed substantially along a longitudinal axis (line “B-B” shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the tip. Multiple peripheral sound ports  22  may be disposed around the central port  20 , and may be placed in many configurations or angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tip  12 . For example, the second sound ports  22  may be spaced radially around the central sound port  20 . Additionally, the configuration may be altered to provide fewer or greater numbers of peripheral sound ports. For example, a tip  12  with one peripheral sound port  22  may have a different configuration from a tip having four peripheral sound ports ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the peripheral sound ports  22 , like the central port  20 , may stem from the central channel  18 . This configuration enables sound to travel from the hearing aid device, into the central channel  18 , and into the ear canal of the user via multiple sound ports  20 ,  22  simultaneously. If one of the ports (e.g., the central port) becomes blocked or partially blocked by ear wax or dead skin cells, other of the ports will likely not be blocked and loss in sound or sound quality will be minimal. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a multi-port tip  12  and a connector member  24  for connecting a thin tube  23  of a hearing aid device to the tip  12 . When the connector member  24  is connected to the tip  12 , sound travels from the hearing aid device, through the thin tube  23 , through the connector member  24 , through the central channel  18 , out of the sound ports  20  and  22  of the tip  12 , and into the ear canal of the user. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict embodiments of a multi-port tip  26  having a flange assembly comprising a plurality of flange members  28 . The flange members  28  enable the tip  26  to be used by a wide range of users, where each user may have varying ear canal sizes and shapes. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tip  26  is encircled by multiple flange members  28  of various sizes, and where the smallest flange member is the innermost when inserted into the ear canal of the user. In addition to directing sound generated by the hearing aid device into the user&#39;s ear canal, the flange members  28  are designed to provide a noise excluding seal in the ear canal of the user. By providing multiple flanges  28  in varying sizes, the tip  26  is more likely to fit into and adequately seal the ear canals of various users who have ear canals of varying sizes and shapes. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of a multi-port tip  26  having multiple peripheral sound ports  30  encircling the second end  16  of the tip. The peripheral sound ports  30  may be used in place of or in addition to other ports that have been previously described. Multiple peripheral sound ports  30  may be spaced radially around the second end  16 . Preferably, all of the peripheral sound ports  30  are connected to and receive sound from the central channel  18  of the tip  26 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 8A-8C  depict an embodiment of a multi-port tip  26  wherein the second end  16  includes four peripheral sound port bores  32  connecting four peripheral sound ports  30  to the central channel  18 . A central sound port bore  36  connects the central sound port  20  to the central channel  18 . As shown, the peripheral sound port bores  32  are at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tip. Each of the four peripheral sound port bores  32  project outward from the central channel  18  and are radially offset from each adjacent peripheral sound port bore by an angle of about 90 degrees. 
         [0028]    This configuration is particularly useful in maintaining the hearing aid device during its useful life and, in particular, in cleaning and servicing the tip. As noted earlier, ear wax deposits in the ear canal of a user tend to plug or to clog the ports in hearing aid tips. One method of removing this ear wax is to swab the tip with a thin brush or a wire or a monofilament line known as a plunger. The plunger is inserted into the clogged port opening and is used to remove any ear wax deposits that may have collected in the tip. One benefit of configuring the sound ports  30  as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8C  is that a plunger may be inserted into any one of the sound ports  30  and exit the tip through an opposing collinear sound port  30 . This configuration allows any obstruction in the tip to easily be pushed out of the tip using the plunger via the opposite sound port. 
         [0029]    Another technique for cleaning wax deposits from the tip involves flicking the end of the flexible tip with a finger. This dislodges the unwanted deposits from the sound ports. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the tip  12  is an integral part of the thin tube  23  that carries sound from the BTE hearing aid into the ear canal. In this embodiment, the tip  12  and the thin tube  23  may be molded as a single piece, wherein the tip  12  is an extension of the thin tube  23 . In one variation of this embodiment, the central sound port is a hole at the very end of the thin tube  23  and the peripheral sound ports are holes that are drilled or otherwise formed in the wall of the thin tube  23  near its end. 
         [0031]    In all of the previously discussed embodiments, the positioning and angle of the peripheral sound ports  22  and  30  depend, at least in part on the configuration and geometry of the tip  26 . In general, sound port bores may be placed at an angle θ ( FIG. 4 ) ranging from about 90 degrees to about 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis B-B. For example, in  FIGS. 2-5 , the peripheral port bores  32  are located in a hemispherical surface at the second end  16  of the tip at an angle θ of about 45 degrees. As another example, in  FIG. 6 , the tip  26  at the second end  16  is cylindrical, and the peripheral port bores  32  are disposed with the central sound port in the planar surface at the second end  16 . In this embodiment, the bores  32  extend from the central channel  18  at a slight angle θ which is about 10-20 degrees. Finally, in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the peripheral sound ports  30  are shown having bores  32  that connect to the central channel  18  at angle θ of about 90 degrees. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular angle of the sound port bores  32 .