Hearing aid with a replaceable insertion cap

A hearing aid has a coupling structure, a first hearing aid housing portion and a second hearing aid housing portion including a flexible material so that the second hearing aid housing portion is adaptable to different ear canal size. The second hearing aid housing portion is detachably coupled to the first hearing aid housing portion via the coupling structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Embodiments relate to a hearing aid with a replaceable insertion cap.

A hearing aid is usually fitted in or behind the ear of the user to amplify the sound for the user. Some popular types of hearing aids include behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids, completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, etc.

A hearing aid usually includes a hearing aid housing within which a microphone for collecting sound waves, an amplifier for amplifying the collected sound waves and a loudspeaker (which may also be referred to as a receiver in the field of hearing aids) may be housed. To provide power for the microphone, the amplifier and the loudspeaker, the hearing aid usually includes a battery chamber housing positioned within the hearing aid housing and configured to receive a battery. The hearing aid may also include a battery chamber housing locking mechanism or a battery door disposed over the battery chamber housing and configured to allow or prevent access to the battery.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, a hearing aid may be provided, which may include a replaceable insertion cap which provide a customized fitting and improve the hygiene standard while minimizing an increase of cost of the hearing aid.

In various embodiments, a hearing aid may be provided, which may take into account that the ear of every hearing aid user is unique, and may provide a customised fitting to avoid issues like feedback, incorrect canal fitting, for example.

In various embodiments, a hearing aid may be provided, which may take into account that, depending on the location of each hearing aid relative to the ear, there may be an accumulation of ear wax on the hearing aid, which may render the hearing aid unhygienic over a period of time. In various embodiments, a hearing aid may be provided, which may provide for a replacement of the hearing aid when this happens so as to maintain the hygiene standard.

An embodiment relates to a hearing aid. The hearing aid may include a coupling structure, a first hearing aid housing portion and a second hearing aid housing portion including a flexible material so that the second hearing aid housing portion is adaptable to different ear canal size. The second hearing aid housing portion may be detachably coupled to the first hearing aid housing portion via the coupling structure. The first hearing aid housing portion and the second hearing aid housing portion may be two separate components, brought together by the coupling structure.

In an embodiment, the first hearing aid housing portion may be termed a “shell”.

In an embodiment, the first hearing aid housing portion may include a receiver holder configured to receive a receiver. The receiver holder may be made of a same or a different material from the first hearing aid housing portion. The receiver holder may include a dimension slightly larger than the dimension of the receiver so as to accommodate the receiver. The receiver holder may be rectangular in shape or may include a shape corresponding to the shape of the receiver. The receiver holder may include any other shapes or of any suitable dimensions depending on user and design requirements.

In an embodiment, the receiver holder may include an interior portion and an exterior portion. The second hearing aid housing portion may also include an interior portion and an exterior portion.

In an embodiment, the coupling structure may be disposed on at least one side of the exterior portion of the receiver holder. By way of example, the coupling structure may be disposed on two opposite sides of the exterior portion of the receiver holder. The coupling structure on the two opposite sides may be aligned along a same or different axis.

In an embodiment, the coupling structure may include a stud, a hook, a plurality of screw threads, a protruding rim or a screw. By way of example, the coupling structure may include two studs or hooks such that each stud or hook may be positioned on one side of the exterior portion of the receiver holder and the second hearing aid housing portion may include two catches such that each catch may be positioned on one side of an interior portion of the second hearing aid housing portion such that the second hearing aid housing portion may be detachably coupled to the receiver holder via the studs or hooks and the catches. Further, the coupling structure may include a plurality of screw threads such that the plurality of screws are positioned along a substantial length of the exterior portion of the receiver holder and the second hearing aid housing portion may include a corresponding plurality of screw threads such that the corresponding plurality of screw threads are positioned on an interior portion of the second hearing aid housing portion such that the second hearing aid housing portion may be detachably coupled to the receiver holder via the plurality of screw threads and the corresponding plurality of screw threads. The coupling structure may include a protruding rim surrounding the exterior portion of the receiver holder. The second hearing aid housing portion may include a corresponding groove or recess positioned on the interior portion of the second hearing aid housing portion. The groove or recess may be configured so as to engage the protruding rim such that the second hearing aid housing portion may be detachably coupled to the receiver holder. In addition, the coupling structure may include a screw, which may extend from the second hearing aid housing portion through to the first hearing aid housing portion or from the first hearing aid housing portion to the second hearing aid housing portion. The coupling structure may include any other mechanism depending on user and design requirements.

In an embodiment, the receiver holder may further include at least one recess portion disposed on at least one side of the interior portion of the receiver holder. By way of example, the receiver holder may further include two recess portions disposed on opposite sides of the interior portion of the receiver holder. The two recess portions on the opposite sides may be aligned along a same or different axis. Further, each of the two recess portions may be a blind hole and have a depth less than the thickness of each side of the receiver holder. Alternatively, each of the two recess portions may be a through hole formed through each corresponding side of the receiver holder.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may further include a receiver. The receiver may be rectangular in shape.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may further include at least one protruding portion disposed on at least one side of the receiver, the at least one protruding portion may be configured to be received in the at least one recess portion to secure the receiver within the receiver holder. There may be two protruding portions, each protruding portion disposed on two opposites of the receiver. Each of the two protruding portions may be a stud.

In an embodiment, each recess portion on the receiver holder may have a shape corresponding to the shape of each protruding portion on the receiver. Each corresponding recess portion may have a dimension slightly larger than the dimension of each corresponding protruding portion so that each corresponding protruding portion may be accommodated in each corresponding recess portion. The number and dimensions of protruding portions and recess portions may vary depending on user and design requirements.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may further include a microphone.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may further include a battery chamber housing configured to receive a battery.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may further include an amplifier.

In an embodiment, the receiver may be positioned in the receiver holder. The microphone, the battery chamber housing and the amplifier may be positioned in the first hearing aid housing portion.

In an embodiment, the receiver holder may further include at least one contact portion positioned at a base on the interior portion of the receiver holder so as to allow communication between the amplifier and the receiver. The receiver holder may include two contact portions positioned at the base of the interior portion of the receiver holder. The number and position of the contact portions may vary depending on user and design requirements.

In an embodiment, the receiver holder may further include an opening so as to allow insertion of the receiver into the receiver holder. The dimension of the opening may be slightly larger than at least one side of the receiver to be inserted.

In an embodiment, the first hearing aid housing portion may include a rigid material. The first hearing aid housing portion may include a plastic material or any other suitable materials so as to act as a covering for the components housed within the first hearing aid housing portion.

In an embodiment, the second hearing aid housing portion may include a permeable membrane configured to allow transmission of sound waves from the receiver into an ear and to prevent ear wax from contacting the receiver. The permeable membrane may be termed a “wax guard”. The permeable membrane may include a material with a plurality of holes sized so as to allow transmission of sound waves from the receiver into the ear and to prevent ear wax from contacting the receiver. The second hearing aid housing portion may also include a wire mesh design or any other suitable wax guard systems.

In an embodiment, the permeable membrane may be positioned in contact with the receiver holder and along a same axis as the receiver holder. The permeable membrane may be positioned in contact with the opening of the receiver holder.

In an embodiment, the first hearing aid housing portion may be made of a different material from the second hearing aid housing portion. The second hearing aid housing portion may include a soft rubber material which allows the second hearing aid housing portion to be adaptable to different ear canal sizes as well as to be coupled onto the first hearing aid housing portion.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid may be an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid, an in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid or a completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid.

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a hearing aid102positioned in an ear104according to an embodiment. By way of example,FIG. 1shows an insertion of an in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid102into the ear104, the direction of insertion as shown by the arrow154.FIG. 1shows an inner ear106and a middle ear108and the relative position of the hearing aid102relative to the inner ear106and the middle ear108in an inserted state.

The hearing aid102may include a coupling structure (not shown), a first hearing aid housing portion110and a second hearing aid housing portion112including a flexible material so that the second hearing aid housing portion112may be adaptable to different ear canal size. The second hearing aid housing portion112may be detachably coupled to the first hearing aid housing portion110via the coupling structure.

In an embodiment, the second hearing aid housing portion112may be the hearing aid housing portion being inserted into the ear first, before the first hearing aid housing portion110. In other words, in the inserted state, the second hearing aid housing portion112is located nearer to the inner ear106and the middle ear108than the first hearing aid housing portion110.

FIG. 2shows a front view of a hearing aid102with a stud coupling structure114in an open position according to an embodiment andFIG. 3shows a front view of a hearing aid102with a stud coupling structure114in a closed position according to an embodiment. By way of example,FIG. 2andFIG. 3show an ITE hearing aid102.

The hearing aid102may include a coupling structure114, a first hearing aid housing portion110and a second hearing aid housing portion112including a flexible material so that the second hearing aid housing portion112may be adaptable to different ear canal size, wherein the second hearing aid housing portion112may be detachably coupled to the first hearing aid housing portion110via the coupling structure114.

The first hearing aid housing portion110may include a receiver holder116configured to receive a receiver126. The receiver holder116may include an interior portion118and an exterior portion120.

The coupling structure114may include two studs122and each stud122may be disposed on opposite sides of the exterior portion120of the receiver holder116.

The second hearing aid housing portion112may include two catches150such that each catch150may be positioned on opposite sides of an interior portion152of the second hearing aid housing portion112such that the second hearing aid housing portion112may be detachably coupled to the receiver holder116via the respective studs122and catches150.

The receiver holder116may further include two recess portions124disposed on opposite sides of the interior portion118of the receiver holder116.

The hearing aid102may further include a receiver126.

The hearing aid102may further include two protruding portions or studs128, each protruding portion128disposed on each side of the receiver126and each protruding portion128configured to be received in each recess portion124to secure the receiver126within the receiver holder116.

The hearing aid102may further include a microphone130, a battery chamber housing132configured to receive a battery134and an amplifier136. In an embodiment, the receiver126may be positioned in the receiver holder116. The microphone130, the battery chamber housing132and the amplifier136may be positioned in the hearing aid102, for example in the first hearing aid housing portion110.

The receiver holder116may further include two contact portions138positioned at a base on the interior portion118of the receiver holder116. The two contact portions138may be in contact with the respective amplifier136and the receiver126. The two contact portions138may allow electrical current to pass through so as to allow an electrical connection between the amplifier136and the receiver126.

The receiver holder116may further include an opening140so as to allow insertion of the receiver126into the receiver holder116. The direction of insertion of the receiver126into the receiver holder116is as indicated by the arrow142as shown inFIG. 2.

The first hearing aid housing portion110may include a rigid material such as plastic. The first hearing aid housing portion110serve as a housing for the receiver126, the microphone130, the battery chamber housing132and the amplifier136and may be of a relatively resilient material.

The second hearing aid housing portion112may include a permeable membrane144configured to allow transmission of sound waves from the receiver126into an ear and to prevent ear wax from contacting the receiver126. The permeable membrane144may be termed a “wax guard”.

The permeable membrane144may be positioned in contact with the receiver holder116and along a same axis as the receiver holder116when the second hearing aid housing portion112is brought into contact with the receiver holder116as shown by the arrow146inFIG. 2.

The first hearing aid housing portion110may be made of a different material from the second hearing aid housing portion112. The second hearing aid housing portion112may be made of a flexible material so as to allow the second hearing aid housing portion112to conform to a user's ear canal. The flexible material may include a rubber material, a sponge material, a silicon rubber material, polymer material, a rubber like material, an earplug material or any other suitable material. The material used for the second hearing aid housing portion112may be more flexible and adaptable than the material used for the first hearing aid housing portion110. The material adopted for the first hearing aid housing portion110may render it suitable to act as a shield for the components housed therein and the material adopted for the second hearing aid housing portion112may render it suitable to be adaptable and disposable. The first hearing aid housing portion110may include a stereolithography material.

FIG. 4shows a front view of a hearing aid102with a hook coupling structure114in a close position according to an embodiment. The hearing aid102inFIG. 4is similar to the hearing aid102inFIG. 3and a difference may be seen in that the hearing aid102inFIG. 4adopts two hooks148as the coupling structure114rather than two studs122as shown inFIG. 3. Each hook148may be positioned at an angle relative to the receiver holder116such that the catch150on the second hearing aid housing portion112may be detachably coupled onto the receiver holder116. The two hooks148are disposed on opposite sides of the receiver holder116.

FIG. 5shows a front view of a receiver holder116according to an embodiment andFIG. 6shows a plan view of a receiver holder116according to an embodiment.

The hearing aid102may include a first hearing aid housing portion110and a receiver126. The first hearing aid housing portion110may include a receiver holder116configured to receive the receiver126.

The receiver holder116may include an interior portion118and an exterior portion120.

The receiver holder116may further include two recess portions124, each recess position124disposed on opposite sides of the interior portion118of the receiver holder116.

The hearing aid102may further include two protruding portions128disposed on opposite sides of the receiver126, each protruding portion128configured to be received in each recess portion124to secure the receiver126within the receiver holder116. Each of the two protruding portions128may include a stud made of a rubber material.

The receiver holder116may further include two contact portions138positioned at a base on the interior portion118of the receiver holder116. The two contact portions138may be in contact with the respective amplifier (not shown) and the receiver126. The two contact portions138may allow electrical current to pass through so as to allow an electrical connection between the amplifier and the receiver126.

The receiver holder116further comprises an opening140so as to allow insertion of the receiver126into the receiver holder116.

FIG. 7shows a front view of a hearing aid102with a protruding rim coupling structure114in an open position according to an embodiment. The hearing aid102inFIG. 7may be similar to the hearing aid102inFIG. 2and a difference may be seen in that the hearing aid102inFIG. 7may adopt a protruding rim156as the coupling structure114rather than two studs122as shown inFIG. 2. The protruding rim156may surround the exterior portion120of the receiver holder116. Or the protruding rim156may only partially surround the exterior portion120of the receiver holder116.

Further the second hearing aid housing portion112may include a corresponding groove or recess158positioned on the interior portion152of the second hearing aid housing portion112. The groove or recess158may be configured so as to engage the protruding rim156such that the second hearing aid housing portion112may be detachably coupled to the receiver holder116.

The protruding rim156and the corresponding groove or recess158may be circular in shape, or may be of any suitable shape corresponding to the shape of the receiver holder116or the second hearing aid housing portion112.