Patent Publication Number: US-7590255-B2

Title: Retaining member for an earpiece

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Danish Patent Application No. PA 2003 00229, filed on Feb. 14, 2003, and Danish Patent Application No. PA 2003 00239, filed on Feb. 17, 2003. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to retaining an earpiece in the ear canal of a user. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Behind-the-ear hearings aids in which a sound tube conducts sound generated by the receiver of the hearing aid into the ear canal are well known in the art. In order to position the sound tube securely and comfortably in the ear canal, an earpiece is provided for insertion into the ear canal of the user. Typically, the earpiece is individually adapted to the human anatomy of the ear of the user. 
     So-called “open” BTE earpieces are generally preferred in order to affect the ear canal as little as possible by avoiding blockage of the ear canal, i.e. the occlusion effect. This also assists in maintaining the natural hearing capacity of the user. 
     A known earpiece which secures the end of the flexible hearing aid tube within the ear canal has to be individually custom manufactured to fit the user&#39;s ear to sufficiently secure the hearing aid tube in place in the ear canal and prevent the earpiece from falling out of the ear and avoid acoustical feed backs, e.g., when the user is moving around. The custom made earpiece adds to the cost of the device and the time needed to fit the hearing aid. 
     Some standard sized earpieces are available which are generally used during a trial period when the hearing aid is being tested or while the earpiece is being made. Some of these standard sized earpieces are formed of hard materials, some are formed of solid rubber, and some are formed of foam. In general, standard sized earpieces which are currently available have problems with holding the end of the flexible hearing aid tube securely in place because of the shape of the ear canal and because the ear canal is moving when talking and eating. When these standard sized earpieces fit tight 122  enough to hold the tube in the ear they are usually uncomfortable mainly because of the constant pressure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an earpiece that is comfortable and aesthetical and that can be securely and comfortably fastened in the ear canal of a user, and that is provided in standard sizes for substituting custom made earpieces. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, an earpiece is provided that is adapted for insertion into the ear canal and has at least one resilient fiber that is connected to the earpiece for abutting a surface of the outer ear when the earpiece has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece in the ear canal of the user. 
     The earpiece may further comprise a sound tube for conducting sound to the ear canal. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the at least one fiber is connected to the earpiece via the sound tube. However, in another embodiment the at least one fiber is connected directly to the earpiece. 
     The sound tube may have a pre-formed shape that includes a first bend extending from the case over the top of the ear of the user and a second bend extending from an outside of the ear into an ear canal of the user. 
     The earpiece is configured to fit within the ear canal and, preferably, without blocking the ear canal so that sound from outside the ear is allowed to propagate through the ear canal, past the earpiece, and to the tympanic membrane. Preferably, the fiber is adapted for abutting the outer ear at the bottom of the ear, e.g. behind the antitragus at the lower part of the concha, at which position the fiber is substantially invisible and provides secure retention of the earpiece in the ear canal. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sound tube has an inner diameter of about 0.9 mm or less and an outer diameter of about 1.6 mm or less. The tube is preferably formed of a material with a durometer of 65 to 85 Shore D. 
     The fiber may be formed into the desired arcuate shape by any known pre-forming process, such as, heat forming or UV light forming or molding. The earpiece, the sound tube, and the fiber may be molded to form one integrated part, or, the sound tube and the fiber may be molded to form one integrated part to be assembled with the earpiece. 
     Alternatively, the fiber may be connected to the sound tube with a connector member. The connector member may be over-molded onto the sound tube and the fiber. Alternatively, the connector member may be molded first and then bonded to the tube and fiber, respectively. 
     Preferably, the fiber has an outer diameter of about 1.0 to 1.6 mm, more preferred about 1.2 mm. 
     The fiber is preferably produced from a material, which can be formed in a pre-formed shape and exhibits sufficient rigidity to hold the earpiece within the ear canal and retains its shape when positioned in the ear. Examples of fiber materials include REP Teflon, Nylon, PEBAX, silicone, polyurethane, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), EVA (ethylvinylacetate), etc. The material of the fiber may have a shore hardness of about 65 to 85 Shore D, preferably about 72 Shore D. 
     The resilience of the fiber allows the fiber to apply a force to the earpiece towards the ear canal to retain the earpiece in a position in which the earpiece is pressed against an anatomical feature within the ear canal. 
     The earpiece material may be a soft elastomer, such as silicone rubber or other soft plastic. The earpiece material preferably has a durometer of about 30 Shore A. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Below, the invention will be further described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the hearing aid of  FIG. 1 , positioned at a user&#39;s right ear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The exemplifying embodiment described below relates to an earpiece for a behind-the-ear hearing aid. However, it should be understood that the invention may be utilized with any earpieces requiring retention in the ear canal provided in standard sizes or custom made, such as completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aids, in-the-canal (ITE) hearing aids, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids. 
       FIG. 1  shows in perspective a BTE hearing aid  10  according to the invention. The BTE hearing aid  10  comprises a hearing aid housing  12 , a sound tube  14  having a pre-formed shape for conducting sound from the hearing aid housing  12  to the ear canal (not shown), and an earpiece  16  attached to the sound tube  14  via a connector member  17  and inserted into the ear canal. 
     The hearing aid housing  12  is configured to be worn behind the ear of a user and contains a battery, a microphone, a processor, and a receiver (not shown) for generating sound that is input into the sound tube  14 . 
     The pre-formed shape of the sound tube  14  includes a first bend  18  extending from the case over the top of the ear of the user and a second bend  20  extending from an outside of the ear into an ear canal of the user when the hearing aid  10  is worn by the user. 
     The earpiece  16  is configured to fit within the ear canal and, preferably, allows sounds outside and within the ear to pass through the ear canal around the earpiece. 
     Further, the hearing aid  10  has an arcuate, preferably resilient, fiber  22  with one end  24  that is connected to the earpiece  16  or the sound tube  14  via the connector member  17 . The fiber  22  may optionally be removably connected to the earpiece  16 . The fiber  22  is adapted for abutting a surface of the outer ear when the earpiece  16  has been inserted in the ear canal thereby providing retention of the earpiece  16  in the ear canal of the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the fiber  22  is adapted for abutting the outer ear  26  at the lower part of the concha  28  behind the antitragus  30  at which position the fiber  22  is substantially invisible and provides secure retention of the earpiece  16  in the ear canal  32 . 
     The resilience of the fiber allows the fiber to apply a force to the earpiece towards the ear canal to retain the earpiece in a position in which the earpiece is pressed against an anatomical feature within the ear canal. 
     The illustrated earpiece is provided in standard sizes (i.e. they are not custom made) and is comfortable to wear and aesthetical and the fiber  22  enables it to be securely and comfortably fastened in the ear canal of a user. 
     It should be noted that presence of the fiber  22  causes practically no detrimental effect on the natural appearance of the external ear.