Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/DE102007046998A1/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-18 06:31:55
Document Index: 665214610

Matched Legal Cases: ['art;\n2', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 12']

DE102007046998A1 - Ear fitting with vent opening through the ear and appropriate ventilation method - Google Patents
Ear fitting with vent opening through the ear and appropriate ventilation method
DE102007046998A1
DE102007046998A1 DE200710046998 DE102007046998A DE102007046998A1 DE 102007046998 A1 DE102007046998 A1 DE 102007046998A1 DE 200710046998 DE200710046998 DE 200710046998 DE 102007046998 A DE102007046998 A DE 102007046998A DE 102007046998 A1 DE102007046998 A1 DE 102007046998A1
DE200710046998
Wai Kit David Ho
2007-10-01 Application filed by Sivantos Pte Ltd filed Critical Sivantos Pte Ltd
2007-10-01 Priority to DE200710046998 priority Critical patent/DE102007046998A1/en
2009-04-09 Publication of DE102007046998A1 publication Critical patent/DE102007046998A1/en
It should also be ensured in hearing devices and in particular in hearing aids with high gain sufficient ventilation of the ear canal. Therefore, an ear piece (10) for a hearing device is provided with a first portion (11) for insertion into the auditory canal (23) of the user, a second portion (12) which projects into the user's concha when inserted, and a vent (11). 18) extending from the first portion (11) into the second portion (12). A vent opening, optionally enclosed with a titanium ring (22), is directed in the second section (12) to the user's pinna (24), so that an air exchange between the ear canal (23) and the back of the pinna (24) can be reached through an opening in the auricle. By the ventilation of the ear canal (23) from the back of the auricle (24), the risk of feedback is reduced.
The The present invention relates to an ear piece for a hearing device having a first portion for insertion into the ear canal a user, a second section, in the inserted state into the user's concha, and a vent that protrudes from the first Section in the second section runs. In addition, the present concerns Invention a method for venting an ear canal a user. The term "hearing device" is used here in particular a hearing aid, but any other ear-wearing, sound-emitting device, such as Headset, headphones and the like, understood.
Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that for the care of the hearing impaired serve. To meet the numerous individual needs, are different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), Hearing aid with external Listener (RIC: receiver in the canal) and in-the-ear hearing aids (IdO), z. B. Concha hearing aids or Channel hearing aids (ITE, CIC), provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are on the outer ear or worn in the ear canal. About that In addition, there are bone conduction hearing aids on the market, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids available. there the stimulation of the damaged hearing is either mechanical or electric.
Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated into a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 To carry behind the ear are one or more microphones 2 built-in for recording the sound from the environment. A signal processing unit 3 also in the hearing aid housing 1 is integrated, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 goes to a speaker or listener 4 transmitted, which emits an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing aid and in particular the signal processing unit 3 done by a likewise in the hearing aid housing 1 integrated battery 5 ,
For low Hearing Loss can For example, BTE hearing aids with a huge Vent or so-called open BTE hearing aids are used. In open BTE hearing aids the auditory canal not through an earmold completely closed, but it will be a sound tube or an external listener in the ear canal an ear piece merely held. There is always an air exchange between the external environment and the ear canal possible, so it does not cause uncomfortable feelings of wear or illnesses of the meatus can come. Also with hearing aids great Vent is guaranteed sufficient air exchange, though an earmold used This is done individually to the ear canal is adjusted.
at medium and larger hearing losses must to reduce feedback a tight earmold or a dense ear shell can be used. This leads Sensitive ears cause that more ear wax is produced, or Diseases or reduced comfort are the consequences.
The Object of the present invention is thus, especially for hearing devices with high gain an improved ventilation of the ear canal to reach.
According to the invention this Task solved by an earmold for one hearing with a first section for insertion into the ear canal of a User, a second section in the inserted state in the concha of the user sticks out, and a vent from the first one Section in the second section runs, with a vent opening in the second section is directed to the auricle of the user, allowing an air exchange between the ear canal and the back the auricle through an opening reachable in the auricle.
Furthermore is provided according to the invention a method for venting an ear canal of a user, being in the ear canal an earmold a hearing device is inserted, by providing a vents through the earmold, Provide an opening through the user's ear from the front to the back the auricle, connecting the vents with the opening in the auricle and ventilate of the ear canal with air guided through the auricle directly from the back the auricle.
Advantageously, it is thus possible to ventilate the ear canal directly from the back of the auricle, so that sound that passes through the vent opening to the outside first around the auricle or a larger path behind the ear before it can make a significant contribution to the feedback.
Preferably is the earmold as a shell of an ITE hearing aid or a Concha hearing aid trained. Especially with such hearing aid forms become customized hearing aid cups used in those at higher Reinforcements always the problem of lack of ventilation of the meatus occurs.
The Eartip optionally also as a holder for a hearing tube or an external Microphone of a BTE hearing aid are used. In this case, it is convenient when the vent opening in the worn state of the hearing device rather directed downwards, because the microphones of a BTE hearing aid are usually at the top of the hearing aid. Thus, the sound from the vent must travel a greater detour behind the ear, before he reaches the microphone (s) of the BTE hearing aid again.
Corresponding In a particularly preferred embodiment, the vent opening is in the second portion of the earmold, when inserted protruding into the concha of the user, framed by a titanium ring. Titanium is known as a biocompatible material, so the least Problems with a surgically made opening in the auricle too is calculated. Naturally Other biocompatible materials are also used to surround the opening of the vents conceivable.
Of the Titanium ring or ring formed from the biocompatible material may be from the surface of the Earmold protrude. In this case, the ring can be inserted directly into the opening the auricle are used, without that by moving the earmold the There is a risk that the vent is closed by the auricle becomes.
The The present invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: show:
1 the basic structure of a hearing aid according to the prior art;
2 a side view of an inventive ITE hearing aid;
3 a bottom view of the ITE hearing aid from 2 ;
4 a view of the IdO hearing aid from 2 in the worn state from the front of the user;
5 the view of the IdO hearing aid from 4 from the side of the user and
6 a view on the user's ear from the back.
The below described embodiment represents a preferred embodiment of present invention.
The earmold according to the example of 2 represents a hearing aid shell 10 of an IDO hearing aid. The hearing aid shell 10 has approximately a frustoconical shape, with the slimmer part 11 is inserted into the auditory canal of the hearing aid wearer, while the wider part 12 out of the ear canal out into the concha of the auricle of the hearing aid wearer. The front of the hearing aid shell 10 which points to the eardrum when inserted and the slimmer part 11 can finish, as inside 13 be designated. The opposite outside 14 closes the wider part 12 the hearing aid shell 10 from. The outside 14 is with a sealing ring 14 surrounded by soft material. Its task is to seal the IDO hearing aid in the inserted state acoustically inwards so that as little sound as possible is present between the hearing aid shell 10 and can penetrate the auditory canal wall to the outside. On the outside 14 For example, a switch 16 and a microphone 17 be arranged.
Inside the hearing aid shell 10 runs from the inside 13 to the wider section 12 , which protrudes into the concha of the auricle, a vent 18 , He does not reach the outside 14 but occurs on the lateral surface of the frustoconical hearing aid shell 10 that is in contact with the Concha. This means that the vent 18 is essentially L-shaped and has an opening 19 on the inside 13 as well as an outlet 20 on the lateral surface 21 has. This outlet 20 thus represents the second vent opening and is of a titanium ring 22 edged. This titanium ring 22 something protrudes from the lateral surface 21 or the surface of the hearing aid shell 10 ,
3 shows the IdO hearing aid from 2 in the bottom view. Good to recognize here too is that the vent 18 with its first vent opening 19 from the inside 13 that is, starting from the tip of the earmold and approximately in the middle of the body of the hearing aid cup in the second vent opening 20 ends. This vent opening is from the titanium ring 22 surround.
4 represents the IdO hearing aid the 2 and 3 in a state inserted in the ear of a user from the front of the user. The hearing aid protrudes with its tip, ie its slender part 11 in the ear canal 23 of the user. The wider part 12 the hearing aid shell 10 protrudes into the concha of the auricle 24 , In this auricle 24 is operatively a circular opening 27 (see. 6 ) brought in. In this opening 27 the titanium ring protrudes 22 , This is the sound that is in the ear canal 23 is generated, and by the vent 18 can step outside through the titanium ring 22 or the opening 27 in the auricle 24 behind the auricle 24 directed. Only that part of the sound from the vent that makes the detour around the pinna 24 finds (see arrows 25 in 4 ) contributes to the feedback. This detour around the auricle 24 to the microphone 17 of the hearing aid leads to a significant reduction in feedback, which in 4 through the cross 26 is indicated.
5 shows only in addition to the auricle 24 the user with the used hearing aid from the side. It's just the outside in this view 14 as well as the switch 16 and the microphone 17 to recognize. Depending on the characteristics of the sealing ring 15 , the acoustic losses from the lateral vent opening 20 to the microphone 17 along the hearing aid housing 10 is to prevent this seal is 15 to recognize in the side view. In this example, he is slightly behind the outside 14 reset and therefore not recognizable.
In 6 is finally a view from the back of the auricle 24 shown. From this point of view, the operative is in the pinna 24 introduced opening 27 as well as the inserted titanium ring 22 to recognize. That feedback sound from the vent 18 along the hearing aid shell 10 to the microphone 17 can not easily reach, is next to the sealing ring 15 also by the protruding titanium ring 22 largely prevented (cf. 4 ). The sound that is forced outward by the vent thus becomes behind the pinna 24 headed, like the arrows 25 in 6 suggest. As already related to 4 is shown, is the detour around the auricle 24 so great for the sound that its volume decreases significantly (see cross 26 ), so that the corresponding feedback factor decreases significantly.
Even if the inventive technique of vents laterally led out of the earmold 18 Also used for BTE hearing aids, the sound generated by the Vent 18 comes to the outside, from the auricle opening 27 or the titanium ring 22 along the auricle back to the auricle top 28 reach where usually the microphones of a BTE hearing aid are arranged. Also, this path is relatively long, so that also in BTE hearing aids, the feedback factor is reduced.
Earpiece for a hearing device with - a first section ( 11 ) for insertion into the ear canal ( 23 ) of a user, - a second section ( 12 ), which protrudes into the concha of the user when inserted, and - a vent ( 18 ), of the first section ( 11 ) in the second section ( 12 ), characterized in that - a vent opening ( 20 ) in the second section ( 12 ) to the auricle ( 24 ) of the user, so that an air exchange between the ear canal ( 23 ) and the back of the auricle ( 24 ) through an opening ( 27 ) is reachable in the auricle.
An earmold according to claim 1, which is designed as a shell ( 10 ) of an in-the-ear hearing device or a concha hearing device is formed.
An ear tip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vent opening ( 20 ) in the second section ( 12 ) of a titanium ring ( 22 ) is enclosed.
An earmold according to claim 3, wherein the titanium ring ( 22 ) protrudes from the surface of the earmold.
Method for ventilating an auditory canal ( 23 ) of a user, wherein in the ear canal ( 23 ) an earmold of a hearing device is inserted, by - providing a vents ( 18 through the earmold, characterized by providing an opening ( 27 ) through the auricle ( 24 ) of the user from the front to the back of the auricle ( 24 ), - connecting the vents ( 18 ) with the opening ( 27 ) in the auricle ( 24 ) and - aeration of the ear canal ( 23 ) with through the auricle ( 24 ) guided air directly from the back of the auricle ( 24 ).
Method according to claim 5, wherein for connecting the vents ( 18 ) with the opening ( 27 ) in the auricle ( 24 ) a titanium ring ( 22 ), the end of the vents ( 18 ), into the opening ( 27 ) of the auricle ( 24 ) is used.
DE200710046998 2007-10-01 2007-10-01 Ear fitting with vent opening through the ear and appropriate ventilation method Ceased DE102007046998A1 (en)
DE200710046998 DE102007046998A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2007-10-01 Ear fitting with vent opening through the ear and appropriate ventilation method
EP08163735A EP2046075A3 (en) 2007-10-01 2008-09-05 Earpiece with vent opening through the auricle and corresponding ventilation method
US12/286,670 US8189836B2 (en) 2007-10-01 2008-10-01 Ear mold with vent opening through outer ear and corresponding ventilation method
DE102007046998A1 true DE102007046998A1 (en) 2009-04-09
ID=40174776
DE200710046998 Ceased DE102007046998A1 (en) 2007-10-01 2007-10-01 Ear fitting with vent opening through the ear and appropriate ventilation method
US (1) US8189836B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2046075A3 (en)
DE (1) DE102007046998A1 (en)
US3918550A (en) * 1972-07-26 1975-11-11 Sheeley Robert M Hearing aid device
WO2007077605A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-07-12 Rion Co., Ltd. Earhole hearing aid
2007-10-01 DE DE200710046998 patent/DE102007046998A1/en not_active Ceased
2008-09-05 EP EP08163735A patent/EP2046075A3/en not_active Withdrawn
2008-10-01 US US12/286,670 patent/US8189836B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
US20090123011A1 (en) 2009-05-14
US8189836B2 (en) 2012-05-29
EP2046075A3 (en) 2012-08-15
EP2046075A2 (en) 2009-04-08
2012-01-17 R016 Response to examination communication