Patent ID: 7310426

Claim:
An inconspicuous semi-permanent hearing device, comprising: a sealing retainer adapted to be retained in the bony portion of a wearer's ear canal along the longitudinal axis and in direct contact with the walls thereof when said hearing device is fully seated within the ear canal of the wearer; a receiver assembly including a receiver for supplying acoustic signals to the tympanic membrane of the wearer, said receiver assembly being arranged and adapted to mate with said sealing retainer for positioning in the bony portion of the ear canal; a microphone assembly adapted to be positioned medially past the aperture of the ear canal, said microphone assembly including a microphone for receiving incoming acoustic signals for processing by said hearing device; a battery assembly including a battery for powering said hearing device, said battery assembly axially aligned and medially positioned relative to said microphone assembly; and a flexible connector connecting said battery assembly to said receiver assembly, wherein said flexible connector is adapted to allow articulation of said receiver assembly relative to said battery assembly during insertion and removal of said hearing device, whereby said hearing device is adapted to be inserted entirely within a wearer's ear canal medially past the aperture thereof for long-term wear therein.