Patent ID: 8229151

Claim:
A hearing instrument for insertion into the ear canal of a user, comprising a center of gravity of the hearing instrument; a shell, the shell comprising an interior; a generally-planar faceplate attached to the shell and comprising an approximately elliptical shape comprising major and minor axes; a plane of minimal vibration of the hearing instrument comprising the major axis of the faceplate and the center of gravity of the hearing instrument; a receiver positioned in the interior of the shell, the receiver comprising a vibrating armature and a generally-planar diaphragm responsive to the armature, the diaphragm lying in a plane normal to a plane defined by the motion of the vibrating armature, where the plane defined by the motion of the vibrating armature intersects the faceplate; and parallel to the plane of minimal vibration; a microphone positioned in the interior of the shell; and a microphone inlet for the microphone located on the major axis.