Patent ID: 7720242

Claim:
A flexible joint for a CIC hearing device positionable in a portion of an ear canal of a user, the joint comprising: a compliant tube consisting of a single integral structure having a lateral end, a medial end, a necked portion allowing the ends to pivot relative to each other, and a lumen extending from the lateral end to the medial end, wherein the lateral end of the lumen is open and configured to receive a lateral hearing device assembly and the medial end of the lumen is open and configured to receive a medial hearing device assembly, the tube configured to allow the lateral hearing device assembly to advance the medial hearing device assembly into the ear canal and have at least a portion of the CIC hearing device conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement of the lateral and medial assemblies about the necked portion, wherein the tube acoustically decouples the two assemblies.