Patent ID: 8199952

Claim:
A method for fabricating a completely-in-the-canal hearing instrument for insertion into an ear canal of an ear comprising an outer ear and an ear drum, the ear canal comprising an ear canal wall, where the hearing instrument resides completely in the ear canal, comprising: determining the dimensions of the ear canal; fabricating a completely-in-the-canal hearing instrument shell, the shell comprising an end facing the outer ear and an end facing the ear drum; a length; an outer surface comprising a peripheral dimension along the length of the shell, where the peripheral dimension is less than the dimensions of the ear canal along the length of the shell; a faceplate on the end of the shell facing the outer ear; a mounting face on the end of the shell facing the ear drum; and affixing a dome to the mounting face of the shell, the dome comprising a dome wall; an outer peripheral surface conforming to and engaging the walls of the ear canal; and at least one vent in the dome wall; and creating a passage comprising a gap between the ear canal wall and the outer surface of the shell, the passage extending continuously along the length of the shell from the vent in the dome to the faceplate.