EP0206213A1 - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

1. In-the-ear-hearing aid, consisting of a housing (15) which has a sound entry opening (11) as well as a sound outlet and accommodates hearing aid portions, such as microphone (2), electronic amplifier components (3, 13), components for signal processing and signal emission, which has a sound duct (22) leading from a receiver (5) to the ear-drum and which is releasably connected with an otoplastic (21) which can be inserted into the auditory canal and to the end of which, facing the ear-drum and provided with an opening, the sound duct is directed, with the otoplastic, tapering to a smallest diameter at its end facing the ear-drum, having a hollowed-out portion penetrating it, characterised in that the shape of the housing (15) is even adapted to the shape of the hollowed-out portion of the otoplastic (21) within the auditory canal, in that the housing (15) can be inserted into the hollowed-out portion of the otoplastic (21) and in that the housing can be secured to the otoplastic in the region of the latter's end facing the ear-drum by means of a releasable latching arrangement (24, 25; 60-62).

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid according to the preamble of claim 1. Such hearing aids are known for example from GB-PS 20 70 890.

In the case of hearing aids which are so small that they can at least largely be inserted into the ear canal, in addition to a favorable distribution of the built-in parts, an advantageous design of the housing itself is also very important. So far, it seemed easiest for every customer to make an individual housing in which the device was then installed. However, a function test is only possible when the individual shell (earmold) is ready and can be inserted into the customer's ear. The built-in device can only be removed for repair etc. if the housing, which is usually glued, is broken open. A duct necessary for venting the air space enclosed by the device in the auditory canal must be incorporated in the manufacture of the otoplastic.

Such problems also occur with other small hearing aids, for example those which are worn in the ear, ie in which the major part of the housing is accommodated in the auricle and only the listener is inserted into the auditory canal in one attachment of this device. In such a device, which has a large cross-section on its outer surface and which is described in DE-OS 14 87 272, a solution to the above-mentioned problems is sought in that the individual elements of the hearing aid are accommodated in a housing which has a detachable Ver Lock is inserted into an intermediate housing, the outside of which is adapted to the shape of the auditory canal of the ear to be supplied with the otoplastic.

The object of the invention is to achieve a space and expansion of the cross-section-saving structure of the housing in a hearing aid of the type mentioned. This object is achieved by the measures specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous further developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a housing of the parts of the hearing aid, which fits into a cavity in the otoplastic. For this purpose, the housing and the cavity are given diameters which become smaller towards the exit of the sound conductor, so that the shape of a funnel results. This makes it possible to lock the housing in the earmold in the area of the smaller diameters. On the one hand, the advantages that result from the use of a two-part housing can be used, and on the other hand, no significant additional space is required for holding the device in the earmold.

According to the invention, the hearing aid device housed in a housing can be mass-produced and have the smallest possible dimensions. It is possible to use molded parts of minimal wall thickness for its housing because the wall is reinforced by inserting it into the earmold. In particular, if you give this device a cross-section that is rounded in a kidney shape, the adaptability to the cross-sections of auditory channels that occur is also facilitated.

The installation of the device in the otoplastic can be promoted if the housing of the hearing aid is made up of two parts and all parts except the receiver are accommodated in one part and the receiver in a second part. The connection between the two parts of the housing can be rigid, because the shape is already favorable for installation. The connection of the housing of the receiver to the part of the housing which contains the other components of the hearing aid can also be made movable. As a rule, it can be sufficient to arrange the receiver to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis by approximately 30 °, because then all positions and shapes that can be taken up by the ear canal can be adjusted.

It is more favorable if, in addition to a rotatability, which can be increased by up to 300 °, a pivotability of up to 10 ° (5 ° on both sides) is also provided at the connection point with the other housing (see FIG. 7). This makes it possible, when adapting the housing, to meet an even greater number of shapes predefined by the ear.

The locking of the housing, which contains the elements of the hearing aid, with the otoplastic or the intermediate housing can be achieved by appropriately shaping the surfaces that come to lie against one another, for example by providing undercutting elements that come into engagement with one another when they are joined together. Such elements can have a particularly favorable effect if they are attached at points where they are accessible again for later removal, so that the connection can be released without destroying the housing. The arrangement of the undercuts is advantageous, for example, in the areas in which the housings have a small diameter. There you have the later copy of the Even thin walls that are flexible and therefore cheap for snap locks. With an intermediate housing, very little, if any, parts of an otoplastic need to be attached.

In one embodiment, the housing of the components of the hearing aid can be provided on the outside with a thread at its thinnest end, which protrudes at the end when it is joined together with the otoplastic or the intermediate housing. The bracket can then be achieved by screwing an annular nut. Instead of a thread, a bead can also be provided, onto which a ring is held which holds the two parts together.

A kind of snap closure can also be achieved by undercuts. For this purpose, it has proven to be expedient to shape the outer wall of the housing of the components in such a way that it has a step or more against the larger diameter, due to which edges provided there when inserted into the otoplastic or the intermediate housing, such as the end edge of the latter click into place. To improve this holder, the end edge of the intermediate housing can be provided with a reinforcement. A ring can be used as such. Such a holder can be released if the wall of the housing of the components is flexible at the point at which a latching step lies, for example by only having a thin wall thickness. This then allows the retaining step to be pressed in so far that the resting edge can be pushed over it.

The materials customary for the production of hearing aids, such as, for example, polyoxymethylene or cellulose acetate, have proven successful as materials for the housing, the earmold and the intermediate housing. Favorable wall thicknesses of the housings are 0.2 to 0.5 mm. One for reinforcement A ring inserted into a locking edge can consist of a mechanically resistant plastic, such as polymethyl methaerylate. The otoplastic, which results in an adaptation to the ear canal and thereby an improved holder when using the device, can be produced in the manner known per se in the manufacture of ear molds. For this purpose, an impression, such as a plaster cast, is first made from the ear canal and then a cast is made of it, leaving the cavity for the use of the hearing aid. This can be done, for example, by placing an order on the intermediate housing. For this purpose, the intermediate housing is inserted, for example, into the mold made from the impression and then the space between it and the mold is filled with plastic material. After curing, a suitable otoplastic is obtained. Instead of the intermediate housing, an appropriately shaped stamp can be inserted into the mold to create the cavity in the otoplastic and removed again after the plastic material has hardened.

An arrangement according to the invention also has the advantage that a finished hearing aid is already available before an otoplastic is manufactured. In order to try out the acoustic properties and adapt it to the hearing loss of a particular ear, it may be sufficient to insert the device with an acoustic seal in the ear and then to make the necessary adjustment. For this purpose, a part can be attached to the sound outlet opening of the housing, which corresponds, for example, to the end section of the intermediate housing, which makes locking possible. The end of this part, which serves as an adapter, can then be provided with an attachment, onto which a so-called adapter olive is attached, which ver attaching the device to caring ear makes possible. This test adapter can be used for different forms of listening channels by using different fitting olives. In the case of a thread as a locking element, the screw-on part and, in the case of a bead, the ring to be pulled on can be designed in an analogous manner as an adapter.

When using an interlocking of the installation housing with an annular screw nut or an openable ring, these can take the form of a cap, the bottom of which is provided with holes. In addition to locking, protection of the sound deflection against the ingress of dirt and, in particular, cerumen is thus obtained without requiring additional space.

In the embodiment according to the invention, it is also possible to provide a duct to the outside air for venting the air space enclosed between the device and the eardrum when using the device. For this venting of the interior called venting, a bulge can be provided in the intermediate housing according to the invention. When assembled with the housing of the hearing aid parts, a channel then remains free, which extends from the end with a small diameter to the end with a large diameter.

The cross-section on the front panel can be saved by connecting this panel to the housing with an internal snap lock. This can be arranged in such a way that it can be loosened by means of a tool, for example a screwdriver, which is inserted through an opening in the housing, for example the opening for introducing the battery. Marks that are visible on the outside, which are unavoidable due to the use of the tool on the plastic, can be brought to an invisible point on the housing.

Further details and advantages of the invention are further explained below using the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures.

• in der Figur 2 ein Schnitt durch das Gerät nach Figur 1 entlang der Linie II-II,
• in der Figur 3 die Draufsicht auf das Gerät nach Figur 1,
• in der Figur 4 die Abbildung eines Schnittes entlang der Linie III-III nach Figur 2,
• in der Figur 5 in explodierter Darstellung ein an den Schallausgang des Gerätes nach Figur 1 ansetzbarer Adapter zur Erprobung des Gerätes,
• in der Figur 6 eine Ausführungsform, bei welcher die Verbindung der beiden Gehäuse über einen Schnappmechanismus bewirkt ist,
• in der Figur 7 eine Hörhilfe, bei welcher die Elemente in einem zweiteiligen Gehäuse untergebracht sind, deren beide Teile beweglich miteinander verbunden und ohne Zwischengehäuse in eine Otoplastik eingebracht sind,
• in der Figur 8 der Schnitt durch ein Gerät entsprechend Figur 7, bei welchem nur die Drehbarkeit des den Hörer enthaltenden Ansatzes vorhanden ist, und
• in der Figur 9 in explodierter Darstellung ein Adapter, der zur Erprobung der Wirksamkeit der Hörhilfe mit einer der Ausführungsformen 6 bis 8 verbindbar ist.

A hearing aid designed according to the invention is shown in section in FIG.

• 2 shows a section through the device according to FIG. 1 along the line II-II,
• 3 shows the top view of the device according to FIG. 1,
• 4 shows the illustration of a section along the line III-III according to FIG. 2,
• 5 an exploded view of an adapter which can be attached to the sound output of the device according to FIG. 1 for testing the device,
• 6 shows an embodiment in which the connection of the two housings is effected via a snap mechanism,
• 7 shows a hearing aid in which the elements are accommodated in a two-part housing, the two parts of which are movably connected to one another and inserted into an otoplastic without an intermediate housing,
• 8 shows the section through a device corresponding to FIG. 7, in which only the rotatability of the attachment containing the receiver is present, and
• 9 an exploded view of an adapter which can be connected to one of the embodiments 6 to 8 to test the effectiveness of the hearing aid.

In Figure 1, 1 denotes a hearing aid in which the components, i.e. a microphone 2, an amplifier 3, a battery 4 and a receiver 5, are housed in a housing 15. The housing 15 is closed at the point of its largest diameter with a cover 6, which consists of polyamide, which is reinforced with glass fibers. The cover 6 carries a volume control 7, a tone control 8 and a holder 10 for the battery 4, which can be pivoted about an axis 9 mounted in the cover 6. In the cover there is also an opening 11 for speaking into the microphone 2. Inside the housing are attached to a flexible support 12, the parts 13 of the amplifier. In addition, the receiver 5 is connected to the amplifier. The cover 6 is connected to the housing 15 via hooks 16, which engage behind lugs 17 of the housing 15. They are arranged so that the connection between the cover 6 and the upper edge of the housing 15 can be reached from the opening of the holder 10 using a tool, for example a screwdriver. So an opening of the housing 15 by lifting the lid 6 is possible without the appearance of visible marks.

The device 1 is inserted with its housing 15 into an intermediate housing 20, on the outer wall of which an otoplastic 21 is attached. At its end facing away from the amplifier 3, the receiver 5 has a sound outlet connection 22 which, like the receiver 5 itself, is supported with respect to the housing 15 by a padding 23. On the outside of the part of the housing 15, which lies in the area of the socket 22, a thread 24 is attached, onto which a threaded ring 25 is screwed, which has a bottom 26, in which openings 27 are made.

An adapter as shown in FIG. 5 can be used to test the device 1 on a hearing impaired person is posed. This consists of a screw ring 25.1, which can be screwed onto the thread 24 and which has an attachment olive 30 at its free end, to which an adapter olive 31 can be attached in the direction of arrow 33 (ear tip), which consists of a flexible material and one has laterally projecting sealing bead 32, with which the ear canal can be locked to the outside.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line III-III according to FIG. 2 of the arrangement of a ventilation channel 40, which is also shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 and from the end of the housing on which the sound outlet connection 22 of the receiver 5 lies. leads to the end of the intermediate housing 20, which lies on the opposite end of this housing having the large cross section. This channel 40 is designed in the form of a bulge 42 of the intermediate housing 20, so that the channel remains open at 40 when the material of the earmold 21 is attached. A bulge 42.1 can also be provided on the other side, which then leads to a further ventilation duct 40.1 or through which the duct 40 is replaced.

The operation of the invention results in the manner shown in Figures 1 to 4 so that each with the screw rings 25 of Figures 1, 2 and 5, the nested housings 15 and 20 are held together at their narrowest point, so that they are not apart can solve independently. Only after the ring 25 has been unscrewed can the housing 15 be removed from the intermediate housing 20 and possibly brought to a repair etc.

In the device 1.6 shown in FIG. 6, in contrast to the devices shown in the previous figures, the housing 15.6 is held in the intermediate housing 20.6 by means of lateral projections, of which those designated as 60 and 61 are visible in the figure, i.e. when inserting the housing 15.6 into the intermediate housing 20.6, the lugs 60 and 61 slide past the annular thickening 62 of the intermediate housing 20 and snap outwards as soon as they have reached the outer end of the thickening 62, so that the device 1.6 falls out due to its gradation is prevented from the intermediate housing 20.6. By pressing in the direction of arrows 67 and 68, the lugs 60 and 61 can be brought below the level of the thickening 62 and the connection of the housing 15.6 to the intermediate housing 20.6 can be released again.

In addition, the exit opening of the sound is closed with a cap 63, which has openings 64 for the passage of the sound and the side walls 65 of which are drawn inwards towards the open side of the cap 63, so that they are behind a bead 66 which forms the end of the housing 15.6 forms at the sound output, grab and hold the cap 63.

The other elements which are drawn in FIG. 6 correspond to those which have already been described in the previous figures. They therefore have the same number in their designation as there, only the .6 being added for FIG. 6, just as in the following figures the figure number is added to the designation already used.

This results in FIG. 7 for the device 1.7, which is located in a housing 15.7, the handset 5.7 in a separate housing 70 is housed, which is attached to the housing 15 via a bracket 71 which can be pivoted laterally by 5 °. This holder can also be rotated laterally by 300 ° about the longitudinal axis of the receiver 5.1, a stop 72 being provided in order to prevent the connections 73 from being overtightened and thus torn off. The thickening, which is denoted by 62 in FIG. 6, is replaced in the device 1.7 by a ring 74 which is inserted at the lower end of the otoplastic 21.7 and consists of polymethyl methacrylate, so that a further reinforcement of this end as a holder on the lugs of the housing 70, of which those marked 60.7 and 61.7 are visible. As with the arrangement according to FIG. 6, the connection can be released by pressing in the lugs 60.7 and 61.7 in accordance with the arrows 67.7 and 68.7.

The embodiment according to FIG. 8 is simplified compared to that according to FIG. 7 in that the receiver in its housing 70.8 is held on housing 15.8 only rotatable about its axis 80 by 30 ° on each side. A stop 72.8 limits the lateral rotation to avoid difficulties with regard to the connections. Otherwise, the embodiment corresponds to that according to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows an adapter which corresponds to that shown in FIG. 5. The main difference is that it is attached to the housing of the hearing aid using a snap mechanism. For this purpose, the lugs 61.9 and 62.9 are used, which engage behind the annular part 92 when the connecting piece 90 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 91 and enter the openings 93 and 94, so that the lug is attached to the housing 15.9 and the adapter olive 31.9 with the sealing bead 32.9 in the direction of arrow 95 can be attached to the adapter olive 30.9.

Claims (14)

1. Hearing aid, the parts of which, at least largely to be accommodated in the ear canal, such as a microphone, amplifier, power source and earphone, are accommodated in a housing which is inserted into an otoplastic adapted to the shape of the auditory canal of the ear to be supplied, characterized in that the Housing of the parts of the hearing aid has a diameter that tapers towards the end of the sound conductor, is inserted into a cavity that penetrates the otoplastic, and is fastened therein in the area of the smaller diameters by means of a releasable locking device. 2. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock is a snap lock, which preferably has a plurality of lying on the outer circumference of the housing of the hearing aid parts, which act as locking steps, on which snap in when inserting the housing into the earmold locking edges. 3. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock is located at the end of the housing of the hearing aid parts and represents an undercut with respect to the longitudinal extension of the housing, on which a ring is fitted. 4. Hearing aid according to claim 3, characterized in that the lock is a screw closure by the thin end of the housing of the hearing aid parts is provided with a thread onto which a screw nut is screwed after inserting the housing into the otoplastic. 5. Hearing aid according to claim 2, characterized in that the earmold is provided on the thin opening of the cavity with a ring reinforcing the locking edge. 6. Hearing aid according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the ring or the screw nut is added to a cap covering the end of the housing of the hearing aid parts and thus the sound output, which has a sieve-shaped opening for the sound output. 7. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the end plate lying at the end of the housing of the hearing aid parts, which has a large diameter, is designed as a cover which is inserted via a snap lock. 8. Hearing aid according to claim 7, characterized in that the inner connecting edge of the lid is accessible from an opening in the housing, such as the opening for introducing the battery, with an opening tool. 9. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin part of the housing of the hearing aid parts, which contains the receiver, is connected in particular rotatably and pivotably to the part of the housing which contains the other parts via a movable holder. 10. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity in the otoplastic lies in an intermediate housing, the outer wall of which is covered with the material of the otoplastic. 11. Hearing aid according to claim 9 and one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the locking parts of the otoplastic, in particular the latching edge, are transferred to the intermediate housing. 12. Hearing aid according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one bulge is provided in the intermediate housing which, when assembled with the housing of the hearing aid parts, leaves a channel free which extends from the end with a small diameter to the end with a large diameter. 13. Hearing aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing of the hearing aid parts has a cross section at least on its large diameter, which has the shape of a circle pressed in at least on one side (kidney shape). 14. Hearing aid according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the element to be attached to the lugs or the thread is designed as an adapter for a provisional ear insert (adapter olive).

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