Method of manufacturing a soft hearing aid
US6761789B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1922
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a receptacle with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The receptacle has a cavity for holding electronic components (eg. battery, microphone, amplifier). A soft polymeric body is preliminarily formed by encapsulating a plurality of the electronic hearing aid component shaped inserts. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. After forming, the insert is removed to provide an insert cavity that can carry electronic components. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.