CN101023707B - Earpiece for a hearing aid and a hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

An earpiece (2) for a hearing aid (12) comprises a plug (20) for contacting the meatus of the users ear canal, a contact element (13) for resting against an inside of the users tragus and or the ear canal, and a fixture for holding the plug and the contact element together, the fixture having means for adjusting the spacing between the plug and the contact element. The invention further provides a hearing aid.

Description

The earphone and the hearing aids that are used for hearing aids

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to hearing aids.The invention further relates to the earphone that is used for hearing aids.More specifically, the present invention relates to ear-level hearing aid.

Background technology

Hard of hearing formula (BTE) hearing aids generally comprises shell, pipeline and earphone.Hold electronic building brick, microphone and miniature loudspeaker in the shell, be used for pickup, amplification and produce the voice output signal that amplifies.Pipeline provides from the pipeline of shell to earphone transmission voice signal, and earpiece couples gets into the acoustic energy of duct from pipeline.In the use, after shell placed external ear, part was hidden.Pipeline, or section of tubing at least for semi-rigid or resilient, make that pipeline also helps hearing aids is placed on user's the external ear.Can make earphone be fit to user's ear through elasticity or customization, so that place the road junction of duct.

EP-A-1448014 provides and has been suitable for allowing that the ear sound external imports the earphone of eardrum into.This earphone comprises the elastomer that is used for when earphone is inserted into duct in abutting connection with the concha auriculae bottom.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide the hearing aids that can easily adapt to different user.

Another object of the present invention provides makes easy hearing aids.

Another object of the present invention provides perfect and cosily remains in the hearing aids on the user.

Another purpose of the present invention provides the hearing aids that the good user's of being acoustically coupled to duct can be provided.

Another purpose of the present invention provides part and opens to allow sound to reach user's eardrum, provides the sound of amplification also to reach the hearing aids of user's eardrum simultaneously.

Another purpose of the present invention provides to be made easy and can easily adapt to the hearing aid earphone of different user and dissimilar hearing aidss.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the earphone ofclaim 1 definition has been realized these and other purpose.

Earplug is that earphone provides comfortable part supporting, and can be with the sound oriented users duct of hearing aids amplification.The contact element that leans against ear another part replenishes this supporting.According to the present invention, thereby fixture allow to be regulated contact element scalable hearing aids adapting to the ear and the ducts of different sizes, or about the different choice of pretension.Adjusting device allows custom hearing aid, makes it adapt to users.

In one embodiment of this invention, contact element can partly be oval.The inboard earphone that keeps of user's tragus can be leaned against when using earphone in any other shape of fixed position thereby also can be, for example, circle, ellipse or triangle can be roughly.The ear that can be different sizes is produced the contact element of different size.

In another embodiment of the present invention, fixture comprises a plurality of guide rails.Number may is between 1 and 50.Guide rail can be recessed trough or projection.In addition, contact element comprise can with the interactional some guide rails of the guide rail on the fixture.Number may is between 1 and 50.Guide rail can be groove or projection.Guide rail allows contact element to screw in the selected orientation of relative earplug, leans against user's tragus and the inboard the most comfortable position of duct thereby make the assembler to select.In addition, rotatory power allow adjustment and fixedly the position of contact element in ear to adapt to different user.

According to an embodiment, fixture comprises elastic device, to improve users'comfort and fitness.

According to another embodiment, but the earphone incremental adjustments.In case assembler or end user's decision, incremental adjustments allow the adjusting and simple the fixing of size.

Can be through for flexible beam, like lattice framing or pole, provide a plurality of grooves and the locking device that is used for optionally meshing a groove that adjustment is provided.

Beam comprise a pair of relatively, the face of substantially flat, wherein a plurality of grooves are positioned on first.Smooth opposite face makes beam flexible, as is bent into ring.

Fixture comprises the end of locking device with built-in beam.

According to an embodiment, locking device comprises rib and resilient strand, and rib is used to mesh a groove.This manufactures and designs easy, but and easy adjustment and fixing.

According to another embodiment, the two sides of beam all has a plurality of grooves.This makes, for example, for being used for left ear and auris dextra hearing aids, beam can arbitrary mode, as with can receive the terminal locator of beam that either side gets into from both sides and combines, formation encircles.In another embodiment, all faces of beam all have a plurality of grooves, and this is built-in beam better.Groove can be used between 0.5mm and the 5mm and the increment setting that preferably between 1.5mm and 2.5mm, changes.

According to an embodiment, earphone comprises having the axle and the main body in axis hole, wherein flexible beam with become with axle in 45 degree to the 90 degree scopes the angle and preferably to become 55 to spend angle to the 80 degree scopes with axle from Subject Extension.This makes earphone can go deep into duct, and beam partly stretches out user's behind engagement tragus and the duct concha auriculae.Main body can be roughly cylindrical.If beam is flexible, when the beam end when the either side tangentially of both sides is introduced cylinder-shaped body, locator can only be made as that to receive beam terminal, so because the angled extension beam distortion of cantilever cardinal extremity.

According to an embodiment; Process fixture material can under organize the material and select, comprise polyamide, silicone, polyurethanes, polytetrafluoroethylene, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyacetals, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, elastomer and polyformaldehyde.

According to another embodiment, earphone comprises the earplug of contact user auditory canal wall, is used for guiding the voice signal of amplification to get into user's listening tube.

According to another embodiment, earplug is suitable for supporting sound conduit tube, can allow external voice to walk around earplug simultaneously and reach user's inner ear.This has been avoided uncomfortable stifled ear effect.Sound bypass is for the user of slight hearing defect, and is very beneficial as the user of hearing defect is only arranged at band segment, because when they need not auxiliaryly just can hear the time, they can directly hear these sound.

According to another embodiment, earplug is suitable for matching with duct, thereby does not allow external voice to walk around earplug.This helps the hearing loss of moderate to height.

The present invention provides the hearing aids according toclaim 17 in second aspect.

Other embodiment are referring to accompanying claims.

Other purposes, embodiment and advantage are referring to the detailed description part of this explanation.

Description of drawings

With reference to accompanying drawing the present invention is described in more detail, wherein at present

Fig. 1 shows being seen from the side external ear;

Fig. 2 shows the end view according to the hearing aids of first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows the rearview according to the hearing aids of first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows the perspective view according to the hearing aids of first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows the fixture that is used for according to the earphone of first embodiment of the invention, is in first state;

Fig. 6 shows the fixture that is used for according to the earphone of first embodiment of the invention, is in second state;

Fig. 7 shows the fixture that is used for according to the earphone of first embodiment of the invention, is in the third state;

Fig. 8 shows the hearing aids according to first embodiment of the invention, is in the use location on the ear;

Fig. 9 shows according to the pipeline of first embodiment of the invention and fixture, and fixture is in second state;

Figure 10 shows the contact element according to second embodiment of the invention, is in second state;

Figure 11 shows the part according to the hearing aids with fixture of second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 shows the part according to the hearing aids with earphone of second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 13 shows the hearing aids according to second embodiment of the invention, is in the use location on the ear;

Figure 14 shows the contact element according to third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 15 shows according to the hearing aids of third embodiment of the invention and the exploded view of earphone;

Figure 16 shows the contact element according to fourth embodiment of the invention;

Figure 17 shows according to the hearing aids of fourth embodiment of the invention and the exploded view of earphone;

Figure 18 shows the hearing aids with earphone according to fourth embodiment of the invention, is in the use location on the ear;

Embodiment

At first with reference to Fig. 1 that external ear is shown.Duct 10 andtragus 8 have been shown among the figure.The outside of duct is softer relatively.Fig. 1 also showshelix 1,helix nest 2,anthelix 3, crura ofantihelix 4, concha auriculae (ear chamber (cavuum)) 5,antitragus 6, ear-lobe 7 andcrus helicis 9.

Existing with reference to Fig. 2-5, show the hearing aids withearphone 11 12 according to first embodiment of the invention.Hearing aids comprises hard ofhearing formula shell 29 and sound is reached thepipeline 26 ofearphone 11 fromshell.Pipeline 26 hasfirst bend 27 and second bend 28.Pipeline 26 1 ends link to each other with shell, and the other end links to each other withearphone 11.

Earphone generally comprisesspigot 15,earplug 20 and main body 21.The cross section of main body can be circle, ellipse, rectangle or allows sound to reach any other shape of earplug from pipeline.Earplug 20 allow sound through one, two ormore holes 31 from around reach eardrum.The hole is confirmed bymain body 21,wheel rim 22 and a plurality of spoke 23.Spigot is through penetrating the throughhole engagement earplug 20 of earplug, and what spigot had a location connects edge 19.

Fig. 5 shows thelattice framing 13 that links to each other withspigot 15, is in first state.Lattice framing comprises the beam texture of roughly radially stretching out from spigot.Lattice framing is flexible, makes it can form ring, and in the time of in the earphone peace is pleasant, the outside of ring provides supporting against user's ear.Spigot 15 hashole 17, allows sound to reach earplug from pipeline.Spigot 15 also has thelocator 18 oflattice framing 13 and annular distance form.Lattice framing 13 has most advanced and sophisticated 14.Lattice framing 13 stretches out from spigot at the first cantilever end place, penetrateslocator 18 at another most advanced and sophisticated place.Lattice framing 13 is for to have the beam texture of two substantially flat opposite faces, and each face is furnished with a plurality of transverse grooves 24, lists on thelattice framing 13 with the increment 25 of 2mm.Groove is 1, and 65mm is wide.Lattice framing 13 is about 44mm from spigot to most advanced and sophisticated length.

Lattice framing 13 is processed by flexible, elastomeric material, like polymer, polyether block amide or polyamide.Locator 18 is processed by flexibility, elastomeric material such as polyamide too, and comprises into the bracelet of tangential hole, is suitable for receiving the end of lattice framing 13.In case be inserted intolocator 18,lattice framing 13 will be fixed because of groove of the rib of spigot engagement, and receive bias voltage because of the elastic force of bracelet.Incase lattice framing 13 has been fixed in thelocator 18, and is as shown in Figure 6, lattice framing forms ring.This is called as second state of fixture.The size of ring depends on which groove 24 interacts withlocator 18 middle ribs on the lattice framing 13.Effective dimensions that like this can adjustable ring is to be fit to user's ear.In another embodiment,lattice framing 13 does not have groove, can be connected inspigot 15 through gluing.For example,lattice framing 13 can be fixed in the locator before gluing.

The external part oflattice framing 13 can be cut off, and becomes the third state as shown in Figure 7.Lattice framing 13 two sides all have groove, make it form ring from either side.Lattice framing 13 both can be used for auris dextra and also can be used for left ear like this.60 ° of angles of written treaty between the base portion ofaxle 16 andlattice framing 13, ring will twist when making inlattice framing 13 is fixed in locator 18.In another embodiment of the present invention, this angle can change between 45 ° and 90 °.The convex surface of ring provides contact-makingsurface 30, will contact withconcha auriculae 5,tragus 8 andduct 10.

Fig. 8 shows the hearing aids with earphone according to first embodiment of the invention.Earphone is owing to the lattice framing that contact-makingsurface 30 is provided 13 outside confining forces remain in the fixed position.Lattice framing 13, especially contact-makingsurface 30, with the interaction oftragus 8 inboards and the interaction of earplug andduct 10, the position that has kept earphone.Equally, two ofpipeline bends 27,28 make earphone be held the fixed position in ear.

Fig. 9 shows according to the earphone of first embodiment of the invention andpipeline 26, is in second state, and promptly lattice framing forms ring, has external part.

In theearphone 36 according to second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10,lattice framing 13 has one ormore locators 18, is used for most advanced and sophisticated fixing.Lattice framing 13 has one ormore spokes 32, is connected in wheel hub 33.In case the tip oflattice framing 13 is fixed,lattice framing 13 is roughly rounded.Fixedly the convex portions oflattice framing 13 provide withtragus 8 inboards orduct 10 inboard or with both in the contact-makingsurface 30 of side contacts.Lattice framing can be along its partial-length curved narrower, in case the tip is fixed, it is substantially oblong-shaped.Wheel hub 33 has a plurality ofrecesses 34.

Figure 11 shows thespigot 37 according to second embodiment of earphone of the present invention, and Figure 11 comprises view and the enlarged drawing ofspigot 37 of two different visual angles ofspigot 37 and pipeline 26.Spigot 37 comprises a plurality of projections 35, matches with the recess of wheel hub 33 (referring to Figure 10).Like this contact element relatively wheel hub rotate to selected particular orientation so that contact element can comfortable and suitably place behind the tragus and duct, and assembling keeps selected orientation with safety.

Figure 12 shows three views ofpipeline 26,earplug 20 andearphone 36 according to second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 shows three views according to the hearing aids withshell 29,pipeline 26 andearphone 36 of second embodiment of the invention, is in the use location on the ear.

Figure 14 shows theearphone 38 according to third embodiment of theinvention.Earphone 38 comprises with the molded contact element of elastomeric material, makes its roughly semicircular in shape.Contact element comprises thewheel hub 39 with a plurality ofrecesses 34.

Figure 15 shows the hearing aids withshell 29,pipeline 26,earplug 20 andearphone 38 according to the 3rd embodiment, can be fastened on (spigot 37 shown in figure 11) on the fixture.Can press the contact element of the different big small-scale production different sizes of ear.

Figure 16 shows theearphone 40 according to fourth embodiment of the invention, and earphone comprises with the molded contact element of elastomeric material, makes it roughly be wholecircle shape.Earphone 40 comprises close-shaped wheel hub 41, has a plurality of recesses that match with spigot 37 (referring to Figure 11).

Figure 17 shows and how through propelling wheel hub 41 contact element to be installed on fixture andearplug 20 is installed onspigot 37.

Figure 18 shows three views according to the hearing aids withshell 29,pipeline 26 andearphone 40 of fourth embodiment of the invention, is in the use location on the ear.

Claims (19)

1. earphone that is used for hearing aids, this earphone comprises

The earplug at contact user duct road junction,

Lean against the inboard contact element of user's duct,

Regulate the device of said contact element, and

The fixture that said earplug and said contact element are kept together,

Wherein said fixture comprises the flexible beam with a plurality of grooves and is used for optionally meshing the locking device of a groove of said groove.

2. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said contact element is ovalize partly.

3. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said fixture comprises some guide rails.

4. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said contact element comprises some guide rails.

5. earphone according to claim 1, the said device of wherein regulating said contact element provides in said fixture.

6. earphone according to claim 5, wherein said fixture comprise and are suitable for elastic device that said earplug is separated from said contact element elasticity.

7. earphone according to claim 5, wherein said fixture are suitable for incremental adjustments at interval.

8. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said beam comprise a pair of face relative, substantially flat, and wherein said a plurality of grooves are positioned on first of a said opposite.

9. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said beam is suitable for bending to ring.

10. earphone according to claim 9, wherein said locking device comprises rib and resilient strand, said rib is used for meshing a groove of said groove.

11. earphone according to claim 9, the two sides of wherein said beam all has a plurality of grooves.

Have the axle and the main body in axis hole 12. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said earphone comprise, wherein said flexible beam is to become 45 to spend angle to the 90 degree scopes from said Subject Extension with said axle.

Have the axle and the main body in axis hole 13. earphone according to claim 1, wherein said earphone comprise, wherein said flexible beam is to become 55 to spend angle to the 80 degree scopes from said Subject Extension with said axle.

14. according to the described earphone of arbitrary claim in the aforementioned claim; The material of wherein processing said fixture under organize the material and select, comprise polyamide, silicone, polyurethanes, polytetrafluoroethylene, ethyl vinyl acetate, polyacetals, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, elastomer and polyformaldehyde.

15. earphone according to claim 1 comprises the earplug that contacts user's auditory canal wall.

16. earphone according to claim 15, wherein said earplug is suitable for supporting sound conduit tube, and the hole that allows external voice to reach user's inner ear is provided.

17. hearing aids; Comprise earphone, shell and sound conduit tube, said earphone comprises: the earplug at contact user duct road junction leans against the inboard contact element of user's duct; Regulate the device of said contact element; And the fixture that said earplug and said contact element are kept together, wherein said fixture comprises the flexible beam with a plurality of grooves and is used for optionally meshing the locking device of a groove of said groove.

18. hearing aids according to claim 17, wherein said pipe are semirigid, are suitable for being matched with on user's external ear, to support this hearing aids.

19. hearing aids according to claim 18, wherein said pipe has first bend, being matched with on the user's ear, and second bend, with said pipe oriented users duct.

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