US 7,403,629 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
`Aceti et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Jul, 22, 2008
`
`
`US007403629B1
`
`(54) DISPOSABLE MODULAR HEARING AID
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: John G. Aceti, Cranbury, NJ (US);
`Marvin A. Leedom, Princeton, NJ (US);
`Frederick Fritz, Skillman, NJ (US);
`Derek D. Mahoney, Manalapan, NJ
`(US); John M. Margicin, Levittown, PA
`(US); Walter P. Sjursen, Washington
`Crossing, PA (US); Michael H.
`Tardugno, Lawrenceville, NJ (US),
`David A. Preves, Princeton Junction, NJ
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: cs)Corporation, Princeton, NJ
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/524,666
`.
`Filed:
`
`(22)
`
`Mar. 13, 2000
`oe
`.
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/132,593, filed on May
`5, 1999, provisional application No. 60/157,873, filed
`on Oct. 6, 1999.
`
`9/1970 Geib veces 179/107
`3,527,901 A
`8/1971 Hickox oo. eee 179/107 E
`3,598,928 A
`3,852,540 A * 12/1974 Diethelm oo... 381/324
`
`(Continued)
`
`DE
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3406972 Al
`8/1985
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Killion, M., “Earmold Plumbing for Wideband Hearing Aids,” Paper
`CC4, 91* Meeting ofAcoustical Society ofAmerica (Apr. 8, 1976).
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner—Curtis Kuntz
`Assistant Examiner—Phylesha L Dabney
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Hamilton, Brook, Smith &
`Reynolds, PC.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`The present invention relates to a modular hearing aid having
`Int. Cl.
`a base unit and a detachable earmold. A battery, an earmold
`(2006.01)
`HO4R 25/00
`tip and a receiver can be integrated with the earmold. The
`(52) US. Ch cece 381/324; 381/312; 381/322;
`earmold can also include a removably attached module. The
`181/130
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 381/312,|module can have a shell, electronics, a receiver or a micro-
`381/322, 324, 328, 380; 181/130, 135; 128/857,
`phone. A hearing aid also includes a flexible hearing aid tip
`128/866, $64
`having a vibration isolator portion and a mushroom shapedtip
`See application file for complete search history.
`portion. The vibration isolator portion mechanically
`.
`decouples a receiver from a hearing aid base unit while the
`References Cited
`mushroom shapedtip portion provides an acoustic seal in the
`ear canal of a user. The internal components of a hearing aid
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`can be potted to attenuate vibrations created by the receiver
`during operation.
`
`6/1941 Knudsen ......... ee 128/865
`2,246,737 A *
`2,487,038 A * 11/1949 Baum......
`3,047,089 A *
`7/1962 Zwislocki
`3,080,011 A *
`
`3/1963 Henderson............... 235/60.15
`
`....
`
`8 Claims, 24 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`001
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1197
`U.S. Patent No. 9,289,135
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1197
`U.S. Patent No. 9,289,135
`
`001
`
`

`

`US 7,403,629 B1
`
`Page 2
`
`5,753,870 A *
`
`5/1998 Schlaegeletal.
`
`........ 18l/129 G97).
`
`
`
`5,828,757 A * 10/1998 Michalsenetal.
`_ 381/328
`3/1999 Acetietal. .... ee 381/328
`5,881,159 A
`
`3/1999 Iseberg etal.
`5,887,070 A
`11/1999 Pluvinage et al. «.......... 381/328
`5,987,146 A
`82000 Yoostetal.ccc381322
`6097825 A *
`6.144.750 A * 11/2000 Levin .......
`"381/328
`
`9/2001 Yoestet al. cece 381/322
`6,292,572 B1*
`6,434,248 B1*
`8/2002 Juneauetal.
`.........0. 381/322
`6,438,244 B1*
`8/2002 Juneauet al.
`....ecee 381/322
`6,473,513 BL
`10/2002 Shennibetal.
`6,681,021 Bl
`1/2004 Saltykov
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3800474 A
`79/107 E
`6/1975. Glicksberg
`3935401 A *
`1/1976 Shoreal. some 181/138
`
`4,055,233 A * 10/1977 Huntress ........
`128/864
`
`4,068,090 A
`1/1978 Komatsuetal.
`79/1 A
`
`4,170,720 A * 10/1979 Killion ..........
`330/282
`4,291,203 A *
`9/1981 Bellafiore ...
`381/327
`
`4,447,677 A *
`5/1984 Miyahraetal.
`381/324
`.........
`4,607,720 A
`8/1986 Hardt
`181/135
`4,622,440 A
`11/1986 Slavin ..
`381/68.
`4,716,985 A *
`1/1988 Haertl
`.....
`181/130
`
`4,736,430 A *
`4/1988 Schroder
`.
`381/322
`
`
`4,739,512 A * 0.354 698 A2—2/19904/1988 Hartl etal. .. 381/324 «EP
`
`
`
`4,800,636 A
`‘1/1989 Topholm ....
`29/1695
`EP
`0361594 Al
`4/1990
`
`4,815,138 A 0.782371 A2=7/19973/1989 Diethelm .... 381/69.2 EP
`
`
`
`...
`w. 181/135
`4,834,211 A
`5/1989 Bibbyetal.
`GB
`1 468 120
`3/1977
`
`............. 180/129
`4,840,249 A *
`6/1989 Birkholzetal.
`GB
`2155276 A
`9/1985
`.....
`381/322
`4,870,688 A *
`9/1989 Voroba etal.
`JP
`62 151100
`7/1987
`11/1990 Kolpeetal.....
`.. 18/130
`4,969,534 A
`WO
`WO93/25053
`12/1993
`
`3/1991 Olliveiraetal.
`.............. 181/130
`5,002,151 A
`WO
`WO 95/28066 Al
`10/1995
`4/1991 Arndt etal. vu... 381/686
`5,008,943 A
`WO
`WO 97/04619
`2/1997
`
`9/1991 Geers veesecsessssseeeeen 381/323
`5,048,090 A *
`WO
`WO 97/34443
`9/1997
`5,062,138 A
`10/1991 Schmid
`wo
`Woosotstes A
`008
`5,185,802 A
`2/1993. Stanton ...sseeessssseeeee. 381/68.6
`5,347,584 A
`9/1994. Narisawa ssssesssssseeese. 381/69.2
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`oo
`.
`_
`5,606,621 A
`2/1997. Reiter et al.
`5,701,348 A * 12/1997 Shennibetal. we. 381/328_Killion, M., “Earmold Plumbing for Wideband Hearing Aids,” Jour-
`5,724,431 A
`3/1998. Reiter et al. esses 381/69,.2
`‘2a! ofSpeech and Hearing Disorders, pp. 10-20 (Feb.1981).
`5,748,743 A *
`5/1998 Weeks vescscsssssseseeeevne 381/312
`(990 Hearing Aids & The PAC System,” Bausch & Lomb
`5,784,471 A
`7/1998 Bebenroth .....
`.. 381/69
`Baschantiomb1991}. Ultrasoft II from Bausch and Lomb,
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`>
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`002
`
`002
`
`

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`US 7,403,629 B1
`
`1
`DISPOSABLE MODULAR HEARING AID
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application No. 60/132,593, filed May 5, 1999, the entire
`teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference and
`claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
`60/157,873, filed Oct. 6, 1999, the entire teachings of which
`are incorporated herein by reference.
`This application is related to copending U.S. Applications:
`
`09/524,043
`
`09/524,040
`
`09/524,501
`60/188,997
`60/188,996
`60/188,721
`
`60/188,857
`
`TITLE
`
`Mass Produced Hearing Aid With a
`Limited Set ofAcoustical Formats
`One-Size-Fits-All Uni-Ear Hearing
`Instrument
`Hearing Aid
`Hearing Aid With Flexible Shell
`Hearing Aid Prescription Selector
`Through-Hole and Surface Mount
`Technologies for Highly-Automatable
`Hearing Aid Receivers
`Remote Programming and Control Means
`for a Hearing Aid
`
`20
`
`25
`
`all filed of even date herewith, the entire teachings of which
`are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`30
`
`2
`Feedback is a nagging, unsolved problem for hearing aid
`manufacturers and dispensers. Feedback in a hearing is
`present in several forms: electrical, acoustical and mechani-
`cal. While electrical feedback is more easily controllable with
`additionalcircuitry, the latter two forms of feedback in hear-
`ing aids remain significant problems that often reduce the
`effectiveness ofhearing aid fittings. Acoustical or mechanical
`feedback signals from the hearing aid receiver may betrans-
`duced by the hearing aid microphone, amplified in the cir-
`cuitry and output from the receiver again but with higher gain,
`creating a feedback loop, and potentially oscillation. A crite-
`ria by Nyquiststates that a system will oscillate ifthe gain of
`the open loop transfer function at a particular frequency is
`greater than unity andits phase shift of the open loop transfer
`function is a multiple of 360 degrees. Acoustical feedback
`occurs through the air inside of the hearing aid housing as
`well as on the outside ofthe hearing aid while it is being worn.
`Mechanical feedback occurs because ofthe receiver vibrating
`the hearing aid housing. Hearing aid designers have used
`many techniques to prevent the creation of such feedback
`loops. Included are rubberisolation mounts for the micro-
`phoneandreceiver, stiff tubes on the receiver output port and
`electronically filtering the hearing aid output to suppress
`energy at the mostlikely to be troublesome feedback frequen-
`cies. Unfortunately, hearing aids frequently have feedback
`oscillation frequencies in the very range at which the wearer
`requires amplification most, such as in the frequency range
`between 1500 and 5000 Hz.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Hearingaidsare delicate electro-acoustical devicesthat are
`intended to perform flawlessly in the harsh environment of
`the human ear. Hearing aid manufacturers use hard durable
`earmold materials to protect the delicate electronics and
`transducers from adverse conditions in and out of the ear.
`
`35
`
`Onepossible solution to the conflict between comfort and
`durability of the earmold is the creation of a disposable hear-
`ing aid which usesultra soft earmold materials that may not
`last over a four year period, but can be mass produced in an
`economically competitive manner. The earmold cantherefore
`be replaced more frequently than the disposable hearing aid.
`An earmoldthat is replaced on a more frequentbasis than the
`Such durable materials are intended to survive a greater than
`replacement cycle of the disposable aid can provide a user
`four year usage life. The earmold can be used not only to
`with benefits. If the earmold is replaced on a daily basis, as
`protect the internal components ofthe hearing aid, but also to
`comparedto a base unit which is replaced after a much longer
`form an interface between the electronics and the ear canal.
`periodoftime than the earmold,the user can be provided with
`This interface must be created to prevent acoustical feedback,
`a high degree of comfort, cleanliness, and performance.
`to retain the electronics in the ear and preventirritation or
`Earmoldtip flexibility is necessary to allow for deep ear
`45
`fatigue of the ear canal. A design conflict for the earmold can
`canal insertion of a hearing aid to overcome the convolutions
`then exist betweenthe needto haveasoft, pliant, nonirritating
`present in a typical ear canal. An earmold havinga flexible tip
`and comfortable material, and the need to have a durable
`incorporated with the earmold can have several advantages.
`material to protect the internal electronic components which
`These advantages include potentially deep ear canalfittings,
`can last more than four years.
`efficient coupling of the sound emitted from the receiver to
`A disposable hearing aid is one designed to have a useful
`the ear drum, and a corresponding reduction in the required
`life ofmuchless than the traditional four years. The usefullife
`output levels of the receiver. Theflexible tip can also provide
`of a disposable hearing aid can also be governedbythe life of
`a comfortable fit even for cases wherethetip is located in the
`the battery. Ifthe battery can be replaced,the hearing aid is no
`bony region of the ear canal. It is observed that when the tip
`longer disposable and the advantages ofthe disposable aid are
`creates a seal in this bony region, the occlusion effect is
`lost. However, a numberof other variants on the disposable
`substantially mitigated.
`aid are possible. These variants look to maintain the advan-
`The compliance of an earmoldtip of a hearing aid is also
`tages of disposability while making the system more conve-
`importantin hearing aid design. If the earmoldtip is compli-
`nient, comfortable, longer lasting or providing better perfor-
`ant enough,the tip canfit into manydifferent sizes and shapes
`mance.
`of ear canals. A desirable tip is one that slides easily into the
`bony structure of the ear canal, feels comfortable and pro-
`vides a good acoustic seal.
`The present invention relates to a modular hearing aid
`having a replaceable base unit adapted to contain any of a
`microphone,a receiver, a battery, electronics and controls and
`areplaceable earmold removably attachedto the base unit, the
`earmold having a compliant material and a retention mecha-
`nism for connection to the base unit. Alternately, the modular
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`027
`
`“One-size-fits-all” type hearing aids generally lack a flex-
`ibility of their tips. Such a lack of flexibility prevents deep
`penetrationinto the bony region of an ear canal by the hearing
`aid. Such hearing aids are also unable to create an acoustic
`seal in the ear canal. Without such penetration or such a seal
`in the bony region, the hearing aid can create an occlusion
`effect in the wearer. Also, hearing aids lacking a proper acous-
`tic seal are prone to feedback.
`
`027
`
`

`

`US 7,403,629 B1
`
`3
`hearing aid can include a base unit adapted to contain any of
`a microphone, a receiver, electronics and controls and a
`replaceable earmold removably attached to the base unit, the
`earmold having a battery integrated with the earmold. The
`earmold can havea shell integrated with the earmold, the shell
`housingthe battery.
`A modular hearing aid can also have a base unit having any
`of a microphone, electronics and controls and an earmold
`where the earmold can include both a receiver and a battery
`integrated with the earmold. The earmold can also have a
`shell integrated with the earmold, where the shell houses the
`receiver and the battery. A modular hearing aid can also have
`a base unit having any of a microphone, battery, electronics
`and controls and an earmold having a shell and a receiver
`where the earmold houses the receiver. Alternately, in this
`embodiment, the shell of the earmold housesthe receiver.
`The earmold can form an earmold tip for attachmentto a
`distal end ofthe base unit, an earmold sleeve for attachment to
`at least a portion of the base unit or an earmold tip and an
`earmold sleeve for attachmentto the base unit.
`
`The present invention also relates to a modular hearing aid
`having a replaceable base unit adapted to contain any of a
`microphone,a receiver and a battery, an earmold removably
`attached to the base unit, the earmold having a compliant
`material and a retention mechanism for connection to the base
`unit and a module comprising a shell and electronics, the
`module removably connected to the earmold and the base.
`The earmold can include a battery removably attachedto the
`earmold. The module can have a receiver. The earmold can
`
`also have a battery integrated with the earmold and the mod-
`ule can have a receiver or a microphone.
`The earmold can form an earmold tip for attachmentto a
`distal end of the base unit. The earmold can also form an
`earmold sleeve for attachmentto at least a portion of the base
`unit. The earmold can also form an earmold tip and an ear-
`mold sleeve for attachmentto the base unit.
`
`The invention can also include a modular hearing air hav-
`ing a base unit adapted to contain a microphone,a receiver,
`electronics and controls and an earmold tip integrated with a
`battery and removably attachedto the base unit, the earmold
`tip having a compliant material and a retention mechanism for
`connection to the base unit such that the earmold tip can be
`connectedto the base unit or removed from the base unit and
`replacedafter use.
`The invention can also relate to a method for replacing an
`earmold of a modular hearing aid having the steps of provid-
`ing a modular hearing aid having a base unit and an earmold,
`releasing a securing mechanism betweenthe earmold and the
`base unit, removing the earmold from the base unit, discard-
`ing the earmold, placing a second earmold onto the base unit
`and attaching the securing mechanism.The invention can also
`relate to a method for replacing a base unit of a modular
`hearing aid having the steps of providing a modular hearing
`aid having a base unit and an earmold, releasing a securing
`mechanism between the earmold andthe base unit, removing
`the base unit from the earmold, discarding the base unit,
`placing a secondbase unit onto the earmold andattaching the
`securing mechanism. The invention can also relate to a
`method for replacing a component of a modular hearing aid
`having the steps of providing a modular hearing aid having a
`base unit component, an earmold component and a module
`component,
`releasing at
`least one securing mechanism
`among the earmold component, base unit component and
`module component, removing a component from the modular
`hearing aid, discarding the component, replacing the compo-
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`nent and attaching the at least one securing mechanism
`among the earmold component, base unit component and
`module component.
`A flexible earmold tip for a hearing aid can have a vibration
`isolator portion. A mushroom shapedtip portion for insertion
`into an ear canal and a sound bore can be formed between the
`vibration isolator portion and the mushroom shapedtip por-
`tion. The vibration isolator portion includesa receiver having
`a diaphragm adapted to vibrate in operation creating acous-
`tical vibrations which cause the receiver to mechanically
`vibrate. The vibration isolation portion attenuates such
`mechanical vibrations from the receiver. The vibration isola-
`
`tion portion mechanically decouplesthe receiver from a hear-
`ing aid base unit to isolate the mechanical vibrations of the
`receiver from the base unit.
`The soundbore includesa spring and a compliant material
`surrounding the sound bore where the spring prevents col-
`lapsing of the sound bore and controls the flexibility of the
`flexible earmold tip. The flexible earmold tip includes an
`outlet port which allows collection of earwax without clog-
`ging the sound bore. The hearing aid, to which the flexible
`earmold tip is attached, includes a base unit in which is
`mounted a microphone. The mushroom shapedtip portion
`creates a seal with an ear canal to acoustically isolate a hear-
`ing aid base unit from acoustical vibrations created by the
`receiver. The vibration isolation portion can include a nest in
`whichthereceiversits to acoustically seal the receiver within
`the vibration isolation portion thereby acoustically isolating
`the hearing aid base unit from the acoustical vibrations cre-
`ated by the receiver.
`A hearing aid and tip assembly can include a hearing aid
`base unit having a microphone,a battery and electronics, and
`a flexible earmold tip having a vibration isolator portion, a
`mushroom shapedtip portion and a sound bore. Thevibration
`isolator portion is enclosed by the base unit and includes a
`receiver electrically attached to the base unit where the
`receiver includes a diaphragm adaptedto vibrate in operation
`causing the receiver to mechanically vibrate. The vibration
`isolation portion attenuates vibrations from the receiver. The
`mushroom shaped tip portion is attached to the vibration
`isolator portion. The soundbore is formed betweenthe vibra-
`tion isolator portion and the mushroom shapedtip portion and
`provides a channelfor the transfer of sound from the receiver
`to an ear canalof a user.
`The soundbore includesa spring and a compliant material
`surrounding the sound bore where the spring prevents col-
`lapsing of the sound bore and controls the flexibility of the
`flexible earmold tip. The flexible earmold tip can also include
`an outlet port which allows collection of earwax without
`clogging the sound bore. The vibration isolation portion can
`mechanically decouple the receiver from the base unit to
`isolate the mechanicalvibrations ofthe receiver from the base
`
`unit. The mushroom shapedtip portion can create a seal with
`an ear canal to acoustically isolate the hearing aid base unit
`from acoustical vibrations created by the receiver. The vibra-
`tion isolation portion comprises a nest in which the receiver
`sits to acoustically seal the receiver within the vibration iso-
`lation portion thereby acoustically isolating the base unit
`from acoustical vibrations created by the receiver.
`Feedback can be attenuated within a hearing aid by pro-
`viding a hearing aid base unit, a receiver, and a hearing aidtip
`having a flexible mushroom shapedtip portion and vibration
`isolator portion. Surrounding the receiver with the vibration
`isolator portion attenuates acoustic vibrations and mechani-
`cal vibrations created by the receiver during operation. Secur-
`ing the vibration isolator portion and receiver within the hear-
`ing aid base unit further mechanically decouples the receiver
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`from the base unit. Placing the hearing aid within an ear
`causes the mushroom shapedtip portion to form a seal with
`the ear canal to attenuate acoustic vibrations produced by the
`receiver.
`
`A hearing aid can also include a base unit having an inside
`portion and adapted to contain any of a microphone, a
`receiver, a battery, electronics and controls and a potting
`material which potsat least a portion of the inside portion of
`the base unit. The material increases the mass of the hearing
`aid and attenuates vibrations created by the receiver during
`operation. The potting material can also increasethe stiffness
`of the base unit, thereby raising its resonant frequencies
`above the typical feedback oscillation frequency range to
`reduce feedback in the hearing aid. The potting material can
`include an epoxy. The hearing aid can be disposable.
`Feedback can be reduced in a hearing aid by providing a
`hearing aid having an inside portion adapted to contain any of
`a microphone,a receiver, a battery, electronics and controls
`and potting at least a portion of the inside portion of the
`hearing aid with a material, thereby increasing the mass ofthe
`hearing aid. The increased mass ofthe hearing aid attenuates
`vibrations created by the receiver during operation and
`reduces feedback in the hearing aid.
`A disposable hearing aid can includea hearing aid portion,
`a flexible core and a compliant tip portion. The hearing aid
`portion includes a shell containing a battery, a receiver, a
`microphoneandelectronics. The flexible core attaches to the
`hearing aid portion and forms a sound bore to allow sound
`producedbythe hearing aid portionto travel to the ear canal.
`The complianttip portion is adapted to be inserted into an ear
`canal, surroundsthe flexible core and forms an acoustic seal
`in the ear canal. The tip material can includelayersoffingers
`surrounding the flexible core. The layers of fingers can be
`made from an elastomer material. The tip material can also
`include a fluid-filled bladder surrounding the flexible core.
`Thefluid-filled bladder can have air within the bladder or can
`
`have liquid within the bladder. The fluid-filled bladder can
`also have a flexible bladder wallto allow for flexibility of the
`fluid-filled bladder to accommodate size changes within the
`ear canal.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages
`of the invention will be apparent from the following more
`particular description of preferred embodimentsofthe inven-
`tion, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which
`like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout
`the different views. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale,
`emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the principles
`of the invention.
`
`FIG.1 illustrates an embodiment of a modular hearing aid
`having a replaceable earmold.
`FIG.2 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG.1, the hearing aid having a battery integral with an
`earmold.
`
`FIG. 3A showsan alternate embodimentof the hearing aid
`of FIG. 1, the hearing aid having a battery and an earmold
`integral with a shell.
`FIG. 3B showsan alternate embodimentof the hearing aid
`of FIG.1, the hearing aid having a battery, a receiver and an
`earmold integral with a shell.
`FIG.4Aillustrates a hearing aid having an integral earmold
`and shell, the shell housing a receiver.
`FIG.4Billustrates a hearing aid having an integral earmold
`and shell, the earmold housing a receiver.
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`FIG.5 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG. 1, the hearing aid having a replaceable earmold
`integrated with a shell having a battery and receiver.
`FIG.6 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG.1, the hearing aid having a receiver incorporated
`with the earmold.
`FIG.7 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG.6.
`FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG. 1 where the replaceable earmold incorporates a
`portion ofthe shell.
`FIG. 9 showsan alternate embodimentofthe hearing aid of
`FIG. 1 where the earmold allows the replacementof an inte-
`gral shell and electronics module.
`FIG. 10 showsan alternate embodimentofthe hearing aid
`of FIG. 1 where the earmold allows the replacement of an
`integral shell, electronics and receiver module.
`FIG.11 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG. 1 where the hearing aid has a base unit, a replace-
`able shell module and a replaceable earmold integrated with
`a battery.
`FIG.12 illustrates an alternate embodimentof the hearing
`aid of FIG.11.
`
`FIG. 13 showsan alternate embodimentofthe hearing aid
`of FIG. 11.
`FIG.14 illustrates a top view of a flexible earmold tip for a
`hearing aid.
`FIG.15illustrates a side view ofa flexible earmold tip for
`a hearing aid.
`FIG.16 illustrates a front view of a flexible earmoldtip for
`a hearing aid.
`FIGS. 17 and 18 showsa cross-sectional view ofa flexible
`earmoldtip.
`FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view of a hearing aid
`having a flexible earmoldtip as illustrated in FIGS. 14-16.
`FIG. 20 showsa hearing aid having a flexible earmoldtip as
`illustrated in FIGS. 14-16.
`FIGS. 21-24 illustrate a disposable hearing aid having a
`complianttip.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`An embodiment of a modular hearing aid 10 is shown in
`FIG. 1. The modular hearing aid 10 can have an earmold 12
`and a base unit 36. The base unit 36 can be a rigid or semi-
`rigid structure to which the earmold is attached or which
`holds and aligns other internal components. In one embodi-
`ment, the base unit 36 can be a core 14 having a shell 16. Ina
`preferred embodimentboth the earmold 12 and the base unit
`36 can be replaced by the user after use. The earmold 12 can
`be replaced on a more frequent basis than the base unit 36.
`The earmold 12 can have three preferred embodiments in
`any given embodimentof the modular hearing aid 10. In one
`embodiment, the earmold 12 forms an earmold tip 18. The
`earmold tip 18 can be made from an ultra soft and compliant
`material. The material can be an injection moldable, biocom-
`patible thermoelastomer, such as C-flex (Consolidated Poly-
`mer Technologies, Inc., Largo, Fla.). The material, in a pre-
`ferred embodiment, can be a castable, biocompatible silicone
`polymer, such as PlatSil (Polytek Development Corporation,
`Easton, Pa.). The earmoldtip can alsoattach to a distal end of
`the shell 16 and extendinto an ear canal. In another embodi-
`ment, the earmold 12 forms an earmold sleeve 20. The ear-
`mold sleeve 20 can be made from an ultra soft and compliant
`material. The earmold sleeve 20 can also cover a portion orall
`of the base unit 36. In a third embodiment, as shown in FIG.
`1, the earmold 12 forms an earmold tip 18 and sleeve 20. In
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`this embodiment, the tip 18 and sleeve 20 can be made from
`an ultra soft and compliant material. The tip 18 and sleeve 20
`can also cover a portionorall of the shell 16 and can extend
`into the ear canal.
`The earmold 12 can be formedsuchthatit firmly holds onto
`the core 16 by a retention mechanism. The retention mecha-
`nism can be a mechanical snap, mechanical twist-lock or
`friction, for example.
`The modularhearing aid 10 can also include a microphone,
`a receiver, electronics and controls. The electronics can
`include an integrated circuit and passive components. The
`controls can include an on-off control and a volumecontrol.
`
`In one embodiment, these components are located within the
`core 14. The modular hearing aid can also havea battery.
`In an alternate embodimentofthe hearing aid with replace-
`able earmold 10, the earmold 12 can include a battery 22, as
`shown in FIG. 2. The battery 22 integrated with the earmold
`12 includes an electrical connection to the base unit 36. The
`battery 22 can include contacts 24 which connectto the core
`14. In this embodiment, the earmold 12 and battery 22 are
`provided as a single unit, which is replaceable on the hearing
`aid core 14. Frequent replacementof the battery 22 and ear-
`mold 12 can provide a user with an optimum level of comfort,
`cleanliness, performance and economy. Integrating the bat-
`tery 22 with the earmold 12, the battery 22 can be more easily
`handled by the user because the integrated battery and ear-
`mold are larger than the battery alone.
`The combined earmold 12 and battery 22 can form an ear
`mold tip 18, an ear mold sleeve 20 or an ear mold tip 18 and
`sleeve 20, similar to that described above. The earmold 12 and
`battery 22 can be retained on the core 14 by mechanical snap
`or friction, for example. The contacts 24 ofthe battery 22 can
`also be usedto retain the combined earmold 12 andbattery
`22, to the core 14.
`FIG. 3A illustrates an embodiment of a modular hearing
`aid 10 having a replaceable earmold 12, shell 15 and battery
`22 formedas one integral unit. This unit can act as a covering
`for a hearing aid base unit. The battery 22 integrated with the
`earmold 12 includes an electrical connection to the base unit
`36. The components of a hearing aid that can be replaced or
`are preferably replaced are the battery 22, the earmold 12 and
`the shell 15. The battery 22 can be replaced becausebatteries
`generally lose their powering ability after a certain amount of
`use. The earmold 12 and the shell 15 can be replaced because
`the components contacts the ear canal and can require fre-
`quent cleaning.
`This embodimentof the modular hearing aid 10 can have a
`base unit 36 which can include a microphone30, electronics
`28 and a receiver 26. The earmold 12 and shell 15 integral
`with the battery 22 can be mechanically or frictionally
`attachedto the non-replaceable base unit 36. The base unit 36
`can fit within the shell 15 for attachment. The battery 22 can
`have contacts 24 which can connectto the base unit 36. When
`the contacts 24 ofthe battery 22 are matedto the base unit 36,
`current can flow from the replaceable battery 22 to the elec-
`tronics 28 in the base unit 36. The contacts 24 ofthe battery 22
`can also be used to retain the integrated earmold 12 and
`battery 22 to the base unit 36.
`FIG. 3B illustrates another embodiment of the modular
`
`hearing aid 10 where the earmold 12 and shell 15 are inte-
`grated with a battery unit 22 and a receiver 26. In this embodi-
`ment, the hearing aid 10 can also have a base unit 36 having
`amicrophone 30 and electronics 28. The battery 22 integrated
`with the earmold 12 includes an electrical connection to the
`base unit 36. In this embodiment, the earmold 12, shell 15,
`battery 22 and receiver 26 are integrated into a single unit that
`can act as a covering for a base unit 36 andthat the unit can be
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`replaced more frequently than the base unit 36, which may or
`may not be disposable. This provides convenience, cleanli-
`ness and product longevity to the user.
`The receiver 26 can be incorp