Hearing device

Abstract

A hearing device (1) comprising a front sealing element (2) and a rear receiver (3) and a valve (4), wherein in a longitudinal direction of the hearing device (1) the valve (4) is further away from the sealing element (2) than the receiver (3), and wherein the receiver (3) and the valve (4) are each a separate integral piece from each other, and the receiver (3) and the valve (4) are connected to each other by a flexible interconnection (6).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a hearing device comprising a front end sealing element and a rear end receiver and a valve, wherein in a longitudinal direction of the hearing device the valve is further away from the sealing element than the receiver. The sealing element is often also referred to as a dome. BACKGROUND

[0002] US2019 / 0208301 discloses such a hearing device.

[0003] One of the problems with known hearing devices is that it is troublesome to pass the bend in the user's ear canal and thus the known hearing devices are impaired in being easily placed. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to make it easier to pass the bend in the user's ear canal and to enable the hearing device to be easily placed in the user's ear canal.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide the user with a better fit and greater comfort.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to achieve advantages which will become apparent from the disclosure below; such as improved sound quality of the user experience.

[0007] US2002 / 0027996, which represents the preamble of the main claim, discloses a hearing device comprising a front sealing element and a rear receiver and a rear valve, wherein in a longitudinal direction of the hearing device the valve is further away from the sealing element than the receiver, wherein the sealing element, the receiver and the valve are each a separate integral piece from each other and the receiver and the valve are connected to each other by a flexible interconnection.

[0008] The hearing device of the present invention has one or more features according to at least one of the appended claims. The hearing device of the present invention can be implemented as a hearing aid, an audible device, a hearing instrument, an ear plug and the like.

[0009] In a first aspect of the invention, the front end of the receiver is received in the sealing element and engages a front portion of the sealing element, which is equipped with an eyelet to enable sound from the receiver to escape to an area in front of the sealing element. Thereby the quality of the audio provided to the user is improved. Furthermore, the sealing element is equipped with a sealing element hole behind the front portion of the sealing element to enable external sound to pass through the valve into the ear canal of the user located in front of the sealing element. This means that the sound will burst into the ear canal to directly impact the eardrum. Since the distance between the sealing element and the valve is relatively short when the receiver engages the front portion of the sealing element, the quality of the external sound reaching the eardrum of the user can also be at a relatively high level. By making the sealing element, the receiver and the valve separate components, and by connecting the receiver and the valve by a flexible interconnect, the hearing device of the invention facilitates easy passage through the bend in the ear canal of the user.

[0010] In view of the ease of passage through the bend, the interconnect is preferably arranged to have a degree of flexibility so as to be able to flex between the receiver and the valve by merely advancing the hearing device into the ear canal of the user.

[0011] Suitably, the interconnect has a flexural modulus in the range of 200-1200 MPa, measured according to ASTM D790, ISO 527-1 / 2 or ISO 178.

[0012] Furthermore, preferably, the interconnect has a diameter in the range of 0.6-1.0 mm.

[0013] Suitably, the interconnect comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Rilsan, silicone, Pebax. This means that mixtures of these materials can also be applied, and the use of other materials not mentioned is not excluded.

[0014] By arranging the interconnect, the receiver and the valve to be rotatable relative to each other around a longitudinal axis through the interconnect, the flexibility of the device is further improved.

[0015] A preferred arrangement is that the sealing element is implemented as a custom-fitted hard shell so as to adapt the hearing device to the anatomical features of the user.

[0016] It is preferred that the valve is electromagnetically actuatable. This enables the user to close said valve and prevent external sound from reaching the eardrum at will, i.e. in case the external noise is at such a high level that the user cannot benefit from the sound received from the receiver. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will be further elucidated below with reference to the attached drawings of an exemplary embodiment of a hearing device according to the invention, which embodiment is not limited to the attached claims.

[0018] In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A hearing device of the present application is shown in a side view;

[0020] Figure 2 A hearing device of the present application is shown in an exploded view;

[0021] Figure 3 A hearing device of the present application is shown entering an ear canal;

[0022] Figure 4 A hearing device of the present application is shown schematically after the hearing device has entered an ear canal;

[0023] Figures 5.1 to 5.3 A sealing element of a hearing device of the present application is shown in a bottom view, a side view and an inclined side view, respectively; and

[0024] Figure 6.1 and 6.2 A top view and a sectional side view of a portion of a hearing device of the present application is shown.

[0025] Whenever the same reference signs are used in the drawings, these refer to the same components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figures 1-3 A hearing device 1 of the present application is shown comprising a front sealing element 2 and a rear receiver 3 (only visible in Figure 2 ) and a rear valve 4, wherein the valve 4 is further away from the sealing element 2 than the receiver 3 in the longitudinal direction of the hearing device 1, i.e. in the direction of movement when the hearing device 1 is placed in an ear canal 5 of a user. In other words: The receiver 3 is positioned between the sealing element 2 and the valve 4.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present application, the sealing element 2, the receiver 3 and the valve 4 are separate units, i.e. the receiver 3 and the valve 4 are separate components different from each other, wherein the receiver 3 and the valve 4 are connected to each other by a flexible interconnect 6, which facilitates that the hearing device 1 easily passes a bend in the ear canal 5, as schematically shown in Figure 4 .

[0028] Preferably, the interconnect 6 is arranged to have a degree of flexibility such that it can bend between the receiver 3 and the valve 4 when the hearing device 1 enters the ear canal 5 of the user. Suitably, the interconnect 6 has a flexural modulus in the range 200-1200 MPa measured according to ASTM D790, ISO 527-1 / 2 or ISO 178. Further suitably, the diameter of the interconnect 6 is in the range 0.6-1.0 mm. Both things can easily be achieved when the interconnect 6 comprises a material selected from the group of Rilsan and Pebax.

[0029] Figure 4 The structural details are schematically illustrated, which are better illustrated in Figure 6.2 that the front end 3’ of the receiver 3 is received in the sealing element 2 such that the front end 3’ of the receiver 3 engages a front portion 2’ of the sealing element 2. Figure 6.1 It is illustrated that said front portion 2’ is equipped with a hole 7 to enable sound from the receiver 3 to escape to the area in front of the sealing element 2. This is also illustrated in Figure 5.2 .

[0030] Figure 5.2 It is further illustrated that the sealing element 2 is provided with a sealing element hole 8 behind the front portion 2’ of the sealing element 2 to enable external sound through the valve 4 to enter the ear canal 5 of the user located in front of the sealing element 2. Such sound can pass through the valve 4 through a valve opening 4’ as Figure 1 illustrated. Preferably, the valve 4 is electromagnetically actuatable in order to close or open the valve opening 4’ e.g. in the manner illustrated in the applicant’s EP3471432 and EP3471433.

[0031] Although the present application has been discussed above with reference to an exemplary embodiment of a hearing device of the present application, the present application is not limited to this particular embodiment, which can be varied in many ways without departing from the present application. Thus, the exemplary embodiment discussed should not be used to interpret the appended claims strictly according to it. Rather, this embodiment is only used to explain the wording of the appended claims and not to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should only be interpreted according to the appended claims, wherein possible ambiguities in the wording of the claims should be solved using the exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. A hearing device (1) comprising a front sealing element (2) and a rear receiver (3) and a rear valve (4), wherein, In a longitudinal direction of the hearing device (1), the rear valve (4) is further away from the front sealing element (2) than the rear receiver (3), wherein the rear receiver (3) and the rear valve (4) are each separate monoliths from each other and the rear receiver (3) and the rear valve (4) are connected to each other by an interconnect (6), characterized in that the interconnect is flexible so that it can be flexed between the rear receiver and the rear valve by simply advancing the hearing device into the ear canal of a user and in that a front end (3’) of the rear receiver (3) is received in and engages a front portion (2’) of the front sealing element (2), which front portion (2’) is provided with an eyelet (7) to enable sound to escape from the rear receiver (3) to the ear canal of a user located in front of the front sealing element (2) and in that the front sealing element (2) is equipped with a sealing element hole (8) behind the front portion (2’) of the front sealing element (2) to enable external sound to pass through the rear valve (4) through a valve opening (4’) into the ear canal (5) of a user located in front of the front sealing element (2).

2. A hearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that The interconnect (6) has a flexural modulus in the range of 200 MPa to 1200 MPa measured according to ASTM D790, ISO 527-1 / 2 or ISO 178.

3. A hearing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The interconnect (6) has a diameter in the range of 0.6 to 1.0 mm.

4. A hearing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The interconnect (6) comprises a material selected from the group comprising Rilsan, silicone and Pebax.

5. A hearing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The interconnect (6), the rear receiver (3) and the rear valve (4) are rotatable relative to each other around a longitudinal axis through the interconnect (6).

6. A hearing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The rear valve (4) is electromagnetically actuatable.

Images