System with magnetic connection

Abstract

A system includes a first device configured to be arranged in an ear canal and having a first contact element and a second device having a second contact element. The first and second contact elements are configured to contact each other and transfer energy and / or data upon contact thereof. The first and second contact elements are configured to remain in contact with each other by magnetic force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system comprising a first device configured to be arranged in the ear canal and having a first contact element and a second device having a second contact element. The first and second contact elements are configured to contact each other and, when in contact, transfer energy and / or data. The first and second contact elements are configured to remain in contact with each other by magnetic force. Background Art

[0002] There are many reasons for inserting a system such as a hearing aid as deeply as possible into the external ear canal (CIC (completely in the canal): completely into the ear canal). The reasons for this may be aesthetic, as such hearing aids are hardly visible from the outside, which is desired by many users. The occlusion effect caused by a system that closes the ear canal weakens as the enclosed space decreases, so the deeper the system is placed. Sound pickup deep in the ear canal can also provide a more natural sound perception as the directivity of the auricle is retained. Reasons related to the operating mode may also play a role. Some systems are designed such that the user cannot position them themselves and can only be positioned by a qualified professional (e.g., an otolaryngologist). Specifically, a hearing aid can also be placed entirely or partially on the tympanic membrane. The problem with such hearing aids is that in some cases, the hearing aid must be able to be removed from the ear canal at least partially. In addition, in some cases, it is necessary to transfer electrical power and / or a certain form of reproduced sound signal and / or other data to the part of the system worn in the ear.

[0003] Sonova Holding AG Group sells the Lyric product under the Phonak brand, which can be inserted deep into the external ear canal and remains there permanently during the product's service life. The capacity of the non-rechargeable battery determines the product's service life, so it must be completely replaced by a doctor or acoustic expert approximately every three months. However, it would be very advantageous if the device were equipped with a rechargeable battery and could be charged while being worn.

[0004] To be able to ensure sufficient operating time, the manufacturer has to eliminate other common hearing aid functions in the Phonak Lyric. The device has analog signal processing and does not include connection options for external devices and audio sources. In addition, the ability to perform audiological fitting (dispensing) according to the user's hearing loss is very limited. Moreover, the user can only operate the basic control functions (sleep mode, on / off, volume up / down) with the aid of a control accessory (SoundLync), and these functions require certain actions to be performed inside the ear.

[0005] The Earlens device of Earlens Corporation has a component that is placed directly on the eardrum and is powered and transmits signals through a non-contact optical connection or an inductive connection of the latest generation of products. The emission light source or coil is placed in a fitting within the ear canal. One or more microphones, a signal processor, and a battery are located within a behind-the-ear housing. Thus, unless the wearer's hair obscures the behind-the-ear housing, the system can be seen from the outside. Another problem with this approach is that there are significant losses in converting electrical energy to light radiation or a magnetic field and back again. In addition, the optical system is highly susceptible to dust contamination or incorrect alignment of the emission light source and receiver. In this case, we chose a non-contact solution because no previous solution was able to achieve a stable wired connection with a component placed deep within the ear canal and insertable by the user. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a system that includes a component arranged within the ear canal that can be easily connected and disconnected from a replaceable component.

[0007] This object is achieved by the system according to claim 1. The dependent claims detail further preferred embodiments of the system according to the present invention.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a system that includes a first device adapted to be placed within the ear canal. This means that the dimensions of the first device are specifically designed so that it can fit into a person's ear canal. These dimensions can be the average dimensions of the general population, or the average dimensions of a specific group of people (such as a specific age group). However, these dimensions can also be the dimensions of an individual ear canal of a specific person, for which the first device and the system are designed.

[0009] According to the present invention, the system also has a second device that can (but does not have to) be arranged within the ear canal. For example, the second device can also be located outside the ear canal.

[0010] The system according to the present invention can advantageously be a hearing system, a hearing aid, headphones, earbuds, a drug delivery device, and / or a wearable system for monitoring vital signs (such as body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, tissue glucose concentration, electrical activity of the heart or brain, body position, or acceleration, etc.). The system according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a hearing system and / or a hearing aid.

[0011] According to the present invention, a first device has a first contact element and a second device has a second contact element. The first and second contact elements are configured to contact each other and transfer energy and / or data between the first and second devices when they are in contact with each other. Thus, energy and / or data can be transferred from the first device to the second device and / or from the second device to the first device.

[0012] The first and second contact elements are designed to hold each other in contact by magnetic force.

[0013] Preferably, for this purpose, the first contact element may have at least one first magnetic force element, and the second contact element may have at least one second magnetic force element. Then, these at least one first magnetic force element and at least one second magnetic force element are configured to exert magnetic forces on each other. Thus, in this embodiment, the magnetic force element of the first contact element should exert a magnetic force on the magnetic force element of the second contact element. The number of the first magnetic force elements of the first contact element may be equal to the number of the second magnetic force elements of the second contact element, but the number of the first magnetic force elements may also be greater than or less than the number of the second magnetic force elements.

[0014] The magnetic force element should be understood here as, on the one hand, a magnet and, on the other hand, an element having a magnetizable material, in particular an element having a material on which a magnet exerts a force but which does not exert a force on the same material itself. A magnet should be understood as an element that generates a magnetic field by itself, in particular a permanent magnet and an electromagnet.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one magnetic force element selected from the at least one first magnetic force element and the at least one second magnetic force element has a magnet. The other magnetic force element may have or be composed of a magnetizable material having the above characteristics. Alternatively, at least one first magnetic force element and at least one second magnetic force element may each have a magnet.

[0016] The magnet may be a permanent magnet and / or an electromagnet. For example, one of the contact elements may have at least one electromagnet as the corresponding magnetic force element, and the other contact element that exerts a magnetic force on it may have a magnetizable material as the corresponding magnetic force element. Then, this contact element remains in contact with the magnet by magnetic force.

[0017] The first device is designed to be placed in the ear canal. Preferably, the first device is held there by a certain force so that the first device does not move accidentally. Preferably, the dimensions of the magnetic force elements are set such that they can hold the first and second contact elements in contact with each other by a force that is less than the force required to remove the contact elements and / or the first device from the ear canal.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the first device and / or the first contact element and / or the second device and / or the second contact element may have an anchoring assembly, and the corresponding device and / or the corresponding contact element may be anchored in the ear canal and / or on the eardrum and / or on the auricle through the anchoring assembly. The anchoring assembly may be disposed, for example, on the outer surface of the corresponding device or the corresponding contact element, and when the corresponding device or the corresponding contact element is disposed in the ear canal, the anchoring assembly contacts the ear canal wall, that is, it is disposed between the corresponding device or the corresponding contact element and the ear canal wall. Specifically, the anchoring may be achieved by the anchoring assembly supporting the corresponding device or the corresponding contact element on the ear canal. Specifically, the anchoring assembly may counteract the force required to remove and / or move the corresponding device or the corresponding contact element from the ear canal.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first contact element may be connected to the first device in a mechanically flexible manner, preferably rotatably and / or tiltably. Therefore, the first contact element can rotate and / or tilt relative to the first device. This connection may be achieved through a flexible element (such as a wire, an optical fiber or a strip). First, this makes it easier for the first contact element to contact the second contact element during the contact process. In addition, this flexible design can prevent the movement of the second device from being transmitted to the first device in an adverse manner and may cause its displacement. And this flexible design can prevent a force from being applied to the first device during the process of establishing contact between the two contact elements, thereby avoiding (possibly undesired) movement of the first device in the ear canal. Such movement may, for example, push the first device too deep into the ear canal, resulting in pain or injury to the user.

[0020] The term "connection" herein refers to an arrangement in which the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other.

[0021] If a magnet is used in the system according to the present invention, the magnet preferably comprises ferrite, at least one rare earth element, at least one hard magnetic material, cobalt, nickel, neodymium, samarium, or is composed of one or more of these substances. If a magnetizable material is used, it may be iron, steel (preferably added with silicon), an iron-nickel alloy, an iron-cobalt alloy, or is composed of these materials. The magnet and the magnetizable material may comprise one or more of these substances.

[0022] The magnetic element(s) can advantageously be a permanent magnet and / or an electromagnet, and it is advantageous to use a permanent magnet. For example, these magnetic elements can comprise or consist of iron, cobalt, nickel, neodymium, samarium, and / or other ferrites and / or rare earths and / or other hard magnetic materials or combinations of these materials. However, the magnetic element(s) can also be a component that is at least partially composed of a ferromagnetic material with soft magnetic properties (such as iron, silicon-added steel, iron-nickel alloys, iron-cobalt alloys, and other steel alloys), but is not a permanent magnet. In this case, the corresponding part in the other contact element can be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. Thus, the connection preferably employs at least one of the following variants:

[0023] One contact element has at least one permanent magnet and / or electromagnet, and the other contact element has at least one ferromagnetic element.

[0024] One contact element has at least one permanent magnet and / or electromagnet, and the other contact element also has at least one permanent magnet and / or electromagnet, wherein the magnetic poles of the magnets are aligned when the connecting member is in the intended position, such that there is an attractive force between one or more magnets of one contact element and one or more magnets of the other contact element.

[0025] The locking force of the connection can be advantageously designed such that when a force is applied to the releasable contact element, for example, by pulling or rotating the contact element or other components mechanically connected to the contact element, the connection is released before the contact element connected to the releasable contact element is displaced from its intended position due to the applied force. In an advantageous embodiment, the locking force is thus lower than the holding force of the anchoring assembly, which can optionally be mechanically connected to or accommodate the connecting member.

[0026] Furthermore, the locking force of the plug-in connection can be advantageously designed such that the two contact elements do not disengage from each other during normal movements performed by the system wearer in daily life. Preferably, the locking force can be greater than or equal to 50 mN, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 100 mN. The advantage is that the connection can be maintained even when the system is worn, and thus power and / or data can also be transmitted through the plug connection during operation.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one magnetic element, or optionally multiple or all magnetic elements, can be coated with another material, for example, in order to obtain better corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, or other advantages. Such coating materials can be, for example, noble metals, such as gold, platinum, iridium, or their alloys, or other materials, such as plastics (such as silicone, parylene), ceramics, or combinations thereof.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheath material of one or more magnetic elements may comprise or consist of a non-magnetic material, wherein the thickness of the sheath material in the region between at least one magnetic element of one contact element and at least one magnetic element of another contact element allows for a targeted reduction of the magnetic force of interaction between at least two magnetic elements. Similar to the use of spacer elements, the advantage here is also that, for example, the working range of the magnetic force can be set to be less affected by manufacturing tolerances. However, other advantages achievable with the use of spacer elements can also be achieved with the sheath material.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the first contact element and / or the second contact element and / or their respective magnetic elements and / or the first device and / or the second device may have a sheath that completely or, except for the electrical contacts, completely covers the respective contact element and / or the respective magnetic element and / or the respective device. The electrical contacts are preferably contacts through which energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first device and the second device during contact. The entire first device and / or the entire second device may have such a sheath, and the respective contact element and its magnetic element are part of the sheath.

[0030] The sheath may also completely cover the respective contact element described above, so that the respective contact element or the respective magnetic element is not exposed at any position on its surface. Energy and / or data transmission is still possible, for example, by optical, capacitive, and / or inductive coupling.

[0031] The sheath preferably has corrosion resistance and / or biocompatibility. Advantageously, the sheath is non-magnetized and non-magnetic. Preferred materials for the sheath are, for example, gold, platinum, iridium, alloys of the above materials, and / or plastics. The plastics may be, for example, silicone and / or parylene. Alternatively or additionally, the sheath may also comprise or be made of ceramics. If the sheath is made of metal, the first contact element and the second contact element can be electrically coupled even if the sheath completely covers the respective elements.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other, the first contact element and / or the second contact element may include a sheath or a covering layer at least in the area in contact with the other contact element, so that energy and / or data can be transmitted between them. The sheath or the covering layer is preferably non-magnetized and non-magnetic. The thickness of the sheath or the covering layer can be selected such that the magnetic force holds the first contact element and the second contact element in contact with each other by a force that is less than the force required to remove the first contact element and / or the first device from the ear canal. Therefore, the magnetic force by which the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other can be adjusted by such a sheath or a covering layer. Preferably, the setting of the magnetic force should consider the good anchoring of the corresponding components, such that the anchoring holds the corresponding components in the ear canal by a force that is greater than the magnetic force between the first contact element and the second contact element.

[0033] Generally, in the state where the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other, the magnetic force is preferably greater than or equal to 1 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 15 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 20 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 50 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 100 mN and / or less than or equal to 1000 mN, preferably less than or equal to 800 mN, preferably less than or equal to 600 mN, preferably less than or equal to 500 mN, preferably less than or equal to 400 mN, preferably less than or equal to 300 mN.

[0034] The corresponding magnetic force can also be adjusted by the type of the magnet and / or the type of the magnetizable material. If the solenoid is an electromagnet, the magnetic force can be adjusted by the current in the electromagnet coil. In addition, the sheath or the covering layer can be used to adjust the magnetic force to a desired value range.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other, at least one first contact element and / or at least one second contact element may have at least one spacer element on the surface facing the corresponding other contact element among the contact elements. Thus, when the contact elements are in contact with each other, the spacer element can be arranged on the surface of the first contact element and / or the second contact element facing the other contact element, so that energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first device and the second device. In this embodiment, the spacer element can determine the distance between at least one first contact element and at least one second contact element at the position of the spacer element. For this purpose, for example, the spacer element can protrude beyond the surface on which it is provided. Preferably, the spacer element has a height measured perpendicular to the surface of the contact element on which it is arranged, and this height is less than the diameter of the contact element in the direction parallel to the surface. Preferably, the height of the spacer element is, for example, less than or equal to 5 mm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 4 mm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 3 mm and / or greater than or equal to 250 μm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 500 μm.

[0036] Among other uses, such spacer elements can also be used to adjust the magnetic force required when the first contact element and the second contact element remain in contact with each other. For a given magnet, the larger the spacer element, the smaller the magnetic force.

[0037] In addition, such spacer elements can also be used to cause a certain inclination of the first contact element relative to the second contact element when the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other. The contact elements can be advantageously integrated into the corresponding first device or second device. In this case, the spacer element can also cause the devices to be inclined relative to each other.

[0038] Preferably, two or more such spacer elements can be provided between the contact elements. For example, two spacer elements define a straight line parallel to the contact surface of the contact elements, and the contact elements or devices can be inclined around this straight line. This tilting movement can be specifically designed such that: by means of a lever around the spacer element, the contact elements on the magnetic force elements can move away from each other. If a pulling force is subsequently applied to the second contact element, a torque will be generated around the spacer element, causing the magnetic force elements to move away from each other. At the same time, even in the absence of such a pulling force, it can still be ensured that the contact elements are firmly held together and in contact with each other.

[0039] Advantageously, two or more spacer elements can be arranged on a relative surface of one of the contact elements or distributed on two contact surfaces.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, at least one magnetic element may be arranged on or within at least one surface on which the spacer element is arranged. Particularly preferably, at least one magnetic element may be arranged on one or both sides of a row of spacer elements, which row of spacer elements is preferably straight and is adjacent to the row of spacer elements when viewed in a direction parallel to the surface. Preferably, the spacer element protrudes beyond the magnetic element in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding surface. This design is particularly advantageous for achieving the above-mentioned inclination and the lever effect around the spacer element.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one mechanical spacer element (preferably at least two spacer elements) may be provided, which is attached to at least one contact element and, when a magnetic locking connection is established as intended, is located between the opposing (contact) surfaces of the contact elements. In this way, a predefined distance can be formed between the contact elements at the position of at least one spacer element, so that, compared with the direct contact between the corresponding magnetic elements, the magnetic force acting between at least one magnetic element of one contact element and at least one magnetic element of the other contact element can be reduced in a targeted manner.

[0042] Preferably, at least one spacer element thus protrudes from the corresponding contact element and also protrudes beyond at least one magnetic element. Furthermore, this is advantageous for compensating for any manufacturing or other tolerances in terms of size or other component parameters of the magnetic element or other components, since this method allows the magnetic force range between at least two magnetic elements during connection to be changed in a targeted manner. In this way, a more favorable ratio between the change in magnetic force and the change in the distance between at least two magnetic elements can be set, thereby reducing the influence of manufacturing tolerances on the maximum magnetic force when the connector components are in contact. Here, more favorable means that the change in magnetic force is less obvious due to the change between the magnetic elements. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, when connected as intended, the distance between the complementary magnetic elements of the two contact elements is less than or equal to 5 mm, preferably less than or equal to 4 mm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 3 mm and greater than or equal to 100 μm, preferably greater than or equal to 250 μm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 500 μm.

[0043] The length by which at least one spacer element protrudes from the plug assembly is preferably less than the diameter of the contact element measured orthogonally to the direction in which at least one spacer element protrudes from the contact element. Particularly preferably, the diameter in this direction is less than the diameter of the ear canal of a human being in which the connection is located. Preferably, the distance by which at least one spacer element protrudes from the contact element is less than 2 mm, particularly preferably less than 1 mm.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of spacer elements may be arranged in rows on one or two contact elements. In this embodiment, at least one magnetic element of the contact element may preferably be arranged beside at least one spacer element, but may also be arranged below it.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, at least two spacer elements are arranged in rows on one or two contact elements, and at least one magnetic element is preferably arranged on the side of the row. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least two magnetic elements may be arranged on the contact element, and at least one magnetic element is arranged on each side of a row of spacer elements formed by the arrangement of the spacer elements. The corresponding complementary contact elements may also have magnetic elements arranged such that a magnetic locking connection is formed when the connection is established.

[0046] If a connection is established, it may cause an inclination mechanism between the two contact elements. This enables the contact elements to tilt relative to each other in a defined manner without preventing the mechanical connection. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least two magnetic elements are arranged on both sides of a row of spacer elements formed by the arrangement of the spacer elements, and the contact elements can tilt in one direction or in another direction pointing to the corresponding magnetic elements.

[0047] One advantage of this embodiment of the present invention is that forces caused, for example, by the movement of a person carrying the connecting piece or external forces applied to these people can be balanced by the inclination mechanism, so that these forces do not cause the connection to loosen. Another advantage of this embodiment of the present invention is that the connection can be established at different angles between the two contact elements. This method is particularly advantageous if the contact elements are to be arranged in an angled part of the human ear canal rather than a straight line. For manufacturing reasons, it is also advantageous to allow different angles between the contact elements during connection because the angles of each ear canal are different. Compared with embodiments in which one or more contact elements have a fixed angular shape, this method also has the following advantages: If the connection is designed as, for example, two magnetic elements with opposite polarities, and the contact surface has a fixed oblique angle with respect to its longitudinal axis, a definite connection rotation direction will be automatically formed, that is, inserting the connection into the left or right ear canal will result in the magnetic poles and electrodes of this connection having fixed and different directions relative to the head. However, this limitation does not apply to the inclined connection design.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the contact elements may have a bend extending in the direction of another contact element among the contact elements when in contact. Accordingly, the corresponding contact element may have two portions that are at an angle of 180° to each other. Preferably, the angle may be an obtuse angle. This design allows the contact element to follow the course of the ear canal in its positioning position. In addition, a lever mechanism can be achieved in this way, which, when a pulling force is applied in a suitable direction, causes the contact element to overcome the magnetic separation. If the corresponding contact element is integrated into the corresponding first device or second device, i.e., arranged within the housing of the corresponding device, the housing may also have the described curved shape.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, both the first contact element and the second contact element may each have at least one magnet. The magnets of the contact elements may be arranged such that they attract each other when the contact elements are in a position where energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first device and the second device relative to each other. In addition, the magnets may preferably be arranged such that they repel each other when the contact elements are in a position where the expected energy and / or data transmission cannot be established relative to each other. If the contact elements have contacts through which data and / or energy are transmitted, the north pole of one contact element may be located at the south pole of the other contact element. At a position where the contact elements are not in contact with each other but are close enough to exert a magnetic force on each other, the magnetic force between the magnets can pull the contact elements to a certain position so that the contacts are in the expected contact. In this case, the contacts should be understood not only as current contacts but also as transmission paths for inductive, capacitive, and / or optical transmission.

[0050] For example, the possible principles of power and / or data transmission can be divided into two categories: wired (current) transmission and wireless transmission. Possible embodiments of wireless energy transmission include, but are not limited to, capacitive, inductive, electromagnetic (including optical) energy transmission, or combinations thereof.

[0051] Wired transmission can be current transmission. For this purpose, in a possible embodiment of the present invention, the contact element may have at least two compatible plug contacts, spring contacts, spring-loaded pin contacts, exposed electrode contacts, etc., or combinations thereof, which create electrical contact between the contact elements when a connection is established, thereby enabling power and / or data transmission between the two contact elements.

[0052] The contacts may be made of a conductive material. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the contacts may be coated or made of a corrosion-resistant metal (such as gold, platinum, iridium, or an alloy thereof).

[0053] In another possible embodiment, the electrical contacts may be established through one or more magnetic force elements or their sheaths.

[0054] The surface shape of the electrical contact can advantageously be circular (spherical segment), oval (elliptical segment), pointed (e.g., conical or pyramidal), flat, coronal, or other shapes. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical contact or contact surface can be spring-loaded on one or both sides and / or connected to the corresponding contact element in a mechanically flexible manner.

[0055] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical contact can be rigidly connected to the contact element.

[0056] In a possible design for inductive energy transfer between contact elements, both contact elements can each have at least one coil, so that an alternating magnetic field is generated in one contact element by means of a suitable circuit and one or more coils, and this magnetic field induces an alternating voltage in the coil of the other contact element. Electrical power and / or audio signals and / or other data can be transferred from one contact element to the other. It is also possible to transfer electrical power and / or data simultaneously or with a delay in different directions.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the alternating voltage in the contact element receiving the alternating field or in another component connected to the contact element can be rectified by means of a suitable circuit and used to charge a rechargeable battery.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more magnetic elements can be positioned relative to the coils, so as to improve the coupling between the coils by guiding the appropriate magnetic field or to increase the inductance by reducing the magnetic resistance, thereby having a positive impact on the transmission of electrical power and / or data.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, capacitive energy transfer takes place between the contact elements. Each of the two components can have at least one conductive surface, which are positioned as closely and tightly as possible relative to each other but are electrically isolated from each other to form a capacitor with the highest possible capacitance. By means of a suitable circuit, an alternating voltage can be generated in one contact element and applied to the capacitor. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the voltage generated in the capacitor part of the other contact element due to the generated electric field can be rectified by means of a suitable circuit and, after possible electrical (low-pass) filtering, used to charge a rechargeable battery.

[0060] In an advantageous embodiment of the optical transmission of power or energy between contact elements, one or more light sources (such as LEDs, laser diodes, etc.) with an emission spectrum in the range of 350 nm - 2000 nm (preferably in the range of 550 nm - 1600 nm), especially in the range of 1400 nm - 1600 nm, can be used in a connector assembly. Such that with or without one or more suitable optical elements (such as optical lenses, etc.), the light radiation can be guided as completely as possible onto the optical receiving elements in another connector assembly (such as photodiodes, solar cells, etc.), thereby separating charges through, for example, the internal photoelectric effect and generating a voltage, which can be used, for example, to charge a rechargeable battery. Alternatively, one or more light sources can be housed in another component, and a magnetic connector can be mechanically and optically connected to this other component, such that the light generated by this other component can be transmitted to the magnetic connector through, for example, one or more optical waveguides (such as glass optical fibers). The optical emission power can be kept constant over time or can vary over time. Parallel transmission of data can also be achieved by appropriately modulating the light source or using a second transmission channel with different wavelengths or spatial intervals. It is also conceivable to only transmit data, where the light energy does not have to be used to charge a rechargeable battery.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, each of the two contact elements can have one or more permanent magnets, which are aligned such that they attract each other only in one position or a limited number of positions. Thus, when they approach each other, the magnetic force causes them to align themselves and finally be in one of the positions where they attract each other. If at least one of the two contact elements has at least one electromagnet, the polarity can be reversed by reversing the current, thereby switching between positions or actively disconnecting.

[0062] According to the present invention, the first contact element and the second contact element can generally represent current, capacitive, inductive, electromagnetic, and / or optical connections for transmitting energy and / or data.

[0063] Advantageously, the first contact element and the second contact element can have mutually compatible contact points, that is, contact points that transmit energy and / or data upon contact. The first contact element and / or the second contact element can be particularly preferably plug contact points, spring contact points, spring-loaded pin contact points, and / or exposed electrode contact points. These contact elements can then be used to establish current coupling.

[0064] It is particularly advantageous if one of the two surfaces of the first contact element and the second contact element that can be in contact with each other is concave, and / or the other surface is convex. In this way, the contact elements can be conveniently connected together and their correct position can be ensured. One or both of the surfaces that can be in contact with each other can preferably be spherical segment-shaped, elliptical segment-shaped, conical, pyramidal, or crown-shaped.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, energy and / or data can be transmitted optically. For this purpose, the first contact element or the second contact element can have a light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a laser diode. The other contact element can have an optical receiving element, such as a photodiode or a solar cell. The light source and the receiving element are then arranged on the contact elements such that when the contact elements are correctly positioned and in contact with each other, the light source emits light onto the optical receiving element. For finding this position, the foregoing embodiment is also advantageous, in which the magnetic force causes the contacting elements to move into the correct position relative to each other.

[0066] Advantageously, the light source can have an emission spectrum in the range greater than or equal to 350 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 550 nm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 1400 nm and / or less than or equal to 2000 nm, preferably less than or equal to 1600 nm. Accordingly, the optical receiving element has a receiving spectrum into which the emission spectrum of the light source preferably fully falls.

[0067] In an advantageous embodiment, energy and / or data can be transmitted optically. For this purpose, the second device can advantageously have at least one optical waveguide through which light can be conducted to the second contact element. The first contact element can have an optical receiving element, preferably at least one photodiode or at least one solar cell. In turn, the optical receiving element can preferably be arranged to convert light energy in the range greater than or equal to 350 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 550 nm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 1400 nm and / or less than or equal to 2000 nm, preferably less than or equal to 1600 nm into voltage.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first contact element can be arranged at one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to another element of the first device. Additionally or alternatively, the second contact element can be arranged at one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to another element of the second device. This design allows the contact elements to move flexibly relative to another element of the respective device. This enables the contact elements to move by themselves under the action of the magnetic force to the position specified by the magnetic force and establish contact at this position to transmit energy and / or data. Advantageously, the other element of the first device can be a tympanic membrane assembly arranged on and in contact with the tympanic membrane of the system user. The tympanic membrane assembly can be configured to transmit vibrations directly to the tympanic membrane. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the first contact element is connected to the tympanic membrane assembly by at least one cable or optical fiber. In this way, the first contact element can contact the second contact element without displacing the tympanic membrane assembly.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, another element of the first device may have two sub-elements, which are connected to each other, for example, by a cable. One of the sub-elements facing the eardrum may be an eardrum assembly, and the other sub-element may be an intermediate element, which is connected to a contact element, for example, by a cable and is connected to the eardrum module, for example, by a cable. The intermediate element can be advantageously received in the ear canal by an anchoring assembly.

[0070] In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element or the first contact element can be connected to the eardrum assembly or be part of the eardrum assembly, which can be at least partially disposed on the eardrum of a person. The connection can be a direct mechanical fixation or can be at least partially mechanically separated but conductively connected to the eardrum assembly by a cable. The cable can include one or more wires and / or at least one strip conductor, which are preferably insulated from each other and from the environment by an insulating material (preferably plastic). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cable can be a flexible printed circuit board on a polyimide substrate, and its strip conductor contains or consists mainly of gold.

[0071] Particularly advantageously, the cable is flexible or helical. In another preferred embodiment, the cable can have torsional flexibility such that torsion occurs when rotating a certain number of turns relative to the initial position, thereby generating a tensile stress in the axial direction between the eardrum assembly and the magnetic coupler. On the one hand, the tensile stress is large enough to cause the wire to effectively shorten along the axis when inserting the magnetic coupler into the ear canal, and on the other hand, it is small enough not to cause the eardrum assembly to slip or detach from the eardrum, and the torque acting on the eardrum assembly is small enough to avoid twisting of the eardrum assembly or damage to the eardrum. Preferably, the torsion sufficient to effectively shorten the cable to a length corresponding to the expected distance between the eardrum assembly and the magnetic coupler occurs when the number of rotation turns is less than or equal to 10 turns, preferably less than or equal to 5 turns, more preferably less than or equal to 2 turns. Preferably, the flexibility of the wire / cable / cable assembly is such that the number of turns greater than or equal to 0.5, preferably greater than or equal to 1, more preferably greater than or equal to 2, more preferably greater than or equal to 5, more preferably greater than or equal to 10, does not cause a tensile force or torque on the eardrum assembly, thereby causing the eardrum assembly to slip or fall off from the eardrum, or directly or indirectly cause damage to the eardrum.

[0072] Advantageously, at least one cable can have one or more wires. If there are multiple wires, one or more wires can be combined to form wires with the same potential. Wires with different potentials can be isolated from each other by an insulating material. One or more wires with the same potential can be wrapped by an insulating material.

[0073] Alternatively or additionally, at least one cable may also have at least one strip conductor which is arranged on a printed circuit board, which is preferably flexible. The printed circuit board is preferably understood here as an object extending on a flat surface, particularly preferably with its longitudinal extension being further than its transverse extension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, its longitudinal extension is at least twice as long as the transverse extension, particularly preferably at least five times as long as the transverse extension. The strip conductor can be applied to the surface spanned by the longitudinal and transverse directions. Preferably, at least one wire and / or at least one strip conductor is insulated from the environment by at least one insulating material.

[0074] Advantageously, at least one cable can be formed as a layer containing gold or a layer consisting of gold on a polyimide substrate.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, at least one cable can be flexible and / or helical such that the distance between the first contact element and an element (such as a drum surface element) arranged at the other end of the cable can vary elastically.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, at least one cable of the first device can have torsional elasticity such that when twisted by at least a minimum number of turns, the cable generates a tensile force between the first contact element and another element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable. Preferably, the tensile force is sufficient to hold the first contact element in the ear canal and / or prevent the element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable from slipping and / or twisting.

[0077] Preferably, at least 0.5 turn, particularly preferably at least 1 turn, more preferably at least 2 turns, more preferably at least 5 turns, more preferably at least 10 turns of rotation are required to meet this condition.

[0078] Preferably, the cable is designed such that twisting of less than 2 turns, preferably less than 5 turns, more preferably less than 10 turns does not cause slipping or twisting of another element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable.

[0079] One advantage of the embodiments described herein is that, for example, the tympanic membrane assembly can be placed on the tympanic membrane without wearing other components on the ear canal, such as a magnetic coupler formed by a first contact element and a second contact element or components connected to the magnetic coupler, because other components may impede or prevent the process of placing the tympanic membrane assembly on the tympanic membrane. The tympanic membrane assembly can have an actuator that generates acoustic oscillations when subjected to a corresponding electrical signal, thereby creating an auditory impression on the tympanic membrane of a person wearing the tympanic membrane assembly. In this case, the connection of the contact elements can be used to transmit electrical signals from another external component placed, for example, in the ear canal, in the ear, or on the ear of a person to the tympanic membrane assembly. The external component can be directly mechanically connected to the contact element or at least partially mechanically decoupled, but is, for example, electrically and / or optically connected to the contact element via one or more cables and / or optical fibers.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second device can have an ear canal element that can be arranged in the ear canal and has a second contact element. Preferably, the second device can also have an external element that can be arranged more externally in the ear canal or outside the ear canal than the ear canal element, and the second contact element is preferably arranged on the ear canal element, for example, fixedly arranged on the ear canal element.

[0081] The second contact element can be directly mechanically connected to the ear canal assembly or at least partially mechanically decoupled, but is, for example, electrically connected to the ear canal assembly via one or more cables or optical fibers. In this case, the connection element can be used to transmit power and / or data from the external component to the ear canal assembly. The external component can be permanently connected to the contact element or at least partially mechanically decoupled, but is, for example, electrically and / or optically connected to the magnetic connector via at least one cable and / or optical fiber. Therefore, the external element and the ear canal element can be connected via at least one cable and / or at least one optical fiber, and energy and / or data can be transmitted to and / or from the second contact element via the at least one cable and / or at least one optical fiber, where the optical fiber and / or cable is preferably flexible.

[0082] Advantageously, the ear canal element can have a rechargeable battery. Then, for example, it can be electrically and / or optically charged by the external component through the contact element. The second contact element can also be used to transmit audio signals, control signals, configuration data, status data, and / or other data from the external component to the ear canal assembly or vice versa.

[0083] The mechanical decoupling of the second contact element can be designed such that a flexible cable extends from the ear canal assembly to the outside, or from the outside assembly to the inside, with the second contact element connected to its end. Both assemblies can also have flexible cables facing each other. The cable is preferably designed such that its total length is equal to or greater than the distance to be bridged by the expected end positions, i.e., the distance between the outside assembly and the ear canal assembly. The excess length of the cable relative to this distance is preferably between 100 μm and 5 mm. More preferably, the cable should also be flexible enough to compensate for the expected misalignment (rotation and / or lateral), and the excess length can be accommodated in the space between the ear canal and the outside assembly by bending and / or folding. In a preferred embodiment of the cable, the cable can be designed as a flexible printed circuit board based on, for example, polyimide, with a thickness preferably less than or equal to 100 μm.

[0084] Advantageously, at least one cable and / or at least one optical fiber can comprise a tube and / or a sheath material, which preferably has chemical resistance, electrical insulation, and / or mechanical flexibility. Advantageously, the tube can comprise or consist of thermoplastics, polyamides, silicones, and / or epoxy resins. The tube and / or the sheath material can enclose at least one electric wire or at least one optical waveguide.

[0085] Advantageously, the cable can be wholly or partly composed of electric conductors for transmitting electrical signals and / or electrical power and / or of at least one optical fiber for transmitting optical signals and / or electrical power, and / or can contain such electric conductors and / or optical fibers. Such a conductor or wire can comprise or consist of a plurality of different conductive materials, such as aluminum, copper, silver, gold, iridium, or alloys. A plurality of wires can also be combined into a strand, for example, to vary the flexibility of the conductor and the connecting cable. The optical waveguide can be part of the cable or can form part of the cable, for example, it can contain a material that absorbs very little light of the wavelength to be transmitted. Typical materials can be, for example, silica glass or plastics.

[0086] The tube can preferably have chemical resistance, electrical insulation, and / or mechanical flexibility. It can be made of the polyamide, but can also be made of silicone or other materials. At least one lumen of the tube can be inflated or filled with other materials. At least one electric wire and / or at least one optical fiber can be arranged in at least one lumen of the tube.

[0087] The cable can have a sheath material enclosing at least one electric wire and / or at least one optical fiber. The at least one electric wire and / or at least one optical fiber can be, for example, cast into the sheath material. The sheath material can be, for example, silicone, thermoplastics (such as polyamide), and / or epoxy resins, or made of these materials. Other materials or combinations of different materials are also possible.

[0088] The cable may advantageously have at least one stabilizing component. For example, the component may be arranged within or in part within a tube or sheath material similar to a wire or an optical fiber, but without the function of transmitting electrical energy and / or optical signals and / or power. The at least one stabilizing component may be made of, for example, textiles, plastics, metals, or also of other materials or combinations of different materials.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cable may have a circular cross-section over its entire length. However, in a preferred embodiment, the cable may also have regions with a cross-section different from circular. In these regions, the cable is preferably oval or flat. Its diameter along the narrower axis may be less than 75%, preferably less than 50%, and particularly preferably less than 35% of the diameter along the wider axis. A particular advantage is that a person inserting the contact element into the ear can do so by holding the connecting line. The non-circular cross-section in certain regions of the connecting line enables the person to recognize the unguided direction of the contact element and thus makes it easier to insert it into the intended position.

[0090] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one cable or at least one optical fiber may have along its length at least two regions with different numbers of surrounding tubes, different numbers of lumens within the tubes, different wall thicknesses, and / or different materials. For example, increasing the number of surrounding tubes will result in an increase in the strength of the cable in that region.

[0091] The strength of the cable can be influenced in various ways in terms of design and / or production. For example, the number, diameter, and / or material of at least one electrical conductor and / or at least one optical fiber can be adjusted to achieve the desired strength. Thus, by changing these parameters along the cable, the strength along the cable can also be changed.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the stiffness of the cable portion that engages with the element that may be arranged facing the eardrum can be greater than the stiffness of the cable portion that engages with the element that may be arranged facing away from the eardrum. For example, this can improve the guidance of the cable.

[0093] It is also advantageous if the stiffness of the portion that engages with the element that may be arranged facing the eardrum is less than the stiffness of the rest of the cable or optical fiber, this portion extending to a distance less than 10 mm, particularly preferably less than 5 mm, and most preferably less than 1 mm from the element. Such a portion helps prevent the element facing the eardrum from exerting unnecessary forces on, for example, the eardrum or the ear canal.

[0094] The stiffness of the cable or optical fiber gives its shape a certain stability, so that during the process of connecting the first contact element to the second contact element as expected, at least one cable can be fixed on the ear so that it does not contact the skin or only slightly contacts the skin, and / or facilitates the fixation of the external module, cable, and / or the first and / or second contact elements. Advantageously, the stiffness of at least one cable can be designed so that it maintains a predetermined shape. The stiffness of at least one cable can also be designed so that the user can correct the shape of the cable.

[0095] Advantageously, the cable can have a varying stiffness along its length. For example, in the case where the external component or the second device is worn outside the ear canal and the cable for connecting the ear canal element or the second contact element to the first contact element is inserted into the ear canal, it is preferred that the stiffness of the portion of at least one cable worn inside the ear canal is higher than the stiffness of the portion of at least one cable worn outside the ear canal. However, other stiffness distributions of at least one cable along its length can also be considered.

[0096] In another preferred embodiment, the stiffness of the cable in the region adjacent to the contact element and / or in one or more regions between the contact element and the external module or between the ear canal element and the external module can be lower than the stiffness of the rest of the cable. In this way, for example, it can be ensured that the magnetic force between the first contact element and the second contact element makes it easier to connect the two components together. The reduction in the stiffness of the cable in at least one region can facilitate the establishment of the connection. For example, by designing the stiffness related to the magnetic force so that the magnetic force exerted by one contact element on the other contact element causes the contact element to twist and / or tilt by at least 10°. Therefore, when the contact element is inserted into the ear canal to establish a connection with another contact element, due to the action of the magnetic force, the first contact element and the second contact element automatically move towards their expected positions relative to each other, and the initially inaccurate positioning can be at least partially or completely compensated.

[0097] The reduction in the stiffness of the connection cable in at least one region can also advantageously affect the stability of the connection. For example, the movement of the person wearing the system or the forces acting on this person from the outside can be compensated by increasing the flexibility in the region with lower stiffness.

[0098] On the other hand, the increase in stiffness in other regions except for the regions with reduced stiffness means that the shape of at least one connection cable defined during the manufacturing process or imprinted by the user is maintained during the operation of the system. If the shape of at least one connection cable defined during the manufacturing process or imprinted by the user roughly corresponds to the orientation of at least one cable in its expected position, the predetermined shape of at least one connection cable can simplify the process for the user to establish a connection between the first contact element and the second contact element, that is, the connection established between the magnetic connector and the magnetic coupler. The changed stiffness can also achieve the effect of reducing the strain on at least one wire and / or at least one optical fiber.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one cable or at least one optical fiber may have a variable stiffness along its length. For example, in the case where an optional external element is worn outside the ear canal and a cable or optical fiber for connecting a first contact element to a second contact element is inserted into the ear canal, it is more advantageous if the stiffness of the cable or optical fiber portion worn inside the ear canal is higher than that of the cable or optical fiber portion worn outside the ear canal.

[0100] In another preferred embodiment, the stiffness of the cable and / or optical fiber in the region adjacent to the first contact element or the second contact element and / or in one or more regions between the first contact element and the first device and / or between the second device and the second contact element may be lower than the stiffness of the rest of the cable or optical fiber. In this way, for example, it can be ensured that the magnetic force between the first contact element and the second contact element contributes to the connection of the two components, and the reduced stiffness helps to establish the connection.

[0101] Advantageously, on the one hand, it is particularly preferred that the stiffness of the cable or optical fiber in the bending region adjacent to the element that can be arranged facing the eardrum, and on the other hand, the magnetic force are designed such that the magnetic force can cause the element facing the eardrum to tilt and / or twist by an angle greater than or equal to 10° with respect to the region of the cable or optical fiber adjacent to the bending region. This means that when the contact elements are inserted into the ear canal to establish a connection with another contact element, the initially inaccurate positioning can be partially compensated by the magnetic force automatically pulling the first contact element and the second contact element towards each other and bringing them to the desired position. The reduced stiffness of the cable or optical fiber in at least one region can also have a beneficial effect on the stability of the connection between the first contact element and the second contact element. For example, the forces caused by the movement of the person wearing the plug connector or the forces acting on these people from the outside can be compensated by increasing the flexibility of the low-stiffness region. On the other hand, the increased stiffness in other regions can keep the shape of at least one connecting cable defined during the manufacturing process or imprinted by the user during system operation. If the shape of the cable or optical fiber defined during the manufacturing process or imprinted by the user roughly corresponds to the orientation of the cable or optical fiber in its intended position, the predetermined shape of at least one connecting cable can simplify the process for the user to establish a connection between the magnetic connector and the magnetic coupler, that is, the connection established between the first contact element and the second contact element. The changed stiffness can also achieve a strain relief function for the cable and / or optical fiber.

[0102] Advantageously, the cable and / or optical fiber may have at least two regions with different diameters and / or different materials. In this way, the different stiffnesses of the above-mentioned cable or optical fiber can be achieved.

[0103] If at least one tube is part of a cable or an optical fiber, the stiffness of the cable or the optical fiber can be locally changed, for example by changing the number of tubes, the number of lumens, the diameter, the wall thickness, the material, and / or other properties of the tubes at that location. If the cable has a sheath material at least in some regions, the stiffness can also be changed by changing the thickness or the material of the sheath material.

[0104] Advantageously, due to the fact that the construction of the connecting cable is also different in regions where the stiffness needs to be different from other regions, the stiffness of the cable and / or the optical fiber is also changed. For example, in a region where the stiffness is increased, there can be at least one electrical wire, at least one optical fiber, at least one tube, at least one stabilizing component, and / or at least one sheath material, while the corresponding components are absent in other regions where the stiffness is not increased.

[0105] An example of a possible embodiment has a cable and / or an optical fiber which, on the one hand, has tubes guiding electrical wires or optical fiber assemblies in at least one of its lumens. For example, in a region adjacent to a corresponding contact element, or in a region starting at most 10 mm (preferably at most 5 mm, more preferably at most 1 mm) distal to the contact element and extending distally therefrom by at most 10 mm (preferably at most 5 mm, more preferably at most 3 mm, even more preferably at most 1 mm), it is advantageous to reduce the stiffness. For example, the reduction in stiffness can be achieved by the fact that at least one electrical wire or optical fiber assembly in this region is not surrounded by a tube but by a sheath material having a lower stiffness than the tube. To prevent the electrical wire or optical fiber assembly from tearing, especially in the region of reduced stiffness adjacent to the magnetic connector, a stabilizing component can be integrated (preferably cast) into the sheath material at this location.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment, the first contact element and the second contact element can each have a guiding element, where the guiding element is designed such that the guiding element guides the two contact elements to the position where the two contact elements come into contact for energy and / or data transfer. Preferably, the guiding element of one of the contact elements can be convex, while the guiding element of the other contact element can be concave corresponding to the guiding element of one of the contact elements. In this case, the surfaces of the guiding elements are parallel to each other and in contact.

[0107] Other possible embodiments of the guiding element can be such that one guiding element has one or more depressions in a wedge shape, oval shape, circular shape, square shape, needle shape, or other shape, while the other contact element has one or more protrusions in a wedge shape, oval shape, circular shape, square shape, needle shape, or other shape, which correspond to the negative shape or a part of the negative shape of one or more depressions of the other guiding element.

[0108] The contact element can advantageously have a surface which, when positioned as intended, is shaped such that it can perform the function of a guiding mechanism. This can be achieved, for example, by curving the surfaces of the first and second contact elements that come into contact with each other, where the positive curvature of the surface of one contact element corresponds to the negative curvature of the surface of the other contact element.

[0109] In a preferred embodiment, one of the two contact elements can have an edge that at least partially surrounds the contact element. For example, the height of this edge is less than or equal to 3 mm, preferably less than or equal to 2 mm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 1 mm. This edge can serve as the guiding mechanism as described above.

[0110] When the two contact elements are positioned relative to each other as intended, such a guiding mechanism can prevent the contact elements from sliding, moving, rotating, and / or separating from each other during connection. This guiding mechanism can also make it easier for the person making the connection to connect the contact elements. This can be achieved in particular by the guiding mechanism assisting in the correct positioning of the contact elements during the connection process.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment, one of the contact elements can have a flat contact surface, while the other contact element can have one or more contact pins arranged such that they are displaceable on the contact surface when the contact elements come into contact with each other. Preferably, the contact surface is perpendicular to the cable or optical fiber that is joined to the corresponding contact element. Energy and / or data can be transmitted through such contact pins and the contact surface.

[0112] Preferably, when one contact element makes contact with the other contact element, one contact element can be rotated to the intended position by means of the guiding mechanism as described above. In a preferred embodiment, a wired connection is used between the contact element and the corresponding device. For example, one or more contact pins can be provided, which can be spring-loaded and / or rigidly connected to the corresponding contact element. These contact elements can then be laterally guided by the contact surface on the other contact element. For example, such movement can be used to remove any dirt on the contact surface by guiding the contact pins on the contact surface (in a manner of a parallel scraping movement).

[0113] In a preferred embodiment, one of the contact elements may have a radial protrusion. Additionally, another of the contact elements may have a radial undercut that tapers circumferentially away from the one contact element, i.e., away from the contact element having the radial protrusion. The dimensions of the radial protrusion and the radial undercut may be such that the radial protrusion can be held within the radial undercut. Thus, the minimum radius of the surface defining the radial undercut in the direction away from the other contact element may be less than the maximum radius of the radial protrusion, such that the radial protrusion is held between the other contact element and the surface defining the radial undercut.

[0114] In this embodiment, when the contact elements are rotated relative to each other, the protrusion may slide into the space between the other contact element and the surface defining the radial undercut, similar to a bayonet fit. For example, a wedge portion of one of the contact elements may (proximally) engage behind an undercut portion of the other contact element (e.g., in a recess provided in the contact element for this purpose), where the undercut portion (unlike a bayonet connection) may be designed such that when a pulling force is applied to move the two contact elements away from each other, one contact element can be unscrewed from the other contact element, and preferably even more easily. For example, this ease of unscrewing can be achieved by angling the undercut of the respective contact element in the direction of rotation, which results in the wall thickness at the open end of the undercut being less than the wall thickness at the end of the undercut remote from the open end. Once a connection has been successfully established between the contact elements by magnetic force, the pulling force required for separation can be increased in a defined manner to exceed the magnetic force, but can be overcome more easily by simultaneously pulling and rotating in a targeted direction along a predetermined direction than by random wobbling or a purely pulling motion.

[0115] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second contact elements may each have a hole that forms a passage from the outside to the eardrum when the system is worn in the ear canal as intended. The hole is preferably cylindrical, funnel-shaped, or angular. The diameter of the hole is preferably greater than or equal to 50 μm. Such a hole is preferably designed such that it should minimize the obstruction to the passage of sound waves, and particularly preferably such that its attenuation is less than 10 dB. The optional anchoring assembly may advantageously be designed such that when the magnetic coupler is positioned as intended, it does not impede the flow of air from the distal end of one contact element to the proximal end of the other contact element.

[0116] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first device and / or the second device may have at least one microphone that can be connected to the respective other device via the first and second contact elements for signal transmission. This will be particularly advantageous if the second contact element is connected to an external component via at least one connecting cable, and the external component can pick up and / or process the electrical signals generated by the acoustic excitation of the microphone.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second contact element can be connected to an external component by at least one connecting cable through which electrical and / or optical signals generated by the acoustic excitation of the microphone can be transmitted to the external component. For this purpose, the external component can advantageously have a signal processing unit by means of which the electrical and / or optical signals can be processed and / or amplified, and particularly advantageously, the signals can be transmitted back to the second contact element through at least one other cable. The data processed as described above can then be forwarded to the first and second contact elements by one of the above-described transmission methods and can then be converted, for example, in a first device, by a transducer unit (such as an actuator in a tympanic assembly, a balanced armature driver, an electro-dynamic loudspeaker or a similar unit), into a sound signal perceptible by the user.

[0118] The type of signal processing possible can be, for example, one or more selected from the following: frequency-dependent adaptive adjustment of the signal according to the user's individual hearing loss, dynamic compression of the signal in one or more frequency bands, generation of anti-noise for actively suppressing ambient noise.

[0119] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microphone can be part of one of the contact elements or can be electrically connected thereto. The signal can then be transmitted to the external component by one of the above-described transmission methods via the respective contact element and the connecting cable or optical fiber (if necessary).

[0120] In an advantageous embodiment, the first contact element can be connected to another element of the first device via a cable or optical fiber. The cable or optical fiber can be arranged at a distance greater than zero from a straight line on the first contact element that is perpendicular to the contact surface of the first contact element with the second contact element and intersects the contact surface at the center thereof. Thus, the cable or optical fiber is offset from this center point on the first contact element. Preferably, the cable can enter the first contact element in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the first contact element. The cable preferably can enter the first contact element from the side opposite the contact surface.

[0121] This design enables a lever effect to be generated when releasing the magnetic connection by pulling on the cable or optical fiber, thus making it easier to release the connection.

[0122] In another preferred embodiment, the geometric center of gravity of at least one magnetic element or a plurality of magnetic elements of the first contact element or the second contact element may be arranged near the center of an imaginary connecting line located between the connection position of the contact element and the cable or optical fiber projected onto the proximal surface of one of the contact elements and the contact point of the contact element with the other contact element, and when the contact is established as expected, the distance between the contact point and this position is the largest. Here, the contact point of a contact element may refer to a point on the contact element which, when the connection is established as expected, is located on the proximal surface of the contact element and is in mechanical contact with the other contact element. Here, if the distance between the center of gravity of the magnetic element or the plurality of magnetic elements and the center point is less than or equal to 10% of the length of the above-mentioned imaginary connecting line, preferably less than or equal to 5%, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 3%, then the position of the magnetic element or the center of gravity of the plurality of magnetic elements may be close to the above-mentioned center point.

[0123] Advantageously, at least one magnetic force element may be arranged in or on the contact surface of the corresponding contact element opposite to the cable or optical fiber with respect to the straight line passing through the center point.

[0124] In another preferred embodiment, the first contact element and the second contact element may each have a contact surface, through which the first contact element and the second contact element abut against each other when in contact. The contact surfaces may advantageously be parallel to each other when in contact, and if the first device is arranged in the ear canal as expected, at least in some areas, they form an angle of less than 80°, preferably less than 70°, preferably less than 60°, preferably less than 45°, preferably less than 30° with the straight line parallel to the wall of the ear canal at the location of the first device. Alternatively, this straight line may also be defined by extending the cable or optical fiber in the area where the cable or optical fiber enters the corresponding contact element. When pulling the cable or optical fiber (preferably the cable or optical fiber in contact with the second contact element), this allows a shearing or tilting movement of one contact element relative to the other contact element, thereby reducing the force required to release the connection. In the case of tilting movement, it can also be achieved that the pulling force required to release the magnetic connection is not transmitted along the direction of the ear canal orifice to the anchoring assembly connected to or included in the magnetic coupler, but rather this pulling force generates a torque, thereby pressing the anchoring assembly more forcefully against the wall of the ear canal. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, this may result in an increase in the holding force, thereby preventing the anchoring assembly / the first or second contact element from slipping out of the expected position, so that the magnetic connection can be more easily separated, while the first contact element remains in the ear canal as expected. In this way, a larger magnetic force can be selected to hold the first contact element and the second contact element together, thereby reducing the possibility of the magnetic connection becoming loose due to vibration.

[0125] Advantageously, one of the first contact element and the second contact element may have one or more contact surfaces, and the other of the first contact element and the second contact element may have the same number of contact pins. Advantageously, the contact pins then contact one of the contact surfaces and establish an electrical connection in each case. Thus, preferably, there is one contact pin on each contact surface and exactly one contact pin on each contact surface. At least two contact pins and contact surfaces are particularly preferred.

[0126] Thus, each contact surface has a corresponding part in the form of a contact pin. When contact is established between the contact elements, the contact pins then contact the respective contact surfaces, such that in the case of a conductive surface, an electrical connection is established between one contact pin and one contact surface in each case. Advantageously, the contact pins and / or the contact surfaces can be arranged in a row on the plug assembly, preferably in a straight row.

[0127] Advantageously, in this embodiment, at least one magnetic element of the first contact element and / or the second contact element is arranged beside at least one contact pin and / or at least one contact surface. In a preferred case, where at least two contact pins and / or contact surfaces are arranged in a row, at least one magnetic element is preferably arranged beside the row. Thus, it is not arranged continuously nor within the row.

[0128] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two magnetic elements can be arranged on the first contact element and / or the second contact element. One magnetic element can be arranged on one side of the row formed by the arrangement of the contact pins or contact surfaces. The corresponding other contact element can also have a magnetic element, which is arranged such that a magnetic locking connection is formed when the plugging and unplugging connection is made.

[0129] Thus, one of the first contact element and the second contact element may have a plurality of contact surfaces arranged in a row, and the other of the first contact element and the second contact element may advantageously have the same number of contact pins arranged in a row. The first contact element and the second contact element can each have at least one magnetic force element, which is arranged on one side of the row of contact surfaces or on one side of the row of contact pins.

[0130] Preferably, the magnetic polarity of at least one magnetic element at one side of the row produced by the arrangement of the contact pins can be opposite to the polarity of at least one magnetic element at the other side of the row. In this way, the contact elements can also enter their intended positions to establish contact invisibly. This is particularly useful if each plug assembly has at least two contact pins and / or contact surfaces, so as to establish the correct connection with the correct polarity between the contact elements.

[0131] Thus, the magnetic elements in the first and second contact elements can be magnets which are arranged such that when the contact pins contact the corresponding contact surfaces as intended, the opposite magnetic poles contact each other.

[0132] In a preferred embodiment, the contact pins can be spring-loaded. However, they can also be rigidly connected to the corresponding contact elements. In another possible embodiment, there can be at least one spring-loaded contact pin and at least one contact pin rigidly connected to the contact element.

[0133] In a preferred embodiment, at least one contact pin can be designed as a spacer element. Particularly preferably, a plurality of contact pins are arranged in a row and designed as spacer elements. This allows the contact elements to be tilted relative to each other without interrupting the possible electrical connection established by the contact elements. Advantageously, in all of the above embodiments, the spacer element can be designed as a contact pin for establishing contact for the transmission of energy and / or data.

[0134] Preferably, the magnetic polarity of at least one magnetic element on one side of the row formed by the arrangement of the corresponding spacer elements can be opposite to the polarity of at least one magnetic element on the other side of the row. In this way, the contact elements can establish contact in their intended positions even without visual contact. This is particularly useful if each contact element has at least two spacer elements and they are designed as electrical contact elements. Thus, when establishing a connection, the contact elements are oriented by attracting or repelling the magnetic elements, thereby establishing a correct connection with the correct polarity between the contact elements.

[0135] Another possible advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that relative movement between the contact elements (possibly caused by a tilting mechanism and, for example, by the movement of a person carrying the plug connector) can remove any dirt on the contact surfaces or contact pins by a scraping movement. Another possible advantage of the tilting mechanism is that when releasing the connection by pulling at least one cable or optical fiber connected to the contact element, a lever effect can be generated by supporting one contact element on the housing of the other contact element, which makes it easier to release the connection.

[0136] In a possible embodiment, each of the two contact elements can each have a magnetic element located at the central position of a surface which, when in contact, is on the side of the corresponding contact element facing the other contact element. If a connection is established, the two contact elements can rotate relative to each other without separating the force-locking connection established by the two magnetic elements.

[0137] In a preferred embodiment, the first contact element and the second contact element may each have a magnetic element such that when the magnetic elements of the contact elements are in contact, a magnetic force acts between the magnetic elements. Advantageously, the magnets may each be located at the center of the contact surface of the respective contact element. When contact is established, the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact with each other through these contact surfaces.

[0138] Advantageously, one of the first contact element and the second contact element may have at least one annular contact surface on its contact surface, wherein the annular contact surface extends around the center point of the respective magnetic element. The other of the first contact element and the second contact element may have at least one contact pin on its contact surface, and the contact pin is arranged such that when the first contact element and the second contact element are in contact, the contact pin contacts the annular contact surface.

[0139] Thus, one of the contact elements may have at least one electrical contact surface in the form of a ring, which, when contact is made, is arranged on the side facing the other contact element and extends rotationally symmetrically around an axis orthogonal to the surface and passing through the geometric center of the ring. Particularly advantageously, the number of contact pins arranged on the other contact element is equal to or greater than the number of contact surfaces. Preferably, the contact pins are positioned such that when the contact elements are in contact, they establish an electrical connection with the respective contact surfaces, and even if the contact elements are rotated relative to each other, due to the circular and rotational symmetry of the contact surfaces, this electrical connection is not broken. Preferably, one of the contact elements has at least one contact pin and the other contact element has at least one annular contact surface.

[0140] The surfaces of the first contact element and the second contact element that face each other when in contact are referred to as contact surfaces.

[0141] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first contact element and / or the second contact element may have at least two contact pins and may also have at least one protection structure, and the at least one protection structure is arranged such that the two contact elements cannot be touched simultaneously with one hand. Preferably, the protection structure may have or itself be a non-conductive structure that embeds at least two contact pins such that the surfaces of the at least two contact pins are behind the surface of the protection structure in the direction away from the respective contact element.

[0142] In this way, when a voltage is applied to at least one exposed electrical contact surface, it is possible to prevent injury to personnel caused by contact with at least one contact surface or damage to electrical components electrically connected to at least one contact surface. Advantageously, at least one contact surface may also be surrounded by a protection structure. Due to its geometry, this can prevent contact with the contact surface. A guiding mechanism may be used as or be the same as the protection structure.

[0143] If one of the contact elements is designed such that at least two contact pins project from the contact element, a protective structure can be arranged between every two contact pins, which projects more than the contact pins from the plug assembly, so as to prevent simultaneous contact of multiple contact pins through this protective structure. To prevent the protective structure from interfering with the mutual contact of the plug assemblies, a groove can be provided on the complementary contact element without the protective structure, such that when the two contact elements come into contact with each other, the protective structure will engage into this groove.

[0144] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first device or the first contact element and the second device or the second contact element can each have at least one magnet as the magnetic force element, the north pole and the south pole of which are adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the corresponding contact surface, and the corresponding contact element faces the corresponding other contact element through the said contact surface. This design enables the contact elements to automatically move to the expected positions relative to each other under the action of magnetic force when in contact, thereby realizing the transmission of energy and / or data.

[0145] In a preferred embodiment, the first contact element or the second contact element can have at least one first magnetic ring (preferably as the corresponding first magnetic force element), and at least one first contact point arranged at the center point of the first magnetic ring.

[0146] Advantageously, the other contact element without the first magnetic ring in the first contact element and the second contact element can also have at least one second magnetic ring (preferably as the second magnetic force element), and at least one second contact point arranged at the center point of the second magnetic ring. Alternatively, the other contact element can include other magnetic and / or magnetizable elements, such as one or more cubes, one or more rods, etc.

[0147] In this embodiment, one of the first contact point and the second contact point can be a contact pin. The contact pin can project beyond the annular surface at the center of the magnetic ring, and this annular surface faces away from the contact element provided with the contact pin. Since the annular element has a non-zero extension in the direction perpendicular to its extension plane, it has two open surfaces axially opposite to each other. These are the aforementioned annular surfaces. They can also be referred to as end faces. The annular surfaces mentioned here are one of the surfaces that limit the magnetic ring in its axial direction. For example, if the magnetic ring is cylindrical, these will be the open surfaces of the cylinder.

[0148] In this embodiment, the other of the first contact and the second contact may be a contact surface, which is preferably coplanar with the annular surface of the corresponding magnetic ring, and the annular surface faces away from the corresponding contact element having the contact surface, provided that the contact element has a magnetic ring. The annular surface here should be understood as described above. For example, if the first contact is referred to here, the annular surface may be coplanar with the annular surface of the first magnetic ring facing away from the first contact element (i.e., facing the second contact element in the contact state). Vice versa, i.e., when the second contact is referred to here.

[0149] The first magnetic ring and / or the second magnetic ring may advantageously have magnetism and / or magnetizability. Specifically, they may advantageously be permanent magnets and / or electromagnets, and / or they may comprise or be composed of at least one magnetizable material.

[0150] Advantageously, the second contact element may also have a cable with two conductors, which is preferably arranged on the side of the second contact element facing away from the second contact at a certain radial distance from the center point of the second magnetic ring. One of the conductors may be electrically connected to the second contact, while the other conductor may be electrically connected to the second magnetic ring or another contact of the second contact element. In a preferred embodiment, the cable may be a conductor strip with two strip conductors.

[0151] In a preferred embodiment, the contact pin may be spring-loaded, and preferably, the spring force by which the contact pin is spring-loaded may be set such that the contact pin is completely pressed into the annular surface of the magnetic ring by the magnetic attraction force of the first contact element and the second contact element, and the contact pin is located at the center of the annular surface.

[0152] In this embodiment, the contact element may advantageously have one or more of the following characteristics.

[0153] The cable may advantageously be a flexible conductor strip with two strip conductors. The strip conductors may be connected to the magnetizable magnetic ring by, for example, cryogenic soldering, cold welding, ultrasonic welding, and / or conductive bonding. A particular challenge here is not to exceed the Curie temperature of the magnetic material.

[0154] The second strip conductor may be connected to a conductive rigid contact pin. The contact pin and the magnetic ring may be embedded in the housing and electrically insulated from each other. Advantageously, the contact pin may be coaxially arranged (i.e., centered) with the magnetic ring.

[0155] In another contact element, the magnetic ring and the contact surface may be coaxially aligned and embedded in the housing. Both may be used as electrical pair contact points. It is particularly advantageous if the magnetic ring is coplanar with the contact surface on the contact side (which is beneficial for cleaning).

[0156] It is also advantageous if there is no gap between the magnetic ring and the contact surface of the contact side. In this case, the housing fills the gap in a coplanar manner. This also makes cleaning easier and avoids dirt accumulation, which may act as an electrolyte and cause leakage current.

[0157] The magnetic ring can be advantageously axially polarized and arranged such that the contact side has a north pole and a south pole.

[0158] Advantageously, the contact pin or the contact surface protrudes at least on one side beyond the end face of the magnetic ring. Thus, during connection, the contact pin and the contact surface come into contact first. Then, the plug can be tilted to one side until the magnetic rings come into contact. By tilting (the edge of one magnetic ring lies on the edge / surface of the other magnetic ring), the removal of dust is better than in the case of planar contact.

[0159] It is particularly advantageous if the flexible conductor strip is radially offset from the contact pin / contact surface. When pulled, this causes the connector side to tilt to the side (first the contact pin disengages from the contact surface, and the second magnetic ring also disengages from the magnetic ring), thereby reducing the release force to be less than the contact force (the force that presses the contacts together during connection).

[0160] A particular advantage of this design is its (approximate) rotational symmetry, where the contact element sides can be rotated around the longitudinal axis as required and still be able to contact each other.

[0161] Other variants are as follows:

[0162] The magnetic rings can have different diameters. This allows adjustment of the force of the magnetic rings and the contact position (edge / edge or edge / surface).

[0163] The magnetic ring does not have to be directly used as a contact. Alternatively, the magnetic ring can also not be directly used as a contact, but an independent structure made of a conductive material can be installed in front of the magnet or the magnetic ring.

[0164] Spring-loaded contact pins can also be used instead of rigid contact pins. If designed such that it is completely compressed by the attraction of the magnet, the end face of the magnetic ring will be in direct contact. Thus, the contact force is more defined (the attraction of the magnetic ring in the contact minus the compression force of the contact pin).

[0165] The end face of the magnetic ring (or the separate conductive structure) can advantageously be provided with sharp edges or sharp structures to improve its ability to penetrate dirt.

[0166] It is also possible to advantageously use a multi-strand flexible cable instead of a conductive strip.

[0167] "Magnetic rings with different diameters" also refers to magnetic rings having different dimensions (i.e., inner diameter, outer diameter, and height) as well as magnetic materials or magnetic properties. This allows adjustment of the force of the magnetic rings, the contact position, and the installation space / dimensions of the contact elements.

[0168] In a preferred embodiment, one of the first and second contact elements may have two cuboid-shaped (preferably cube-shaped) magnetic elements as the first magnetic elements, which are embedded in the housing of the corresponding contact element such that they protrude beyond the surface of the corresponding contact element facing the other contact element (in the contact state) and are inclined relative to this surface about at least one axis. The expression that the surfaces are inclined or tilted relative to each other is understood here to mean that the surfaces are rotated relative to each other about at least one axis (preferably two axes) by an angle that is not equal to 0° and not equal to 90° or an integer multiple thereof, i.e., in particular, they are not parallel to each other and preferably not perpendicular to each other.

[0169] For example, if the first contact element has magnetic elements inclined in this way, these magnetic elements are embedded in the housing of the first contact element such that they protrude beyond the surface of the first contact element facing the second contact element (in the connected state) and are accordingly inclined relative to this surface. If the second contact element also has such inclined magnetic elements, the example applies analogously.

[0170] Advantageously, the first magnetic elements can be inclined about two axes relative to the surface of the corresponding contact element facing the other contact element.

[0171] In this preferred embodiment, the other of the first and second contact elements may also have two second magnetic elements in the shape of a cuboid (preferably cube-shaped), which are embedded in the housing of the corresponding contact element such that at least one of their surfaces faces one contact element (i.e., the contact element in which these magnetic elements are not embedded) and forms part of the surface of the corresponding contact element. In the above example, the first contact element has inclined magnetic elements, so the second contact element also has second magnetic elements, which are embedded in the housing of the second contact element such that at least one of their surfaces faces the first contact element (in the connected state) and constitutes part of the surface of the second contact element.

[0172] Advantageously, the surface of the second magnetic element that forms part of the surface of the corresponding contact element can be parallel and / or coplanar with this surface.

[0173] Some alternative features of this design are described below.

[0174] Here, the cable can also advantageously be a flexible conductor strip having two strip conductors. The strip conductors can be connected to one of the conductive cube magnetic elements, for example, by means of cryogenic soldering, cold welding, ultrasonic welding, and / or conductive bonding. Here, there is also a special challenge that the Curie temperature of the magnetic material should not be exceeded.

[0175] Advantageously, a second strip conductor can be connected to a second conductive cube magnetic element. The cube magnets can be embedded in the housing and electrically insulated from each other. The cube magnets can be tilted here along two axes.

[0176] Another contact element can have parallel-arranged conductive cube magnetic elements embedded in the housing of this contact element. Both can be used simultaneously as electrical reverse contacts.

[0177] It is particularly advantageous if the magnetic surfaces on the contact sides are coplanar, which makes cleaning easier.

[0178] It is also advantageous if there is no gap between the magnetic elements on the contact sides. The housing can thus fill the gap in a coplanar manner. This also makes cleaning easier and avoids dirt accumulation, which could act as an electrolyte and cause leakage current.

[0179] Advantageously, the magnetic elements on each connector side can be (approximately) polarized perpendicular to the contact surface, and the two magnetic elements on one side of the connector face in opposite directions. This means that the plug can only be connected with one polarity. When connecting, this always results in two point contacts (or line contacts via the edges, variations as follows) being formed through the corners of the magnets. Compared with surface contact, it is easier to remove dirt through point or line contact with sharp corners or edges.

[0180] It is particularly advantageous if the flexible conductor strip is connected eccentrically to the contact element. When pulling on the magnetic element, it causes the side of the contact element to tilt sideways, first releasing one pair of magnets and then the other pair, thereby reducing the release force to be less than the contact force (the force that presses the contact parts together when connecting). A special advantage of this design is that point or line contact can improve the removal of dirt.

[0181] More optional variants of this design are described below.

[0182] The magnetic elements do not have to be cubes and can also be cuboids or other shapes (e.g., non-right-angled).

[0183] Optionally, the magnetic element can be tilted only along one axis (i.e., one of the possible tilt angles α or β is α = 0 or β = 0). In this case, instead of point contact, it is line contact.

[0184] Optionally, the magnetic element can also be tilted asymmetrically. The magnetic elements can also be tilted and mounted on both sides of the plug.

[0185] The magnetic element does not have to be used directly as a contact. Alternatively, the magnetic element does not have to be used directly as a contact, but an independent structure made of conductive material can be mounted in front of the magnetic element.

[0186] A stranded flexible cable can also be used instead of the conductive strip.

[0187] The embodiments of the above magnetic rings and cuboid or cube magnetic elements can also be combined with each other such that one of the contact elements is designed as a magnetic ring as the magnetic element and the other contact element is designed as at least one cuboid or cube magnetic element as the magnetic element.

[0188] Additional (cube) magnets (not electrically contacted and possibly smaller in size) can be used to improve the directivity of self-guidance, such as a "magnet matrix" consisting of multiple small cube magnets similar to the multi-magnet method (see https: / / www.polymagnet.com / media / Polymagnet-White-Paper-3-Smart-Magnets-for-Precision-Alignment.pdf, pages 5-6).

[0189] One advantage of the connection according to the invention is that the connection can be made even if the person making the connection cannot directly see the contact element or its components. For example, a system user can create a plug-in connection in their ear themselves.

[0190] Another advantage of the present invention can be that the connection can be released again by simply applying a sufficiently large force without, for example, releasing other locking mechanisms (positive or other non-positive connections).

[0191] The present invention will be explained in more detail below by way of examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The features shown in the examples can also be implemented independently of the specific examples or combined between the examples.

[0192] The system according to the present invention is illustrated by taking a hearing system as an example. For example, this can be a hearing aid. However, the system according to the present invention can also be headphones, earbuds, a drug delivery device, and / or a wearable system for monitoring vital signs (such as body temperature, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, tissue glucose concentration, cardiac or brain electrical activity, body position or acceleration, etc.). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0193] Shows:

[0194] Figure 1 Shows an example of a hearing system according to the present invention,

[0195] Figure 2 Shows another example of a hearing system according to the present invention,

[0196] Figure 3 a), 3b) show alternative arrangements of the magnetic elements,

[0197] Figure 4a), b), and c) illustrate various embodiments of the hearing system according to the present invention,

[0198] Figure 5 a) to 5d) illustrate embodiments of the hearing system according to the present invention,

[0199] Figure 6 a) to 6d) illustrate various embodiments of a first contact element and a second contact element,

[0200] Figure 7 a) to 7c) illustrate embodiments of the present invention,

[0201] Figure 8 a) to 8c) illustrate various views of an exemplary embodiment of one of the contact elements,

[0202] Figure 9 a) to 9c) illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the contact element,

[0203] Figure 10 a) to 10c) illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the first contact element,

[0204] Figure 11 a) to 11c) illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the contact element,

[0205] Figure 12 a), 12b) illustrate embodiments of the present invention,

[0206] Figure 13 a) to 13d) illustrate various options for transmitting energy and / or data between the contact elements,

[0207] Figure 14 Illustrate various exemplary designs of the contact element,

[0208] Figure 15 a) to 15d) illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the contact element,

[0209] Figure 16 a) and 16b) illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0210] Figure 17 a) to 17c) illustrate embodiments of the hearing system according to the present invention,

[0211] Figure 18 a) to 18c) illustrate the cross-section of a cable or optical fiber,

[0212] Figure 19 Illustrate embodiments of a first contact element and a second contact element,

[0213] Figure 20a) to 20f) show embodiments of a first contact element and a second contact element with different combinations of through-holes.

[0214] Figure 21 a) to 21f) show embodiments of a hearing system according to the present invention.

[0215] Figure 22 a) and 22b) show, as Figure 21 shown in a), an embodiment of the present invention, in which the second device has external components in addition to the contact element.

[0216] Figure 23 show various embodiments of an exemplary hearing system according to the present invention.

[0217] Figure 24 a) to 24c) show embodiments of a first contact element and a second contact element, each having a magnetic element at its center.

[0218] Figures 25 to 29 show an embodiment of a cable with a magnetic element, which can be used, for example, in Figure 5 ...

[0219] Figure 30 a) and Figure 30 b) show embodiments of the contact element.

[0220] Figure 31 show a contact element with an annular magnetic element.

[0221] Figure 32 show a contact element with a cube-shaped magnetic element. Detailed Description

[0222] Figure 1 show an example of a hearing system 3 according to the present invention. The hearing system 3 includes a first device 1a and a second device 1b. The first device 1a is arranged in a human ear canal 4. In the shown example, the second device 1b is also arranged in the ear canal 4. The first device 1a has a first contact element 2a, and the second device 1b has a second contact element 2b. The first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b are in contact with each other so as to transfer energy and / or data between the first device 1a and the second device 1b when they are in contact with each other. The first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b are held in contact with each other by magnetic force. For this purpose, the first device 1a has a first magnetic element 5a, and the second device 1b has a second magnetic element 5b. The first magnetic element 5a and the second magnetic element 5b are arranged to exert magnetic force on each other. In Figure 1In the example shown, both the first magnetic element 5a and the second magnetic element 5b are magnets. However, it is also possible that only one of the two magnetic elements 5a or 5b is a magnet, while the other magnetic element 5a or 5b comprises or consists of a magnetizable material.

[0223] In Figure 1 it, the first device 1a is arranged facing the eardrum 7, while the second device 1b is arranged facing the auricle 6 (i.e., the outside of the ear canal 4).

[0224] Figure 2 Another example of a hearing system 3 according to the invention is shown. In this example, in addition to the contact element 2b, the second device 1b also has another element 8b, which is connected to the contact element 2b by a cable 9b. In this example, the first device 1a is the same as the first contact element 2a.

[0225] The first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b each have a contact surface 10a and 10b, which face each other, and through which the first contact element and the second contact element are abutted against each other. The contact surfaces 10a and 10b are parallel to each other and, in this example, are inclined with respect to the channel direction of the ear canal 4 such that they are neither parallel nor perpendicular to the channel direction, but form an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. If we consider a straight line parallel to the wall of the ear canal 4 at the positions of the contact surfaces 10a and 10b, the contact surfaces 10a and 10b can form an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with this straight line. In the example shown, the angle with this straight line is approximately 50°. Generally, this angle is preferably less than 80°, particularly preferably less than 70°, more preferably less than 60°, and optionally, it can also be less than 40° or less than 30°.

[0226] In the example shown, the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b each have two magnetic elements 5a and 5b respectively. In this example, the north-south directions of these magnetic elements are perpendicular to the respective contact surfaces 10a, 10b. In addition, the north-south directions of all these magnetic elements 5a, 5b are parallel to each other. The polarization directions of the magnetic elements 5a of the first contact element 2a are opposite. Thus, one magnetic element points its north pole towards the contact surface 10a of the first contact element 2a, while the other magnetic element points its south pole towards the contact surface 10a of the first contact element 2a. Correspondingly, the polarization directions of the magnetic elements 5b of the second contact element 2b are also opposite. Thus, the first magnetic element points its south pole towards the contact surface 10b of the second contact element 2b, while the other magnetic element points its north pole towards the contact surface 10b of the second contact element 2b. One magnetic element 5a is located on the extension line of the north-south direction of one of the magnetic elements 5b, such that the north pole facing the contact surface 10a abuts against the south pole facing the contact surface 10b, and the south pole facing the contact surface 10a abuts against the north pole facing the contact surface 10b, thereby holding the contact elements 2a and 2b together by the magnetic force of the magnetic elements 5a and 5b.

[0227] Since the contact surfaces 10a and 10b are in an inclined position, the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b can be separated by applying a tension, for example, to the cable 9b or another element 8b of the second device 1b located outside the ear. The second contact element 2b can slide along the contact surface 10a and thus separate from the contact surface 10a.

[0228] In the example shown, another element 8b of the second device 1b is an external element 8b, which is arranged outside the ear canal 4 and is located on the auricle 6 in this example. It is connected to the second contact element 2b by a cable 9b, through which data and / or energy can be transmitted. In this example, the contact element 2b serves as an ear canal element and is arranged in the ear canal.

[0229] In Figure 2 the example shown, the first device 1a or the first contact element 2a has an anchoring assembly 11, and the first device 1a or the first contact element 2a is anchored in the ear canal 4 through this anchoring assembly 11. The anchoring assembly 11 is composed of protrusions or bristles 11 provided on the surface of the first device 1a or the first contact element 2a. In Figure 2 the example shown, their positions are such that the angle between one of the bristles 11 and the surface of the first device 1a or the first contact element 2a forms an acute angle, and its vertex points in the direction of the eardrum 7.

[0230] Figure 3 Figures 3a) and 3b) show alternative arrangements of the magnetic elements 5a, 5b of the first device 1a and the second device 1b.

[0231] InFigure 3 In a), the magnetic element 5a of the first device 1a has two magnets whose north-south direction is perpendicular to the contact surface 10a and whose north-south direction is arranged substantially along the direction passing through the ear canal 4. The polarization directions of these two magnets are opposite, so Figure 3 in a), the north pole of the upper magnet faces the second device 1b, while the south pole of the lower magnet faces the second device 1b. Accordingly, the second device 1b has two magnetic elements 5b whose north-south directions are arranged in parallel, and each magnetic element 5b is located on the extension of the north-south direction of one magnetic element 5a of the first device 1a. In each case, the north pole of one of the first magnetic elements 5a is designated as the south pole of the corresponding magnetic element 5b, and the south pole of the magnetic element 5b is designated as the north pole of the magnetic element 5a. As Figure 1 shown, the contact elements 5a, 5b protrude from the corresponding contact surfaces 10a, 10b of the first device 1a or the second device 1b. The contact elements 2a and 2b are arranged in a straight line, and the north-south directions of the magnets of the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are also located on this straight line.

[0232] In Figure 3 b), the first device 1a has a permanent magnet 5a as the magnetic element 5a, whose north-south direction is arranged substantially along the channel direction of the ear canal 4. The second device 1b has an electromagnet 5b as the magnetic element 5b, which is represented by a coil here. The electromagnet 5b is oriented such that its north-south direction is located on the extension of the north-south direction of the magnetic element 5a of the first device 1a. As Figure 1 and Figure 3 in a) shown, the contact elements 2a and 2b are arranged in a straight line, and the north-south directions of the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are also located on this straight line.

[0233] Figure 4 a), 4b) and 4c) show various embodiments of the hearing system according to the present invention. Its basic structure corresponds to that in Figure 1 and Figure 3 b).

[0234] Figure 4 a) to 4c) show various alternatives for arranging the anchoring assembly 11 on the first device 1a, the second device 1b or the first contact element 2a and / or the second contact element 2b.

[0235] In Figure 4 a), the first device 1a has an anchoring assembly 11 which consists of bristles arranged on the surface of the first device 1a, contacting the inner wall of the ear canal 4 and supporting the first device 1a. Figure 4 The second device 1b in a) has no anchoring assembly. This configuration is particularly useful if the device 1a needs to remain in the ear canal for a long time or permanently, while the second device 1b needs to be removable (e.g., without doctor assistance).

[0236] Figure 4 b) shows an embodiment in which the first device 1a has an anchoring assembly 11a and the second device 1b has another anchoring assembly 11b. Thus, both devices 1a and 1b each have an anchoring assembly 11a and 11b. The anchoring assemblies 11a and 11b are also constituted by bristles on the upper sides of the respective devices 1a, 1b, and these bristles are supported on the inner wall of the ear canal 4.

[0237] Figure 4 c) shows an embodiment of the hearing system 3 according to the present invention, in which only the second device 1b has an anchoring assembly 11 on its outer side. Here, the anchoring assembly 11 is also constituted by bristles on the surface of the second device 1b. The bristles accordingly abut against the inner wall of the ear canal 4.

[0238] In Figure 4 a) to 4c), the bristles start from the surfaces of the respective devices 1a, 1b and incline in a direction away from the eardrum.

[0239] In Figure 4 a) to 4c), the two devices 1a and 1b are held in contact with each other by magnetic force elements 5a, 5b respectively. The north-south axes of the magnets of the magnetic force elements 5a and 5b are located on a common straight line that is substantially parallel to the wall of the ear canal 4.

[0240] Figure 5 a) to 5c) show embodiments of the hearing system 3 according to the present invention, in which in addition to the contact elements 2a, 2b, the first device 1a or the second device 1b further has another element.

[0241] In Figure 5 a), in addition to the contact element 2a, the first device 1a further has another assembly 12a, which faces the eardrum 7 and is connected to the first contact element 2a by a cable 9a.

[0242] Figure 5 b) shows an embodiment in which, in addition to the contact element 2b, the second device 1b further has another element 12b, which is connected to the contact element 2b by a cable 9b. The other element 12b is arranged on the side of the contact element 2b facing away from the eardrum 7, but still within the ear canal 4. However, as Figure 2 shown, the other element 12b can also be arranged outside the ear canal 4. In the first device 1a, the first contact element 2a coincides with the first device 1a.

[0243] Figure 5 c) also shows an embodiment in which, as Figure 5a) Identical, the second device 1b coincides with the second contact element 2b, and the first device 1a further has a contact element 2a and another element 12a, which is connected to the contact element 2a via a cable 9a. In Figure 5 c) In the example shown, the other element 12a of the first device 1a is a tympanic membrane module 12a arranged on the tympanic membrane 7. For example, it can be an actuator through which vibrations can be applied to the tympanic membrane 7. As Figure 5 shown in d, in addition to the tympanic membrane module 12a, the other element of the first device 1a can also have an intermediate element 51. The intermediate element 51 is connected to the contact element 2a via a cable 9a on the one hand, and to the tympanic membrane module 12a via a cable 9c on the other hand, for example. The intermediate element 51 can advantageously be accommodated in the ear canal by means of an anchoring assembly 11. This embodiment can also be understood based on Figure 5 a). Among them, the other assembly 12 can have an intermediate element 11 on the distal side of the tympanic membrane 7 and a tympanic membrane module 12a on the proximal side. The second device 1b can be arranged in the ear canal, as Figure 5 shown in c). However, it can be arranged far enough so that it can be easily removed from the outside. The device 1a can remain in the ear canal. In this embodiment, it is more advantageous if the magnetic forces exerted on each other by the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are large enough to keep the devices 1a and 1b in contact with each other, but small enough to allow the removal of the second device 1b without removing the other device 12a of the first device 1a from the tympanic membrane 7.

[0244] Figure 6 a) to 6d) show various embodiments of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b, in which the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b and the contact points 14a, 14b are arranged differently. In addition, the contact elements 2a, 2b have different sheaths 13.

[0245] Figure 6 The sheaths 13 shown in a) to 6d) completely surround the corresponding contact elements 2a, 2b except for the contact points 14a, 14b. In Figure 6 a) and 6b), both contact elements 2a, 2b have such a sheath 13. In Figure 6 c), only the first contact element 2a has such a sheath 13; in Figure 6 d), only the second contact element 2b has such a sheath 13.

[0246] The sheath 13 can, for example, have corrosion resistance and / or biocompatibility. Preferably, it is non-magnetized and non-magnetic. For example, the sheath 13 can comprise or consist of gold, platinum, iridium, alloys of the above materials and / or plastics such as silicone and / or parylene. It can also contain or consist of ceramics.

[0247] InFigure 6 In a) to 6d), the magnets are provided as magnetic force elements 5a and 5b. The magnets 5a and 5b are arranged such that their north-south directions are on the same straight line. In addition, the north pole of one of the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b faces the south pole of the other magnetic force element 5a, 5b, so that the magnetic force elements 5a and 5b attract each other magnetically.

[0248] In Figure 6 In a), the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b are located at the center such that their north-south directions are perpendicular to the centers of the corresponding contact surfaces of the contact elements 2a, 2b, through which the contact elements 2a, 2b abut against the other contact elements 2b, 2a. In Figure 6 In a), the contact points 14a, 14b are also arranged at the centers of these mutually abutting contact surfaces, such that from the perspective of the corresponding other contact elements 2a, 2b, the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b are exactly behind the contact points 14a, 14b.

[0249] Figure 6 b) shows an example in which the north-south directions of the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b are also on a common straight line, but are arranged at the edges of the corresponding contact elements 2a, 2b. In Figure 6 In the example shown in b), the contact points 14a, 14b are respectively arranged on the edges of the contact elements 2a, 2b opposite to the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b. The north and south poles of the magnetic force elements 5a and 5b are also oriented in a way that they attract each other. In the contact state, the contact points 14a and 14b are in contact with each other, so that data and / or current can be transmitted through them.

[0250] In Figure 6 In c) and 6d), the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b and the contact points 14a, 14b are arranged in the same way as Figure 6 in b), so the description there can be referred to.

[0251] Figure 7a) to 7c) show embodiments of the present invention, wherein the first contact element 2a and / or the second contact element 2b have at least one contact pin 14a, 14b or spacer element 14a, 14b on the contact surface facing the corresponding other contact element among the contact elements 2a, 2b. In the contact state, the contact pin 14a, 14b or spacer element 14a, 14b determines the distance between at least one first contact element 2a and at least one second contact element 2b at the position of the contact pin / spacer element 14a, 14b. Preferably, the contact pin / spacer element 14a, 14b may have a height perpendicular to the surface of the contact element 2a, 2b on which it is arranged, and this height is less than the diameter of the contact element 2a, 2b in the direction parallel to this surface. Generally, the spacer element can advantageously be used as a contact pin, and data and / or energy can be transmitted through the contact pin.

[0252] In Figure 7 a), only the first contact element 2a has the first spacer element 14a. The first spacer element 14a contacts the surface of the second contact element 2b facing the first contact element 2a. In Figure 7 the example shown in b), both contact elements 2a and 2b have contact pins 14a, 14b. The surfaces of the contact pins 14a and 14b contact each other, and these surfaces face away from the corresponding contact elements 2a, 2b on which they are located.

[0253] Figure 7 c) shows an embodiment in which only the second contact element 2b has a spacer element 14b, and the spacer element 14b contacts the surface of the first contact element 2a facing the second contact element 2b.

[0254] Figure 7 c) also shows the arrangement of the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b in this example. These elements are not shown in Figure 7 a) and 7b), but can be arranged in exactly the same way. The magnetic force elements are directly arranged behind the contact pins 14a, 14b and are opposite to each other with opposite polarities, so that they attract each other.

[0255] Figure 7 a) to 7c) only show the contact elements 2a, 2b with contact pins 14a, 14b. For clarity, other elements of the hearing system are omitted, and these elements can be designed in the manner shown in other figures. Advantageously, energy and / or data can be transmitted through the contact pins 14a, 14b, that is, they can establish an electrical contact.

[0256] Figure 8 a) to 8c) show different views of an exemplary embodiment of a contact element 2a having two contact pins 14ab, 14bb, through which an electrical contact can be established.Figure 8 a) shows a cross-sectional view along a plane intersecting the center of the contact element. Two electrical contacts 15aa and 15ab extend through the contact element 2a and form two contact pins 14aa and 14ab on the side facing another contact element 2b (not shown here). The contact pins 14aa and 14ab extend beyond the magnetic element 5a, that is, they protrude outside the magnetic element 5a. Therefore, their height on the contact surface of the contact element 2a facing the other contact element 2b is greater than the height of the magnetic force element 5a on this contact surface.

[0257] Figure 8 b) shows a top view of the contact surface of the contact element 2a facing the other contact element. It can be seen from the figure that the contact pins 14aa and 14ab are radially opposite to each other with respect to the center of the contact surface of the contact element 2a. The magnetic force element 5a is exactly in the center position here.

[0258] Figure 8 c) shows Figure 8 a cross-sectional view of the view shown in b) in a plane perpendicular and orthogonal to the drawing plane between the contact pins 14aa and 14ab.

[0259] Figure 9 a) to 9c) show another exemplary embodiment of the contact element 2a. Its design is as Figure 8 shown, except that two magnetic force elements 5aa and 5ab are provided here. They are both designed as permanent magnets and are arranged parallel to each other with their north-south directions opposite. Although Figure 8 the magnetic force element 5a in Figure 9 is located at the center of the contact element 2a, Figure 8 the magnetic force elements 5aa and 5ab in Figure 8 and Figure 9 are radially opposite to each other with respect to the center of the contact element 2a. Their north-south directions are perpendicular to the surface of the contact element 2a facing another contact element 2b when used as intended. The arrangement of the contact pins 14aa and 14ab is as

[0260] Figure 10 a) to 10c) show an exemplary embodiment of the first contact element 2a, which corresponds to the embodiment in Figure 9 a) to 9c), but with an additional protection element 16a added. In Figure 10In a) to 10c), the protection element 16a is located at the center of the surface of the contact element 2a facing the other contact element 2b, and its height is higher than the height of the electrical contacts 14aa and 14ab protruding from this surface. In this way, the protection element 16a can prevent the user from touching the contacts 14aa and 14ab simultaneously with a finger. The protection structure 16a is generally cylindrical, and its central axis is perpendicular to the contact surface 10a of the contact element 2a. The contact pins 14aa and 14ab are arranged radially opposite to each other with respect to the protection element 16a.

[0261] Figure 11 a) to 11c) show an exemplary embodiment of the contact element 2b, which can be used as Figure 10 the corresponding part of the contact element 2a shown in Figure 11 As shown in a), the contact element 2b has two electrical through-pieces 15ba, 15bb, which extend from the contact surface 10b assigned to the contact element 2a through the contact element 2b to the opposite surface. On the contact surface 10b facing the contact element 2a in the intended use, the contact element 2b has two grooves 14ba, 14bb, as Figure 11 shown in b), when the contact elements 2a, 2b are arranged together, the contact pins 14aa, 14ab can be engaged into the grooves. In the shown example, the contact element 2b has a groove 16b between the grooves 14ba and 14bb, and when the contact elements 2a and 2b are in contact with each other, the protection structure 16a or the protection element 16a can be engaged with the groove 16b. The groove 16b is located exactly in the center of the contact surface 10b of the contact element 2b facing the contact element 2a. The magnetic force elements 5ba and 5bb are arranged diametrically opposite to each other, equidistant from the center of the contact element 2b, and the distance from the center is equal to Figure 10 the set distance of the magnetic force elements 5aa and 5ab of the contact element 2b shown in

[0262] Figure 12 a) and 12b) show an embodiment of the present invention, in which the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b each have two magnets 5aa, 5ab, 5ba, 5bb, and their magnetic poles are arranged such that when the contact elements 2a, 2b are in a position where energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first device 1a and the second device 1b relative to each other, the magnets of different contact elements 2a, 2b attract each other ( Figure 12 a)); and when the contact elements 2a, 2b are in a position where energy and / or data cannot be transmitted relative to each other, the magnets of different contact elements 2a, 2b repel each other ( Figure 12 b)). In the shown example, the contact element 2b has a protection structure 16a or a protection element 16a, when the contact elements 2a and 2b are as Figure 12When in contact as shown in a), the protection structure or protection element 16a can engage in the groove 16b in the contact element 2a. The structures 16a and 16b can also be contact pins 16a and contact surfaces 16b. In Figure 12 the example shown, the height of the protection structure 16a minus the depth of the groove 16b is greater than the sum of the heights by which the magnetic elements 15aa, 15ab, 15ba, 15bb protrude from the contact surfaces of the contact elements 2a, 2b in which they are arranged. This causes the contact elements 2a, 2b to be tilted relative to each other, as Figure 12 shown in a), so that the contact elements 2a, 2b can be released by pulling on the contact element 2a and / or 2b.

[0263] Figure 13 Figures a) to 13d) show various options for transferring energy and / or data between the contact elements 2a and 2b.

[0264] In Figure 13 the examples shown in a) to 13d), each of the contact elements 2a and 2b has a magnetic element 5a, 5b. The magnetic elements 5a, 5b are arranged transversely and have opposite north-south directions as described above. The north-south directions of the two magnetic elements 5a, 5b lie on a common straight line.

[0265] In Figure 13 a), the first contact element 2a has a first coil 17a and the second contact element 2b has a second coil 17b. The coils 17a and 17b are arranged such that when the contact elements 2a and 2b are in contact with each other, they can transfer energy to each other. The coil axes lie on the same straight line. The coils 17a and 17b are arranged respectively directly behind or within the contact surfaces of the respective contact elements 2a, 2b facing the other contact element 2b, 2a.

[0266] In Figure 13 b), the second contact element 2b has a light-emitting diode 17b, and opposite the light-emitting diode 17b, a photodiode 17a is arranged within the contact element 2a. In this way, energy and / or data can be transferred from the light-emitting diode 17b to the photodiode 17a. The light-emitting diode 17b and the photodiode 17a are arranged opposite each other such that light from the light-emitting diode 17b can enter the photodiode 17a upon contact.

[0267] Figure 13 c) shows capacitive transfer of capacitive energy and / or data between the contact element 2a and the contact element 2b. For this purpose, each of the contact elements 2a and 2b has a plate 17a and 17b, which form a capacitor when the contact elements 2a and 2b are in contact as intended.

[0268] Figure 13 d) shows a similar toFigure 13 b) The optical transmission of data and / or energy as shown. However, different from Figure 13 b), the light-emitting diode 17b is not directly arranged on the contact surface of the contact element 2b facing the contact element 2a. Instead, the optical fiber 18 is arranged on the contact surface of the contact element 2b, which extends in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface. At the end of the optical fiber 18 facing away from the contact surface, the light-emitting diode 17b is arranged such that it can radiate light into the end of the optical fiber 18 facing it.

[0269] Figure 14 Various exemplary embodiments of the contact elements 2a, 2b that are electrically contacted for data and / or energy transmission are shown. The arrangement of the magnetic force elements 5a, 5b is as Figure 13 shown. Refer to its description.

[0270] In Figure 14 a), the first contact element 2a has a socket 19a for electrical contact. The contact element 2b has a plug 19b, which extends into the socket 19a when properly contacted, thereby establishing electrical contact between the contact elements 2a and 2b.

[0271] In Figure 14 b), the first contact element 2a also has a socket 19a. The second contact element 2b has a plug 19b, which is spring-loaded. It has a movable element that is guided into a groove of the second contact element 2b. A spring is provided between the bottom of the groove and the movable element, and the spring presses the movable element against the contact element 2b.

[0272] Figure 14 c) shows an embodiment of the contact, where the first contact element 2a has a socket with a spring contact 19a. The plug 19b of the second contact element 2b extends into the socket. The spring contact 19a presses against the plug 19b of the second contact element 2b under the action of its spring force, thereby establishing electrical contact.

[0273] Finally, Figure 14 d) shows an embodiment where the contact between the contact elements 2a and 2b is an exposed electrode contact 19. To achieve this, the contact elements 2a and 2b can have a contact surface facing the contact surface of the other contact element 2b and 2a on their contact surfaces, so that these contact surfaces contact each other during the intended contact.

[0274] Figure 15a) to 15d) show exemplary embodiments of the contact elements 2a and 2b, wherein, of the two surfaces of the first and second contact elements 2a, 2b that can contact each other, one surface has at least one concave region 20a and the other surface has at least one convex region 20b. The convex region 20b extends into the concave region 20a. The first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b achieve electrical contact within the concave or convex 20a, 20b regions. These regions are arranged beside the magnetic elements 2a, 2b, and the magnetic elements 2a, 2b are laterally away from the centers of the contact elements 2a, 2b. In Figure 15 a), the convex region 20b and the concave region 20a are in the shape of a spherical segment. In Figure 15 b), they are conical. In Figure 15 c), they are in the shape of an elliptical segment. In Figure 15 d), they are in the shape of a crown.

[0275] Figure 16 a) and 16b) show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first device 1a has a tympanic membrane assembly 12a, and the tympanic membrane assembly 12a can be arranged on the tympanic membrane 7 in contact with the tympanic membrane assembly 12a and is configured to directly transmit vibrations to the tympanic membrane 7. In Figure 16 a) and 16b), the tympanic membrane assembly 12a is connected to the first contact element 2a through a cable 9a.

[0276] In Figure 16 the example shown in a), the cable 9a has electric wires 21. The cable 9a can also be a strip conductor 21 arranged on a flexible printed circuit board. The electric wires 21 or the printed circuit board 21 are preferably insulated from the environment through an insulating material. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electric wires or the printed circuit board 21 can be a layer including or composed of gold on a polyimide substrate.

[0277] Figure 16 b) shows the corresponding embodiment to Figure 16 a), except that here the cable 9a is flexible and helical, so that the distance between the first contact element 2a and the element 12a arranged at the other end of the cable of the first device 1a can be elastically changed.

[0278] Figure 17 a) to 17c) show embodiments of a hearing system according to the present invention, wherein the second device 1b has an ear canal element, which is arranged in the ear canal and has a second contact element 2b. The ear canal element here can be the device 1b itself, or can also be connected to an external element 8b, for example, as Figure 2 shown. In Figure 17 a), the second device 1b or the ear canal element has a rechargeable battery 22b, so that the second device 1b can operate without an external power supply.

[0279] In Figure 17 b), the first device 1a has a rechargeable battery 22a, and the second device 1b also has a rechargeable battery 22b.

[0280] In Figure 17 c), only the first device 1a has a rechargeable battery 22a. Figure 17 The design of the contact elements 2a and 2b and the magnetic contact is, for example, as Figure 4 shown, and thus reference may be made to its description.

[0281] In various embodiments of the present invention, cables 9a, 9b, 21 or optical fibers 9a, 9b, 21 may be used to connect different components of the first device 1a and / or different components of the second device 1b. Figure 18 a) to 18c) show embodiments of the cables 9a, 9b, 21 or optical fibers 9a, 9b, 21, which have a tube 23b or a sheath material 23b. The tube 23b or the sheath material 23b preferably has chemical resistance, electrical insulation and / or mechanical flexibility, and particularly preferably comprises or consists of a thermoplastic, a polyamide, a silicone resin and / or an epoxy resin. The tube 23b and / or the sheath material 23b encloses the electric wire 23a or the optical fiber 23a.

[0282] In Figure 18 a) to 18c), the left - hand side partial image shows a cross - section along the longitudinal axis of the cable or optical fiber 9a, 9b, 21, while the right - hand side partial image shows a cross - section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0283] In Figure 18 a), the cable or optical fiber formed in this way has a circular cross - section. In Figure 18 b) and 18c), the tube 23b has an elliptical or flat cross - section, Figure 18 in b), the shorter dimension of the elliptical or flat cross - section is about 50% of the longer dimension, Figure 18 in c), the shorter dimension is less than 75% of the longer dimension.

[0284] Figure 19An embodiment of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b is shown, wherein the first contact element 2a has a radial protrusion 24a. This means that the contact element 2a has a protrusion on its contact surface facing the contact element 2b, and the protrusion protrudes in the radial direction beyond the contact surface of the contact element 2a facing the contact element 2b. Therefore, the protrusion tapers in the direction of the contact surface of the contact element 2a facing the contact element 2b. Accordingly, the second contact element 2b has a radial undercut 24b, and the radial protrusion 24a engages with the radial undercut 24b. In this way, the radial protrusion 24a is held in the radial undercut 24b. Here, the radial undercut 24b is designed as a groove on the contact surface of the contact element 2b facing the contact element 2a, and the radial extension of the groove increases with the increase of the depth.

[0285] The radial extension can be understood as the distance from the central axis of the contact element 2a or 2b.

[0286] Figure 20 a) to 20f) show embodiments of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b with different combinations of through holes 25a, 25b, wherein the through holes 25a, 25b extend through the first contact element 2a and / or the second contact element 2b. Figure 20 The through holes 25a, 25b shown in a) to 20f) can also be correspondingly provided in the first device 1a and / or the second device 1b.

[0287] In Figure 20 a), only the first contact element 2a has a through hole 25a, and the through hole 25a is perpendicular to the contact surface of the first contact element 2a. In Figure 20 c), the first contact element 2a has a through hole 25a perpendicular to the contact surface of the first contact element 2a, and the second contact element 2b has a through hole 25b perpendicular to the contact surface of the second contact element 2b. When the first contact element 2a contacts the second contact element 2b, the through holes 25a and 25b are arranged here such that their passing directions are on the same straight line. In Figure 20 e), only the second contact element 2b has a through hole 25b perpendicular to the contact surface of the second contact element 2b.

[0288] Figure 20 b) shows an alternative embodiment of the through holes 25a and / or 25b. The through holes 25a, 25b are funnel-shaped here and taper from the left surface of the corresponding contact elements 25a, 25b to the upper right side. Therefore, the average opening of the through holes 25a, 25b on the left side of the contact elements 2a, 2b is larger than that on the right side.

[0289] Figure 20 d) shows an embodiment of the through holes 25a, 25b. As shown in the right partial view, the through holes 25a, 25b have a square cross-section.Figure 20 d) It is also shown by way of example that the contact elements 2a, 2b can have an elliptical cross-section.

[0290] Finally, Figure 20 f) shows an example of through holes 25a, 25b in the first contact element 2a and / or the second contact element 2b, where the through holes 25a, 25b have a circular cross-section. In Figure 20 d) and 20f), the through holes are thus cylindrical, in Figure 20 d) having a square bottom, and in Figure 20 f) having a circular bottom.

[0291] Figure 21 a) to 21f) show embodiments of a hearing system according to the invention, wherein the second device 1b has an external element 8b, and the external element 8b is connected to the ear canal element 2b, where the ear canal element 2b is the contact element 2b here. The external element 8b is arranged more externally in the ear canal 4 than the contact element 2b. The external element 8b is connected to the contact element 2b by a cable 9 or an optical fiber 9b, and energy and / or data can be transmitted to the second contact element 2b and / or from the second contact element 2b to the external element 8b via the cable 9 or the optical fiber 9b. The cable 9b or the optical fiber 9b has a tube and / or a sheath material. Figure 21 a) to 21f) show different embodiments of the cable 9b or the optical fiber 9b.

[0292] In Figure 21 a), the cable 9b has a core wire wrapped by a tube or a sheath material. The core wire can be a wire or an optical fiber.

[0293] In Figure 21 b), the cable 9b or the optical fiber 9b has two parts 9ba and 9bb, which are made of different materials. However, the parts 9ba and 9bb have the same perimeter and diameter.

[0294] In Figure 21 c), the cable 9b or the optical fiber 9b has two parts 9ba and 9bb, where the surrounding material / tube has different wall thicknesses. The wall thickness of the region 9ba is thinner than the wall thickness of the region 9bb. The larger cross-section part 9bb of the cable 9b / optical fiber 9b is connected to the contact element 2b, while the smaller cross-section part 9ba is connected to the external element 8b.

[0295] Figure 21d) shows an embodiment in which the cable 9b / optical fiber 9b has at least two regions 9ba and 9bb with different stiffnesses (i.e., bending resistance) along its length. In the example shown, the stiffness of the portion 9bb that engages with the element 2b (in this case, the contact element 2b) facing the eardrum 7 can be greater than the stiffness of the portion that engages with the element 8b (in this case, the external element 8b) facing away from the eardrum 7. Alternatively, the stiffness of the portion 9ba that engages with the external module 8b can also be greater than the stiffness of the portion 9bb that engages with the second contact element 2b.

[0296] Figure 21 e) shows an embodiment in which the cable 9b or optical fiber 9b has different numbers of tubes for covering the central wire / optical fiber in two portions 9ba and 9bb. In the portion 9ba adjacent to the external element 8b, the cable 9b or optical fiber 9b has one tube as a sheath; while in the portion 9bb adjacent to the contact element 2b, the cable 9b or optical fiber 9b has two tubes.

[0297] Figure 21 f) shows an embodiment in which the wire 9b / optical fiber 9b has a stabilizing assembly 9bc at its end facing the contact element 2b. The stabilizing element 9bc is designed here as a section of wire that extends along a part of its length from one end near the second contact element 2b inside the sheath material or tube. To facilitate the arrangement of the stabilizing element 9bc, the wire or optical fiber can be slightly offset relative to the central axis in the sheath material, thereby forming a region that can accommodate the stabilizing element 9bc.

[0298] Figure 21 The other elements in are corresponding to the elements shown in other figures, and thus their descriptions can be referred to.

[0299] Figure 22 a) and 22b) show an embodiment of the present invention as Figure 21 shown in a), in which in addition to the contact element 2b, the second device 1b further has an external element 8b, which is connected to the contact element 2b through a cable 9b or optical fiber 9b. In Figure 21 a), the cable is joined in the center, that is, in the middle of the second contact element 2b; while in Figure 22 a) and 22b), the cable is offset to the side. Therefore, the cable 9b or optical fiber 9b is arranged on the second contact element 2b at a distance greater than zero from a straight line that is perpendicular to the contact surface between the second contact element 2b and the first contact element 2a and intersects the center of this contact surface. The magnetic force elements 5a and 5b are arranged in the center in Figure 22 a). In Figure 22In b), they are laterally offset, i.e., spaced apart by a distance greater than zero from a straight line perpendicular to the contact surface between the second contact element 1b and the first contact element 2a and intersecting the contact surface at its center.

[0300] Corresponding embodiments can also be employed for the first device 1a.

[0301] Figure 23 Various embodiments of an exemplary hearing system according to the present invention are shown, wherein the first device 1a and / or the second device 1b has microphones 26a, 26b. In Figure 23 In a), the second device 1b has a microphone 26b, while the first device 1a does not have a microphone. Such a microphone 26b can, for example, pick up sound signals from the outside, and then the sound signals can be transmitted to the first device 1a through the contact elements 2a, 2b.

[0302] In Figure 23 In b), the first device 1a has a microphone 26a and the second device 1b has a microphone 26b. The microphone 26b of the second device 1b can in turn be used to pick up sound from outside the ear for transmission to the first device 1a. The microphone 26a of the first device 1a can, for example, be used to pick up sound in the ear canal 4 and, if necessary, feed it to a signal processing system, for example, to generate an anti-noise signal for actively suppressing ambient noise.

[0303] Figure 23 Embodiment c) shows an embodiment in which only the first device 1a has a microphone 26a. This can be used, for example, to record sound in the ear canal as shown in Figure 23 b).

[0304] Figure 24 Embodiments a) to 24c) show embodiments of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b, each of which has magnetic elements 5a and 5b at its center. When the first contact element 2a contacts the second contact element 2b, a magnetic force is generated therebetween. In the example shown, the south pole of the magnetic element 5a of the first contact element 2a faces the second contact element 2b. The north pole of the magnetic element 5b of the second contact element 2b faces the first contact element 2a such that the magnetic element 5a and the magnetic element 5b attract each other. Of course, the polarities of the magnets can also be interchanged.

[0305] The magnetic elements 5a and 5b are each arranged at the center of the contact surfaces 10a and 10b of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b, through which the first contact element and the second contact element abut against each other or face each other upon contact.

[0306] Figure 24a) and 24b) show the second contact element 2b. The second contact element 2b has a contact pin 14b which is arranged on and projects from the contact surface 10b. The contact pin 14b is arranged eccentrically next to the magnetic element 5b. It is in electrical contact via the electrical contact 15b through the second contact element 2b.

[0307] Figure 24 c) shows a top view of the contact surface 10a of the first contact element 2a. The first contact element 2a has an annular contact surface 14a on or inside its contact surface 10a, which extends in a circular ring centered on the magnetic element 5a. The radius of the annular contact surface 14a is equal to the distance between the contact element 14b of the second contact element 2b and the center of the contact surface 10b of the second contact element 2b and the center of the magnetic element 5b. In this embodiment, if the first contact element 2a contacts the second contact element 2b such that the magnetic elements 5a and 5b attract each other, the contact pin 14b just contacts the contact surface 14a of the first contact element 2a. In this embodiment, the two contact elements 2a, 2b can rotate relative to each other about a central axis passing through the centers of their contact surfaces 10a and 10b, and while the contact pin 14b slides on the contact surface 14a, electrical contact is maintained.

[0308] Figures 25 to 27 Subfigures a) to d) show embodiments of the cable 9, which can also be used in other figures, especially Figure 5 . These figures show different perspectives of the cable. The cable 9 here is a flat cable. These cables 9 can, for example, project from the first device and / or the second device towards the corresponding complementary device and contact the contact element 2 attached to the end of the cable 9. The contact element 2 is a magnetic element 5, which can also be used to establish contact. The polarity of the magnetic element 5 is shown by way of example in each case.

[0309] Figure 28 shows the corresponding embodiment of the cable 9 as shown in Figures 25 to 27 . In Figure 28 a), the cable 9 is arranged between two magnetic elements 5, each magnetic element 5 serving as a contact element. The cable 9 is twisted 90° about its longitudinal axis. In Figure 28 b), two magnetic elements at the end of the ribbon cable 9 are arranged side by side on the same surface of the cable. The cable is again twisted 90°. In Figure 28 c), the ribbon cable is widened in the direction of the magnetic element 5 along its longitudinal direction, thus providing a wider contact surface for the magnetic element 5.

[0310] Figure 29Shows further examples of the cable 9 with the magnetic element 5. The magnetic element 9 is arranged near the end of the ribbon cable 9. The end of the cable consists of the contacts 291. These contacts are contacted by the ribbon conductor 292 extending along the surface of the cable 9. The electrodes of the magnetic element are shown in the figure, and the electrodes of the contacts 291 are also shown. The contacts 291 can be used to establish contact for transmitting energy and / or data.

[0311] Figure 30 a) and 30b) show embodiments of the contact elements 2a, 2b according to an example of the present invention. In this example, when the contact elements are arranged in the ear canal 4 as expected, the contact elements 2a and 2b each have contact surfaces 10a, 10b parallel to the ear canal wall. The contact surfaces 10a, 10b are also parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4. For this purpose, the first contact element 2a has a step on its contact surface 10a, a part of which is perpendicular to the channel direction of the ear canal 4 and then a part is parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4. For this purpose, the second contact element 2b also has a step on its contact surface 10b, a part of which is parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4. In the shown example, the parts of the steps of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b that are parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4 are parallel to each other. In this way, regardless of the orientation of the contact elements 2a, 2b, they are parallel to each other in the ear canal 4. The first contact element 2a has a first magnetic element 5a, which is located directly behind, inside or above the part of the contact surface 10a parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4. The second contact element 2b has a second magnetic element 5b, which is located inside, directly behind or above the part of the contact surface 10b of the second contact element 2b through which the second contact element 2b abuts against the contact surface of the first contact element 2a having the first magnetic element 5a.

[0312] In Figure 30 a), the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are arranged such that their north-south directions are parallel to the parts of the contact surfaces 10a, 10b parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4, and the directions of the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are opposite, so that they attract each other.

[0313] In Figure 30 b), the north-south directions of the magnetic elements 5a and 5b are perpendicular to the parts of the contact surfaces 10a, 10b of the first contact element 2a and the second contact element 2b parallel to the channel direction of the ear canal 4. In turn, their polarization directions are opposite, so that they attract each other.

[0314] Figure 30 The embodiments shown in a) and 30b) allow the contact elements 2a and 2b to be separated from each other by pulling without generating large force peaks, so that the first contact element 2a or the first device 1a is not displaced in the ear canal.

[0315] Figure 31 Shows an example of a system embodiment with magnetic rings 5a, 5b. The first contact element 2a has at least one first magnetic ring 5a as the first magnetic element, and at least one first contact 19a arranged at the center point of the first magnetic ring 5a. In addition, the second contact element 2b has at least one second magnetic ring 5b as the second magnetic element, and at least one second contact 19b arranged at the center point of the second magnetic ring 5b. The contact 19b is designed here as a contact pin 19b, which protrudes beyond the annular surface of the magnetic ring 5b at the center of its magnetic ring 5b in the direction of the contact element 2a. The contact 19a is embedded in the housing of the contact element 2a such that its surface is coplanar with the annular surface of the magnetic ring 5a. The magnetic rings 5a and / or 5b can be magnets, or can also contain or consist of magnetizable materials.

[0316] In Figure 31 the example shown, the second contact element 2b is contacted by a cable 9b, which is designed here as a conductor strip 9b. The conductor strip 9b is eccentrically connected to the second contact element 2b, i.e., at a certain radial distance from the center of the magnetic ring 5b. The conductor strip 9b has two strip conductors extending parallel along it. One of the strip conductors contacts the contact 19b, and the other contacts the magnetic ring 5b. In the second contact element 2a, the contact 19a and the magnetic ring 5a are contacted by a conductor 9a. Thus, the contacts 19a, 19b and the conductors 9a and 9b establish continuous contact via the contact elements 2a and 2b.

[0317] In the example shown, the magnetic rings 5a, 5b are axially polarized and arranged with a north pole and a south pole on the contact side, i.e., arranged as:

[0318] o 52a south pole, 52b north pole, 53a south pole, 53b north pole; or

[0319] o 52a north pole, 52b south pole, 53a north pole, 53b south pole.

[0320] Figure 32 The embodiment shown is illustrated in three perspective views. Here reference is made to Figure 31 the description of Figure 31 .

[0321] Figure 33Shows an exemplary embodiment of the contact elements 2a, 2b, which have magnetic force elements 52, 53, 54, and 55 in the shape of a cube, and their magnetic poles are marked as a and b respectively. The magnetic force elements 52, 53, 54, and 55 are respectively embedded in the corresponding housings of the contact elements 2a or 2b, such that they protrude beyond the corresponding housings towards the surface of the other contact element 2a, 2b. The contact element 2b has magnetic force elements 52 and 54. Each of these magnetic force elements is tilted or tilted around at least one axis (in this document, these two expressions are used synonymously). In this case, at least one axis is parallel to the surface of the housing in which the magnetic force elements 52 and 54 are embedded.

[0322] The first contact element 2a has magnetic force elements 53 and 55, which are also embedded in the surface of the housing of the contact element 2a that faces the second contact element 2b in the contact state. These magnetic force elements 53 and 55 are embedded such that the surface facing the contact element 2b is parallel to the surface of the housing facing the contact element 2b where they are located.

[0323] The magnets of each contact element are polarized (substantially) perpendicular to the contact surface, that is, the polarization directions of the two magnetic force elements of the contact elements 2a, 2b are opposite. This means that the contact elements 2a, 2b can only be connected in one polarity. Therefore, the arrangement is as follows:

[0324] o 52a south pole, 52b north pole, 54a north pole, 54b south pole, 53a south pole, 53b north pole, 55a north pole, 55b south pole; or

[0325] o 52a north pole, 52b south pole, 54a south pole, 54b north pole, 53a north pole, 53b south pole, 55a south pole, 55b north pole.

[0326] When connected, this will always result in two point contacts being formed through the corners of the magnets (or line contacts being formed through the edges, with specific variations as follows). Compared with surface contact, point contact or line contact with sharp corners or edges can more effectively remove dirt.

[0327] In Figure 33 In the example shown, the second contact element 2b is in contact with the cable 9b, which is a flat cable 9b in this example. The flat cable 9b has two conductors 9ba and 9bb, which extend parallel to each other along the cable 9b. In each case, one of the conductors 9ba and 9bb is in contact with one of the magnetic force elements 52 and 54, and both of these magnetic force elements are conductive. For example, the conductor 9ba is in contact with the magnetic force element 52, and the conductor 9bb is in contact with the magnetic force element 54, and vice versa.

[0328] The flat cable contacts the contact element 2b in an eccentric manner, i.e., at a certain distance from its center, which can be defined, for example, by the centers of the magnetic elements 52 and 54. When pulled, this causes the sides of the contact element 2b to tilt to one side, and first one pair of magnets is released, and then the other pair, thus reducing the release force and possibly making it less than the contact force (the force that presses the contacts together when connecting).

[0329] Figure 34 shows the view seen from the right Figure 33 side view of the arrangement shown in C. It can be seen that the magnets 52 and 54 are also tilted about an axis that is perpendicular to Figure 33 the axis about which the magnets 52 and 54 in C are tilted with respect to the surface of the contact element 2b, and this axis is parallel to the surface.

[0330] Figure 35 shows the progressive tilting of the magnetic elements 52 and 54. In Figure 35 A, the magnetic elements 52 and 54 are initially not tilted. In Figure 35 B, they are tilted in opposite directions about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the figure. Figure 35 C shows the situation shown in Fig. 53B as seen from the right. The magnetic elements 52 and 54 have not yet been tilted about an axis perpendicular to Figure 35 the plane of C.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a first device configured to be disposed in the ear canal, wherein the first device includes a first contact element, a second device including a second contact element, wherein the first and second contact elements are configured to contact each other and transfer energy and / or data between the first and second devices when in contact with each other, and wherein the first and second devices are further configured to maintain contact with each other via magnetic force through the first contact element and the second contact element.

2. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the first contact element has at least one first magnetic element, wherein the second contact element has at least one second magnetic element, wherein at least one of the first and at least one of the second magnetic elements are configured to exert a magnetic force on each other, wherein one of the magnetic elements selected from the at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element includes a magnet and the other magnetic element includes a magnetizable material, or wherein the at least one first magnetic element and the at least one second magnetic element each include at least one magnet.

3. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the contact elements includes at least one electromagnet as the magnetic element, and wherein the other of the contact elements includes a magnetizable material as the magnetic element, and the magnetic element is durable upon contact by the electromagnet.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the magnetic element holds the first and second contact elements in contact with each other when in contact by a force less than the force required to remove the first contact element and / or the first device from the ear canal.

5. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the first device and / or the first contact element and / or the second device and / or the second contact element has an anchoring assembly, and the first device and / or the first contact element and / or the second device and / or the second contact element can be anchored to the ear canal and / or the eardrum and / or the auricle by the anchoring assembly.

6. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element is connected to another part of the first device in a mechanically flexible, preferably rotatable and / or tiltable manner.

7. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein one, more or all of the magnets include or consist of at least one material selected from at least one ferrite, at least one rare earth, at least one hard magnetic material, cobalt, nickel, neodymium, samarium, and / or wherein the magnetizable material includes or consists of at least one material selected from iron, steel with added silicon, iron-nickel alloy, iron-cobalt alloy.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element and / or the second contact element and / or their magnetic elements have a sheath that completely or except for electrical contacts completely covers the corresponding contact element and / or the corresponding magnetic element, and the sheath has corrosion resistance and / or biocompatibility, and is preferably non-magnetized and non-magnetic, The sheath preferably comprises or consists of gold, platinum, iridium, an alloy of the above materials, and / or a plastic preferably silicone and / or parylene, and / or a ceramic.

9. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element and / or the second contact element has a sheath at least in the area of contact with the other contact element, and the sheath is non-magnetized and non-magnetic, and wherein the thickness of the sheath is such that the magnetic force holding the first and second contact elements in contact with each other when in contact is less than the force required to remove the first contact element and / or the first device from the ear canal.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the state where the first and second contact elements are in contact with each other, the magnetic force is greater than or equal to 1 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 15 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 20 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 50 mN, preferably greater than or equal to 100 mN and / or less than or equal to 1000 mN, preferably less than or equal to 800 mN, preferably less than or equal to 600 mN, preferably less than or equal to 500 mN, preferably less than or equal to 400 mN, preferably less than or equal to 300 mN.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the first and second contact elements are in contact, at least one first contact element and / or at least one second contact element (2a, 2b) has at least one spacer element (14a, 14b) on the surface facing the corresponding other contact element among the contact elements (2a, 2b), and the spacer element determines the distance between the at least one first contact element and the at least one second contact element at the position of the spacer element, wherein preferably, the spacer element has a height perpendicular to the surface of the contact element on which it is located, and the height is less than the diameter of the contact element in the direction parallel to the surface, wherein preferably, the spacer element has a height perpendicular to the surface of the contact element on which it is located, and the height is less than or equal to 5 mm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 4 mm, particularly preferably less than 3 mm and / or greater than or equal to 250 μm, preferably greater than or equal to 500 μm.

12. The system according to the preceding claim, having two or more spacer elements of the spacer elements on at least one of the mutually facing surfaces in contact, and the two or more spacer elements are arranged adjacent to each other in a row.

13. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein on one or both sides of a row of the spacer elements adjacent to a row of the spacer elements in the direction parallel to the surface, at least one magnetic force element of the magnetic force elements is provided on or in at least one of the surfaces on which the spacer elements are provided, wherein preferably, the spacer element protrudes beyond the magnetic force element in the direction perpendicular to the corresponding surface.

14. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, At least one of the contact elements has a bending course extending in the direction of another contact element among the contact elements when in contact.

15. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second contact elements has at least one magnet, wherein the magnets of the contact elements are arranged such that they attract each other when the contact elements are in a position where energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first and second devices relative to each other, and / or repel each other when the contact elements are in a position where an expected energy and / or data transmission cannot be established relative to each other.

16. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second contact elements has at least two magnets, and the electrodes of the two magnets are arranged such that when the contact elements are in a position where energy and / or data can be transmitted between the first and second devices relative to each other, the magnets of different contact elements attract each other, and / or when the contact elements are in a position where an energy and / or data transmission cannot be established relative to each other, the magnets of different contact elements repel each other.

17. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second contact elements represent electrical, capacitive, inductive, electromagnetic, and / or optical connections for transmitting energy and / or data.

18. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second contact elements have mutually compatible contact points, and wherein the first and / or second contact elements are plug contacts, spring contacts, spring-loaded pin contacts, and / or exposed electrode contacts.

19. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in two surfaces of the first and second contact elements that can contact each other, one surface has at least one concave region, and / or the other surface has at least one convex region, wherein one or both of the convex region or the concave region are spherical segment-shaped, elliptical segment-shaped, conical, pyramidal, or crown-shaped.

20. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy and / or data is optically transmissible, wherein the first or second contact element includes a light source, preferably a light-emitting diode or a laser diode, and wherein the other contact element among the contact elements includes an optical receiving element, preferably a photodiode or a solar cell, wherein preferably, the light source has an emission spectrum in a range greater than or equal to 350 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 550 nm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 1400 nm and / or less than or equal to 2000 nm, preferably less than or equal to 1600 nm, and the optical receiving element has a receiving spectrum, and the emission spectrum of the light source falls within the receiving spectrum.

21. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy and / or data is optically transmissible, The second device has at least one optical waveguide through which light can be conducted to the second contact element, and the first contact element has an optical receiving element, preferably at least one photodiode or at least one solar cell. The optical receiving element is preferably arranged to convert light energy in the range of greater than or equal to 350 nm, preferably greater than or equal to 550 nm, particularly preferably greater than or equal to 1400 nm and / or less than or equal to 2000 nm, preferably less than or equal to 1600 nm into voltage.

22. The system according to any one of the preceding claims. The first contact element is arranged at one end of a cable, and the other end of the cable is connected to another element of the first device, and / or the second contact element is arranged at one end of a cable, and the other end of the cable is connected to another element of the second device.

23. The system according to any one of the preceding claims. The first device includes a tympanic membrane assembly as another element of the first device or as part of another element of the first device, and the tympanic membrane assembly can be arranged on the tympanic membrane with which it is in contact and is arranged to directly transmit vibrations to the tympanic membrane. Preferably, the first contact element is connected to the tympanic membrane assembly by at least one cable.

24. The system according to one of the two preceding claims. The at least one cable has one or more wires and / or the at least one cable has at least one strip conductor arranged on a flexible circuit board. Preferably, the at least one wire and / or the at least one strip conductor is insulated from the environment by at least one insulating material. More preferably, the at least one cable is formed as a layer including or composed of gold on a polyimide substrate.

25. The system according to the preceding claims. The at least one cable is flexible and / or helical so that the distance between the first contact element and the element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable can be elastically changed.

26. The system according to any one of claims 22 to 25, wherein at least one cable of the first device has good torsional elasticity, so that when twisted multiple turns, the cable generates a tensile force between the first contact element and another element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable. The size of the cable is preferably set so that the cable holds the first contact element in the ear canal, and / or the size of the cable is preferably set so that the cable prevents the element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable from sliding and / or twisting. Preferably, the number of rotations is 0.5, particularly preferably 1, more preferably 2, more preferably 5, more preferably 10. Preferably, the cable is designed such that twisting less than 2 turns, preferably less than 5 turns, further preferably less than 10 turns does not cause sliding or twisting of another element of the first device arranged at the other end of the cable.

27. The system according to any one of the preceding claims. wherein the second device includes an ear canal element that can be arranged in the ear canal and includes the second contact element, and wherein the second device also has an external element that can be arranged more externally in the ear canal or outside the ear canal than the ear canal element, and preferably, the second contact element is fixedly arranged on the ear canal element.

28. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the external element and the ear canal element are connected via at least one cable and / or at least one optical fiber, and energy and / or data can be transmitted to and / or from the second contact element via the at least one cable and / or the at least one optical fiber, and preferably, the optical fiber and / or the cable is flexible.

29. The system according to any one of the preceding two claims, wherein the ear canal element includes a rechargeable battery.

30. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 26 or 28, wherein the at least one cable or optical fiber includes a tube and / or a sheath material, and the tube and / or the sheath material preferably has chemical corrosion resistance, electrical insulation, and / or mechanical flexibility, and particularly preferably includes or consists of thermoplastic, polyamide, silicone, and / or epoxy resin, wherein the tube and / or the sheath material wraps at least one electric wire or at least one optical waveguide.

31. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one cable or the at least one optical fiber has at least two regions along its length, and the at least two regions have different numbers of surrounding tubes, different numbers of inner cavities in the tubes, different wall thicknesses, and / or different materials.

32. The system according to one of the two preceding claims, further including at least one stabilizing component around the electric wire or the optical waveguide, and the stabilizing component includes or consists of textile, plastic, and / or metal.

33. The system according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the tube has an elliptical or flat cross-section, and the shorter extension length of the cross-section is less than 75% of the longer extension length, preferably less than 50%, preferably less than 35%.

34. The system according to any one of claims 21 to 26 or 28 to 33, wherein the cable or the optical fiber has at least two different stiffnesses along its length to prevent bending along its longitudinal axis, wherein preferably, the stiffness of the portion that can be joined to the element that can be arranged facing the eardrum is greater than the stiffness of the portion that can be joined to the element that can be arranged facing away from the eardrum, or wherein preferably, the stiffness of the portion that can be joined to the element that can be arranged facing the eardrum is less than the stiffness of the remaining cable or optical fiber, and the portion extends away from the element preferably less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, preferably less than 1 mm.

35. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein on the one hand the stiffness of the cable or the optical fiber in the bending region adjacent to the element that can be arranged facing the tympanic membrane and on the other hand the magnetic force are designed such that the magnetic force can cause the element facing the tympanic membrane to tilt and / or twist relative to the region of the cable or the optical fiber adjacent to the bending region by an angle greater than or equal to 10°.

36. The system according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the cable or the optical fiber comprises at least two regions having different diameters and / or materials.

37. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element and the second contact element each have guiding elements, the guiding element of one contact element being convex and the guiding element of the other contact element having a concave shape corresponding to the shape of the guiding element of the one contact element; Among them, the guiding elements are designed such that the guiding elements guide the two contact elements to the position where the two contact elements come into contact for energy and / or data transfer.

38. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the contact elements has a flat contact surface and the other of the contact elements has one or more contact pins arranged such that when the contact elements come into contact with each other, they are displaceable on the contact surface.

39. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the contact elements has a radial protrusion and the other of the contact elements has a radial undercut that gradually moves away from the one contact element along the circumference of the other contact element, wherein the dimensions of the radial protrusion and the radial undercut are such that the radial protrusion can be held in the radial undercut.

40. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element and / or the second contact element and / or the first device and / or the second device each have a hole, preferably cylindrical, funnel-shaped or angular, which forms a passage from the outside to the tympanic membrane, and the diameter of the hole is preferably greater than or equal to 50 μm.

41. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first device and / or the second device has at least one microphone, and the microphone can be connected to the corresponding other device via the first contact element and the second contact element for signal transmission.

42. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element is connected to another element of the first device via a cable or an optical fiber, and the cable or the optical fiber is arranged on the first contact element at a distance greater than zero from a straight line that is perpendicular to the contact surface of the first contact element and the second contact element and intersects the contact surface at the center of the contact surface, and / or wherein the second contact element is connected via a cable or an optical fiber to another element of the second device, and wherein the cable or the optical fiber is arranged on the second contact element at a distance greater than zero from a straight line which is perpendicular to the contact surface between the second contact element and the first contact element and intersects the contact surface at the center of the contact surface.

43. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one magnetic element is arranged in or on the contact surface opposite to the cable or the optical fiber with respect to the straight line.

44. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second contact elements each have a contact surface, through which the first and second contact elements abut against each other when in contact, wherein the contact surfaces are parallel to each other when in contact, and when the first device is arranged in the ear canal as intended, in at least some regions, form an angle of less than 80°, preferably less than 70°, preferably less than 60°, preferably less than 45°, preferably less than 30° with a straight line parallel to the wall of the ear canal at the location of the first device, wherein the straight line.

45. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the first and second contact elements has one or more contact surfaces, and the other of the first and second contact elements has the same number of contact pins, wherein, when in contact, the contact pins abut against one of the contact surfaces and establish an electrical connection.

46. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the first and second contact elements has a plurality of the contact surfaces arranged in a row, and the other of the first and second contact elements has the same number of the contact pins arranged in a row, wherein the first and second contact elements each have at least one magnetic element, and the at least one magnetic element is arranged on one side of a row of the contact surfaces or on one side of a row of the contact pins.

47. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the magnetic elements in the first and second contact elements are magnets and are arranged such that opposite magnetic poles contact each other when the contact pins contact the corresponding contact surfaces.

48. The system according to one of the three preceding claims, wherein the contact pins are spring-loaded.

49. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second contact elements each have a magnetic element, and between the magnetic elements, a magnetic force acts on the contact points, wherein the magnets are each arranged at the center of the contact surfaces of the corresponding first and second contact elements, and the contact surfaces face each other when in contact, Preferably, one of the first and second contact elements has at least one annular contact surface in its contact surface, wherein, the annular contact surfaces extend around the corresponding magnetic elements as the center points, and the other of the first and second contact elements has at least one contact pin on its contact surface, and the contact pin is arranged such that when the first and second contact elements contact, the contact pin contacts the annular contact surface.

50. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact element and / or the second contact element has at least two contact pins and also has at least one protective structure, and the at least one protective structure is arranged such that the two contact elements cannot be touched simultaneously with one hand, wherein preferably, the protective structure has a non-conductive structure embedded in the at least two contact pins such that the surfaces of the at least two contact pins are behind the surface of the protective structure in the direction away from the respective contact element.

51. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 50, wherein the first contact element and the second contact element each have at least one magnet as the magnetic force element, the north and south poles of the magnetic force element are adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to the respective contact surface, and the respective contact element faces the respective other contact element through the contact surface.

52. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is at least one system selected from the group consisting of a hearing system, a hearing aid, headphones, earbuds, a drug delivery device, and / or a portable vital signs monitoring system.

53. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 52, wherein the first contact element or the second contact element includes at least one first magnetic ring as a first magnetic force element and at least one first contact arranged at the center point of the first magnetic ring.

54. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the other contact element of the first contact element or the second contact element has at least one second magnetic ring as the second magnetic force element and at least one second contact arranged at the center point of the second magnetic ring, wherein one contact selected from the first contact and the second contact is a contact pin that protrudes from a circular surface provided at the center of the magnetic ring, the circular surface facing away from the contact element provided with the respective magnetic ring, and wherein the other contact of the first contact and the second contact is a contact surface that is preferably coplanar with the circular surface provided at the center of the magnetic ring, the circular surface facing away from the contact element provided with the respective magnetic ring, wherein the second contact element further has a cable with two wires, and the cable is preferably arranged at a certain radial distance from the center point of the second magnetic ring on the side of the second contact element facing away from the second contact, wherein one of the wires is electrically connected to the second contact, and the other wire is electrically connected to the second magnetic ring or another contact of the second contact element.

55. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the contact pin is spring-loaded, and preferably, the spring force by which the contact pin is spring-loaded is set such that the contact pin is fully pressed into the circular surface of the magnetic ring by the magnetic attraction force of the first contact element and the second contact element within the center where the magnetic ring is arranged, and / or, wherein the cable is a conductor strip having two strip conductors as the conductors.

56. The system according to any one of claims 53 to 55, wherein at least one of the magnetic rings is an electromagnetic and / or permanent magnetic ring.

57. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 56, wherein one of the first and second contact elements has two magnetic elements in the shape of a cuboid, preferably a cube, as the first magnetic element, and the first magnetic element is embedded in the housing of the corresponding contact element such that the first magnetic element protrudes beyond the surface of the corresponding contact element facing the other contact element and is inclined about at least one axis relative to the surface, and wherein the other of the first and second contact elements has two magnetic elements in the shape of a cuboid, preferably a cube, as the second magnetic element, and the second magnetic element is embedded in the housing of the corresponding contact element such that at least one surface of the second magnetic element faces the one contact element and forms part of the surface of the corresponding contact element.

58. The system according to the preceding claims, wherein the first magnetic element is inclined about two axes relative to the surface of the corresponding contact element facing the other contact element, and / or wherein the surface of the second magnetic element forming part of the surface of the corresponding contact element is parallel and / or coplanar with the surface.

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