Active Vent Valve for ITE Hearing Device Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hearing devices with in-the-ear (ITE) parts experience occlusion issues due to blocked ear canals, leading to unwanted sounds during speaking or chewing, and open-fit designs compromise sound control and ambient noise interference.
Innovation Solution
An ITE part with an active vent system, featuring a valve that opens or closes to manage airflow and sound transmission, integrated with a front and rear filter to control contaminants and maintain acoustic clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open-fit hearing device is used to mitigate occlusion, then occlusion is reduced, but ambient sound enters the ear canal causing sound control issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an active vent with a valve that dynamically opens or closes based on operational conditions. When the valve is closed, it prevents ambient sound from entering the ear canal while maintaining the benefits of reduced occlusion. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt between open and closed states to resolve the contradiction between occlusion mitigation and ambient sound control.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a closed ITE part is used to control sound delivery, then sound control is improved, but occlusion effects occur causing unwanted sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The active vent valve provides dynamic control by switching between open and closed states. When open, it relieves occlusion effects by allowing air and sound to escape. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to maintain sound control while periodically relieving occlusion pressure.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If an active vent is added to control airflow, then sound transmission quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active vent is integrated into the existing ITE part structure, combining the valve mechanism with the earmould and sound passage system. This merging approach improves sound transmission quality through active airflow control while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing the existing structural framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary element within the active vent system, mediating between the internal ear canal environment and the external atmosphere. This intermediary component enables precise control of airflow and sound transmission without requiring complex external control systems, thus improving sound quality while limiting complexity growth.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If the ITE part is placed deep in the ear canal for better sound delivery, then sound transmission is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the contamination-prone components (microphone, receiver, electronics) into a protected chamber within the ITE part structure. This separation allows the ITE part to be placed deeper in the ear canal for improved sound transmission while the extracted components remain protected from direct exposure to contaminants in the ear canal environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs filters as flexible barrier elements that allow air and sound to pass through while blocking contaminants. These filter membranes are positioned at strategic locations within the ITE part to protect sensitive components from earwax, moisture, and other contaminants while maintaining acoustic performance for improved sound transmission.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active vent system effectively reduces occlusion and ambient noise interference, enhancing sound transmission quality and environmental awareness while protecting sensitive components from contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a rear filter arranged at the rear opening, or in the hollow cavity and in-between the rear opening and the valve of the active vent, the rear filter being configured to allow ambient sound to pass therethrough and further configured to hinder contaminants from entering the space between the rear filter and the vent
Implementation Method 2
an active vent comprising a valve, the valve is positioned at the front end, and the active vent is configured to have an open state and a closed state, wherein the valve, in the open state, provides a fluid connection through the sound passage, wherein the valve, in the closed state, hinders fluid connection through the sound passage
Implementation Method 3
a sound passage extending between the front opening and the rear end, and is configured to allow for fluid connection between the front opening and an exterior of the hollow earmould
Implementation Method 4
The front end has a front opening with a front filter that is configured to hinder contaminants from entering the earmould through the front opening
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an in-the-ear (ITE) part (1) configured for placement at least partially within an ear canal of the user, the ITE part (1) comprising: a connector (21) configured for coupling to a BTE part configured to be worn behind a pinna of a user, and a hollow earmould (3) comprising: a front end (5), a rear end (7), and a hollow cavity (23), the earmould being configured for the front end (5) to be positioned facing a tympanic membrane of the user during use, the front end (5) comprising a front opening (9), the front opening (9) comprising a front filter (15), and the rear end (7) comprising a rear opening (10), the ITE part (1) further comprising: a receiver (11) arranged in the hollow cavity (23), a sound passage extending between the front opening (9) and the rear end (7), and configured to allow for fluid connection between the front opening (9) and an exterior of the hollow earmould (3), an active vent (13) comprising a valve, the valve being positioned at the front end (5) and the active vent being configured to have an open state and a closed state, wherein the valve, in the open state, provides a fluid connection through the sound passage, wherein the valve, in the closed state, hinders fluid connection through the sound passage, and a rear filter (17) arranged at the rear opening, or in the hollow cavity and in-between the rear opening and the valve of the active vent.