Flexible Middle-Section Hearing Aid for Ear-Canal Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hearing aids that are positioned in the ear canal often suffer from poor fit, increased sound leakage, and feedback due to their rigid structure, which affects comfort and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A hearing aid design featuring a flexible, encapsulated middle section with a rechargeable battery and angled sections to fit securely in the ear canal, incorporating soft dome-shaped earpieces and multiple microphones for improved sound localization and processing, along with contact charging and customizable fit options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid structure is used for the hearing aid, then manufacturing precision is improved, but fit comfort and sound leakage reduction deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid is divided into multiple sections: a rigid front section containing the speaker unit, a flexible middle section containing the battery and amplifier, and a rear section. This segmentation allows different parts to have different mechanical properties - the front section maintains manufacturing precision while the middle section provides flexibility for comfortable fitting in the ear canal.
Solution Approach 2:
The hearing aid employs composite construction with rigid portions (front section housing) and flexible portions (middle section with polymer encapsulation). This combination allows the device to maintain structural integrity for precise manufacturing while incorporating flexible elements that adapt to the ear canal shape, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and fit comfort.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid structure is used for the hearing aid, then structural stability is improved, but sound leakage and feedback increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hearing aid into rigid and flexible sections, the front section maintains structural stability for proper sound delivery, while the flexible middle section conforms to the ear canal walls, creating a better seal that reduces sound leakage and feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The middle section is encapsulated in a flexible polymer material that acts as a compliant shell, allowing the hearing aid to adapt to the ear canal geometry and form an effective acoustic seal, thereby reducing sound leakage and feedback while maintaining overall structural stability through the rigid front section.
3Ease of operation
If the hearing aid is customized for each user, then fit comfort is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing aid is designed with a modular structure where the front and rear sections are standardized for manufacturing, while only the middle flexible section requires customization. This segmentation reduces device complexity compared to fully custom devices while still providing user-specific fit comfort through the adaptable middle section.
Solution Approach 2:
Customization is applied locally only to the middle section that contacts the ear canal walls, while the front section with the speaker unit maintains standardized geometry for consistent acoustic performance. This localized customization approach reduces overall device complexity while achieving fit comfort.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the hearing aid is fully encapsulated, then protection against ear canal environment is improved, but heat dissipation and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulation is applied selectively to the middle section containing the battery and amplifier, protecting these components from the ear canal environment. The front section remains partially open for acoustic reasons. This segmented encapsulation approach provides environmental protection where needed while simplifying manufacturing compared to full encapsulation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hearing aid configured to be positioned in an ear canal of a user. The hearing aid comprising a front section comprising a output transducer configured to delivering a sound signal, the front section being configured to be positioned into the ear canal of the user. The hearing aid comprising a rear section comprising an antenna. The hearing aid comprising a middle section comprising a rechargeable battery and a substrate carrying one or more electronic components, wherein the substrate is constructed as a flexible circuit board arranged at the battery, and wherein the middle section is at least partially encapsulated by a polymer material. In the hearing aid according to the present disclosure, the middle section extends in a lengthwise direction around an axis between the front section and the rear section, and the front section (2) has a first angle (α) in relation to the axis (A).