Hearing Device Rotatable Speaker and Vent

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hearing aids often cause occlusion effects due to their closed system design, which limits gain and is intrusive for users, especially those with greater hearing impairments, as they require deep insertion into the ear canal to avoid occlusion.

Innovation Solution

A behind-the-ear hearing device with a rotatably mounted speaker element in a canal element that provides a tight fit and adjustable configuration, featuring a vent for sound pressure equalization and a snapping mechanism with wax filters, allowing for reduced vent diameter and increased gain while maintaining an open configuration to avoid occlusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the earpiece is designed as a closed system to maintain firm fixture in the ear canal, then the gain is improved, but occlusion effects occur and user comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirm fixtureVSAvoidocclusion effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The earpiece is divided into modular components: a canal element for insertion, a speaker element, and a retention element. This segmentation allows the retention element to provide firm fixation while the canal element maintains an open configuration with venting, eliminating occlusion effects while preserving secure positioning in the ear canal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retention element is extracted as a separate functional component from the main canal element. This extracted retention element provides the firm fixture function independently, allowing the canal element to remain open and vented for comfort, thus resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and avoidance of occlusion effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the vent diameter is decreased to increase gain, then the allowable gain is improved, but occlusion effects are reduced, however firm fixture may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveallowable gainVSAvoidfirm fixture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the venting function (in the canal element) from the fixation function (in the retention element), the design allows small vent diameter for high gain without compromising fixture firmness, as the retention element independently provides secure positioning regardless of vent size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the CIC element is inserted deep into the bony region to avoid occlusion effects, then user comfort is improved, but the insertion becomes intrusive and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveocclusion effectsVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting the earpiece deep into the bony region to avoid occlusion, this invention inverts the approach by maintaining an open configuration with venting in the cartilaginous region. The retention element provides firm fixation without deep insertion, making the device less intrusive and easier to insert while still avoiding occlusion effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Manufacturing precision

If the speaker element is fixed rigidly in the canal element, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different users is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeaker mounting precisionVSAvoidadjustable configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The speaker element is mounted rotatably on the canal element rather than rigidly fixed. This dynamic mounting allows the speaker element to be rotated to different orientations during assembly or adjustment, enabling adaptability to different user ear canal geometries while maintaining precise acoustic alignment when positioned correctly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enables users to achieve sufficient gain without occlusion, with adjustable fit and easy maintenance, enhancing hearing aid performance and user comfort by allowing for better sound pressure equalization and reduced occlusion effects.

Implementation Method 1

The earpiece may comprise a vent extending axially through the canal element. The vent, advantageously, allows sound pressure equalisation between ambient surroundings and the residual space between the tympanic membrane and the canal element, thus removing the occlusion effect experienced by the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound pressure equalization: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The speaker element is adapted to receive an electrical signal and convert this to a sound pressure in the ear canal so as to improve the hearing of the user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroacoustic transduction:

Implementation Method 3

The canal element is adapted to provide a tight fit of the earpiece in an ear canal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8290187B2Hearing device and earpiece therefore

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 OTICON

AI summary

This invention relates to a hearing device and earpiece therefore. The hearing device comprises a BTE unit for converting and processing sound to an electrical signal and a tubular element communicating the electrical signal to an earpiece. The earpiece comprises a canal element providing a tight fit of the earpiece in an ear canal, and a speaker element rotate-ably mounted in the canal element.