Hearing Device Short Vent Reduces Occlusion Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hearing aids often cause occlusion effects, leading to discomfort and dissatisfaction among users due to the blockage of the ear canal, which can result in altered voice perception, excessive low-frequency amplification, reduced speech intelligibility, and increased risk of external ear irritation, and are typically custom-made and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A hearing device with a housing featuring a short vent and an open, flexible canal section that fits standard sizes, minimizing occlusion by allowing maximum venting and using a sound tube with different lengths and diameters to adjust for individual ear anatomy, along with a helix section for retention and feedback compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional in-the-canal hearing aid housing is used with a vent channel, then occlusion effect is reduced, but the device requires custom manufacturing which increases cost and manufacturing time
Solution Approach 1:
The hearing device is divided into two separate parts: a reusable standard housing containing electronic components and a custom-molded earpiece that fits the individual's ear canal. This segmentation allows the venting function to be standardized in the housing while only the earpiece requires customization, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to fully custom devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The standard housing is designed to be universal and can be used with different custom earpieces for multiple patients. The housing contains all electronic components and provides the venting function, while the earpiece is simply a custom-molded interface that fits the individual's anatomy. This universality eliminates the need to custom-manufacture entire hearing aids for each patient.
2Reliability
If a solid custom-made earpiece is used to secure retention in the ear canal, then the device remains securely in place, but it causes discomfort when the jaw moves during chewing
Solution Approach 1:
The earpiece is constructed from flexible materials such as silicone rubber that can deform and move with the ear canal walls during jaw movements. This flexibility maintains secure retention while eliminating discomfort caused by rigid contact with moving ear canal walls during chewing and other facial movements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a soft material is used for the canal portion of the device, then comfort is improved, but manufacturing becomes complicated and venting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the soft flexible earpiece (providing comfort) from the structured housing (providing venting and electronics). The earpiece is molded as a simple flexible shell without complex internal structures, while the housing contains all the venting channels and electronic components. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing of each component while achieving both comfort and effective venting.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a tight seal is created behind the device in the bony part of the ear canal, then occlusion effect is eliminated, but the solution requires deep impressions and complex manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The solution separates the sealing function (performed by the custom-molded earpiece that fits the ear canal opening) from the venting function (performed by the housing with vent channels). This eliminates the need for deep impressions and complex sealing structures, as the earpiece simply needs to fit the ear canal opening while the housing provides the venting path.
5Ease of manufacture
If the vent channel length is increased, then manufacturing is simpler, but occlusion effect increases and venting effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the vent channel longitudinally (increasing length), the housing provides venting through lateral openings and channels that communicate with the ear canal opening. The venting function is achieved through the cross-sectional geometry and positioning of the housing relative to the ear canal, rather than through a long internal channel, thus maintaining short channel length while effective venting.
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 effectively reduces occlusion effects, provides comfortable and secure fitting, and allows for standard manufacturing, reducing costs and user dissatisfaction by maintaining low occlusion levels and minimizing feedback issues.
Implementation Method 1
a so-called vent, i.e. a ventilation channel, may provide communication between an opening in the faceplate and the wearer's ear canal
Implementation Method 2
a sound tube conducts sound generated by the receiver of the hearing aid into the ear canal
Implementation Method 3
an open and flexible canal section that fits standard sizes
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a new type of hearing device housing having a canal section that is adapted for fitting in the ear canal of a wearer and having a short vent, the longitudinal extension of which is shorter than the longitudinal extension of the canal section, and an output port for emission of sound towards the eardrum of the wearer when inserted in the ear canal, and an outer ear section for accommodation of electronic components and being attached to the canal section and adapted for positioning in front of the ear during use, the short vent reducing the occlusion effect, wherein the canal section comprises an open and flexible earpiece manufactured in standard sizes. The hearing device may be a hearing aid, a headset, a headphone, etc. Unlike a conventional BTE (Behind-The-Ear) hearing aid having a housing to be positioned behind the ear, the housing of the hearing device according to the present invention is positioned in front of the ear, i.e. in front of the pinna. The positioning of the hearing device is simple since positioning of the outer ear section is automatically performed together with the positioning of the canal section in the ear canal of the wearer.