ITE Hearing Device Microphone Protector with Cerumen Trough
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-the-ear (ITE) hearing devices face challenges in protecting microphones from cerumen and other contaminants, which affects their functionality, and require easy cleaning and removal of protective elements.
Innovation Solution
The ITE hearing device incorporates a microphone protector element with a trough for collecting cerumen, an inner end portion to guide cerumen into the trough, and a tool with a breaking point for easy insertion and removal, along with a punching tool for cleaning, ensuring efficient protection and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a microphone protector element is provided to prevent cerumen ingress, then microphone protection is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protector element is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer portion with sound-permeable regions for microphone protection, an intermediate portion with a trough for cerumen collection, and an inner portion for positioning. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized independently - the outer portion focuses on protection while the trough structure facilitates easy cerumen removal, resolving the contradiction between protection and cleaning ease
Solution Approach 2:
The trough structure acts as an intermediary element between the protector element and cerumen. Instead of allowing cerumen to directly contact the microphone, the trough collects and channels cerumen away, creating a buffer zone. This intermediary structure maintains effective protection while enabling easy cerumen removal through the trough's designated path
2Reliability
If a microphone protector element is provided to prevent cerumen ingress, then microphone protection is improved, but removal convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the protector element and tool incorporates a breaking point that transitions from a strong connected state during insertion to a separable state after use. The breaking point allows the connection to be strong enough for insertion but designed to break cleanly for easy removal, enabling the system to dynamically switch between insertion and removal modes
Solution Approach 2:
The removal mechanism is segmented into distinct components: the tool with breaking point connection, the protector element, and the housing. This segmentation allows the tool to be easily detached after insertion by breaking the connection at the predetermined point, making removal convenient while maintaining protection during the wearing phase
3Reliability
If the outer aperture is oriented laterally to prevent cerumen ingress, then microphone protection is improved, but sound port functionality worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The outer portion of the protector element features localized sound-permeable regions rather than complete occlusion. These regions are strategically positioned to allow sound waves to pass through to the microphone while other areas provide cerumen protection. This local differentiation enables simultaneous achievement of protection and sound transmission functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The protector element with its trough structure serves as an intermediary between the external environment and the microphone. Instead of simply blocking the sound port, it selectively filters - allowing sound through designated permeable regions while preventing cerumen ingress through the trough's collection and channeling mechanism, thus maintaining sound port functionality while improving protection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
There is provided an ITE hearing device comprising a housing to be worn at least in part in the ear canal of a user and including an outer portion (10) oriented towards the exterior of the user's ear when the housing is worn at least in part in the ear canal of the user, and a microphone (22) accommodated in the housing, the outer portion of the housing comprising a sound port (12) for allowing ambient sound (20) to reach the microphone. The ITE hearing device further comprises a microphone protector element (14) configured to be inserted into an outer aperture of the sound port so as to cover the sound port for inhibiting ingress of cerumen (26) towards the microphone. The sound port comprises a trough (28) for collecting residual cerumen having passed through the microphone protector element, with the microphone being laterally off-set with regard to the trough. The microphone protector element comprises an outer end portion (34) for covering the outer aperture of the sound port, an inner end portion (36) extending towards the bottom (38) of the trough so as to guide the residual cerumen into the trough, and a lateral opening (40) allowing sound to propagate towards the microphone.