Robert J. Fretz - Maplewood MN, US Jean Elvira Daavettila - St. Paul MN, US Christopher Drake Conger - Stillwater MN, US Vincent Joseph Mako - Lakeville MN, US
Assignee:
IntriCon Corporation - Arden Hills MN
International Classification:
H04R 25/00
US Classification:
381328, 381312, 381322, 381323, 381329
Abstract:
A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.
Robert J. Fretz - Maplewood MN, US Vincent Joseph Mako - Lakeville MN, US
Assignee:
INTRICON CORPORATION - Arden Hills MN
International Classification:
H04R 25/00 H01R 43/00
US Classification:
381330, 29825
Abstract:
A hearing aid has hearing aid electronics including the microphone, battery and amplifier in a behind-the-ear housing, with a flexible tube extending from the behind-the-ear housing to a concha-based suspension structure. The concha-based suspension portion is flexible and bears off a tragus contact area, an antitragus contact area and an antihelix contact area. Based on forces generated from these concha bowl contact areas, the tube is suspended in a centered position within the ear canal in an unoccluded fashion making little or no contact with the wall of the ear canal. An annulus of the suspension portion provides an open concha skin surface, which can naturally reflect sound down the generally open ear canal.
- Arden Hills MN, US Jean Elvira Daavettila - St. Paul MN, US Christopher Drake Conger - Stillwater MN, US Vincent Joseph Mako - Lakeville MN, US
Assignee:
IntriCon Corporation - Arden Hills MN
International Classification:
H04R 25/02
US Classification:
381328
Abstract:
A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal.