394results about "Behind the ear hearing aids" patented technology

An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.

A wearable device has a motion detector configured to detect motion of the device and produce a motion signal relating to motion of the device, a contact sensor configured to detect if the device is in contact with an object and produce a contact signal relating to whether the device is in contact with an object, and a controller operatively coupled with the motion detector and the contact sensor. The controller is configured to switch between on and off-states as a function of at least one of the motion signal and contact signal. The device also has a sound transducer or other transducer operatively coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to change the state of the sound transducer between on and off-states in response to receipt of the motion signal, and the contact signal.

In a battery receiving chamber, the first convex part is formed in the internal side face of the battery compartment and the second convex part which corresponds to the first convex part is formed in the battery cover, the first and second convex part respectively having the inclined faces which gradually rise toward the rotational direction in which the battery cover is detached from the battery compartment, so that a battery receiving chamber having good usage convenience and highly reliable can be realized. Further, in a hearing aid using the above, waterproof means is located so as to block the air vent formed in the battery cover, and a slot connecting the end part of battery cover and the air vent in the external side face of the battery cover is comprised, so that a hearing aid which can supply practically sufficient volume of air into the case and has high waterproof performance can be realized. Further, the case of this hearing aid is divided into two that the first half-case for receiving the earphone, and the second half-case for receiving the microphone, and the joint part between the first and second-half cases is formed so as to substantially flat, in order to apply stress without bias to the waterproof member inserted into the joint part. Thereby, a hearing aid in which the waterproof performance can be further improved can be realized.

An optically unnoticeable and acoustically improved behind-the-ear hearing device having a housing which can be worn behind the ear, a signal processing facility which is arranged in the housing, and which comprises an optoelectrical converter, and at least one optical microphone is provided. The optical microphone is arranged outside the housing and can be positioned in the concha or in the auditory canal. Furthermore, the optical microphone is connected to the signal processing facility by way of an optical wave guide for optical signal transmission purposes. An optical microphone of this type can be realized small and in an unnoticeable fashion on / in an otoplastic, such that during the acoustic recording, the typical frequency behavior through the concha can also be used.

The robustness of hearing aid devices in terms of electromagnetic disturbances and chemically aggressive surroundings should be improved. For this purpose, provision is made to equip a hearing aid apparatus with optical microphones. Since no metal parts must be used for these optical micro-phones, corrosion can be largely excluded. Furthermore, no EMC problems occur as a result of the optical signal processing.

The invention relates to a hearing aid comprising a housing with at least one acoustic inlet opening and at least one acoustic outlet opening, the housing containing a microphone in connection with the acoustic inlet opening, an amplifier in connection with the microphone, a receiver in connection with the amplifier and a battery for power supply, the housing being provided with a hook for transmittal of acoustic signals from the receiver into the ear of the user, the housing comprising two connectable and detachable parts. The hearing aid is characterized in the means for provided on each housing part for mutually snap locking the parts.

A method for producing a tube for a hearing aid is disclosed. And more specifically, a method is disclosed for anchoring a fiber to a tube of a hearing aid, the fiber running through the tube. The fiber is positioned within the tube as a reinforcement fiber to improve the pull strength of the tube.

A speech processor module is disclosed. The speech processor module is configured to be implemented in more than one mode of operation of a hearing prosthesis including as a component of a stand-alone speech processing unit, and as a component of a body-worn speech processing unit, wherein said body-worn speech processing unit comprises a case that protects the speech processor module from environmental conditions which can damage said speech processor module implemented in said stand-alone operating mode.

In a hearing aid device system with two hearing aids for binaural supply to a hearing aid user, a coupling of the settings of both hearing aids is not always reasonable in the “audio reception” mode and therefore the hearing aid that is in the “audio reception” operating mode is not adapted to changed settings when parameters in the other hearing aid of the hearing aid system have been readjusted. The use of a remote control also has different effects on a hearing aid in the active “audio reception” mode than on the hearing aid device that is in a passive “audio reception” mode.

The hearing device comprises an ear-piece (1) which is designed to be worn at least partially in an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. The ear-piece (1) comprises a vent passage (3) connecting the ear canal with the atmosphere. The vent passage (3) has an inner opening (8) towards the ear-canal and an outer opening (9) towards the atmosphere. The ear-piece (1) further comprises a vent extension (4). The vent extension (4) is a protrusion extending the vent passage (3) beyond the body (2) of the ear-piece (1). The vent extension (4) is adapted for abutting on a surface of the body of the user and is thereby inconspicuous and / or contributes thereby to retention. A method for manufacturing such a hearing device is also disclosed.

A mobile communication device (50) receives an audio stream as input and delivers a processed audio stream as output. The mobile communication device has a data connection providing access to the Internet, and a short range data connection for delivering a processed audio stream as output to a specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device acquires a data set containing hearing aid settings for said specific hearing aid from a remote server (71), and adjusts the emulation software application by means of the data set containing hearing aid settings for said specific hearing aid (10). The mobile communication device transmits the control signals and a processed audio stream to the specific hearing aid via said short range data connection and the specific hearing aid outputs the audio signal to the user without additional amplification. The invention also provides a method of signal processing in a mobile communication device.

A communication system for wirelessly transmitting at least one signal, the system comprising: a first device configured to receive and modulate the at least one signal, the first device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a first human body and a second conductive element isolated from the first human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to wirelessly transmit the modulated signal; and a second device having a first conductive element operatively adapted to contact a second human body, and a second conductive element isolated from the second human body, wherein the first and second elements operate to receive the transmitted modulated signal from the first device.

A method of estimating an acoustic transfer quantity representative of a sound pressure transfer to the eardrum includes the steps of measuring, by an ear canal microphone of the hearing instrument, an acoustic signal in the ear canal when a sound signal is emitted into the ear canal by a receiver of the hearing instrument, the ear canal microphone being in acoustic communication with the ear canal, determining, from the acoustic signal and from a frequency dependent reference characteristics of the hearing instrument, an ear canal impedance, and, calculating, from the ear canal impedance, an estimate of the acoustic transfer quantity.

An acoustic system (3) for a hearing aid is adapted for conducting sound from an output transducer in the hearing aid housing to an ear of a user. The acoustic system (3) comprises an encoding (8, 9) indicating acoustical properties of the acoustic system (3). Hereby the electronics of the hearing aid can identify the type of acoustic system attached to the hearing aid housing. The invention further provides a hearing aid with an acoustic system.

Disclosed is method of generating an audible signal in a hearing aid by estimating a weighting function of received audio signals, the hearing aid is adapted to be worn by a user; the method comprises the steps of:estimating a directional signal by estimating a weighted sum of two or more microphone signals from two or more microphones, where a first microphone of the two or more microphones is a front microphone, and where a second microphone of the two or more microphones is a rear microphone;estimating a direction-dependent time-frequency gain, and synthesizing an output signal;wherein estimating the direction-dependent time-frequency gain comprises:obtaining at least two directional signals each containing a time-frequency representation of a target signal and a noise signal; and where a first of the directional signals is defined as a front aiming signal, and where a second of the directional signals is defined as a rear aiming signal;using the time-frequency representation of the target signal and the noise signal to estimate a time-frequency mask; andusing the estimated time-frequency mask to estimate the direction-dependent time-frequency gain.

A custom-made BTE hearing aid housing (17) comprises a first part, and a second part, wherein said first part is adapted to fit the contour of the cleft between a pinna and the skull of an individual is provided. The housing may be part of a hearing aid (30), connected with a tube (9) in a first end and an earplug (20) in a second end. The invention also provides a hearing aid and a method of preparing a hearing aid housing.

An earplug (7) for a hearing aid (1), in particular for a BTE-type hearing aid, has a front end (8) and a rear end (9). The front end (8) is adapted to be inserted into an ear canal of a wearer. The earplug (7) comprises a main body part (10) comprising a longitudinal bore (11) extending along a centrally arranged axis (A-A) of the earplug (7), and at least one sound output passage (17) in communication with said longitudinal bore (11) and leading to a sound output opening (18). The earplug also has a collar (19), which is adapted to engage the wall of an ear canal and surrounds the main body part (10). The output opening (18) has at least one edge part (18a) located in a retracted manner with respect to said front end (8).

In a hearing aid device system with two hearing aids for binaural supply to a hearing aid user, a coupling of the settings of both hearing aids is not always reasonable in the “audio reception” mode and therefore the hearing aid that is in the “audio reception” operating mode is not adapted to changed settings when parameters in the other hearing aid of the hearing aid system have been readjusted. The use of a remote control also has different effects on a hearing aid in the active “audio reception” mode than on the hearing aid device that is in a passive “audio reception” mode.

A receiver in the ear (RITE) component (1) for a hearing aid, said RITE component comprising a receiver (9) and a receiver housing (3), and a connector (4) comprising coupling means (7) for coupling the RITE component to a BTE housing component of said hearing aid, and said connector (4) comprising an electrically conductive means (6). The RITE component (1) further comprises a fixture (5) to connect the receiver (9) in the receiver housing (3) and the connector (4), said fixture (5) comprising a spring element (15) and at least one contact terminal (16) adapted for abutting contact with at least one corresponding contact terminal (17) on said receiver (9).

A hearing aid includes a receiver with a receiver housing, the receiver having a sound port opening, and being configured to be placed at least partly in an ear canal of a user, and a sound tube acoustically connected to the sound port opening of the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions, wherein the sound tube has a total length of at least 16 mm. A hearing aid includes a behind the ear (BTE) unit configured to process sound and generate an electrical signal, an earpiece, and a signal conductor configured to communicate the electrical signal to the earpiece, wherein the earpiece comprises a receiver that is configured to convert the electrical signal into a sound signal, and wherein the earpiece further comprises a sound tube that is coupled to a sound port opening at the receiver, the sound tube having a longitudinal extension in at least two directions.

A hearing aid includes a sound input device, and a speaker, wherein the speaker includes a compartment with magnet suspended in a fluid containing magnetic particles and wherein a coil wrapped around the compartment or in close proximity thereto excites the magnet to vibrate causing pressure waves to vibrate a diaphragm proximal to the magnet.

A behind-the-ear hearing aid component employs a multi-functional module easily replaced to enhance repairability and time to market. The multi-functional module is removably secured to a case that carries a microphone, a programming system that receives and stores one or more hearing aid programs, an optional selector for selecting one of a plurality of hearing aid programs, a signal conditioning circuit for conditioning the microphone signal according to a hearing aid program to produce a conditioned microphone signal, and a battery for powering the hearing aid component. A receiver converts the conditioned microphone signal to conditioned sound that is output to an external sound conductor, such as an earhook or tube and tip, which conducts the conditioned sound to an ear of the user.

A speech processor module is disclosed. The speech processor module is configured to be implemented in more than one mode of operation of a hearing prosthesis including as a component of a stand-alone speech processing unit, and as a component of a body-worn speech processing unit, wherein said body-worn speech processing unit comprises a case that protects the speech processor module from environmental conditions which can damage said speech processor module implemented in said stand-alone operating mode.

A wireless microphone (1) comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting radio signals carrying audio signals to a hearing device. The wireless microphone (1) further comprises at least one coupling element (11) for detachably fixing one of various interchangeable functional modules (2) to the wireless microphone (1). The coupling element (11) is designed to fix the interchangeable functional module (2) to the wireless microphone (1) by mating with a coupling element (21) of the interchangeable functional module (2). The coupling elements (11, 21) comprise electrical contacts (12, 22) for electrically connecting the interchangeable functional module (2) to the wireless microphone (1) when the interchangeable functional module (2) is fixed to the wireless microphone (1) by means of said coupling elements (11, 21). The coupling element (11) constitutes a bidirectional electrical interface between the wireless microphone (1) and the interchangeable functional module (2). The wireless microphone (1) can be limited to an assistive listening device with basic functions and features, extendible by the user with extra functions and features as needed.

The present invention relates to a hearing aid (1) comprising a housing (2), at least a first microphone for receiving ambient sound, processing means for processing a signal from the first microphone (6, 7) and an output transducer. At least one further microphone (8) is disposed in said hearing housing at a location, which, during normal use of the hearing aid, is sheltered against wind influences.

An otoplastic for production of behind-the-ear hearing aids. The hearing aid includes a preferably flexible signal conductor, such as an acoustic tube positioned in the auditory canal, whereby the otoplastic matches the individual anatomy of the patient and its locating part is in the form of a clip, which, at least partly arched, follows the outer edge of the cavum conchae. A branch following the edge of the cavum conchae transforms, above the antitragus, into a bent crosspiece traversing the cavum conchae and extending in the direction of the porous acusticus externus. The end section of the crosspiece lies in the upper section of the auditory canal and widens to accept the signal conductor (42).

Embodiments of the invention include a method of preventing ferrite migration in a hearing aid including an antenna stack and a battery stack wherein the antenna stack sits on the battery stack, the method comprising the steps of: conformally coating the top and sides of the antenna stack using a conformal coating material; and separately coating all the surfaces of the battery stack using a separate material.

A special accessory adapter for use with a BTE device of a cochlear implant (CI) system provides two inputs: a T-Mic input and an auxiliary audio input. Both inputs (the T-Mic input and the auxiliary audio input) are connected to a special mixer circuit integrated into a body of the accessory adapter. The body of the accessory adapter connects to the BTE using the same earhook attachment mechanism used by other accessories used by the CI system. The special mixer circuit prevents signals from either the T-Mic input or the auxiliary audio input from interfering with each other. Both signals, however, can still be processed by the processing circuits of the BTE and combined in such a way that user is able to perceive both signals at the same time.