JP4020774B2 - hearing aid - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a contact-type sound guide that directly transmits acoustic vibrations to a hearing organ such as an eardrum, and a hearing aid using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional air conduction hearing aid includes a microphone that converts an acoustic signal into an electric signal, an electric circuit that amplifies and processes the electric signal, a receiver that converts the electric signal amplified and processed by the electric circuit into an acoustic signal, and the like. . This air conduction hearing aid closes the ear canal with earplugs or ear molds (cases for in-ear hearing aids) and emits an amplified acoustic signal into the ear canal space between it and the eardrum, which is usually amplified by a factor of 100 or more. The sound pressure is applied to the entire eardrum to vibrate the eardrum and the middle ear, and further, the lymph fluid in the inner ear is vibrated to transmit an acoustic signal to the auditory nerve.
[0003]
In order to increase the degree of amplification of the hearing aid, the ear canal must be completely blocked by an earplug or ear mold so as not to cause howling. Even when the ear canal is completely blocked by the earplug or ear mold, there is a problem that sound leaks from the earplug or ear mold due to deformation of the ear canal wall accompanying the movement of the lower jaw or the like, and howling occurs.
Further, in the conventional air conduction hearing aid, howling is likely to occur because the output is the same physical quantity as the input, that is, the sound propagating in the air. In addition, there are problems such as audible discomfort, discomfort, and external auditory canal diseases that result from blocking the ear canal with earplugs or ear molds.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the conventional bone-conducting hearing aid, howling is unlikely to occur because the output is mechanical vibration.
However, conventional bone-conducting hearing aids are less efficient and less sensitive than transmitting vibrations through the middle ear to the inner ear's lymph fluid because it applies vibration to the inner ear's lymph fluid and transmits acoustic signals to the auditory nerve. There is a drawback that the size is larger than the hearing aid.
[0005]
Therefore, if the mechanical vibration is applied directly to the eardrum rather than passing through the skull like a bone conduction hearing aid, the efficiency is improved. From this point of view, hearing aids that transmit mechanical vibration directly to the eardrum are known by using a transducer that converts the input acoustic signal into mechanical vibration and outputs it, and connecting the output end to the eardrum with a contact member. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
From a similar point of view, a method is known in which a magnet is attached to the eardrum, an electromagnetic field corresponding to an acoustic signal is generated from a hearing aid arranged in the ear canal outside the eardrum, and the eardrum is vibrated (for example, a patent Reference 2).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
US Pat. No. 6,137,889 [Patent Document 2]
US Pat. No. 5,259,032 specification
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the invention described in US Pat. No. 6,137,889, since the output end of the transducer and the delicate eardrum are mechanically directly connected, a complicated mechanism is required so that excessive force does not act on the eardrum. .
In addition, the invention described in US Pat. No. 5,259,032 has a problem that a magnet must be stably and permanently installed on a delicate eardrum.
Furthermore, both cannot be applied to conventional hearing aids, which requires a new cost burden on the hearing aid wearer.
[0008]
In addition, the acoustic impedance of the external auditory canal space is significantly smaller than the acoustic impedance of the electroacoustic transducer (receiver), which is a component of the hearing aid, and the frequency is particularly high compared to the acoustic impedance of the middle ear as viewed from the eardrum. Remarkably small in bandwidth. Therefore, if the impedance mismatch is large, the transmission efficiency of the acoustic energy is deteriorated. Therefore, the conventional air conduction hearing aid has a problem that the efficiency of the acoustic energy transmitted to the middle ear is extremely poor.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and the object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of transmitting acoustic energy to the middle ear and not completely block the ear canal. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contact-type sound conductor that does not generate howling and does not have a sound sensation, discomfort, external ear canal disease, and the like, and a hearing aid using the same.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is composed of a conduit for propagating an acoustic signal output from the electroacoustic transducer without occluding the ear canal, and a balloon provided at the tip of the conduit, and the balloon is used as an eardrum. A central part of the earpiece, contacting an auditory organ such as an ossicle or a cochlea to transmit the acoustic signal to the auditory nerve, supporting the conduit against the inner wall of the external auditory canal, and a conduit so that the balloon accurately contacts the auditory organ A contact-type sound conductor having a holding member attached to the conduit was connected to the sound output outlet .
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is a conduit for propagating an acoustic signal output from the electroacoustic transducer without blocking the ear canal, a diaphragm provided at the tip of the conduit, and a contact provided at the center of the diaphragm. The contact is brought into contact with the central part of the eardrum , a hearing organ such as an ossicle or a cochlea, and the acoustic signal is transmitted to the auditory nerve, and the conduit is supported against the inner wall of the external auditory canal. A contact-type conductor having a conduit holding member attached to the conduit so as to accurately contact the auditory organ was connected to the sound output outlet .
[0013]
The invention according to claim 3 is the hearing aid according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the conduit holding member is provided with a vent or a notch.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to an in-ear hearing aid, and FIG. 2 is a wearing state in which the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to a behind-the-ear hearing aid. Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the state, Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which a contact-type sound conductor having a conduit holding member is applied to an in-ear hearing aid, and Figs. 4 to 6 are cross-sections of the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention. FIGS. 7 to 10 are a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a conduit holding member, and FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which another type of contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to an in-ear hearing aid. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of another type of contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, an in-ear hearing aid to which a contact-type conductor according to the present invention is applied includes a microphone 1 that converts an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and a hearing aid processing unit 2 that amplifies or processes the output of the microphone 1. , An in-ear hearing aid 4 composed of a receiver 3 for converting an electrical signal output from the hearing aid processing unit 2 into an acoustic signal, and a contact connected to an acoustic output outlet 5 of the in-ear hearing aid 4 via a nozzle 6 It consists of a type conductor 7.
[0017]
The contact-type sound guide 7 is made of a material such as a conduit 8 filled with a gas or a liquid that propagates an acoustic signal, and silicone that vibrates in accordance with the sound pressure of the acoustic signal in the conduit 8 provided at the end of the conduit 8. It is comprised with the balloon 9 made from the soft film | membrane made. Note that a conduit attachment portion (not shown) for connecting the contact-type sound conductor 7 to the in-ear hearing aid 4 may be provided, and the root of the conduit attachment portion may be attached to the hearing aid case 10 via a universal joint. Thereby, the direction of the contact-type conductor 7 with respect to the hearing aid case 10 can be changed within an appropriate range.
[0018]
The operation of the in-ear hearing aid 4 to which the contact-type conductor 7 according to the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described.
The length and direction of the conduit 8 are adjusted in advance so that the tip of the balloon 9 contacts the central portion of the eardrum 11 with an appropriate pressure. Then, the wearer himself holds the hearing aid 4 with his hand, inserts the contact-type conductor 7 into the ear canal 12, and confirms that the tip of the balloon 9 is in contact with the eardrum 11 and wears it.
[0019]
The acoustic signal output from the in-ear hearing aid 4 does not pass through the external auditory canal 12 space, passes through the conduit 8 having a higher acoustic impedance, and reaches the balloon 9, and the balloon 9 vibrates according to the sound pressure of the acoustic signal. 11 and efficiently transmits acoustic energy to the auditory nerve through the middle ear. Further, since the tip of the balloon 9 is in contact with the central portion (tympanic umbilicus) of the eardrum 11, vibration can be efficiently transmitted to the middle ear.
[0020]
The reason for this is that the striated bone handle 14 of the striated bone 13 extends to the central portion of the tympanic membrane 11 and is coupled to the tympanoid membrane 11, so that the striated bone 13 can be efficiently vibrated. Since the central portion of the eardrum 11 is recessed in a conical shape on the inner side, the tip of the balloon 9 can be stably contacted.
[0021]
Further, in a patient whose eardrum 11 has been partially or wholly removed and whose middle ear has been opened, the acoustic energy can be transmitted to the auditory nerve in the same manner as described above by bringing the balloon 9 into direct contact with the ossicle or cochlea. .
[0022]
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the ear-type hearing aid to which the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied is the ear-type hearing aid 15 and the contact-type sound guide connected to the hook 16 of the ear-type hearing aid 15. Consists of 17 children. The contact-type sound conductor 17 is made of a material such as a conduit 18 filled with a gas or a liquid for propagating an acoustic signal, and silicone that is provided at the tip of the conduit 18 and vibrates according to the sound pressure of the acoustic signal in the conduit 18. The balloon 19 is formed.
[0023]
In addition, a conduit holding member 20 is attached to the conduit 18 so that the conduit 18 is stably supported with respect to the inner wall of the ear canal 12 in advance and the balloon 9 accurately contacts the auditory organ such as the eardrum 11. Reference numeral 21 denotes a vent hole.
[0024]
The conduit holding member 20 may be fixed with an adhesive or the like when adjusted so that the balloon 19 contacts the central portion of the eardrum 11 with an appropriate pressure in each wearer. Usually, the user of the ear-hearing type hearing aid 15 inserts the contact-type conductor 17 into the ear canal 12 and confirms the contact state between the conduit holding member 20 and the inner wall of the ear canal 12, and the tip of the balloon 19. Wear the ear-shaped hearing aid 15 so that the eardrum 11 contacts the eardrum 11 with an appropriate pressure.
[0025]
The operation of the behind-the-ear hearing aid 15 to which the contact-type conductor 17 according to the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described.
The acoustic signal output from the ear-hearing hearing aid 15 does not pass through the external auditory canal 12 space, passes through the conduit 18 having a higher acoustic impedance, reaches the balloon 19, and the balloon 19 vibrates according to the sound pressure of the acoustic signal. The sound energy can be efficiently transmitted to the auditory nerve through the middle ear.
[0026]
In the contact-type sound conductors 7 and 17 according to the present invention, the side surfaces 9a and 19a that do not come into contact with the eardrum 11 of the balloons 9 and 19 are increased in thickness from the balloons 9 and 19 to the external auditory canal 12 space. By reducing the radiated acoustic energy, the sound pressure in the ear canal 12 space can be lowered as compared with the conventional hearing aid that transmits an acoustic signal to the eardrum 11 through the ear canal 12.
[0027]
As a result, even if the external auditory canal 12 is not completely blocked, howling is unlikely to occur, and problems such as noise, discomfort, and external auditory canal diseases associated with the closure of the external auditory canal 12 can be solved. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, even with the in-ear hearing aid 25, the use of the conduit holding member 20 allows the outer ear canal 12 to be mounted without being blocked. A similar effect can be achieved by providing a vent hole in the hearing aid case 10 in FIG.
[0028]
Next, an embodiment of the contact-type conductor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The contact-type sound conductor 30 shown in FIG. 4 has the same configuration as that of the contact-type sound conductor 7 shown in FIG. 1, and a balloon 32 formed of a material such as silicone is directly formed on the conduit 31 so as not to damage the eardrum 11. It is attached. The balloon 32 is formed so as not to be easily crushed even if it contacts the eardrum 11.
[0029]
The conduit 31 and the balloon 32 are joined by the elasticity of the conduit 31 or the balloon 32, or the joint 33 is bonded. If the conduit 31 and the balloon 32 are joined by the elasticity of the conduit 31 or the balloon 32, the balloon 32 can be attached to and detached from the conduit 31 and can be exchanged. In addition, the conduit 31 is provided with a vent hole 34 for keeping the static pressure inside the contact-type sound guide 30 equal to the external atmospheric pressure. The balloon 32 may be provided with a vent for keeping the static pressure in the conduit 31 equal to the external pressure.
[0030]
The contact-type sound conductor 35 shown in FIG. 5 has a thick portion 38 at the joint portion between the conduit 36 and the balloon 37, and the rest is the same as the configuration of FIG.
[0031]
The contact-type sound conductor 40 shown in FIG. 6 has a thick portion 43 at the joint between the conduit 41 and the balloon 42, and a vent hole 44 in the thick portion 43. It is the same.
[0032]
The vent holes 34 and 44 that keep the static pressure inside the contact-type sound guides 30, 35, and 40 equal to the external atmospheric pressure may be provided on the side of the hearing aids 4 and 15 as long as the purpose can be achieved. Good. Moreover, the objective of the vent holes 34 and 44 can be achieved by using a breathable material for all or part of the balloons 32, 37 and 42.
[0033]
Next, an embodiment of a conduit holding member attached to a contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The conduit holding member 50 shown in FIG. 7 has a through hole 51 for allowing the conduit 18 to pass through a central portion of the conduit holding member 50 having a size that appropriately closes the external auditory canal 12. The through hole 51 has such a size that no gap is formed when the conduit 18 is passed through. The thickness of the conduit holding member 50 may be reduced in a bowl shape as long as the purpose can be achieved. The conduit holding member 50 is made of a sponge-like material or a polymer elastic material such as silicone.
[0034]
The conduit holding member 52 shown in FIG. 8 has the same configuration as the conduit holding member 20 shown in FIG. 2, and has a vent hole 54 in addition to the through hole 53 through which the conduit 18 passes. A plurality of vent holes 54 may be provided. The other configuration is the same as that of the conduit holding member 50 shown in FIG.
[0035]
The conduit holding member 55 shown in FIG. 9 has three notches 57 for ventilation in the outer periphery in addition to the through hole 56 for allowing the conduit 18 to pass through the central portion. One or more notches 57 may be provided. The other configuration is the same as that of the conduit holding member 50 shown in FIG.
[0036]
The conduit holding member 58 shown in FIG. 10 is a mold type manufactured by taking a part of the ear canal 12 of the wearer. The conduit holding member 58 has a vent hole 60 in addition to the through hole 59 through which the conduit 18 passes. The vent hole 60 can be replaced by a notch formed on the outer periphery. As the material, soft and hard polymer materials can be used.
[0037]
Next, an in-ear hearing aid to which another type of contact-type sound guide according to the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 11, a microphone 1 that converts an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and an output or amplification of the microphone 1 are amplified or signaled. A hearing aid processing unit 2 to be processed, an in-ear hearing aid 4 including a receiver 3 that converts an electrical signal output from the hearing aid processing unit 2 into an acoustic signal, and a nozzle 6 in an acoustic output extraction port 5 of the in-ear hearing aid 4 It consists of the contact-type sound conductor 70 connected via.
[0038]
The contact-type sound guide 70 is an elastic body that is filled with a gas 71 or a liquid 71 that propagates an acoustic signal and is tensioned at an appropriate tension to the tip of the conduit 71 and vibrates according to the sound pressure of the acoustic signal in the conduit 71. A vibrating membrane 72 made of a polymer material, a vibrating membrane peripheral portion 73 that fixes the peripheral portion of the vibrating membrane 72 and couples the vibrating membrane 72 and the conduit 71, and a contact that has one end fixed to the central portion of the vibrating membrane 72 74.
[0039]
The end surface where the contact 74 is fixed to the center of the vibration film 72 is smaller than the size of the vibration film 72, and the contact 74 is vibrated integrally with the vibration film 72. It is fixed. It is preferable that the mechanical output impedance of the contact-type sound conductor 70 viewed from the tip of the contact 74 is approximately the same as the mechanical input impedance of the middle ear viewed from the center of the eardrum 11.
[0040]
An operation of the in-ear hearing aid 4 to which the contact-type conductor 70 according to the present invention configured as described above is applied will be described.
The length and orientation of the conduit 71 are adjusted in advance so that the tip of the contact 74 comes into contact with the central portion of the eardrum 11 with an appropriate pressure. Then, the wearer himself holds the hearing aid 4 with his / her hand, inserts the contact-type conductor 70 into the ear canal 11, confirms that the tip of the contact 74 has contacted the eardrum 11, and wears it.
[0041]
The acoustic signal output from the in-ear hearing aid 4 does not pass through the external auditory canal 12 space, passes through the conduit 71 having a higher acoustic impedance, reaches the vibrating membrane 72, and the vibrating membrane 72 vibrates according to the sound pressure of the acoustic signal. Is applied to the contact 74, and the contact 74 imparts the vibration to the eardrum 11, and efficiently transmits acoustic energy to the auditory nerve through the middle ear. Further, since the tip of the contact 74 is in contact with the central portion (tympanic umbilicus) of the eardrum 11, vibration can be efficiently transmitted to the middle ear.
[0042]
Compared to the case where the balloon-type contact-type sound conductor 7 shown in FIG. 1 is used when the contact-type sound conductor 70 of this type is used, the space of the ear canal 12 from the side surface portion 9a of the balloon 9 is used. Since there is no sound radiation, the howling can be further reduced.
[0043]
Next, an embodiment of a contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention using a contact will be described with reference to FIGS. The contact-type sound conductor 75 shown in FIG. 12 is a case where the peripheral portion of the vibration film 76 is directly joined to the conduit 77 and the contact 78 is fixed to the surface of the vibration film 76. A contact-type sound conductor 79 shown in FIG. 13 is the same as the contact-type sound conductor 75 shown in FIG. 12 except that the contact film 78 is fixed to the vibration film 76 to balance the weight of the contact film 78. This is a case where the contact fixing member 80 is provided on the back surface opposite to the front surface.
[0044]
A contact-type sound conductor 81 shown in FIG. 14 is a case where the contact-type sound conductor 79 shown in FIG. 13 is provided with a vibration film peripheral portion 82 that couples the vibration film 76 and the conduit 77. A vent hole may be provided in the conduit 77 and / or the vibrating membrane 76 so that the static pressure in the conduit 77 is the same as the external pressure. In addition, a breathable material can be used for all or part of the vibration film 76. Furthermore, all or part of the surface of the contact 78 can be coated with a soft material.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the acoustic signal does not pass through the external auditory canal space and is directly transmitted as a mechanical vibration to the auditory organ such as the eardrum, the ossicle, and the cochlea, the acoustic energy is efficiently reduced. The sound signal can be transmitted to the ear and the sound signal can be reliably heard . In addition, howling does not easily occur even if the external auditory canal is not completely closed, and no audible sound, discomfort, or external auditory canal disease associated with the external auditory canal obstruction occurs, so that it can be worn comfortably .
In addition to being able to stably support the conduit against the inner wall of the ear canal, the balloon can be accurately brought into contact with the central part of the eardrum, the auditory organs such as the ossicles and the cochlea, so that the acoustic energy can be fed into the middle ear. The transmission efficiency can be improved.
[0046]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the acoustic signal is transmitted directly to the auditory organs such as the eardrum, the ossicle, and the cochlea without passing through the external auditory canal space, so that the acoustic energy can be efficiently transmitted to the middle ear. The sound signal can be heard reliably . Further, even if the external auditory canal is not completely blocked, howling is more unlikely to occur, and no sound, discomfort, external auditory canal disease, and the like associated with occlusion of the external auditory canal occur, so that it can be worn comfortably .
In addition, the conduit can be stably supported with respect to the inner wall of the ear canal, and the contact can be accurately brought into contact with the central part of the eardrum, the auditory organ such as the ossicle and the cochlea, so The transmission efficiency can be improved.
[0048]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to solve problems such as sound squeaking, discomfort, and external auditory canal diseases associated with blocking the ear canal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which a contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to an in-ear hearing aid. FIG. 2 is a wearing state in which the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to an ear-shaped hearing aid. Conceptual diagram [FIG. 3] A conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which a contact-type sound conductor having a conduit holding member is applied to an in-ear hearing aid. [FIG. 4] A cross-sectional view of the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the conduit holding member. FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the conduit holding member. FIG. 10A is a plan view of the conduit holding member. b) Cross-sectional view FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram of a wearing state in which another type of contact-type sound conductor according to the present invention is applied to an in-ear hearing aid. FIG. 12 is another type of contact-type sound guide according to the present invention. Sectional view and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another type of contact Shirubeonko of this cross-sectional view of another type of contact Shirubeonko according to the present invention Figure 14 the present invention EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microphone, 2 ... Hearing-aid processing part, 3 ... Receiver, 4 ... Insertion-type hearing aid, 5,16 ... Sound output extraction port, 6 ... Nozzle, 7, 17, 30, 35, 40, 70, 75, 79, 81 ... Contact-type sound conductor, 8, 18, 31, 36, 41, 71, 77 ... Conduit, 9, 19, 32, 37, 42 ... Balloon, 11 ... Tympanic membrane, 12 ... Ear canal, 15 ... Hearing aid 20, 50, 52, 55, 58 ... conduit holding member, 34, 44, 54, 60 ... vent hole, 57 ... notch, 74, 78 ... contactor, 72, 76 ... vibrating membrane.

Claims (3)

Consists of a conduit that propagates the acoustic signal output from the electroacoustic transducer without blocking the ear canal, and a balloon at the tip of this conduit. This balloon contacts the central part of the eardrum, auditory organs such as the ossicles and cochlea. The acoustic signal is transmitted to the auditory nerve to support the conduit against the inner wall of the ear canal, and a contact-type conductor having a conduit holding member attached to the conduit so that the balloon accurately contacts the auditory organ. A hearing aid characterized by being connected to a sound output outlet . A conduit for propagating the acoustic signal output from the electroacoustic transducer without blocking the ear canal, a vibrating membrane provided at the tip of the conduit, and a contact provided at the center of the vibrating membrane. the central portion of the tympanic membrane, is brought into contact with the auditory organs such as the ossicles or the cochlea convey the sound signal to the auditory nerve, while supporting the conduit relative to the ear canal inner wall, so that the contactor is properly in contact with the auditory organ A hearing aid characterized in that a contact-type conductor having a conduit holding member attached to the conduit is connected to an acoustic output outlet . The hearing aid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conduit holding member is provided with a vent or a notch.

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