CN220108198U

CN220108198U - Headset with integrated optical sensor system for hearing devices

Info

Publication number: CN220108198U
Application number: CN202320371426.2U
Authority: CN
Inventors: K·胡松
Original assignee: Sivantos Pte Ltd
Current assignee: Sivantos Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2022-02-28
Filing date: 2023-02-28
Publication date: 2023-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-28
Also published as: DE102022202047A1

Abstract

The utility model relates to an earpiece (10) with an integrated optical sensor system for a hearing device (1), wherein the earpiece (10) comprises: a housing (38) having a sound outlet opening at an end face; at least one first light source (30) integrated in the housing (38); and at least one light sensor (40) integrated in the housing (38), wherein the light sensor (40) is provided for recording light in the wavelength range of the first light source (30), and wherein the earpiece (10) further has an outgoing light guide (35, 35a,35b,35 c) extending from the housing (38) starting from the first light source (30), and/or at least one incoming light guide (45, 45 a) extending from the housing (38) starting from the light sensor (40).

Description

Headset with integrated optical sensor system for hearing devices

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an earpiece with an integrated optical sensor system, wherein the earpiece comprises a housing, at least one first light source integrated in the housing, and at least one light sensor integrated in the housing, wherein the earpiece has a sound outlet opening on an end face, and wherein the light sensor is arranged to record light in the wavelength range of the light source.

Background

Hearing devices, such as headphones (in particular in the form of "earplugs"), in particular hearing aids in the narrow sense (i.e. hearing devices arranged for correcting hearing impairment of a user), are increasingly equipped with further sensing functions in order to measure the body temperature of the user or to determine the physical activity of the user, for example by means of integrated thermometers or acceleration sensors. Furthermore, hearing devices are often equipped with an optical sensor system by means of which a cardiovascular characteristic of the user, such as pulse rate or blood pressure, is measured, for example by photoplethysmography (PPG). On the one hand, such information is often used in hearing devices that are mainly used as headphones and/or that can be understood in a broad sense as consumer electronics. In this case, the fitness tracking function is extended for headphones. On the other hand, this information also allows general conclusions to be drawn about the comfort or health status of the user, so that hearing aids in the narrow sense are also equipped with the mentioned and/or similar sensors for better health monitoring.

PPG sensor systems typically comprise at least one light source, typically in the form of LEDs in the spectral range of red, infrared, and sometimes also green light, and a light sensor, typically a Photodiode (PD), which records light in the spectral range of the light source. The light source emits pulses of light into adjacent body tissue through which the light is partially transmitted, particularly along blood vessels. The light sensor detects light emitted from the tissue at the same location relative to the light source (so-called reflectance measurement) or at a slightly altered location (so-called transmittance measurement), wherein the detected light is examined in terms of spectral modulation, which is caused by reflection or transmission of the pulsating blood flow. From these spectral modulations, the above-mentioned cardiovascular characteristics can be determined.

One problem, especially when PPG measurements are made with a hearing device in the ear canal, is to obtain a sufficiently good Signal-to-Noise-Ratio ("SNR") because, on the one hand, light sensors often record many disturbing light effects, such as externally scattered light, or direct light irradiation from a light source (without entering the tissue), which reduces the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (rauschlabstand). On the other hand, the movements of the user (i.e. not only physical activity, but also mandibular movements, such as speaking or chewing) may change the pose of the hearing device and thus its PPG sensor system in the ear canal, whereby so-called motion artifacts may be formed in the recorded data.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present utility model is therefore to provide an earpiece for a hearing device, which has an integrated optical sensor system for measuring biometric parameters, in particular cardiovascular parameters, in an improved manner.

According to the present utility model, the above-mentioned technical problem is solved by an earpiece for a hearing device having an integrated optical sensor system, wherein the earpiece comprises: a housing having a sound outlet opening at an end face; at least one first light source integrated in the housing; at least one light sensor integrated in the housing, the light sensor being arranged for registering light in a wavelength range of the light source; an outgoing light guide extending from the housing from the first light source; and/or at least one incoming optical waveguide extending from the housing from the light sensor. The advantageous design of the part itself, which is considered to be inventive, is the subject matter of the following description.

A hearing device generally comprises a device which is configured and arranged for generating a corresponding output sound from an electrical output signal by means of an electroacoustic output transducer and for providing it to the auditory organ of the user. Here, as such an output transducer, a speaker may be used in particular, but for example, a piezoelectric transducer may also be used. The hearing instrument can be designed here on the one hand only to produce output sound from audio data, i.e. for example in the form of a wireless earphone, in particular in the form of an earplug. In this case, the output sound is generated from audio data which can be given by music, for example, and stored in advance, or can also be transmitted to the hearing instrument via a corresponding antenna (via streaming).

However, the hearing device ("in a narrow sense") may be given by a hearing aid, which is arranged for correcting or at least partly compensating for a hearing impairment of the user, in that, for example, ambient sound is converted into a corresponding electrical input signal by means of at least one electroacoustic input transducer, for example a microphone (or microphones), which electrical input signal is processed in the hearing aid according to the hearing requirements of the user, in particular amplified frequency band by frequency band, so that the processed input signal is fed as output sound to the auditory organ of the user via the electroacoustic output transducer.

The earpiece is in particular configured and arranged for use in the ear canal. In particular, the earpiece is configured and arranged for coupling to and use in connection with a hearing device and/or is designed to be used as part of a hearing device.

The earpiece may have a loudspeaker, for example, and be provided for a so-called RIC hearing aid, wherein the loudspeaker is preferably arranged in the housing close to the sound outlet opening. The earpiece may also be provided for a so-called BTE hearing aid, wherein the sound outlet opening is connected to the sound conductor of the earpiece. The earpiece may also be designed as an ear-side component of the housing of the ITE device or as a headset. Here, the sound generated in the earpiece (for example in the case of an earpiece for a RIC hearing aid or a housing of an ITE device) or the sound transmitted into the housing (in the case of an earpiece for a BTE hearing aid) can escape from the housing through a sound outlet opening at one end face of the housing and be output into the auditory canal of the user in normal use.

The integrated optical sensor system here comprises in particular: at least the optical element of the sensor, which comprises at least the light source and the light sensor, is integrated into the earpiece. The optical sensor system may be designed such that, in a normal operation in conjunction with the earpiece of the hearing device, a preferably wired (but also wireless) connection from the light sensor to the signal processing means of the hearing device may be established, so that the measurement data collected by the light sensor may be transmitted via said connection to the signal processing means and processed there for evaluation. In this case, a corresponding connection can preferably also be established between the first light source and the signal processing device, by means of which connection, for example, information about the light signal emitted by the first light source can be transmitted to the signal processing device and/or by means of which connection the first light source can be controlled by the signal processing device.

However, the integrated optical sensor system may also comprise a local evaluation unit in the earpiece itself, by means of which the received light signal may be evaluated. In this case, the evaluation unit may be connected via a connection to signal processing means of the hearing instrument.

In particular, the integrated optical sensor system is designed, i.e. configured and arranged, for performing PPG measurements (when the measured light signal is correspondingly evaluated by the signal processing means of the hearing device or the evaluation unit of the earpiece).

PPG measurements are generally based on the fact that they contain O ₂ Hemoglobin in the blood of (a so-called oxygenated hemoglobin) and free of O ₂ Has a significantly different absorption spectrum compared to the hemoglobin of (so-called deoxyhemoglobin). By measuring the modulation of the absorbance of light in the red and/or infrared (and sometimes also green) range (i.e. their periodic variation due to pulsations of arterial blood flow), the pulse rate and (e.g. the quotient of the two modulation depths at different wavelengths) the oxygen saturation can be deduced. As already mentioned, such an evaluation may be performed in the hearing instrument (after a corresponding transmission of the measurement data of the light sensor of the earpiece) or in the earpiece's own evaluation unit.

The first light source, which is preferably provided by at least one LED, is arranged to emit pulsed and/or continuous light signals, in particular in the red and/or infrared and/or green range, and is integrated into the housing in such a way that, depending on its arrangement, the first light source is arranged on its surface or below the light outlet opening in the housing. In this case, the first light source is preferably arranged such that the emitted light signal is emitted with a significant normal component with respect to the housing surface (so as to be able to correspondingly enter the tissue surrounding the earpiece when the hearing device is worn).

The light sensor is preferably integrated into the housing according to its arrangement in such a way that the light sensor is arranged on its surface or below the light inlet opening in the housing. The light sensor is arranged for registering light in the wavelength range of the first light source, i.e. in particular when the light signal in the spectral range of the first light source hits the light sensor, a corresponding measurement signal is generated. Preferably it is designed as a PD which is sensitive, in particular, at least in the red and/or infrared and/or green range.

In this case, the guided light guide protrudes from the first light source, i.e. according to a design, is preferably mounted on the first light source arranged on the housing or is guided away from the housing from a light outlet opening of the first light source arranged below it. The same applies to the light sensor or the light inlet opening for the introduced light guide.

In particular, the outgoing light guide can be embodied here as a button-like or rod-like projection from the housing. In particular, the at least one introduced optical waveguide may be designed as a plate-like projection from the housing. In particular, it is also possible to arrange a plurality of incoming optical waveguides, which are each designed as button-like or rod-like projections from the housing and together form a projecting grid.

The respective optical waveguide is preferably designed for optical waveguide in the spectral range of the first light source. This may include, in particular, that, due to the design of the refractive index (or indices in the case of a non-uniform optical waveguide) in the spectral range of the first light source, the light beam incident into the optical waveguide having a sufficiently small transverse component (relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide) does not leave the optical waveguide transversely, but is reflected at the side interfaces of the optical waveguide.

By means of the outgoing light guide it is achieved that the light generated by the first light source enters almost completely the tissue in the auditory canal. Loss as scattered light can be effectively prevented. By introducing the optical waveguide, stray light from the environment (that is, stray light is not based on the optical signal of the first light source modulated by tissue) can be significantly reduced from entering the light sensor. The incidence of direct light into the light sensor from the first light source can likewise be reduced (that is to say without prior propagation through the tissue in the case of corresponding modulation through the tissue).

In this case, the outgoing optical waveguide is advantageously made of a flexible material and/or the incoming optical waveguide is made of a flexible material. The use of flexible materials here improves the wearing comfort on the one hand by preventing possible pressure points caused by the light guide in the skin in the ear canal. On the other hand, the attitude of the earpiece is also improved by holding the earpiece in its wearing position by the flexible optical waveguide, and particularly preventing a shearing movement of the earpiece transverse to the emission direction of the optical signal of the first light source. Motion artifacts in the measurement data can thereby also be largely prevented.

Preferably the flexible material has a shore hardness of at most 50, preferably between 20 and 30. Such a material is flexible enough on the one hand to ensure a high wearing comfort and on the other hand has the necessary stability to prevent a corresponding bending of the optical waveguide and possible measurement artefacts that may occur thereby.

In one suitable embodiment, the outgoing optical waveguide has a diameter of at most 2 mm. Such an optical waveguide allows the optical signal emitted from the first light source to enter the tissue of the ear canal sufficiently concentrated.

It has proven to be advantageous if the outgoing optical waveguide protrudes up to 1mm, particularly preferably up to 0.5mm, and/or if the at least one incoming optical waveguide protrudes up to 1mm, particularly preferably up to 0.5mm. The mentioned lengths allow in particular to efficiently guide the light signal generated by the first light source into the tissue or to guide the light signal escaping from the tissue, modulated by the tissue, to the light sensor, in order to effectively prevent scattering losses accordingly.

The earpiece expediently comprises a plurality of incoming optical waveguides which each protrude from the housing starting from the light sensor and are preferably each made of a flexible material. The individual light guides introduced here form a grid which guides the hit light signals to the light sensor. In an alternative embodiment, the earpiece comprises a plate-shaped light guide which protrudes from the housing from the light sensor.

Advantageously, the outgoing light guide protrudes from the housing at a first side wall of the housing starting from the first light source, wherein at least one incoming light guide protrudes from the housing at a second side wall of the housing starting from the light sensor, and wherein the normal directions of the first and second side walls enclose an angle of at least 45 °. This means in particular that the first light source and the light sensor are arranged on different sides of the housing and are arranged with respect to each other at an angle of at least 45 °, preferably 90 ° and/or 180 °. Direct light from the first light source (i.e. light that does not enter the tissue) can thereby be prevented from entering the light sensor too much.

The axial direction is preferably defined as passing through the housing, wherein the outgoing optical waveguide and the at least one incoming optical waveguide have a distance from one another in the axial direction along the housing of less than 5mm. This makes it possible to reduce the optical path through which the optical signal emitted from the first light source has to travel in the tissue in order to reach the light sensor.

In an expedient embodiment, the earpiece further has an electroacoustic sound generator, which is arranged inside the housing, by means of flow technologyIs connected to the sound outlet opening and is in particular arranged for generating an output sound signal from the electrical input signal. In particular, the sound generator is here a receiver of a RIC earpiece.

Suitably, the outgoing optical waveguide extending from the housing is rounded or deburred at the free end and/or the at least one incoming optical waveguide extending from the housing is rounded or deburred at the free end. In this case, the optical waveguide concerned is preferably rounded or deburred in order to form a convex lens-shaped structure. The rounding or deburring of the respective optical waveguide increases the wearing comfort of the earpiece in the auditory canal on the one hand, since no sharp edges are in contact with the skin there. On the other hand, the natural refraction effect of the light entering the optical waveguide concerned, which occurs by rounding, can be fully utilized. Here, in the case of the convex lens structure, more light is "refracted into the optical waveguide" than in the case of no such structure. Thus, the light sensor can capture more of the light signal modulated by the tissue, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

The utility model also relates to a hearing device with an earpiece as described above. The hearing device according to the utility model shares the advantages of the earpiece according to the utility model. The advantages given for the earpiece and for its embodiments can be transferred to the hearing instrument in this case.

Drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present utility model will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here:

figure 1 shows in a longitudinal section an associated earpiece and hearing aid with an optical sensor system and a corresponding optical waveguide,

fig. 2 shows the earpiece according to fig. 1 with an extended optical waveguide in an oblique view, and

fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the variant of fig. 2 with an earpiece with an extended optical waveguide in an oblique view.

In all the figures, parts and parameters corresponding to each other are provided with the same reference numerals, respectively.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows a hearing instrument 1 in a longitudinal section, which hearing instrument 1 is embodied here as a hearing aid 2 in the form of a RIC design. The hearing aid 2 here has a body 4 which is worn behind the ear by the user in normal use of the hearing aid 2. Furthermore, the hearing aid 2 has a connection cable 6, which connects the body 4 with the earpiece 10. The earpiece 10 is here detachably connected to the connection cable 6, i.e. in particular the earpiece 10 can be replaced by a further earpiece, whereby the earpiece 10 can be individually adapted to the user or selected for the respective operation.

At least one first microphone 12 is arranged in the body 4, which is arranged for generating an electrical input signal from sound signals of an environment, not shown in detail, which is output to a signal processing device 14 connected to the first microphone 12. In the signal processing means 14, the input signal is processed (in this case, in particular amplified and/or compressed band by band) in accordance with the hearing demand of the user of the hearing aid 2, wherein an output signal (not shown in detail) is generated. The output signal is output via a wired connection 16 led through the connection cable 6 to an electroacoustic sound generator 19, designed as a loudspeaker 18 ("receiver"), which is arranged in the earpiece 10. The speaker 18 generates an output sound signal, not shown in detail, from the output signal, outputs the output sound signal into the sound channel 20 of the earpiece 10 and leaves the sound channel 20 through the sound outlet opening 22 and thus the earpiece 10. In normal operation, the earpiece 10 is at least partially inserted into the external auditory canal of the user's ear.

As described, the earpiece 10, which is reversibly connected to the connection cable 6 (for example by a corresponding plug connection or similar contact) and is correspondingly exchangeable for use in conjunction with the hearing aid 2, further has at least one first light source 30, which is designed here as an LED 32. Here, the LED 32 is mounted on a circuit board, not shown in detail, and is arranged below the light outlet opening 36 of the housing 38 of the earpiece 10. Furthermore, the earpiece 10 has a light sensor 40, which is here designed as a PD 42. A light sensor 40, also mounted on the circuit board, is arranged below the light inlet opening 46 with respect to the housing 38.

The outgoing light guide 35 protrudes from the housing 38 from the LED 32, i.e. the outgoing light guide 35 exceeds the contour of the housing 38 at the location of the LED 32 and can be mounted directly on the LED 32 or can be held in the light outlet opening 36 by a force-fitting plug connection. The outgoing light guide 35 is made of a flexible material.

The inserted optical waveguide 45 protrudes from the housing 38 from the PD 42, i.e. the inserted optical waveguide 45 exceeds the contour of the housing 38 at the location of the PD 42 and can be mounted directly on the PD 42 or can be held in the light inlet opening 46 by a force-fitting plug connection. The light guide 45 introduced here is made of a flexible material.

Here, the LED 32 and the PD 42 are part of an optical sensor system, which is for example arranged for PPG measurements in the ear canal of the user. For this measurement, the earpiece 10 may have a separate evaluation and/or control unit (not shown), which evaluates the measurement signal of the PD 42 and determines therefrom the corresponding cardiovascular variable or other biometric variable (and preferably additionally controls the LED 32). In this case, the PPG sensor is fully integrated in the earpiece 10. Only the determined cardiovascular or other biometric parameters are then transmitted via a data connection (not shown) extending parallel to the connection 16 to the signal processing means 14 of the hearing aid 2 for further use there (e.g. for additional monitoring functions and/or for transmitting an indication signal from the hearing aid 2 to a smart watch or the like). However, the measurement signal of the PD 42 may also be transmitted to the signal processing device 14 via such a data connection, and the LED 32 may be controlled by the signal processing device 14. The cardiovascular or other biometric parameter is then determined in the signal processing device 14 (if necessary in a separately reserved area for this purpose, for example an ASIC or the like).

The earpiece 10 is not shown to scale in fig. 1. However, a common dimension is about 10 to 12mm for the length of the housing 38 to the location of the sound channel 20, and the height of the housing 38 is 3.5 to 5.5mm (excluding the protruding light guides 35, 45). The extracted optical waveguide 35 preferably has a length of 1mm or more and a diameter of 2mm or less; the introduced optical waveguide 45 preferably has a length of 0.5mm or more. Preferably, the outgoing optical waveguide 35 has a shore hardness of less than 50, in particular from 20 to 30In particular, the introduced optical waveguide 45 also has a shore hardness in the mentioned range.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a possible embodiment of the housing according to fig. 1 with a corresponding optical waveguide. The housing 38 of the earpiece 10 has a first side wall 48, a second side wall 50, a third side wall 52 (which here extends perpendicular to the image plane) and a fourth side wall arranged opposite the first side wall 48, which is not visible in the view of fig. 2. Further, an axial direction 54 is defined through the housing 38.

The first and second extracted optical waveguides 35a and 35b protrude from the first side wall 48. The third extracted optical waveguide 35b protrudes from the third side wall 52. LEDs, not shown in detail, as light sources are located in the housing 38, integrated in the first and third side walls 48, 52, respectively, below the outgoing light guides 35a,35b,35 c. The light signals emitted from these light sources are collected by the outgoing light guides 35a,35b,35c, which minimize scattered light losses, and are directed in a targeted manner into the tissue surrounding the earpiece 10 during normal use of the earpiece 10.

The incoming optical waveguide 45 extends from the second sidewall 50. A PD, not shown in detail, as a light sensor is located in the housing 38, integrated in the second side wall 50, underneath the incoming light guide 45. In normal operation of the earpiece 10, in which the user of the hearing aid 2 wears the earpiece 10 in his ear canal (not shown), one of said LEDs generates an optical signal which is LED in a converging manner into the tissue of the ear canal by means of an outgoing optical waveguide 35a,35b or 35c protruding from the housing 38 above the LED concerned. After the light signal has propagated through the tissue accordingly, the portion of the light signal modulated by the blood flow in the tissue gradually escapes from the tissue again into the ear canal. These parts of the optical signal modulated in the tissue can be better converged by the introduced optical waveguide 45 onto the optical sensor, which is arranged in the housing 38 below the introduced optical waveguide 45.

By rounding or deburring the edges of the outgoing light guides 35a,35b,35c, it is possible to provide them with a lenticular structure at their free ends, whereby the light signal can be better focused on the tissue, thus further reducing losses due to scattering of the emitted light signal. In addition or alternatively, by rounding or deburring the edges of the introduced optical waveguide 45, it is possible to provide it with a lens-like structure at its free end, whereby the incident optical signal can be better collected here as well onto the optical sensor.

The axial distance between the first outgoing optical waveguide 35a and the incoming optical waveguide 45, i.e. the distance in the axial direction 54, is preferably limited to 5mm, i.e. in particular the distance between the incoming optical waveguide 45 and the nearest outgoing optical waveguide 35a in the axial direction 54 should be maximally 5mm in this direction. In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, this axial distance disappears, since the outgoing optical waveguide 35a in the axial direction 54 is completely covered by the extension of the incoming optical waveguide 45 in the axial direction 54.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the housing 38 according to fig. 1 with respect to fig. 2. The difference between this design with respect to the design shown in fig. 2 is that a plurality of incoming light guides 45a now protrude from the housing 38, which incoming light guides 45a are all located above or in front of the same light sensor (with respect to the light path into the housing 38) respectively, and are therefore all associated with the same light sensor. This also distinguishes a plurality of incoming optical waveguides 45a from outgoing optical waveguides 35a,35b,35c shown in fig. 2 and 3, which outgoing optical waveguides 35a,35b,35c are each associated with their own LED and are configured and arranged for collecting the optical signals respectively generated by these LEDs accordingly.

While the utility model has been illustrated and described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, the utility model is not limited to the examples disclosed and other modifications may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the utility model.

List of reference numerals

1. Hearing device

2. Hearing aid

4. Main body

6. Connecting cable

10. Earphone receiver

12. First microphone

14. Signal processing device

16. Connection

18. Loudspeaker

19. Electroacoustic sound generator

20. Sound channel

22. Sound outlet opening

30. First light source

32 LED

35. Guided optical waveguide

35a, b, c, optical waveguides

36. Light outlet opening

38. Shell body

40. Light sensor

42 PD

45 45 a-introduced optical waveguide

46. Light inlet opening

48. First side wall

50. Second side wall

52. A third side wall

54. Axial direction

Claims

1. An earpiece (10) with an integrated optical sensor system for a hearing device (1), characterized in that,

the earpiece (10) comprises:

a housing (38) having a sound outlet opening (22) at an end face,

at least one first light source (30) integrated in the housing (38),

at least one light sensor (40) integrated in the housing (38), said light sensor being arranged for registering light in the wavelength range of the first light source (30),

-an outgoing light guide extending from the housing (38) starting from the first light source (30), and/or

-at least one incoming optical waveguide protruding from the housing (38) starting from the optical sensor (40).

2. An earpiece (10) as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that,

the guided optical waveguide is made of flexible material, and/or

The introduced optical waveguide is made of a flexible material.

3. An earpiece (10) as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that,

the flexible material has a shore hardness of at most 50.

4. An earpiece (10) as set forth in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that,

the extracted optical waveguide has a diameter of at most 2 mm.

5. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the outgoing light guide protrudes out of the housing (38) by a maximum of 1mm, and/or

The at least one introduced optical waveguide protrudes out of the housing (38) by a maximum of 1mm.

6. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the earpiece (10) comprises a plurality of incoming optical waveguides, which each protrude from the housing (38) starting from the optical sensor (40).

7. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the earpiece (10) comprises a plate-shaped incoming light guide which protrudes from the housing (38) starting from the light sensor (40).

8. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the guided-out light guide protrudes from the housing (38) at a first side wall (48) of the housing (38) starting from the first light source (30),

the at least one introduced optical waveguide protrudes from the housing (38) at a second side wall (50) of the housing (38), starting from the optical sensor (40), and

the normal direction of the first side wall (48) and the second side wall (50) encloses an angle of at least 45 °.

9. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

an axial direction (54) is defined by the housing (38), and

the outgoing optical waveguide and the at least one incoming optical waveguide have a distance from each other in an axial direction (54) along the housing (38) of less than 5mm.

10. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the first light source (30) is designed as an LED (32).

11. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the light sensor (40) is designed as a photodiode (42).

12. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the earpiece (10) also has an electroacoustic sound generator (19) arranged inside the housing (38) and connected to the sound outlet opening (22) by flow technology.

13. The earpiece (10) of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that,

the outgoing optical waveguide protruding from the housing (38) is rounded or deburred at the free end, and/or

The at least one incoming optical waveguide protruding from the housing (38) is rounded or deburred at the free end.

14. A hearing device (1) with an earpiece (10) according to any of claims 1 to 13.