DE102011080767A1 - Method for manufacturing ear adapter for e.g. in-the-ear-hearing device, involves producing ear impression by forming thermo-forming section for connection element of acoustic tube and external earpiece of hearing device at ear impression - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves thermo-forming a film over an ear impression. The impression is removed from the formed film such that the film forms an ear adapter (10). The impression is produced by forming a thermo-forming section for a connection element (12) of an acoustic tube (11) and an external earpiece of a hearing device at the ear impression such that the adapter possesses a negative of the section according to thermo-forming. The element is connected with the section in a force-fit manner. The section is formed such that a snap-on connection is realized between the negative and the element. The connection element is formed as an end piece or tube end. An independent claim is also included for an ear adapter comprising a connection element.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an ear piece for a hearing device by preparing an ear impression as a thermoform, thermoforming a sheet over the ear impression, and removing the ear impression from the formed sheet thus forming the ear piece. Moreover, the present invention relates to an earmold made by such a method. Under an earmold is an ear piece to understand that is individually adapted to the ear or the ear canal of a user. Such earmold is also referred to as earmold.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a hearing device with an earmold. A hearing device is understood here to mean any sound-emitting device which can be worn in or on the ear, in particular a hearing device, a headset, headphones and the like.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE), hearing aid with external receiver (RIC: receiver in the canal) and in-the-ear hearing aids (IDO), e.g. Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (ITE, CIC). The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in 1 illustrated by the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 To carry behind the ear are one or more microphones 2 built-in for recording the sound from the environment. A signal processing unit 3 also in the hearing aid housing 1 is integrated, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 goes to a speaker or listener 4 transmitted, which emits an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing aid and in particular the signal processing unit 3 done by a likewise in the hearing aid housing 1 integrated battery 5 ,

Hearing aids often have an ear piece to fix a sound tube or a handset in the ear canal. This ear piece is, as mentioned above, referred to as earmold or earmold when it is individually adapted to the ear canal of the user. In addition, hearing aid shells of ITE hearing aids are usually adapted to the individual user, and thus represent earmolds.

For the custom forms of such ear molds usually an ear impression is made manually. The ear impression is then used in a known manner as a template for the production. In many cases, the ear impression is scanned for this and corresponding 3D impression data result from this. From these thermoforming models can then be modeled on the computer, which can be produced, for example, by a rapid prototyping method.

An earmold for holding a component of a meter in the ear canal is from the document US Pat. No. 6,253,871 B1 known. The component has a housing that is held in a soft earpiece. For orientation and anchoring of the housing in the earpiece ribs are provided.

Furthermore, the document discloses WO 210/116006 A2 a handset for a hearing aid. The handset system consists of two handsets that are connected to an adapter and deliver both sound into the ear canal. One of the earphones is held in the ear canal by an earpiece.

Furthermore, the document describes WO 2009/138895 A1 a method for producing an earmold. In the method, an impression of the ear canal of an individual is made and then a thin film is placed over the impression. Finally, the film is reproduced in a deep-drawing process or thermoforming process with an exact reproduction of the impression. The film preferably has a wall thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm and is made of polypropylene, polyethylene or polycarbonate.

In order to fix sonic tubes or receivers in an earmold, an adapter is usually used, which is glued into the earpiece. The sound tube or the receiver have an end piece, which can be plugged into the adapter. Fixing a sound tube or a Earpiece in an ear piece is therefore associated with relatively great effort.

The object of the present invention is to fix a component of a hearing device in an ear piece easier.

• – Fertigen eines Ohrabdrucks als Thermoform,
• – Thermoformen einer Folie über den Ohrabdruck und
• – Entfernen des Ohrabdrucks aus der geformten Folie, die somit das Ohrpassstück bildet, wobei
• – das Fertigen des Ohrabdrucks ein Ausbilden eines Thermoformabschnitts für ein vorgegebenes Verbindungselement einer Komponente der Hörvorrichtung an dem Ohrabdruck einschließt, so dass
• – das Ohrpassstück nach dem Thermoformen ein Negativ des Thermoformabschnitts besitzt, mit dem das vorgegebene Verbindungselement kraftschlüssig verbindbar ist.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for producing an earmold for a hearing device

• - making an ear impression as a thermoform,
• Thermoforming a film over the ear impression and
• Removing the ear impression from the formed film, thus forming the ear tip, wherein
• Forming the ear impression includes forming a thermoforming section for a given connecting element of a component of the hearing device on the ear impression so that
• - The earmold after thermoforming has a negative of the thermoforming section, with which the predetermined connection element is positively connected.

In addition, according to the invention an earmold piece is provided, which is produced by the above method.

Advantageously, therefore, in the thermoforming of the film to the earmold first a thermoforming section at the ear impression, which represents the thermoforming, is formed. The thermoforming section represents the connecting element of a component of the hearing device, namely, for example, the end piece of a sound tube. After thermoforming, a negative of the thermoforming section is then molded onto the earmold piece with which, without having to use an additional adapter, the connecting element can be frictionally connected.

Preferably, forming a thermoforming section on the ear impression is molding of the thermoforming section on the ear impression. Ie. the thermoforming section stands out from the remaining impression of ear, so that it can be reliably transformed into the thermoforming process with the film.

The thermoforming section may be formed with one or more undercuts. This has the advantage that with such undercuts a positive connection can be realized.

In particular, the thermoforming section can be formed such that a snap connection can be realized between the negative of the thermoforming section and the predetermined connection element of the component. In this way, the connection between the component of the hearing device and the earmold can be made in a simple manner.

As a component of a hearing device, for example, a sound tube or a receiver of a hearing aid can be inserted into the earmold. Alternatively or additionally, a microphone or a cerumen protection can be plugged directly to the earmold piece, if a corresponding section with adapter function was molded onto the earmold by thermoforming. It can thus be dispensed with to hold one or more components on the earmold on corresponding separate adapter pieces.

In particular, it is advantageous if the connecting element of the component is snapped into the negative of the thermoforming section. This has the advantage that the connection can be made by a simple handle. But it also assumes that either the earmold itself or the connecting element of the component is slightly elastic.

As already indicated above, a hearing device and in particular a hearing aid can be equipped with such an ear tip. Preferably, the sound tube of a BTE hearing aid is fixed with the described earmold in the ear canal. The earmold can also be a carrier of an external listener of a BTE hearing aid.

The following invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 the basic structure of a hearing aid according to the prior art;

2 an inventive earmold with inserted sound tube and

3 an inventive earmold with inserted earpiece.

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

It should be made an earmold that is individually adapted to an ear canal. Such an earmold is usable, for example, as a housing of an in-the-ear hearing device. But it is also used to hold an external speaker or sound tube in the ear canal.

By way of example, the earmold is modeled and manufactured by a digital method. For this purpose, for example, 3D data of the auditory canal are obtained in a first method step. For this purpose, it is customary for an acoustician to manually obtain an impression of the auditory canal from a silicone material. This silicone impression can then be scanned with a suitable scanning method in order to obtain corresponding 3D impression data.

Alternatively, 3D data of the ear canal can also be obtained directly by scanning the ear canal. The outline data of the auditory canal are then available digitally and, for a specific section of the auditory canal, they essentially correspond to the 3D impression data obtained as described above.

In a second step, the 3D impression data is digitally modeled into a virtual impression, which forms the basis for a thermoform, that is to say a tool for a subsequent thermoforming process. The virtual impression receives face boundaries so that the length of the future ear tip is determined. In this case, the length of the earmold, if it is used for example as a hearing aid shell or carrier of an external speaker, usually set so that the corresponding electronic components find space in the earmold or at least partially protected. This is facilitated by virtue of the fact that the electronic components are virtually integrated in the virtual impression in a known manner. This allows the volume of the earmold to be optimized.

In the digital modeling of the virtual impression, the contour data (3D impression data) are changed so that the virtual ear impression receives a section that corresponds to the connection element of a component of a hearing device, that is, for example, an end piece of a sound tube of a hearing device. This can be determined by 2 easy to recognize, although already a finished earmold 10 shows with inserted sound tube, but from which the thermoform, so the tool for the thermoforming process, readily recognizable, namely the negative of the earmold.

The sound tube 11 namely has an end piece. This tail may be a simple hose end or even an adapter that is stretched into the hose end. The connecting element 12 (Tail or hose end) may or may not have undercuts. Is a snap connection between the connecting element 12 and the earmold 10 the aim is to provide a corresponding undercut. The virtual connector corresponding to the actual connector in the desired position is to be modeled on the virtual ear impression.

The appropriate thermoform must cover the entire volume inside the earmold 10 from 2 fill out. This volume closes the area of the connector 12 one. To the thermoforming so a thermoforming section is formed, which at least a part of the connecting element 12 equivalent. This additional thermoforming section stands out from the rest of the thermoforming, so that it can be reliably enclosed by the thermoforming film. This part of the thermoforming film then later forms the collar 13 of the earmold 10 ,

Returning to the step of digital modeling of the virtual thermoforming, therefore, the thermoforming section for the connecting element 12 virtually modeled on the rest of the thermoforming. This is a digital or virtual thermoform ready, which is the basis of the further manufacturing process.

From the virtual thermoform is now made a physical thermoform. The production takes place for example with a rapid prototyping method in the usual way. The material used must be able to withstand the conditions of a thermoforming process.

In a subsequent thermoforming process, a sheet of eartip material is heated and pressed onto the thermoform. This is realized for example by compressed air or vacuum. After cooling, the thermoform is removed from the interior of the formed film and the formed film remains as an earmold 10 , If necessary, the edges are to be machined and openings, as in the case of 2 the sound outlet 14 incorporate.

In the finished earmold 10 can now the sound tube 11 be used. In the concrete example, the sound tube 11 with its connecting element 12 pressed into the earmold and snapped. This is a positive connection between the sound tube 11 and the earmold 10 given.

Alternatively, it can be attached to the earmold 10 molded collar 13 also be purely cylindrical, and the sound tube 11 is only by frictional engagement in the collar 13 held. It can go through the collar 13 Other non-positive connections between the earmold 10 and the sound tube 11 will be realized. It is only essential that for the attachment of the sound tube no separate adapter in the earmold 10 used and possibly glued must.

An alternative embodiment of an earmold 10 with an external listener 15 is in 3 shown. Also in this case, the listener owns 15 a connecting element 12 that is form-fitting in the collar 13 is held. The collar 13 is also here the special connection element 12 imitated by thermoforming. Thus, can also be dispensed with a special adapter piece, the external handset 15 in the earmold 10 stops, because the collar 13 , which is integral with the earmold 10 is formed, this adapter function takes over.

In the above examples is the collar 13 , which fulfills the adapter function, always from the earmold 10 outwards. In principle, an adapter section can also be in the interior of the earmold 10 protrude, wherein the thermoforming must then have a corresponding cavity. For example, a tubular section could be inside the earmold 10 be pulled (deep drawing). For example, a simple sound tube or a handset could then be plugged into such a piece of pipe drawn into the interior.

Alternative to the sound tube 11 and the listener 15 However, other components that are to be attached to the outside of the earmold can be held by the integrally formed by thermoforming earmold. Thus, for example, microphones or cerumen protection elements can be inserted or snapped into correspondingly formed on the earmold adapter portions.

By thermoforming not only hard, but also soft earmolds or earmolds can be produced. In any case, thermoforming opens up a simple, cost-effective and rapid manufacturing process. Since no additional parts for attaching the components (sound tube, receiver, etc.) to the earmold are necessary, the number of parts decreases in the manufacture of hearing aids. As a result, however, the development costs for novel adapters can also be saved. Another advantage of the earmolds with adapter function is that they are very robust and reliable. In addition, the thermoforming process makes it easy to make connections to all common sound tubes and receivers.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 6253871 B1 [0007]
• WO 210/116006 A2 [0008]
• WO 2009/138895 Al [0009]

Claims (10)

Method for producing an earmold ( 10 ) for a hearing device by - preparing an ear impression as a thermoform, - thermoforming a film over the ear impression and - removing the ear impression from the formed film, thus forming the ear mold, characterized in that - preparing the ear impression forming a thermoforming section for a predetermined connecting element ( 12 ) of a component ( 11 . 15 ) of the hearing device at the ear impression, so that - the ear tip ( 10 ) After thermoforming a negative of the thermoforming section has, with which the predetermined connecting element is non-positively connected. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a thermoforming section on the ear impression is molding of the thermoforming section on the ear impression. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermoforming section is formed with one or more undercuts. The method of claim 3, wherein the thermoforming section is formed so that between the negative ( 13 ) of the thermoforming section and the predetermined connecting element ( 12 ) of the component a snap connection can be realized. An earmold made by a method according to any one of the preceding claims. An earmold according to claim 5, in which the component of the hearing device is inserted. An earmold according to claim 6, wherein the connecting element ( 12 ) of the component ( 11 . 15 ) in the negative ( 13 ) of the thermoforming section is snapped. An earmold according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the component ( 11 . 15 ) has a sound tube or a handset. An earmold according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the component comprises a microphone or a wax guard. Hearing device with an earmold according to one of claims 5 to 9.

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