EP1321011B1 - Otoplastik mit eingebautem modul, im-ohr-otoplastik und verfahren zur anpassung von otoplastiken - Google Patents

Otoplastik mit eingebautem modul, im-ohr-otoplastik und verfahren zur anpassung von otoplastiken Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1321011B1
EP1321011B1 EP00960277A EP00960277A EP1321011B1 EP 1321011 B1 EP1321011 B1 EP 1321011B1 EP 00960277 A EP00960277 A EP 00960277A EP 00960277 A EP00960277 A EP 00960277A EP 1321011 B1 EP1321011 B1 EP 1321011B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shell
ear
otoplastic
earmold
module
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00960277A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1321011A1 (de
Inventor
Christoph Widmer
Hans Hessel
Markus Weidmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP1321011A1 publication Critical patent/EP1321011A1/de
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658—Manufacture of housing parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2460/00—Details of hearing devices, i.e. of ear- or headphones covered by H04R1/10 or H04R5/033 but not provided for in any of their subgroups, or of hearing aids covered by H04R25/00 but not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2460/11—Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H04R25/654—Ear wax retarders

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an earmold according to the preamble of claim 1, a method according to that of claim 9, uses of the method according to claims 10 and 11 and a shell said earmold according to claim 12.
  • the present invention is based on problems that arise in conventional hearing aids.
  • the solution of the mentioned problems can also be used for other earmolds, such as for headphones.
  • the present invention is based on the problem that until today hearing aids are manufactured integrally and are usually replaced as such.
  • both outer ear and - and more specifically - in-the-ear hearing aids have to be changed following growth, resulting in either lower cost child infancy Use hearing aids, or if the best hearing aids are used from the acoustic hearing aid behaviors from the beginning, results in a relatively high cost over the years.
  • a hearing aid which has a module and a shell enclosing this.
  • the shell may be made of resilient or stiff material.
  • the module has a tapered shape from one end to the other and, correspondingly, the shell has a tapered inner shape. Restraining parts on the outer surface of the module and on the inner surface of the shell secure the module in the shell after assembly.
  • a hearing aid with a protective sleeve known which consists of a thin elastic material, such as rubber.
  • a protective cover which consists of a thin elastic material, such as rubber.
  • an earmold which is covered with the protective cover.
  • the protective cover can be rolled up before use in the manner of a condom and can thus easily be mounted on the corresponding part of the hearing aid and removed again.
  • the shell is made of rubber-elastic material.
  • the shell at least partially encompasses the module at least in a form-fitting manner.
  • the rubber-elastic portion at least partially surrounds the module and at least partially positively, wherein it is quite possible that even a non-elastomeric material shell portion, the module positively or even non-positively engages or clamped.
  • the opening on the rubber-elastic part is smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the module, viewed in a plane perpendicular to an insertion direction of the module into the opening or the shell.
  • a phase plate is created practically on the rubber-elastic part, which, after complete insertion of the module into the shell at least partially over the module, once inserted, again closes.
  • the module may consist of a single module in which individual sub-modules such as electronic components already united into one unit, such as shed, or the mentioned module consists of two or more sub-modules, which are then inserted in the correct order in the shell.
  • the module comprises a battery and / or one or more electronic modules.
  • the earmold according to the invention is an in-ear or outer-ear hearing device.
  • the above-mentioned inventive method is now further to solve the problems mentioned in the fact that you change the Otoplastikschale module.
  • the earmold shell be rubber-elastic over the module and accordingly the module squeezes out of the otoplastikschale or if necessary also destroys an earmold shell to be changed, for example by slitting it, and a new shell rubber-elastic over the exposed one Module inverts.
  • the inventive method is particularly suitable for hearing aids, in which the cost of the recorded modules is high. Furthermore, the inventive method for in-ear earmolds is suitable for changes in the ear canal. Both the earmold according to the invention and the method according to the invention are furthermore suitable for exchanging the earmold shell for sterility reasons and / or for the application of medical products.
  • the embodiments of earmolds described following the manufacturing method are preferably all manufactured with this described manufacturing method.
  • an ear device to mean a device that is applied directly outside the pinna and / or on the pinna and / or in the ear canal.
  • These include external ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, headphones, noise protection and water protection inserts, etc.
  • the production method which is preferably used to manufacture the otoplastics described in detail below, is based on digitizing the shape of an individual application area for an intended otoplastic in three dimensions, then creating the otoplastic or its shell by an additive construction method. Additive construction methods are also known by the term "rapid prototyping".
  • a thin layer of material is deposited on a surface in additive construction process, be it laser sintering or stereolithography over the entire surface, be it as in Thermojet compiler already in the contour of a section of the earpiece under construction or its shell. Then, the desired sectional shape is stabilized or solidified.
  • a new layer is laid over it as described and this in turn solidified and connected to the underlying, already finished layer.
  • the earmold or its shell is created layer by layer by additive layer-by-layer application.
  • the cut layer for an individual otoplastic or its shell is deposited or solidified, but at the same time several individual ones.
  • laser sintering solidifies e.g. a laser, usually mirror-controlled, one behind the other the cut layers of several earmolds or their shells before all solidified cut layers are lowered together. Subsequently, after depositing a new powder layer over all already solidified and lowered cut layers, the formation of the several further cut layers takes place again.
  • the respective earmolds or their shells are digitally controlled and manufactured individually.
  • either a single laser beam is used to solidify the plurality of slice layers and / or more than one jet is operated and driven in parallel.
  • An alternative to this procedure is to solidify a slice with a laser, while at the same time the powder layer is deposited for the formation of another earmold or earmold. Thereafter, the same laser solidifies the prepared powder layer corresponding to the cut layer for the further plastic, while the previously solidified layer is lowered and there a new powder layer is deposited.
  • the laser then intermittently operates between two or more earmolds or earmold shells that are under construction, wherein the laser insert dead time resulting from the powder deposition during the formation of one of the shells is exploited for the consolidation of a cut layer of another earmold which is under construction.
  • Fig. 1 is shown schematically how, in one embodiment, by means of laser sintering or laser or stereolithography several earmolds or their shells are manufactured industrially in a parallel process.
  • the laser with control unit 5 and beam 3 is mounted above the material bed 1 for powder or liquid medium.
  • position 1 it solidifies the layer S 1 of a first otoplastic or its shell, driven by the first individual data set D 1 .
  • a displacement device 7 in a second position, where he creates the layer S 2 according to a further individual contour with the individual record D 2 .
  • several of the lasers can be moved as a unit and in each case more than one individual earmold layer can be created simultaneously.
  • layers of individual otoplastics or their shells are simultaneously solidified on one or more liquid or powder beds 1, with a plurality of lasers 5, which are individually controlled at the same time.
  • the powder dispensing unit 9 after completion of this solidification phase and after stopping The laser deposited a new layer of powder, while in the case of laser or stereolithography, the newly solidified layers or already solidified structures are lowered in the fluid bed.
  • the layer S 1 in order then switch over to the bed 1b (dashed lines) to which during the solidification phase at the bed 1a, the powder application device 9b on a previously solidified layer S 1 - ablates powder or, in laser or stereolithography, the layer S 1 - is lowered. Only when the laser 5 becomes active at the bed 1b is carried out with the powder dispenser 9a depositing a renewed layer of powder over the just solidified layer S 1 at the bed 1a, or the layer S 1 is done lowering in the fluid bed 1a.
  • materials for additive buildup methods which result in a rubber-elastic and yet dimensionally stable shell can be formed, which, if desired, locally different up to extremely thin-walled and still tear resistant can be realized.
  • the digitization of the individual application area in particular the application area for a hearing aid, in particular in-ear hearing aid, at a specialized institution, in the last-mentioned case the audiologist, made.
  • the individual form recorded there, as digital 3D information is transmitted, in particular in connection with hearing aids, to a production center, be it by sending a data carrier, be it through internet connection etc.
  • a production center in particular using the above-mentioned methods Otoplasty or its shell, in the case under consideration so the in-ear hearing aid shell, individually shaped.
  • the finished assembly of the hearing aid with the functional assemblies is made there as well.
  • in-ear earmolds can be used, for example, as hearing protection devices, headphones, water protection devices, but in particular also for in-the-ear hearing aids, similar to rubber-elastic plugs, and it Its surface fits optimally to the application area, the auditory canal.
  • the incorporation of one or more ventilation channels in the in-ear earmold is readily possible to ensure unimpaired ventilation to the eardrum in the resulting, possibly relatively tight fit of the earmold in the ear canal.
  • the interior of the plastic can also be optimized and optimally utilized with the individual 3D data of the application area during production, and also individually with regard to the individual aggregate constellation to be accommodated, as in the case of a hearing device.
  • central storage and management of individual data can be performed by the central production of their shells. If, for whatever reason, a shell needs to be replaced, it can easily be re-fabricated by retrieving the individual data sets without the need for laborious readjustment, as before.
  • FIG. 4 shows, for example and schematically, an in-ear earmold 11, for example an in-the-ear hearing device, in which the acoustic output 13 is protected to the eardrum by means of a cerumen protective cap 15.
  • This protective cap 15 is applied until now in the production as a separate part on the shell 16 of the earmold 11 and fixed for example by gluing or welding.
  • the cerumen protective cap 15a is integrated directly with the shell 16a of the otherwise identical in-ear otoplastic 11a by using the aforementioned additive construction method. According to FIG. 4, there are no such interfaces as shown in FIG. 4, where the material of the shell 16a merges homogeneously into that of the cerumen protective cap 15a ,
  • cerumen protection systems and other functional elements can be integrally incorporated by use of the aforementioned manufacturing process.
  • FIGS. 7 (a) to (f) show, by way of perspective, schematic representations of cutouts of the outer wall 18 of in-ear earmolds resting against the auditory canal, novel ventilation slot profiles.
  • the profile of the ventilation groove 20a is rectangular or square in shape with predetermined, precisely observed dimensioning ratios.
  • the profile of the ventilation groove 20b is circular or elliptical sector-shaped, again with exactly predetermined cross-sectional boundary curve 21b.
  • FIGS. 7 (c) to (f) show further ventilation groove profiles, which are additionally cerumen-protected.
  • the profile of the groove 20c according to FIG. 7 (c) is T-shaped.
  • FIGS. 7 (d) to 7 (f) following the illustrated principle of FIG. 7 (c), the cross-sectional shape of the wide groove portion 27d to 27f is formed differently, as shown in FIG. 7 (d). according to the sector of an ellipse, according to FIG. 7 (e) triangular, according to FIG. 7 (f) circular or elliptical.
  • the profiles are mathematically modeled in advance, taking into account the mentioned cerumen protection effect and the acoustic effect, and integrated exactly into the manufactured earmoulds.
  • the above-described additive synthesis methods are particularly suitable.
  • a wide variety of acoustic impedances can be realized along the novel ventilation grooves, resulting, for example, in FIG. 8 in ventilation grooves 29, which progressively define different profiles in their longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG 8 are shown assembled from profiles according to FIG.
  • cerumen-protected portions may be provided at respective exposed portions as shown at A in FIG.
  • FIG. 11 analogous to FIG. 7, different cross-sectional shapes and area ratios of the proposed ventilation channels 33a to 33e are shown.
  • the ventilation passage 33a incorporated in the otoplastic shell 35a has a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape.
  • the embodiment according to FIG. 11 (b) it has, 35b, a circular sector or elliptical sector-shaped channel cross-sectional shape.
  • the intended ventilation channel 33c has a circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape, while in the embodiment according to FIG. 11 (d) it has a triangular cross-sectional shape.
  • the earmold shell has a complex inner shaping, eg a support section 37 integrated therewith.
  • the ventilation channel 35e is designed with a cross-sectional shape which also uses complex shapes of the earmold shell. Accordingly, extends its cross-sectional shape partially complicates in the attached to the shell 35e mounting bar 37 inside.
  • FIG. 12 shows a variant embodiment of a fully integrated ventilation channel 39, which has different cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions along its longitudinal extent, as shown, for example, in the ear mold shell 41, whereby the acoustic transmission behavior can be optimized in the sense of realizing different acoustic impedance elements .
  • ventilation ducts in particular the closed construction shown in this section, at least in sections at the same time as acoustic conductor sections active electromechanical side Transducer, as the output side of microphones, for example, in in-ear hearing aids, can be exploited.
  • FIGS. 13 and 14 show, in analogy to FIGS. 9 and 10, how, on the one hand, the respective otoplastics 43 have the integrated jaws explained in this section Ventilation channels extended by appropriate track guide or on the other hand, as two and more of the mentioned channels, possibly with different and / or varying channel cross-sections, in analogy to FIG. 12, are integrated at the earmold.
  • sections 2a) and 2b) which can also be combined in any way, open up to the person skilled in the art a myriad of design variants of the novel ventilation systems and, in particular, a large degree of freedom, owing to the various parameters which can be dimensioned for themselves, optimum cerumen protection for the respective individual earmold and to create optimal acoustic transmission conditions.
  • the specific individual configuration of the system is preferably calculated or mathematically modeled, taking into account the mentioned needs. Then the individual earmould is realized. Again, this is particularly suitable for the above-explained manufacturing method with additive construction principle, as known from the prototype, which is then controlled with the optimized model result.
  • This section is about introducing new earmolds that are optimally adapted to the dynamics of the application areas. It is known, for example, that conventional in-ear earmolds are unable to take into account the relatively large auditory canal dynamics, eg when chewing, because of their essentially uniform shape stability. Likewise, for example, the acoustic conductors between outer ear hearing aids and auditory canal dynamics of the application area not free to follow. In in-ear earmoulds the same problem occurs, partially attenuated, even in hearing protection devices, headphones, water protection inserts, etc. on. In particular, their intrinsic function, for example protective effect, is impaired in part if the mentioned application range dynamics are increasingly taken into account. By way of example, reference may be made to known hearing protection devices made of elastically deformable plastics which, to a large extent, account for the aforementioned application range dynamics, but at the expense of their acoustic transmission behavior.
  • FIG. 15 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of an in-ear otoplastic
  • FIG. 16 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a section of this otoplastic.
  • the earmold - e.g. for receiving electronic components - has a shell 45 which is stocking-like, thin-walled made of elastic material.
  • the dimensional stability of the - outside smooth in the illustrated embodiment - shell skin is - where desired - ensured by on the shell integrally inside patch ribs 47, which, with respect to the shell skin, are made of the same material.
  • the course of the wall thickness of Shell skin 45, the density and shape of the ribs 47 previously calculated and then built up the earmold according to the calculated data is the above-mentioned manufacturing process using additive construction process exceptionally well.
  • the above-described embodiment of the in-ear earmold can certainly be combined with a ventilation system, as explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 14.
  • the ribs provided for influencing the dimensional stability or bendability in certain regions of the otoplastic can also be formed with different cross-sectional profile, if necessary also progressing in their longitudinal extent progressively from one cross-section to the other.
  • a pattern of ribs 51 is processed on the outer surface of the otoplastic 49, possibly with regions of different density, orientation and profile shape.
  • Such earmold is shown schematically in a cross-sectional view in FIG.
  • the interior 53 is made, for example, from a highly compressible absorption material and surrounded by a shaping skin shell 55 with the rib pattern 57.
  • skin 55 and the rib pattern 57 are produced integrally together.
  • the manufacturing method explained above with the aid of additive construction method is suitable. How far in the near future these additive construction processes can be realized by changing the processed materials on a workpiece remains to be seen. If this becomes possible, then the web is free, for example in the embodiment according to FIG. 20, to also sequentially build up the filler 53 simultaneously with the skin 55 and the ribs 57 in respective build-up layers.
  • Ventilation channels or clearances can be formed at the same time with the aid of the outer rib patterns, as shown purely schematically and for example by the path P.
  • an inner rib pattern 57 i provide.
  • earmolds may be provided which are likely to leave a cavity for male assemblies such as electronic components, but in which the space between such a lumen 59 is specific to the necessary volumes and shapes of additional designed units to be installed and the shell skin 55 is filled for example by a resilient or sound-absorbing material or components to be installed with such a material to the shell skin 55 are poured out.
  • the shell skin 55 or 45, according to Figures 15, 16 and 17, may well be made of electrically conductive material, whereby at the same time an electrical shielding effect for internal electronic components is created. This also applies, if necessary, to the filling 53 according to FIG. 20.
  • an otoplastic was illustrated using the example of an in-ear otoplastic, the shell of which is dimensionally stabilized with internal and / or external ribs, which results in an extraordinarily lightweight and selectively shapable construction.
  • this design can also be used for outer ear earmolds.
  • FIG. 21 shows a further embodiment variant of an in-ear otoplastic, which is specifically bendable or compressible in one region.
  • the shell 61 of an otoplastic in particular the shell of an in-ear hearing device, has a corrugated tube formation 63 in one or more predetermined regions, to which according to the respective needs, bendable or compressible.
  • FIG. 21 illustrates this procedure on the basis of the shell of an in-ear otoplastic, this procedure can be implemented completely and, if necessary, also for an outer ear earmold. Again, the manufacturing method explained in the introduction is preferably used for this purpose.
  • the inner volume of the earmold can be filled with the requisite filling material or internals integrated therein can be embedded in such filling material, resulting in a higher stability of the device and improved acoustic conditions.
  • the conventional problem is that even if the hearing aid internals could be maintained over long periods of life, for example, only the transmission behavior of the hearing aid would have to be readjusted according to the respective hearing, still new hearing aids are designed again and again just because of The fact that the former no longer satisfactorily fit into the ear canal.
  • an in-ear otoplasty 65 is shown schematically and in longitudinal section, to which the formation of the inner space 67 substantially corresponds to the shape of the in Fig. 23 schematically shown, male electronic module 69.
  • the earmold 65 is made of rubber-elastic material and can, as shown in Fig. 23, be slipped over the electronic module 69.
  • the shaping of the inner space 67 is such that the or possibly the plurality of modules to be accommodated are positively positioned and held directly by the otoplastic 65. Because of this approach, it is easily possible to provide one and the same electronic module 69 with different earmolds 65, so as to take into account, for example, in a growing child of the changing auditory canal training.
  • the earmold will for the in-the-ear hearing aid practically to the easily replaceable disposable accessory. Not only to take account of changing conditions in the application area, namely the ear canal, but also simply for reasons of contamination, the earmold 65 can be easily changed. This concept can even be exploited, if necessary - for example in auditory canal inflammations - to make medical applications, for example by applying drugs to the earmold outer surface or at least to use sterilized earmolds at regular intervals.
  • the phase plate 1 otherwise provided in conventional in-the-ear hearing aids is built as part of the module holder, integrally with the otoplastic.
  • the layer-by-layer build-up method set forth in section 1) as indicated by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 22 and in the direction indicated by the arrow AB, then it would be readily possible for the earmold to be in the abovementioned mounting direction AB as required in the respective areas of different materials too finished.
  • This also applies to the earmolds described in Sections 2) and 3) as well as to those explained in the following sections 5), 6) and 7).
  • FIG. 24 shows a further embodiment of an otoplastic, again by way of example with reference to an in-the-ear hearing device, which enables simple, rapid replacement of the internal fittings.
  • it is proposed in this case to design the earmold shell in a multi-part and assemblable manner on an in-ear earmold with internals, as shown in FIG. 24.
  • acoustical / electrical transducers or electro-acoustic output transducers on the input side or output side via acoustic conductors assembled as independent parts, namely tube-like structures, to the environment of the hearing aid. or, in particular with input-side acoustic / electrical transducers, to place them with their receiving surface directly in the area of the surfaces of the hearing aid, possibly separated from the environment only by small cavities and protective measures.
  • a converter module 75 has an acoustic input or output 77.
  • the shell 79 of the earmold of an in-ear or an outer-ear hearing device or a headphone has, integrated into it, an acoustic conductor 81. It lies at least in sections and as shown in FIG. 25 within the wall of the earmold shell 79.
  • the respective acoustic impedance of the acoustic conductor 81 is preferably adjusted.
  • This concept makes it possible to provide auditory input openings 85 along the hearing aid and where desired, to couple them to the intended acoustic / electrical transducers 91 via acoustic conductors 89 integrated in the otoplastic or its shell 87 essentially independent of where these transducers 91 are installed in the hearing aid.
  • FIG. 26 it is only shown to centralize two transducers into one module and to connect their inputs to the desired receiving apertures 85 through the aforementioned guide of the acoustic conductors 89. From consideration of FIGS.
  • Ventilation channels as acoustic conductor channels, in particular if, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 25, by means of acoustic matching elements 83 the acoustic impedance conditions are designed specifically.
  • each manufactured earmold is individually adapted for their respective wearer. Therefore, it would be extremely desirable to identify each manufactured earmold, as mentioned in particular every in-ear earmold, in particular every in-the-ear hearing aid. It is therefore proposed to provide in the ear or in their shell, by notches and / or by bulges an individual marking, which together with the individual purchaser -. Manufacturer - may include product serial number, left-right application, etc. Such a marking is produced in a much preferred manner in the manufacture of the otoplastic with the removal method described under 1). This ensures that any confusion of the earmoulds is excluded from the production. This is particularly important in the subsequent, possibly automated assembly with other modules, such as the assembly of in-ear hearing aids.
  • the dynamical application area represented by the block 93 takes form at several positions corresponding to the actual dynamics or, similar to a film, the dynamics of the application area per se registered.
  • the resulting data records are stored in a memory unit 95. Even with conventional procedure by impression taking, this can certainly be realized by taking from the application area in two or more positions corresponding to the practical dynamics impressions.
  • the dynamics of the application area can be detected by X-ray images.
  • the arithmetic unit 97 controls the manufacturing process 99 for the earmold. If, for example, and as is customary today, in-ear earmolds are manufactured with a relatively hard shell, the arithmetic unit 97 calculates the dynamic data stored on the memory unit 95 and optionally, as shown schematically at K, other manufacturing parameters, the best fit for the earmold, so optimal comfort is achieved in everyday life, while preserving their functionality.
  • the arithmetic unit 97 determines which earmold areas are to be designed in terms of their flexibility, bendability, compressibility, etc. As mentioned, the arithmetic unit 97 controls the production process 99 on the output side , preferably the manufacturing process, as set forth in section 1) as a preferred process.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
  • Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
EP00960277A 2000-09-25 2000-09-25 Otoplastik mit eingebautem modul, im-ohr-otoplastik und verfahren zur anpassung von otoplastiken Expired - Lifetime EP1321011B1 (de)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CH2000/000523 WO2002025994A1 (de) 2000-09-25 2000-09-25 Otoplastik mit eingebautem modul, im-ohr-otoplastik und verfahren zur anpassung von otoplastiken

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EP1321011A1 EP1321011A1 (de) 2003-06-25
EP1321011B1 true EP1321011B1 (de) 2007-10-24

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EP (1) EP1321011B1 (enExample)
JP (1) JP2004508787A (enExample)
AU (2) AU7265800A (enExample)
CA (1) CA2419950C (enExample)
DE (1) DE50014736D1 (enExample)
DK (1) DK1321011T3 (enExample)
WO (1) WO2002025994A1 (enExample)

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EP1385355A1 (en) * 2002-07-24 2004-01-28 Phonak Ag In-the-ear hearing device
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US8170219B2 (en) 2008-01-25 2012-05-01 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab Size adjustable device and method
KR101226092B1 (ko) * 2010-12-31 2013-02-15 주식회사 바이오사운드랩 표준화된 음성 처리 모듈을 갖는 보청기

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EP1321011A1 (de) 2003-06-25
CA2419950A1 (en) 2003-02-18
DE50014736D1 (de) 2007-12-06
AU2000272658B2 (en) 2006-04-06
JP2004508787A (ja) 2004-03-18
DK1321011T3 (da) 2008-02-25
AU7265800A (en) 2002-04-02
WO2002025994A1 (de) 2002-03-28
CA2419950C (en) 2012-07-17

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