EP3249954A1 - Retaining ear tip for a standard earpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a holding screen (1) for a standard earpiece (3) insertable in an insertion direction (7) in an ear canal (5) and a standard earpiece (3) having a corresponding retaining screen (1). The retaining screen (1) is in this case designed such that it meets the requirements for comfort, the secure fit of the standard ear piece (3) and the ventilation of the ear equally.

Description

The invention relates to a holding screen for a standard earpiece insertable in an insertion direction in an ear canal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a standard ear piece with a corresponding holding screen.

Worldwide, a large number of people are affected by hearing loss and deafness. The reduction or even loss of one's own hearing performance has a negative effect on communication and contact with other people. Correspondingly, most people affected by hearing loss wear hearing aids that allow their users with impaired hearing to have a largely normal auditory perception.

To accommodate the numerous individual needs of the hearing aid wearers, different types of hearing aids are offered. BTE hearing aids (behind-the-ear, or behind-the-ear or BTE) wear a housing with components such as a battery and the signal processing unit behind the ear. A flexible sound tube, also referred to as a tube, directs the receiver's acoustic output signals from the housing to the ear canal. RIC (Receiver-In-Canal) hearing aids are BTE hearing aids with an electrical connection to a speaker worn in the ear. In the case of the so-called ITE hearing aids (in-the-ear, also IdO or in-the-ear), a housing which contains all the functional components, including the microphone and the receiver, is carried at least partially in the auditory canal. Completely-in-Canal (CIC) hearing aids are similar to ITE hearing aids, but are worn fully in the ear canal.

The DE 202015000840 U1 discloses a hearing aid earmold for an ear canal for positioning a RIC hearing system with an earmold hollow body, integrated into the insulating plastic storage pocket, at the end of a bottleneck (clamp) for connecting ex-earphones different RIC hearing aids is introduced and one behind the bottleneck Universal mount for manufacturer-specific click sleeves. The hearing aid ear mold allows a manufacturer-independent, so universal connection option of RIC hearing aid.

From the DE 10 2014 200 605 A1 a dome is known, which can be reversibly, ie detachably, connected to a receiver or hearing tube of a hearing aid. The dome has a cerumen protection, which can be cleaned easily and without detaching the dome from the receiver or the receiver tube. The cerumen protection according to DE 10 2014 200 605 A1 is softer compared to the inner part, wherein the inner part is adapted to produce a positive connection with a correspondingly shaped adapter reversible. In this case, the cerumen protector comprises at least one elongated protective element, wherein a surface projection of each protective element extends radially perpendicular to the base surface of the cerumen protector with respect to the centroid of the surface of the cerumen protector. The design of the cerumen protection from flexible, elongated elements, which can be designed as spokes or lamellae, ensures a good cleanability of the cerumen protection. The construction of the dome with a harder insert ensures a mechanically stable connection, which is nevertheless reversibly detachable for maintenance or replacement purposes.

The US 2015 049 897 A1 discloses an earpiece having a flange having an upper end and a lower end, the flange having a tear-shaped curved cross-section extending from the upper end to the lower end. Furthermore, the flange comprises an inner body through which an acoustic channel or sound channel extends. The flange closes in the inserted state of the ear piece at least partially an ear canal for ambient noise and forms at least a partial seal against air in the ear canal. The sound channel here allows the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected to a sound source.

Irrespective of the design, standardized hearing systems, so-called instant-fit hearing systems, can be used. Such instant-fit hearing systems are designed to be as universally applicable as possible and include standard ear pieces which are small enough to be placed independently of the respective anatomy in the ear canal of the respective hearing aid wearer. In a comparatively large auditory canal of the hearing device wearer, however, such standard earpieces often do not have sufficient support in the auditory canal, since they are not adapted to the individual ear canal or auditory canal of the hearing device wearer. The ear pieces slip easily.

If the standard ear piece is too large, the acoustic perception is often impaired, since the necessary for a pressure equalization in the ear ventilation can not always be ensured. By a correspondingly low ventilation unpleasant feedback effects are favored (occlusion effect). In addition, standard hearing aids often give the hearing aid user an uncomfortable feeling due to the hard housing material.

Despite the different sizes of the available standard ear pieces thus optimal adaptation to the anatomy of the ear canal of a respective hearing aid wearer is currently not guaranteed.

The invention is a first object to provide a way that allows optimal hearing and a comfortable fit of the respective hearing aid when using a standard earpiece.

A second object of the invention is to provide a corresponding standard ear piece with improved wearing properties and improved hearing comfort.

The first object of the invention is achieved according to the invention by a holding screen for a standard ear piece which can be inserted into an ear canal in an insertion direction, comprising an end-side head piece and an adjoining wing portion, which is designed in such a way that the standard earpiece therein is at least 50 % of its length is receivable with the wing portion circumferentially spaced from the standard earpiece.

The invention is based on the fact that standardized ear pieces, such as in particular CIC hearing aids, RIC hearing aids or ear pieces of a BTE hearing aid with attached elastic holding screens, so-called Domes, can be used. Thus, a sufficient hold in the auditory canal or in the ear canal of the respective hearing device wearer can usually be achieved. However, this does not improve the acoustic perception. Desired, however, are both optimal wearing comfort and optimum hearing.

The invention now meets these requirements by a holding screen, which adapts to the ear canal and at the same time ensures adequate ventilation. The holding screen is for this purpose formed with an end-side head piece and an adjoining wing portion. The standard ear piece is receivable in the support screen, in particular in the wing portion of the support screen, at least 50% of its length, and the wing portion is circumferentially spaced from the standard earpiece.

In this case, the holding screen is designed in particular so long that it covers the entire length between the isthmus, the constriction in the ear trumpet and the input into the ear canal in the state inserted into the standard earpiece and inserted into the ear canal. In this way the firm hold of the ear piece is ensured within the ear canal. Furthermore, the circumferential spacing between the standard ear piece and the holding screen or its wing section prevents the standard ear piece from abutting against or abutting the wall of the ear canal and thus giving the hearing aid wearer an uncomfortable feeling.

Particularly preferably, the holding screen comprises a number of ventilation openings, which penetrate the head piece substantially parallel to the insertion direction and open into the interior of the wing section. The interior is given in the inserted state of the ear piece by the distance between the inner wall of the holding screen and the outer wall of the standard ear piece. Since the interior of the wing section on the outwardly facing side of the holding screen - ie at the entrance of the ear canal - is open, the interior represents a ventilation volume, which allows the necessary ventilation and thus the pressure equalization via the or each opening. An undesirable occlusion effect or closure effect is avoided.

Conveniently, the cross section of the holding screen widens in the insertion direction. The in the inserted state of the holding screen (together with the standard ear piece) the isthmus facing head of the holding screen thus has a smaller cross-section than the located at the entrance of the ear canal wing section.

Particularly preferably, the centers of gravity of the cross-sectional areas of the holding screen along the insertion direction on a curved path. The holding screen is thus formed in the insertion direction with a curvature. The geometry of the holding screen, so both the expansion of the holding screen and its curvature thus follows the contour of the ear canal and allows a secure and comfortable positioning of the ear piece. Nevertheless, the ear piece can thus be used for both a left ear and a right ear.

The holding screen or a standard ear piece with a corresponding holding screen is preferably reproducibly positionable within the ear canal. For this purpose, the holding screen is preferably formed of two parts of different elasticity and thus also different flexibility. Preferably, the head piece has a lower elasticity than the wing portion. In particular, the material of the head piece has a lower elasticity than the material of the wing section. The retaining screen is preferably made of a plastic.

In order to produce a holding screen with sections of different elasticities, it is particularly advantageous to produce the head piece and the wing section from the same material but with mutually different wall thicknesses. The wing section in this case preferably has a smaller wall thickness than the head piece. A further preferred possibility is to produce the head piece and the wing portion of the holding screen with different Shore hardness when using the same material. In such a retaining screen, the wing portion expediently has a lower Shore hardness than the head piece. Alternatively, it may be advantageous to manufacture the header and the wing section from different materials.

The headpiece is on the one hand flexible or elastic enough to ensure the desired comfort for the hearing aid wearer. On the other hand, the head piece is sufficiently strong to give the hearing aid wearer a haptic feedback when inserting the earpiece into the ear canal, whether he has reached the intended end position - the isthmus. If this is the case, a further pushing of the standard ear piece with the attached holding screen from this point is difficult. The hearing aid wearer can therefore assume that the earpiece is located in the intended position within the ear canal.

The flexible, more elastic portion of the holding screen, so the wing section, along the wall of the ear canal ensures the desired comfort. Conveniently, the length of the head piece in the insertion direction is less than half the length of the wing portion.

The holding screen is expediently fastened to the standard ear piece via the head piece or attached thereto in the plugged-on state. For this purpose, the head piece preferably comprises a fastening opening for a frictional connection with the standard ear piece. The attachment opening is preferably formed on the insertion-side end face of the holding screen. In the mounting hole, a fastener of the standard ear piece can be inserted to releasably fix both components together.

The second object of the invention is achieved by a standard ear piece with a holding screen according to one of the above-described embodiments. Preferably, the non-positive connection is designed as a rotatable clip connection.

The holding screen is attached to the standard ear piece. For this purpose, preferably engages a formed on the end face of the standard earpiece fastener in the mounting opening of the holding screen. The fastening element is preferably rotatably received in the attachment opening. Due to this rotatable embodiment of the clip connection, the standard earpiece together with the holding screen is suitable both for use in the ear canal of the right ear and in the ear canal of the left ear.

In principle, any earpiece which is located in the inserted state within the auditory canal of the hearing device wearer can generally be used as the standard earpiece. Particularly preferably, the standard ear piece is designed as a standard CIC hearing aid (Completely-In-Channel). The housing of the hearing aid ends in the outer part of the ear canal and is characterized by little or no visible from the outside. The holding screen is attached to the hearing aid as described above and meets the requirements for comfort, secure fit and ventilation of the ear alike.

The advantages referred to the preferred embodiments of the holding screen can be analogously transferred to corresponding embodiments of the standard ear piece.

Fig. 1

ein in einem Ohrkanal eingesetztes Instant-Fit-CIC-Hörgerät mit aufgesetztem Halte-Schirm,

Fig. 2

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Halte-Schirms gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Instant-Fit-CIC Hörgerätes gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine weitere dreidimensionale Darstellung des Halte-Schirms gemäß Fig. 1, sowie

Fig. 5

eine Schnittdarstellung eines Teilabschnittes des Halte-Schirms gemäß Fig. 1.

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Showing:

Fig. 1

an instant fit CIC hearing aid inserted in an ear canal with an attached holding screen,

Fig. 2

a three-dimensional representation of the holding screen according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a three-dimensional representation of the instant-fit CIC hearing aid according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

a further three-dimensional representation of the holding screen according to Fig. 1 , such as

Fig. 5

a sectional view of a portion of the holding screen according to Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 1 shows a holding screen 1, which is a set as an instant-fit CIC hearing aid (shown schematically) standard earpiece 3 is placed. The instant fit CIC hearing aid 3 with the holding screen 1 is inserted within an ear canal 5. To insert the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 with attached holding screen 1, both components are inserted together in the insertion direction 7 in the ear canal 5. In this case, the holding screen 1 covers the entire length between the isthmus 9, that is to say the constriction in the ear trumpet 11, and the input 13 into the ear canal 5.

The holding screen 1 comprises an end-side head piece 15 and a wing portion 17 adjoining the head piece 15, wherein the length of the head piece 15 in the insertion direction 7 is less than half the length of the wing portion 17.

The head piece 15 has a lower elasticity than the wing portion 17. If the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 is inserted into the ear canal 5, upon reaching the end position, ie when the isthmus 9 is reached, further insertion of the instant fit is possible. CIC hearing aid 3 difficult. The hearing aid wearer then knows that the instant fit CIC hearing aid 3 is positioned far enough in the ear canal 5.

By the flexible wing portion 17 ensures that the holding screen 1 of the anatomy of the ear canal 5 adapts, so that the desired comfort for the hearing aid wearer is achieved.

The holding screen 1 is attached to the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 via a non-positive rotatable clip connection 19. For this purpose, a fastening opening 21 is formed on the insertion-side end face 20 of the head piece 15, into which a fastening element 23, such as a ball head, of the standard ear piece 3 engages.

The standard earpiece 3, so the instant-fit CIC hearing aid is included within the holding screen 1 with presently 75% of its length L. The wing portion 17 is in this case circumferentially spaced from the standard earpiece 3. The circumferential spacing between the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 and the holding screen 1 or its wing section 17 prevents the instant-fit CIC hearing device 3 from abutting against the wall of the ear canal 5 and thus preventing the wearer from suffering Hearing aid wearer exerts unpleasant pressure.

In order to ensure the ventilation of the ear or pressure equalization necessary for optimum hearing, the holding screen 1 comprises a plurality of ventilation openings 25, which penetrate the head piece 15 substantially parallel to the insertion direction 7 and open into the interior 27 of the wing section 17. The interior 27 is defined here by an annular space with the distance A between the inner wall of the holding screen 1 and the outer wall of the instant-fit CIC hearing device 3.

The ventilation openings 25 are formed as well as the attachment opening 21 on the insertion-side end face 20 of the head piece 15. In combination with the space 27 resulting from the circumferential spacing between the standard ear piece 3 and the wing section 17 of the holding screen 1, ventilation of the ear can take place through the interior space 27 of the holding screen 1. Vents in the instant fit CIC hearing aid 3 are not necessary.

The cross-section 29 of the holding screen 1 expands counter to the insertion direction 7, the cross-sectional areas 30 are thus opposite the direction of insertion 7 larger. Here, the focal points 31 of the cross-sectional areas of the holding screen 1 along the insertion direction 7 on a curved path 33. This is particularly apparent from the representation of the holding screen 1 according to Fig. 2 seen. It can be seen here the curvature of the holding screen 1, which are shown by way of example for some unmarked cross-sectional areas. The centroids 31 of the cross-sectional areas are not on a straight line. Due to the curvature, the shape of the holding screen 1 is adapted both to the shape of the ear canal and to the shape of the instant fit CIC hearing aid 3. The curvature reflects the anatomy of the ear canal 5 again.

The Instant Fit CIC Hearing Aid 3 is in sole representation Fig. 3 refer to. The illustration also shows its curved shape. Next, the front-side fastener 23 can be seen, which serves to attach the holding screen 1. When fastening the holding screen 1, the fastening element 23 engages in the fastening opening 21 formed on the insertion-side end face 20 of the head piece 15. In this way, the non-positive and rotatable clip connection 19 between the instant-fit CIC hearing aid 3 and the holding screen 1 comes about.

The attachment opening 21 of the holding screen 1 is in the Fig. 4 and 5 to see clearly again. In Fig. 4 is one of the ventilation openings 25, which penetrate the head piece 15 substantially parallel to the insertion direction 7 and open into the interior 27 of the wing portion 17 can be seen. Also, based on the illustration according to Fig. 4 to recognize that the length of the less elastic and correspondingly less flexible head piece 15 in the insertion direction 7 is less than half the length of the wing portion 17.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a portion 35 of the holding screen 1. This illustration, the ventilation openings 25 as well as the attachment opening 21 on the insertion-side end face 20 of the head piece 15 can be seen.

Next, the transition between the holding screen 1 forming the head piece 15 and this subsequent wing gate 17 can be seen.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Retaining screen

3

Standard earpiece

5

ear canal

7

insertion

9

isthmus

11

Eustachian tube

13

entrance

15

headpiece

17

wing section

19

clip connection

20

face

21

fastening opening

23

fastener

25

ventilation opening

27

inner space

29

cross-section

30

Cross sectional area

31

main emphasis

33

curved track

35

part Of

L

Length of the standard ear piece

A

distance

Claims (10)

Retaining screen (1) for a standard ear piece (3) insertable into an ear canal (5) in an insertion direction (7), comprising an end-side head piece (15) and an adjoining wing portion (17), which is designed such that the standard earpiece (3) is receivable therein at least 50% of its length (L), the wing portion (17) being circumferentially spaced from the standard earpiece (3). Holding screen (1) according to claim 1, comprising a number of ventilation openings (25) which penetrate the head piece (15) substantially parallel to the insertion direction (7) and open into the interior space (27) of the wing section (17). Holding screen (1) according to claim 1 or 2, whose cross section (29) widens counter to the insertion direction (7). Retaining screen (1) according to claim 3, wherein the center of gravity (31) of the cross-sectional surfaces (30) of the holding screen (1) along the insertion direction (7) on a curved path (33) extend. Holding screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the head piece (15) has a lower elasticity than the wing portion (17), in particular the material of the head piece (15) relative to the material of the wing portion (17) has a lower elasticity. Holding screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the insertion direction (7), the length of the head piece (15) is less than half the length of the wing portion (17). Retaining screen (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the head piece (15) comprises a fixing opening (21) for frictional connection with the standard ear piece (3). Standard earpiece (3) with a holding screen (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7. Standard earpiece (3) according to claim 8, wherein the frictional connection is formed as a rotatable clip connection (19). Standard earpiece (3) according to claim 8 or 9, which is designed as a standard CIC hearing aid.

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