GB2278546A - Hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid comprising at least one ear cap and an attachment means is disclosed. The inner surface of the ear cap is in the form of a parabolic reflector. The attachment means enables the ear cap to be positioned adjacent to a users ear so that the focal point of the reflector is substantially opposite the auditory tract and sound waves can thus be directed in a focused manner into said tract. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED HEARING AID The invention relates to an improved hearing aid for partially-deaf individuals which aid is adapted to be worn by a user.

It is well known by those suffering from hearing deficiencies that conventional hearing aids are not satisfactory. Typically, such hearing aids are adapted to be worn inside the ear and therefore include an ear phone which is inserted into the external auditory meatus, or auditory tract.

However, such aids are uncomfortable to wear.

Further, many conventional hearing aids are electrically powered and when a fault occurs they become inoperative, or at worst, produce high pitched background noise which is a source of discomfort to the wearer.

In addition, conventional hearing aids pick up a wide variety of background noise and are therefore not selective in the sound source a user may wish to hear.

It is therefore the object of the invention to produce a non-invasive hearing aid; that is a hearing aid which does not penetrate the external auditory meatus or auditory tract and which is therefore comfortable for a user to wear, and which is further a mechanical hearing aid and therefore remains permanently operative and does not produce high pitch discomforting noises; in addition it is the object of the invention to produce a hearing aid which is selective having regard to the sound to be transmitted via the aid to a user's ear.

According to the invention there is therefore provided a non-invasive mechanical hearing aid comprising: at least one ear cap having, in use, an inner surface shaped in the form of a parabolic reflector and; an attachment means for enabling the positioning of said ear cap adjacent a user's ear such that the focal point of the reflector is substantially opposite the auditory tract and sound or pressure waves can thus be directed in a focused manner into said tract.

In an ideal embodiment of the invention the aid includes two ear caps, one positionable adjacent each of a user's ear.

The invention thus provides for the positioning of mechanical reflector means adjacent a user's ear for the purpose of directing and focusing sound waves into a user's ear1 and specifically into a user's auditory tract.

Preferably the attachment means comprises a band or the like which is adapted to fit comfortably about a user's head. However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention the attachment means may include any other form of fixing device which can be stably and comfortably fitted to a user's ear, ear region or head.

In a yet further preferred embodiment of the invention the ear cap is pivotaly attached to the attachment means such so that a user can manipulate the ear cap and so ensure that it is correctly positioned with respect of to ear.

Preferably the pivotal attachment means comprises a swivel link such that the ear caps can be rotated in any of three dimensions.

Preferably further still the length of the ear cap and thus the size of the parabolic reflector surface may be adjusted according to the size and shape of a user's head; and further also in accordance with the hearing requirements of a user.

When a hearing aid in accordance with the invention is attached to a user's head, it follows that ear cups or reflectors will be positioned adjacent a user's ears and the user can select which sound he or she wishes to hear by simply moving his or her head so that the ear caps are aligned with the selected sound.

It is envisaged that the invention will have particular application when a partially-deaf person wishes to sit back and enjoy any form of audible entertainment or participate in any conversation.

Tests have indicated that the invention increases the hearing capacity of a partially-deaf person by approximately the order of two. This is a substantial gain for any partially-deaf individual.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a hearing aid in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows an enlarged inner side view of an ear cap in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated an non-invasive mechanical hearing aid which includes a pair of opposed ear caps 1. Ear caps 1 are attached to an attachment band 2 which is sized and shaped so as to fit about the head of a user. Band 2 is ideally made of a flexible tubing which can be deformed to fit the shape of the head of a user, and further said tubing is covered with a cushioning means such as a sponge like fabric so as to ensure that the band is comfortable to wear.

Band 2 also includes an adjustment means which enables the length of the band to be altered, such adjustment means are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

At either end of band 2 ear caps 1 are connected using swivel connection means (not shown). Such connection means are also well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in greater detail herein. The provision of such connection means enables a user to orientate end caps 1 such that the end caps can be positioned adjacent a user's ear and further the angular alignment of each end cap, with respect to a user's ear, can be selected so as to maximize the performance of the hearing aid.

In Figure 2, there is shown a side elevation view of an end cap, and in particular the inner side 1 a of an end cap which is positioned adjacent a user's ear when the aid is in use. The ear cap is a shell made of a material which is hard and has good sound reflecting properties, such as anodised aluminium or a hard plastics material which can be easily pressed out and lightweight in use. It is of note that the shell must be of a thickness sufficient to give rigidity so that the ear cap maintains it shape. It can be seen that the inner side 1 a is fashioned to include a parabolic surface 7 whose edges are defined by upper planar ridges 3 and 4 and outer most end 5 of ear cap 1. It can further be seen that ridges 3 and 4 are contiguous towards the inner most region 6 of the ear cap. Thus, the parabolic surface 7 has been fashioned within what was originally a semicylindrical member, ideally made of plastics material.

The precise size and shape of each piece may be modified so as to meet the requirements of each user.

In use, the inner parabolic surface 7 of each ear cap 1 acts as a sound reflector thus directing and focusing sound or pressure waves towards the focal point of the reflector, which focal point is positioned substantially opposite the auditory tract of the user and so ensures that sound waves are directed into said tract thus increasing the efficiency of sound capture and enhancing the hearing ability of the user.

The invention has an advantageous effect in that a user can select which sounds are to be amplified by the hearing aid simply by turning his or her head in the direction of the sound to be heard; other sounds originating from different directions are thus attenuated. A further advantage of the invention concerns its effectiveness as a sound frequency filter which attenuates the lower speech frequencies so by increasing intelligibility/comprehensibility of selected sounds.

The invention therefore represents a simple but elegant device which can comfortably and substantially increase the hearing ability of a partiallydeaf individual.

Claims (8)

1. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid comprising; at least one ear cap having, in use, an inner surface shaped in the form of a parabolic reflector and; an attachment means for enabling positioning of said ear cap adjacent to a user's ear such that the focal point of the reflector is substantially opposite the auditory tract and sound or pressure waves can thus be directed in a focused manner into said tract.

2. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to Claim 1 wherein two ear caps are provided, one positionable adjacent each of a user's ear.

3. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said attachment means comprises a band or the like which is adapted to fit comfortably about a user's head.

4. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein said attachment means is a fixing device which is adapted to fit comfortably and stably to a user's ear, or ear region of the head.

5. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to any preceding Claim wherein said ear cap or caps is or are pivotally attached to the attachment means such that a user can manipulate the ear cap and so arrange that it is correctly positioned with respect to the user's ear or ears.

6. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to Claim 5 wherein said pivotal attachment means comprises a swivel link, ball or socket joint or the like such that said ear cap or caps can be rotated in any of three dimensions.

7. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid according to any preceding Claim wherein the length of the ear cap, and thus the size of the parabolic reflector surface, is adapted to be adjusted according to the size and shape of a user's head; and further also in accordance with the hearing requirements of said user.

8. A non-invasive mechanical hearing aid as substantially herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying Figures.