JPS61238198A - Custom ear fitting type hearing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate sound leakage through a clearance, to prevent the occurrence of howling and to increase the output of a hearing aid by forming an ear type case with a soft synthetic resin which has a certain hardness range and is made of a soft vinyl chroride. CONSTITUTION:In order to obtain the ear type case 1, first an impression material such as a silicone resin, and 'GUTAPERKA(R)' is packed into each individual ear-couch or external auditory so as to obtain the impression of the inner surface of an outer ear and from the impression mold a matrix is formed with plaster, etc. The soft synthetic resin such as a soft vinyl chroride resin, a silicone resin or a polyester resin is poured into the matrix at a wall thickness having 1-2mm and is cured, thereby obtaining the ear type case 1. The most preferable hardness of the soft synthetic resin is a range from 40 deg. to 65 deg. according to JIS standard K7125A. A face plate 2 is provided with a microphone 3, a volume switch 4, a voltage case 3 serving as a power source, a gain controller 6, etc. and is formed with the hard synthetic resin such as an acrylic resin and an ABS resin having a sufficient strength.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a custom in-the-ear hearing aid that is used by being inserted into the outer ear.

A custom in-the-ear hearing aid is a personal hearing aid that is manufactured to suit the shape of each individual's external auditory canal or the shape of the ear shell and external auditory canal (hereinafter referred to as external ear) and hearing loss.

In other words, the main body of the hearing aid, which consists of a microphone, earphones, amplifier, etc. that fits the individual's hearing loss, is placed inside a synthetic resin ear-shaped case that is made to fit the shape of the outer ear of each individual wearing the hearing aid. It refers to something that has been incorporated. Among the ugly custom in-ear hearing aids, those made specifically to fit the shape of the ear canal are called canal hearing aids.

Therefore, this hearing aid is preferable because it is small and can be inserted tightly into the outer ear, making it difficult to fall out and being unnoticeable.

[Technical background of the invention]

In conventional custom in-the-ear hearing aids, the ear-shaped case that contacts the inner wall surface of the outer ear when inserted is molded from a hard synthetic resin such as acrylic resin.

Therefore, when a hearing-impaired person has this hearing aid in their ear and violently moves their jaw up and down while talking or eating, the accompanying muscle movement presses the external auditory canal wall against the hard ear-shaped case, causing discomfort or pain. This caused the inconvenience of having to remember. Also, for the same reason, I was unable to lie down with my hearing aid in front of me for long periods of time. Furthermore, if the hearing aid is accompanied by a painful sensation, the hearing aid cannot be inserted tightly into the ear canal, resulting in a gap between the outer wall of the hearing aid and the inner wall of the ear canal.
There was also the problem that sound leaked and howling phenomena were likely to occur.

[Purpose of the invention]

In contrast, the present invention provides a custom in-ear hearing aid that is comfortable to wear and does not cause pain or discomfort when the mouth moves during conversation or eating, or when lying down for long periods of time. The purpose is to provide

[Summary of the invention]

To achieve this objective, the present invention provides an ear-shaped case which is formed by taking an impression of the outer ear of each hearing aid user, making a matrix from the impression, and then injecting synthetic resin into the matrix; In a custom in-the-ear type hearing aid formed by joining a face plate with a hearing aid component such as a microphone using an appropriate means, the ear-type case is made of a soft synthetic resin such as a soft vinyl chloride resin, Moreover, the soft synthetic resin used has a hardness in the range of 45° to 65° based on JIS K 7215A.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overview of a custom in-the-ear hearing aid.

1 is an ear-shaped case having a recess lc as shown in FIG. In the ear mold case 1, first, an impression of the inner surface of the outer ear is taken by filling the inside of the outer ear of a hearing-impaired person, that is, the ear shell and the ear canal, with an impression material such as silicone resin or gutta percha, and then a matrix is made from this impression mold using plaster or the like. After creating the mold, a soft synthetic resin such as soft vinyl chloride resin, silicone resin, polyester resin, etc. is injected into the mold to a thickness of about 1 to 2 B and hardened. By the way, regarding the hardness of this soft synthetic resin, if it is too soft, it will feel sticky to the skin, and if it is too hard, it will create a feeling of pressure, and neither of these will provide a good feeling of wearing. The most preferred is JIS standard K 7125A.
The hardness ranges from 45° to 65°. Thus, the lever ear-shaped case 1 has its base portion tightly fitted into the ear shell, and its extension portion IB inserted into the external auditory canal. Although not shown, a sound hole connected to an earphone is provided at the tip of the extension part IB inserted into the ear canal of the ear-shaped case 1, in other words, at the end on the eardrum side. The audio signal is amplified by the hearing aid and radiated to the eardrum.

2 is a face plate to which various components required for a hearing aid are attached. That is, microphone 3
, a polyurethane switch 4, a battery case 5 serving as a power source, a gain adjuster 6, and the like. Although not shown on the back of the face plate 2, there are components required for hearing aids such as amplifiers and earphones, so the face plate 2 must have sufficient strength to hold each component stably. It is molded from hard synthetic resin such as acrylic resin or ABS resin. The face plate 2 is joined to close the opening of the ear-shaped case 1. As the joining means, an appropriate means such as an adhesive can be used. The face plate 2 is positioned substantially vertically at the entrance of the outer ear when the hearing aid is inserted into the outer ear.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides for the outer ear wall surface,
In particular, since the ear-shaped case that directly contacts the wall surface of the ear canal is molded from soft synthetic resin, the ear-shaped case and the ear canal come into soft contact. Therefore, the patient does not feel any pain or discomfort even when the muscles near the external auditory canal move as the mouth moves during eating or conversation. Also, for the same reason, it is possible to lie down for a long time even with the ears in place. Furthermore, since the hearing aid can be inserted closely into the ear canal, there is no gap between the ear-shaped case and the wall of the ear canal, so there is no sound leakage through the gap, and howling can be prevented. It becomes possible to increase the output of

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a custom in-the-ear hearing aid showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view showing an ear case according to the present invention. 1: Ear-shaped case, 2: Face plate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ear mold case 1 formed by taking an impression of the outer ear of each hearing aid user, making a matrix from the impression, and injecting synthetic resin into the matrix, and hearing aid components such as microphones. The ear-shaped case 1 is made of a soft synthetic resin such as soft vinyl chloride resin and has a hardness of 45 degrees according to JIS K 7215A.
A custom in-the-ear hearing aid formed from a material with an angle of 65 degrees.