WO2001087001A2 - Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute - Google Patents

Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001087001A2
WO2001087001A2 PCT/CH2001/000463 CH0100463W WO0187001A2 WO 2001087001 A2 WO2001087001 A2 WO 2001087001A2 CH 0100463 W CH0100463 W CH 0100463W WO 0187001 A2 WO0187001 A2 WO 0187001A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hearing device
individual
information
data
center
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CH2001/000463
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2001087001A3 (fr
Inventor
Hans Hessel
Christoph Widmer
Original Assignee
Phonak Ag
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak Ag filed Critical Phonak Ag
Priority to EP01956249A priority Critical patent/EP1269794A2/fr
Priority to PCT/CH2001/000463 priority patent/WO2001087001A2/fr
Priority to CA002416022A priority patent/CA2416022A1/fr
Priority to AU7834201A priority patent/AU7834201A/xx
Priority to JP2001583093A priority patent/JP4755798B2/ja
Priority to AU2001278342A priority patent/AU2001278342B2/en
Publication of WO2001087001A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001087001A2/fr
Publication of WO2001087001A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001087001A3/fr

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04RLOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658Manufacture of housing parts

Definitions

  • the present invention is especially directed on a method for manufacturing in-the-ear hearing devices, but may also be adapted for manufacturing outside-the-ear hearing devices .
  • a hearing device for influencing human hearing.
  • a hearing device may be a noise-protection device or even a noise-canceling device, a device for improving human hearing in special situations, as e.g. in noisy environment, thereby selectively communicating with one or more than one persons, music listening in a concert hall etc.
  • a hearing device may be an earphone as of a hands-free communication system, or may be an earphone for consumer audio appliances.
  • a hearing device may thereby especially be a hearing aid device in the sense of a therapeutical device for individuals with hearing loss.
  • the hearing device may thereby be an outside-the-ear hearing device or and especially an in-the-ear hearing device .
  • BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE We understand under the expression "retailer” the instance or location, where individuals buy hearing devices .
  • Audio needs The audio needs of an individual may be therapeutical so as to remedy ill hearing behavior to the standard of normal hearing. Audio needs of an individual may also be needs for noise protection, noise canceling, improved hearing in special situations as mentioned above, good hearing characteristics for consumer audio consumption or for hands-free communication etc. Thus, audio needs may be subdivided in therapeutical and non-therapeutical needs .
  • Application area for a hearing device We understand under this term the individual's shape of the area of his head, whereat a hearing device shall be applied to. Such application area may therefore be the ear itself, surrounding areas behind and around the ear, the ear channel with its most individual structure. Thereby, not only the shape defines for the appliance area, but also the kind of structure, be it bony or rather of soft flesh or rather of cartilage, and its appearance, be it the texture or color of the skin. Further, the application area may be co-defined by individual characteristics, as of the production of sweat and cerumen.
  • Non-audio needs of an individual and in the present context are e.g. needs with respect to aesthetic appearance as of shell colouring of a hearing device, further with respect to pricing, material of the shell surface, especially where in contact with the area of application and under consideration of individual allergies etc.
  • in-the-ear hearing aid devices are .. manufactured in that a individual goes to a retailer, as a consultant center. Either the individual brings, in the case of therapeutical audio needs, audiological data about his ill hearing behavior to such retailer, which data have been retrieved e.g. by a specialized medical doctor. In other cases such audiological diagnostic data are retrieved directly at the consultant's or retailer's location as specialized in audiological diagnostics and data evaluation.
  • the individual discusses with the staff his individual needs under consideration of audiologic data, if necessary, or more generically individual's audio needs as a first set of information.
  • audiologic data if necessary, or more generically individual's audio needs as a first set of information.
  • the hearing device should be placed, in the ear or outside the ear as examples, as well as the aesthetic appearance such a hearing device would probably result in.
  • the device is not approved by the individual e.g. due to uncomfortable fitting at the application area or due to aesthetics, which have turned out differently than foreseen in individual's imagination, and also because the manufacturer could not exactly know the real needs of the individual.
  • the retailer tries to communicate to the manufacturer further information about desired amendments on the device, which are nevertheless not always precise enough to ensure the next run of manufacturing and approval to be a full success.
  • One reason for such frequent forth and back, especially of in-the-ear hearing devices, is imprecise specification of the situation as to how the mould has been taken, i.e. with respect to chin position.
  • Another problem is that due to retailer's own shape amendment of the hearing device the manufacturer is not informed about the finally approved and released shape, so that a replacement necessitates a complicated trial-and-error procedure, especially if the individual changed to another consultant or retailer. It is an object of the present invention to remedy the cited drawbacks of individual hearing device manufacturing.
  • the individual may thereby influence by his individual needs and by communicating such needs finally to a conceiving computer system, the construction of the hearing device, and it is only when the individual approves the visualized concept of his future hearing device that the collected data is readied for a hardware production step.
  • a first preferred embodiment of the inventive method visualizing and conceiving the hearing device as a function of the above mentioned first to fourth information is performed at one local computer system, i.e. centralized.
  • one and the same computer system provides not only for the visualization ability, but also for the computer power for three-dimensionally representing and calculating, e.g. by vector-graphic representation, the hearing device as a function of the said information input to such centralized computer.
  • visualizing and conceiving the hearing device again as a function of the first to fourth information, as mentioned above, is realized at more than one decentralized computer system, which systems are in mutual communication.
  • a slave computer as a laptop
  • at least two decentralized computer systems are in real-time communication, so that at each of the computers there may sit a staff member who is specialized in a specific topic, as e.g. in shell-making, in functional module-assembling, in interpreting audiological data etc.
  • the individual e.g. at home, conceives his future hearing device on a visualizing screen, thereby preferably in online communication with consulting experts at one or more than one computers systems or even in oral phone communication with a consultant, in a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, visualizing the hearing device under construction and individual's controlling is performed at the location of a consultant.
  • a consultant is most preferably a hearing device retailer.
  • the first information which is directed on audio needs of the individual, is subdivided in a subset of first information, namely about therapeutical audio needs of the individual, which information may hardly be retrieved by the individual himself.
  • the second subset of this first information namely about non-therapeutical audio needs, as in the case of noise protection, noise canceling etc., may well be retrieved from the individual himself, so that this second subset of information for conceiving the hearing device is directly communicated from the individual lastly to the conceiving and visualizing computer systems.
  • At least a part of the first information is retrieved at a place, which is remote from visualizing the hearing device concept to the individual. Nevertheless, this part or another part of the first information may clearly be retrieved also at the place of visualization.
  • audiological data may be retrieved at the retailer's place as the place of the consultant, at which the individual is present when conceiving his hearing device.
  • At least a part of the first information may also be retrieved from a data bank, which has been established from data of a previous hearing device of the individual. This will especially be the case if an existing hearing device of the individual is to be repaired or only parts thereof, as e.g. the shell is to be replaced.
  • the second information i.e. the information about three- dimensional shape of the application area of the hearing device at the individual, is retrieved by taking a mould of the application area.
  • mould-taking is performed either at the specialized mould center or at the location of the consultant.
  • the consultant may preferably be the retailer.
  • this mould is preferably three- dimensionally scanned, which further preferably is performed either at a mould-scanning center or at the center, where the mould has been taken or at the location of a consultant, especially of a retailer. Latter especially then, when also mould-taking has been performed at the consultant's place.
  • the second information is retrieved by in-vivo scanning three-dimensionally the individual's application area. Again this is preferably performed in an in-vivo scanning specialized center or at a consultant's place, which again may be advantageously the hearing device retailer.
  • this second information may be retrieved from a data bank, especially if the new hearing device to be conceived is based on an existing hearing device of the same individual.
  • the fourth information namely information about, generically spoken, feasibility of a desired hearing device, especially under technical aspects, is retrieved from at least one hearing device manufacturer.
  • this information is further preferably stored in a data bank, which may be located anywhere, but has preferably to be addressable from the hearing device conceiving computer system.
  • a data bank is nevertheless located at the hearing device manufacturer or at a consultant center, which again may be the hearing device retailer.
  • the data defining for the concept of the device as conceived and approved by the individual is frozen, this data is transmitted to a hearing device hardware manufacturing center.
  • a hearing device hardware manufacturing center may be a hearing device manufacturer or may be located at ' a consultant center, especially if there is provided a stock of modules for constructing different hearing devices as well as for instance the ability of shell-making, e.g. by a procedure as known from rapid prototyping and as e.g. disclosed in the WO 01/05207, which is incorporated in the present description by reference and specifically with respect to shell-making.
  • Such consultant center may preferably be at a retailer's location, so that in a preferred mode of operation of the inventive method in fact all steps for data retrieving and hearing device hardware preparing might be performed there.
  • the said manufacturing center which receives the frozen data, according to an approved hearing device concept, checks, whether a hardware hearing device may or may not be construed, which exactly matches the said frozen data. Whenever such a hearing device, which exactly matches the frozen conceptual data may not be constructed at the manufacturing center, there is conceived a novel set of data of a hearing device which may be realized and wherefrom the data matches closest the frozen data.
  • a hardware hearing device is ' not yet constructed, but first the set of data for a feasible hearing device is retrieved, the data therefrom, as was said, matching the frozen data as closest as possible, possibly with a priority setting, about which of the first to fourth information according data should match closest and which are less critical.
  • the individual may again in a preferred mode amend such proposition up to approval and thus a new set of frozen data is retrieved and retransmitted to the manufacturing center.
  • the frozen data transmitted to the manufacturing center do match with the data of a feasible hearing device or do only neglectably differ therefrom, then at a manufacturing center there is produced hardware, be it a dummy of the hearing device or a functional hearing device.
  • such hardware namely the dummy and/or the functional hearing device
  • Fig. 1 in a schematic signal and communication flow/functional block diagram a first embodiment of the inventive method
  • Fig. 2 in a representation in analogy to that of fig. 1, a preferred mode of realization of the inventive method, whereat a consultant center joins in with the individual for conceiving a hearing device;
  • Fig. 3 by means of a flow-chart diagram, different possibilities of retrieving first information to be considered when conceiving the hearing device according to the figs. 1 or 2;
  • Fig. 4 in a representation according to that of fig. 3 retrieving of the second information
  • Fig. 5 in a representation according to that of the figs. 3 and 4, retrieving of the fourth information
  • Fig. 6 by means of a simplified communication flow/functional block diagram, a preferred mode of hearing aid hardware construction, based on conceptual data as retrieved according to the figs. 1 to 5;
  • Fig. 7 again by means of a communication flow/functional block diagram or flow-chart, decision taking of construing hardware and/or amending data for re- approval by the individual in the hardware construing operation according to fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 by means of a representation similar to that of the figs. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment of hardware approval within the inventive method.
  • figure 1 there is shown, by means of a schematic signal or communication flow/functional block diagram, the basic conceiving step for the inventive hearing device manufacturing, repair or retrofitting method.
  • An individual 1 who would like to order a new hearing device, or who would like to repair e.g. a broken hearing device, or who would like to amend his existing hearing device due to needs which have changed between conceiving his existing hearing device and present time, stands in visual communication VIS with a display 3a of a displaying computer 3 V -
  • the first information may comprise or consist of such "hearing loss" data, especially if the hearing device to be conceived is a therapeutical device in the sense of a hearing aid device.
  • the first information comprises or consists of non-therapeutical - audio information, e.g. where the hearing device to be conceived is a noise-protection device, a hearing device of a headset, e.g. for telephone applications, a headphone as for consumer audio application or is a hearing device for improving normal hearing in special situations, as in noisy environment, in concert halls etc.
  • this first information Ii must be taken under consideration.
  • Second information I 2 about the three-dimensional shape of the application area of the individual for the hearing device.
  • Third information I 3 about additional individual, not audio needs for the hearing device may e.g. be pricing to an individually set maximum level or a range between a minimum and a maximum price etc., aesthetic appearance of the hearing device to be conceived per se and when applied to the individual's ear, further individual inconsistencies of skin with respect to certain materials possibly leading to inflammation etc.
  • the fourth information I 4 deals about technical feasibility of hearing devices. It comprises e.g. all information about modules to be possibly incorporated in a hearing device, as microphone modules, loudspeaker modules, digital processing units, operating switches, remote controls, battery modules, shell shaping and shell materials as well as colouring information, about compatibility of such modules and their technical specifications.
  • the individual 1 transmits a subset Ii a of the first information to the computer system 3 .
  • This subset Ii a comprises all information about the individual's non-therapeutical audio needs.
  • this set of information may comprise needs for noise reduction, needs for normal hearing improvement etc.
  • the individual 1 further communicates to the computer system 3 V the third information I 3 as defined above, namely about individual's non-audio needs.
  • the additional subset I lb of first information Ii especially audiological diagnostic data for conceiving a hearing aid device, the second information I 2 about three- dimensional shape of individual's application area and the fourth information I 4 about technical feasibility is applied by a set of information I as a function of I ⁇ , I 2 and I 4 to the computer system 3 V .
  • the visualizing computer 3 V may be just a front end computer only for visualizing purposes, whereby information treating and calculating computer power is installed in a remote treating computer 3 t .
  • Computer 3 V may even just be a handy, a PDA with online communication to the treating computer 3 t .
  • the computing power of computer 3 t is incorporated in visualizing computer 3 V .
  • the information set I is thereby communicated to the respective computer 3v and/or 3 t online via a communication network as via an internet-kind network or via a data carrier as by CD or tape etc. input e.g. by the individual 1.
  • the information I ⁇ a , I 3 is input by the individual - or a consultant person - to computer 3 V which, if the computing power is remote, as at computer 3 t provides for communicating this information thereto.
  • I 3 a hearing device adapted to the individual is conceived and visualized on the screen of the visualizing computer system 3 V .
  • the individual 1 communicates with the system 3 V up to the point, where the individual is satisfied with the three-dimensional representation and the additional data of the intended, still conceptual hearing device as displayed on visualizing screen 3a.
  • Amended information input by the individual 1, e.g. menu-controlled, is recognized by the computer system 3 V and/or 3 t and an amended proposition of the hearing device is three-dimensionally displayed, still as a function of the non-individual input set of information I .
  • the individual 1 On approval of the visualized hearing device concept on screen 3a of the visualizing computer system 3 V , the individual 1 inputs an approval indication signal APR to the computer system 3 V , which causes all the instantaneous hearing device concept data to be frozen, as e.g. stored in a storage 5.
  • APR approval indication signal
  • This is represented in fig. 1 schematically by approval closing a storing control switch S to a storage unit 5. Again such storage 5 may be provided at system 3 V and/or 3t-
  • the frozen or stored constructional data CONSTR# are now ready to be utilized for constructing the individual's hearing device.
  • Most important for this basic concept forming part of all variants of inventive hearing device manufacturing is the visual communication VIS of the individual 1 with a visualizing screen 3a, visualizing the hearing device concept three-dimensionally and whereat the individual may apply for changes, especially with respect to non- therapeutical audio needs as of I ⁇ a and/or further non- audio needs as of I 3 , up to approving the displayed three- dimensional hearing device concept.
  • the visualizing computer system 3 V which may be the hearing device conceiving computer or may be a remote or "slave" computer communication with a hearing aid conceiving computer 3 t , is located at a consultant center Cc 7.
  • a consulting center C c is preferably at a retailer's place.
  • the visualizing system 3 V (+ 3 t ) is thereby operated by staff of the consultant center 7, whereby during conceiving the hearing device the individual 1 is preferably personally present Thereby, the first information subset I la and the third information I 3 is communicated from the individual 1 to the staff, who inputs such information data to the visualizing computer system 3 V .
  • the hearing device is conceived under visualized control of the individual 1 and the staff of the consultant center 7.
  • the individual 1 may thereby input the information lia r I 3 by remote communication to the consultant center, i.e. directly to the visualizing computer system 3 V there, or even directly to a remote hearing device conceiving computer system 3 t and may possibly additionally be in audio communication with the staff of the consultant center 7 as by phone.
  • the additional set of information I is taken into account when conceiving the hearing aid device, this set of information I or parts thereof being fed to the staff of the consultant center 7 and/or directly to the visualizing computer system 3 , or, if different therefrom, to a remote hearing device conceiving computer system 3 t -
  • a possibly provided remote hearing device conceiving computer system 3 t is shown, which communicates with the visualizing computer system 3 V for receiving all the information I ia , I 3 from the individual 1, and possibly all, or at least a part of the information set I, if that information is present at the center 7.
  • the constructional data CONSTR.# for the hearing device as approved are frozen, as e.g. stored in store 5 e.g. at one of the computer systems 3 V and/or 3t- Such freezing of the constructional data CONSTR.# may be bound to additional approval APR.7 by the staff of the consultant center 7.
  • first information I ⁇ is possibly retrieved.
  • the source of that information is the individual 1.
  • the subset of first information l lb i.e. that information about therapeutical needs of the individual 1, is recovered, in one possibility, by an audiologist AUDIOL. or a medical doctor specialized on diagnosis of hearing behavior and equipped with the respective apparatus for diagnostic measurements.
  • the subset I lb is retrieved. Nevertheless, this subset of information I lb may also be retrieved directly at the consultant center 7, as was introduced in fig. 2, if the respective manpower and equipment is available there.
  • the subset of first information I la is directly retrieved from the individual 1.
  • At least a part of the first information Ii may be retrieved from a data bank as shown at 9 of fig. 3, which data bank may be located e.g. at the hearing device manufacturer, at the consultant center 7 as examples, or even may be provided at the individual 1, so e.g. on an identifying chip card or even within the former hearing device, wherein all data according to the first information I ⁇ for the former device is stored.
  • a mould 11 is taken from the individual's application area, which may be done, as schematically represented in fig. 4, e.g. at the consulting center 7, or at a specialized mould center 13.
  • the mould 11 is then scanned as shown by functional block 14 of fig. 4. Scanning the mould 11 may be done at the same location, where the mould 11 is taken or may be done remote from that location, in a specialized mould scanning center 15, whereby the mould 11 is sent to such a scanning center 15.
  • scanning may be realized, in a preferred mode, at the consulting center 7, or at the mould center 13, or at the mould scanning center 15.
  • the second information I 2 about three-dimensional shape of the individual's application area.
  • the application area of the individual is in-vivo scanned three-dimensionally at an in- vivo scanning center 16.
  • Such a scanning center 16 may again be installed at the consulting center 7 or at a specialized in-vivo scanning center 17. From such in-vivo scanning 16 there results the three-dimensional information data I 2 of individual's application area.
  • a technical data bank 20 may be located at the manufacturer 18 itself, or at the consultant center 7. From this data bank 20 the necessary information I 4 about feasibility of hearing devices is retrieved.
  • the staff of the consulting center 7 it might be advantageous for the staff of the consulting center 7 to on-line communicate with external resources, as e.g. with a hearing device manufacturer.
  • the computer system 3 V which provides for visualizing the hearing device concept to the individual, and one or more than one additional remote computer systems are in on-line communication, so that experts at the remote computer systems as e.g. at the manufacturer may advise the hearing device conception. This leads to grouping two or more than two specialized experts in a conference manner to assist in conceiving an optimum hearing device for the individual.
  • Standard hardware 24 in a stock or manufactured just in time is transmitted HW a to the assembling location 22. If assembling 22 is performed at the consulting center 7, then preferably stock 24 of standard hardware STHW components is ' also provided at the consulting center 7. If assembling 22 is performed at the hearing device manufacturer 18, then preferably stock 24 or respective just in time manufacturing is provided at the manufacturer 18 or respective subcontractors of such manufacturer 18.
  • non-standard hardware is also to be incorporated in the individual hearing device as designed.
  • This non-standard and thus individual hardware primarily consists of the hearing device's shell:
  • the shell has to be adapted, according to the second information I 2 , to the three-dimensional shape of individual's application area.
  • li r i.e. the definitely selected standard hardware information out of I 4 , to stock or just in time manufacturing 24, if remote from assembling 22
  • the definitely selected second information I 2 out of CONSTR.# is provided to individual hardware construing 26.
  • This individual hardware construing primarily consists of shell making as was mentioned above.
  • the information I 2 is therefore fed to such individual hardware making 26, thereby especially to the shell maker.
  • There an individually adapted shell, which also fits the selected hardware, is construed. This is done in a preferred embodiment by techniques, which are known from rapid prototyping. We thereabout refer to the following patents and patent applications of the applicant, namely to: WO 01/05207.
  • the location of individual hardware making 26 may be at the consultant center 7, or at a specialized shell making center 28, which may be located at the location 18 of the hearing device manufacturer.
  • standard hardware HW a is delivered from standard hardware stock or just in time manufacturing 24 to the assembling 22, whereas individually tailored hardware HW b is transmitted from individual hardware manufacturing 26 to the assembling 22. This individual hardware is manufactured just in time.
  • assembling 22 results either in a hardware hearing device 32, which exactly accords to the conceptual needs, or possibly first in a dummy hearing device DUMMY30.
  • a hardware hearing device 32 which exactly accords to the conceptual needs, or possibly first in a dummy hearing device DUMMY30.
  • dummy hearing device only dummy standard modules are built in a shell, if such modules are built in the shell at all.
  • the object of realizing a dummy 30 of a hearing device is to first get approval of the individual on exact matching of the shape to his individual application area, which matching is, under the aspect of comfort for the individual and possibly also of aesthetics, very critical and of high importance.
  • the case may arise where the conceptual data CONSTR# may not be exactly fulfilled.
  • the involved instances as assembling 22 and hardware providers 24, 26 target at a solution which is closest possible to the solution defined by the said data CONSTR. #, whereby different priorities of departing from these approved data CONSTR.# may be fixed.
  • requirements according to the third information I 3 namely not-audio individual needs, may be set on a lower priority with respect to fulfilling than audio information according to the first information Ii and the second information I 2 according to the three-dimensional application area data.
  • This matching approach procedure is schematically shown in fig. 7.
  • the approved constructional data CONSTR# are checked with the real constructional data REAL#. If they match, a dummy or a hearing device is construed. If they do not match, it is checked whether the data difference is significant enough to refrain from construing any hardware. Then the real constructional data REAL# are transmitted for visualizing to the individual 1. If such difference is not significant or becomes not significant anymore, then one proceeds to dummy or hearing device hardware production.
  • Hardware approval by the individual In fig. 8 there is shown in a representation according to that of fig. 2 how hardware approval is performed by the individual 1.
  • the result of the hardware manufacturing step is, as was explained, a dummy of the hearing device, as shown at 30 of fig. 6, and/or a functional hearing device 32.
  • the try-on has the only objects to evaluate whether three-dimensional shape of the hearing device fits the respective application area at individual's ear being around the ear or the ear itself for outside-the-ear application, or be it the ear channel for inside-the-ear applications and of checking on aesthetic appearance.
  • a functional hearing device has been constructed and is transmitted to the individual 1, such try-on will also be ' directed on the audio-effects of the hearing device, further possibly on handability of switches etc.
  • the individual 1 may again change or amend the data of the hardware device in communication via staff of the consultant center 7a and on screen, i.e. in visual communication with display screen 3a of the visualizing computer 3 V , which is, as was explained above, possibly combined with conceiving computer 3 t .
  • the set of data REAL# which exactly accords with the hardware transmitted, is transmitted finally to the visualizing computer system 3 V .
  • the individual 1 not only tries on the hardware 30/32, but has also, on screen 3a, the three-dimensional representation of the tried on hardware and may, on disapproval with the hardware, enter, possibly with the help of the staff of the consultant center 7a, desired further amendments.
  • This data i.e. the approved data CONCTR# of fig. 8 is fed into the manufacturing cycle again, as shown at 5 of fig. 6.
  • the inventive concept of a method for producing hearing aid devices there is established an intense interaction between the individual 1 and conception, then construction of his individual hearing device. This is established by the fact that the individual 1 is personally involved in these conception and construction procedures by getting the opportunity to watch on screen his personal hearing device already in the conceptual phase and also later for possible corrections on a dummy or hearing aid "prototype".
  • Such prototype may be definite, if according to fig. 8 the individual directly approves on the hearing device 32, which was transmitted to him as a result of first constructional attempt.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif d'aide à l'écoute pour un sujet dont la fabrication est caractérisée en ce que les informations concernant les besoins audio du sujet (I1a, I1b), telle que l'information concernant la forme tridimensionnelle de la zone d'application du dispositif d'écoute pour le sujet (I2), l'information concernant des besoins du sujet autres que ceux d'écoute (I3), et l'information (I4) concernant la faisabilité technique de dispositifs d'écoute, sont entrées dans un système informatique (3v) et le concept du dispositif d'écoute est présenté au sujet (1) en trois dimensions. Le concept est alors amendé par le sujet, et les données, telles qu'approuvées par le sujet et définissant le concept, sont gelées en vue d'une réalisation subséquente du matériel d'écoute.
PCT/CH2001/000463 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute WO2001087001A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01956249A EP1269794A2 (fr) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute
PCT/CH2001/000463 WO2001087001A2 (fr) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute
CA002416022A CA2416022A1 (fr) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute
AU7834201A AU7834201A (en) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Method for manufacturing hearing devices
JP2001583093A JP4755798B2 (ja) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 耳用装置の製造方法
AU2001278342A AU2001278342B2 (en) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Method for manufacturing hearing devices

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/CH2001/000463 WO2001087001A2 (fr) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001087001A2 true WO2001087001A2 (fr) 2001-11-15
WO2001087001A3 WO2001087001A3 (fr) 2002-09-19

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CH2001/000463 WO2001087001A2 (fr) 2001-07-26 2001-07-26 Procede de fabrication de dispositifs d'ecoute

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1269794A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP4755798B2 (fr)
AU (2) AU7834201A (fr)
CA (1) CA2416022A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001087001A2 (fr)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1320280A2 (fr) * 2001-10-17 2003-06-18 Phonak Ag Procédé de fabrication d'appareils auditifs
US7050876B1 (en) 2000-10-06 2006-05-23 Phonak Ltd. Manufacturing methods and systems for rapid production of hearing-aid shells
US7162323B2 (en) 2004-04-05 2007-01-09 Hearing Aid Express, Inc. Decentralized method for manufacturing hearing aid devices
EP1843634A2 (fr) * 2006-04-06 2007-10-10 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Procédé de fabrication d'une coquille et d'un embout pour prothèse auditive, avec vérification d'adaptation par l'utilisateur
US7720243B2 (en) 2006-10-12 2010-05-18 Synygis, Llc Acoustic enhancement for behind the ear communication devices
EP2227041A1 (fr) 2009-03-06 2010-09-08 Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif auditif
CN102203818A (zh) * 2008-08-22 2011-09-28 彩滋网站公司 产品定制系统和方法
WO2013050016A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Ébauche pour la fabrication par enlèvement de copeaux d'embouts auriculaires
WO2013050014A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Procédé de fabrication de coquilles auditives
WO2013050015A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Matériau élastomère
US8616214B2 (en) 2011-04-06 2013-12-31 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Earplug having a resilient core structure
US9087355B2 (en) 2008-08-22 2015-07-21 Zazzle Inc. Product customization system and method
DE102014114895A1 (de) 2014-10-14 2016-04-14 Dentona Ag Fräsrohling zur Herstellung von medizintechnischen Formteile
US10719862B2 (en) 2008-07-29 2020-07-21 Zazzle Inc. System and method for intake of manufacturing patterns and applying them to the automated production of interactive, customizable product
US10969743B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2021-04-06 Zazzle Inc. System and method for the efficient recording of large aperture wave fronts of visible and near visible light
US11157977B1 (en) 2007-10-26 2021-10-26 Zazzle Inc. Sales system using apparel modeling system and method
US11591431B2 (en) 2014-10-14 2023-02-28 Pr03Dure Medical Gmbh Milling blank for the production of medical-technical molded parts

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Cited By (25)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7050876B1 (en) 2000-10-06 2006-05-23 Phonak Ltd. Manufacturing methods and systems for rapid production of hearing-aid shells
US7328080B2 (en) 2000-10-06 2008-02-05 Phonak Ltd. Manufacturing methods and systems for rapid production of hearing-aid shells
EP1320280A2 (fr) * 2001-10-17 2003-06-18 Phonak Ag Procédé de fabrication d'appareils auditifs
US7162323B2 (en) 2004-04-05 2007-01-09 Hearing Aid Express, Inc. Decentralized method for manufacturing hearing aid devices
EP1843634A3 (fr) * 2006-04-06 2011-04-20 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Procédé de fabrication d'une coquille et d'un embout pour prothèse auditive, avec vérification d'adaptation par l'utilisateur
EP1843634A2 (fr) * 2006-04-06 2007-10-10 Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH Procédé de fabrication d'une coquille et d'un embout pour prothèse auditive, avec vérification d'adaptation par l'utilisateur
US7720243B2 (en) 2006-10-12 2010-05-18 Synygis, Llc Acoustic enhancement for behind the ear communication devices
US11157977B1 (en) 2007-10-26 2021-10-26 Zazzle Inc. Sales system using apparel modeling system and method
US10719862B2 (en) 2008-07-29 2020-07-21 Zazzle Inc. System and method for intake of manufacturing patterns and applying them to the automated production of interactive, customizable product
CN102203818A (zh) * 2008-08-22 2011-09-28 彩滋网站公司 产品定制系统和方法
CN102203818B (zh) * 2008-08-22 2015-12-09 彩滋公司 产品定制系统和方法
US9087355B2 (en) 2008-08-22 2015-07-21 Zazzle Inc. Product customization system and method
EP2227041A1 (fr) 2009-03-06 2010-09-08 Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif auditif
US8616214B2 (en) 2011-04-06 2013-12-31 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Earplug having a resilient core structure
DE102011115061A1 (de) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Elastomeres Material
DE102011115062A1 (de) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Rohling zur abtragenden Herstellung von Ohrpassstücken
DE102011115060A1 (de) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Verfahren zur Herstellung von Ohrschalen
WO2013050015A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Matériau élastomère
WO2013050014A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Procédé de fabrication de coquilles auditives
WO2013050016A1 (fr) 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Dreve Prodimed Gmbh Ébauche pour la fabrication par enlèvement de copeaux d'embouts auriculaires
US10969743B2 (en) 2011-12-29 2021-04-06 Zazzle Inc. System and method for the efficient recording of large aperture wave fronts of visible and near visible light
DE102014114895A1 (de) 2014-10-14 2016-04-14 Dentona Ag Fräsrohling zur Herstellung von medizintechnischen Formteile
WO2016059029A1 (fr) 2014-10-14 2016-04-21 Dentona Ag Flan de fraisage destiné à la fabrication de pièces moulées à usage médical
US10623874B2 (en) 2014-10-14 2020-04-14 Pro3dure Medical GmbH Milling blank for the production of medical-technical molded parts
US11591431B2 (en) 2014-10-14 2023-02-28 Pr03Dure Medical Gmbh Milling blank for the production of medical-technical molded parts

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AU7834201A (en) 2001-11-20
WO2001087001A3 (fr) 2002-09-19
JP4755798B2 (ja) 2011-08-24
EP1269794A2 (fr) 2003-01-02
AU2001278342B2 (en) 2007-10-18
JP2004521661A (ja) 2004-07-22

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