Classifications

• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F11/06—Protective devices for the ears
  • A61F11/08—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs
  • A61F11/085—Protective devices for the ears internal, e.g. earplugs including an inner channel
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B33—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
  • B33Y—ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3-D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3-D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
  • B33Y80/00—Products made by additive manufacturing
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an otoplastic according to the preamble of claim 1, a method for producing otoplastics according to that of claim 6 and a use of the mentioned otoplastic or the mentioned method according to claim 10.
• the present invention is based on the following problem:
• earmolds have to be individualized for the respective application area. This is particularly true for in-the-ear earmolds, which have to be specifically adapted to the individual ear canal shape, as is known in particular for in-the-ear hearing aids. This is also extremely desirable for other in-the-ear earmolds for optimum wearing comfort, for example for headphones, hearing protection devices such as noise protection devices or water protection devices. The wearing comfort of outer ear earmolds can also be improved if necessary if the shape of the earmold is individually designed.
• BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE even with earmolds that are built without individualized modules, such as the electronic modules mentioned, namely that the correct individual earmold ultimately has to be sent to the right recipient.
• the object of the present invention is to create an otoplastic in which the problems mentioned can be solved in a very simple manner.
• the otoplastic according to the invention has indentations and / or indentations on the shell which are formed on the shell.
• the shell material in the indentation and / or bulge region is unchanged with respect to shell regions further away from it.
• indentations and / or bulges provided according to the invention can also contain manufacturer names, material names, left / right ear application instructions, serial numbers etc., they identify the respective individual, shell made for a specific individual.
• the indentations and / or indentations are at least partially and at least partially covered with a material that is different from the shell material, preferably with a paint or varnish.
• a material that is different from the shell material preferably with a paint or varnish.
• the otoplastic according to the invention is particularly preferably a hearing aid, an outer ear or in-the-ear hearing aid, very particularly preferably an in-the-ear hearing aid.
• the method according to the invention for solving the problem mentioned is characterized in that a shell of the otoplastic is manufactured with an individualizing identification and then the manufacturing is individualized by means of the shell.
• the further production in particular the assembly of the shell with modules to be installed, such as electronic modules, batteries etc., can be individualized on the basis of the shell accompanying the production. At least on the shell side, you can see at any time what individual shell it is, which means that the right modules can be used even in manual production or assembly.
• a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention which makes full use of the marking individualizing according to the invention, results from the fact that at least some of the manufacturing steps that are staggered according to the shell production are automated by machine recognition of the marking.
• the method according to the invention is particularly suitable in its use for the production of in-the-ear or outer-ear hearing aids, Especially for in-the-ear hearing aids, where special attention must be paid to the individual production and the avoidance of any mix-ups, based on the strongly individual ear canal shape.
• Otoplastics in which the present invention can be implemented and in preferred embodiments are subsequently illustrated using figures. These show for example:
• FIG. 1 shows a simplified diagram of a manufacturing plant for the optimization of industrial manufacturing of earmolds
• FIG. 2 in a representation analogous to that of Fig. 1, a further system concept
• FIGS. 1 and 2 shows an illustration of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2, yet another system concept
• FIG. 4 schematically shows an in-the-ear hearing device with a cerumen protective cap fitted in a known manner
• FIG. 5 shows a representation analogous to FIG. 4, an in-the-ear hearing aid made with a cerumen protective cap;
• FIG. 6 shows an in-the-ear hearing aid with a ventilation groove incorporated in a known manner
• FIG. 10 shows a representation analogous to FIG. 9, an in-ear otoplastic with a plurality of ventilation grooves
• Fig. 12 in a representation analogous to that of Fig. 8, a ventilation channel in an otoplastic shell with varying along its longitudinal extent
• FIG. 13 in analogy to the representation of FIG. 9, schematically an in-ear earmold with an integrated, elongated ventilation channel;
• FIG. 14 shows a representation analogous to FIG. 10, an in-ear otoplastic with a plurality of ventilation channels;
• FIG. 15 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of an in-ear earmold with a ribbed inner surface; 16 shows a detail of the otoplastic according to FIG. 15 in cross section, the ribs having different cross-sectional areas;
• FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the detail of an otoplastic shell with internal ribbing according to FIG. 15 or 16, the ribs having different cross-sectional shapes and dimensions along their longitudinal extent;
• FIG. 18 shows a representation analogous to FIG. 15, an in-ear otoplastic with external ribbing
• FIG. 19 schematically shows a detail from an otoplastic shell with ribs according to FIG. 18 with ribs of different cross-sectional areas;
• 21 schematically shows a longitudinal section of an otoplastic shell with a flexible and compressible portion
• FIG. 22 schematically shows in longitudinal section an in-the-ear otoplastic with a receiving space for an electronic module; 23 the otoplastic according to FIG. 22 when it is put over an electronic module;
• FIG. 24 shows, in perspective and schematically, an in-ear otoplastic, such as in particular an in-the-ear hearing aid, with a two-part, separable and assemblable otoplastic shell;
• 25 shows, in sections and schematically, the integration of acoustic conductors and adapter elements into an acoustic / electrical or electrical / acoustic transducer in an otoplastic;
• FIG. 26 shows a representation analogous to that of FIG. 25, the arrangement of two or more acoustic conductors in the shell of an otoplastic shell, and
• an otoplastic to be a device that is applied directly outside the auricle and / or on the auricle and / or in the ear canal.
• These include outer ear hearing aids, in-the-ear hearing aids, headphones, noise protection and water protection inserts etc.
• the manufacturing process which is preferably used to manufacture the otoplastics described in detail below, is based on three-dimensionally digitizing the shape of an individual application area for an intended otoplastic, then creating the otoplastic or its shell using an additive assembly process.
• Additive assembly processes are also known under the term "rapid prototyping". With regard to such additive processes already used in rapid prototype construction, e.g. referred to:
• Hot melt powder is applied to a powder bed, for example using a roller, in a thin layer.
• the powder layer is solidified by means of a laser beam, the laser beam and others. is controlled according to a cut layer of the otoplastic or otoplastic shell by means of the 3D shape information of the individual application area.
• a solidified cut layer of the otoplastic or its shell is formed in the powder, which is otherwise loose. This is lowered from the powder laying level and a new powder layer is applied over it, which in turn is laser-hardened according to a cut layer, etc.
• a first cut layer of an otoplastic or an otoplastic shell is solidified on the surface of liquid photopolymer using UN lasers.
• the solidified layer is lowered and is again covered by liquid polymer.
• the laser position control takes place, among other things, using the 3D Data or information of the individual, previously recorded application area.
• Thermojet process The contour formation corresponding to a cut layer of the otoplastic or the otoplastic shell is carried out similarly to an ink jet printer by means of liquid application, etc. carried out in accordance with the digitized SD form information, in particular also the individual application area. Then the filed section "drawing" is solidified. Again, layer by layer to build up the otoplastic or its shell is deposited in accordance with the principle of the additive construction method.
• SLS Selective Laser Sintering
• a thin layer of material is always deposited on one surface in additive assembly processes, be it over the entire surface as in laser sintering or stereolithography, whether in the contour of a cut of the otoplastic or its shell, as is the case with the thermojet process.
• the desired cut shape is then stabilized or consolidated.
• Either a single laser beam is used to solidify the multiple cut layers and / or more than one beam is operated and controlled in parallel.
• An alternative to this procedure is to solidify a cut layer with a laser, while at the same time the powder layer is deposited for the formation of a further otoplastic or otoplastic shell. Then the same laser will solidify the prepared powder layer according to the cut layer for the further plastic, while the layer solidified before it is lowered and a new powder layer is deposited there. The laser then works intermittently between two or more otoplastics or otoplastic shells being built up, the dead time for laser insert resulting from the formation of one of the shells being used to solidify a cut layer of another otoplastic being built up.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows how, in one embodiment variant, several otoplastics or their shells are manufactured industrially in a parallel process by means of laser sintering or laser or stereolithography.
• 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 x of a first earmold or its shell, controlled with the first individual data set D x .
• position 2 it is moved to a second position on a shifting device 7, where it creates the layer S 2 according to a further individual contour with the individual data set D 2 .
• several of the lasers can be moved as a unit and more than one individual otoplastic layer can be created at the same time.
• layers of individual earmolds or their shells are solidified simultaneously on one or more liquid or powder beds 1, with a plurality of individually controlled lasers 5.
• a new powder layer is deposited with the powder delivery unit 9 after completion of this solidification phase and after the laser has been stopped, while in the case of the laser or Stereolitography the layers that have just solidified or already solidified structures in the fluid bed can be lowered.
• laser 5 solidifies layer S ⁇ on a powder or liquid bed la in order to then switch to bed Ib (dashed line), during which the powder application device 9b removes powder over a previously solidified layer S ⁇ powder during the solidification phase on bed la or, in laser or stereolithography, the layer S _ is lowered. Only when the laser 5 on the bed 1b becomes active does the powder dispensing device 9a place a new powder layer over the layer S x that has just solidified on the bed 1 a or does the layer S x in the liquid bed 1 a lower.
• cut layers of more than one earmold or its shells are deposited at the same time, practically in one drawing by an application head or, in parallel, by several.
• the method described makes it possible to implement highly complex shapes on otoplastics or their shells, both in terms of their outer shape with individual adaptation to the application area and also in the case of a shell whose inner shape is concerned. Overhangs, jumps and jumps can be easily realized.
• materials for additive construction processes are known which can be formed into a rubber-elastic yet dimensionally stable shell which, if desired, can be realized locally differently up to extremely thin-walled and nevertheless tear-resistant.
• the digitization of the individual application area is carried out at a specialized institution, in the latter case at the audiologist.
• the individual form recorded there, as digital 3D information is transmitted to a production center, in particular in connection with hearing aids, be it by sending a data carrier, be it by internet connection, etc.
• a production center in particular using the methods mentioned above , the otoplastic or its shell, in the case under consideration, the in-the-ear hearing aid shell, individually shaped.
• the finished assembly of the hearing aid with the functional assemblies is also preferably carried out there.
• thermoplastic materials used generally lead to a relatively elastic, conforming outer shape
• shape with regard to pressure points in otoplastics or their shells is also far less critical than was previously the case. which is particularly important for in-ear earmolds.
• in-the-ear Otoplastics are 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 their surface conforms optimally to the application area, the auditory canal.
• the individual 3D data of the application area during production can also be used to optimize and optimally use the interior of the plastic, also individually with regard to the individual aggregate constellation to be recorded, such as with a hearing aid.
• the central production of their shells enables central storage and management of individual data, both with regard to the individual application area and also the individual functional parts and their settings. If, for whatever reason, a shell needs to be replaced, it can easily be made again by calling up the individual data records, without the need for laborious readjustment - as was the case up to now.
• elements which are built directly into the otoplastic shell using the proposed technology can be, for example: mounts and holders for components, cerumen protection systems, ventilation channels in in-ear earmolds, support elements that hold the latter in the ear canal in in-ear earmolds, such as so-called claws (English channel locks).
• FIG. 4 shows, for example and schematically, an in-ear earmold 11, for example an in-ear hearing device, in which the acoustic output 13 to the eardrum is protected by a cerumen protective cap 15.
• this protective cap 15 has been applied to the shell 16 of the otoplastic 11 as a separate part and fixed, for example by gluing or welding.
• the cerumen protective cap 15a is integrated directly on the shell 16a of the otherwise identical in-ear earmold 11a by using the additive construction methods mentioned.
• FIG. 5 there are no such interfaces at the connection points schematically indicated by P in FIG. 4, where a material inhomogeneity or interface necessarily arises in conventional methods; the material of the shell 16a passes homogeneously into that of the cerumen protective cap 15a over.
• cerumen protection systems and other functional elements can be integrated using the above-mentioned manufacturing process.
• the ventilation channels known today are hardly adapted to the respective acoustic requirements. So they can hardly, with active earmolds, such as for in-the-ear hearing aids, help to effectively solve the feedback problem from the electromechanical output converter to the acoustic / electrical input converter. Even with passive in-ear earmolds, such as hearing protection devices, they are unable to support the desired protective behavior and at the same time maintain the desired ventilation properties.
• the profile of the ventilation groove 20a is rectangular or square with predetermined, exactly maintained dimensioning relationships.
• the profile of the ventilation groove 20b is circular or elliptical sector-shaped, again with an exactly predetermined cross-sectional boundary curve 21b.
• FIG. 7 (c) to (f) show further ventilation groove profiles which are additionally protected against cerumen.
• the profile of the groove 20c according to Fig. 7 (c) is T-shaped.
• the projecting portions 23c and the resulting narrowing 25c, towards the wall of the ear canal already have a considerable cerumen protection effect. Even if cerumen penetrates into the constriction 25c and hardens there, this does not result in any significant constriction or even blockage of the ventilation groove, which is now a closed ventilation channel. 7 (d) to 7 (f), following the explained principle of FIG. 7 (c), the cross-sectional shape of the wide groove part 27d to 27f is designed with different shapes, according to FIG. 7 (d) circular sector-shaped or corresponding to the sector of an ellipse, according to FIG. 7 (e) triangular, according to FIG. 7 (f) circular or elliptical.
• FIG. 8 composed of profiles according to FIG. 7.
• the acoustic transmission behavior of the groove in the ear canal can be mathematically modeled and checked, then integrated into the in-ear earmold or its shell.
• cerumen-protected sections can be provided on exposed parts in this regard, as shown at A in FIG. 8.
• the ventilation grooves provided longer than is basically the case due to the longitudinal expansion of an in-ear earmold under consideration.
• this is achieved in that such grooves 31 with 7, 8, can be guided in predetermined curves along the surface of the otoplastic, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, practically as grooves looping around the otoplastic.
• Further optimization flexibility is achieved in that not only one ventilation groove, but several are guided on the surface of the otoplastic, as is shown schematically in FIG. 10.
• the high flexibility of the groove design means that depending on the application area in the ear canal, differently dimensioned ventilation grooves can be realized along the earmold surface, with respect to wax protection and acoustic transmission conditions.
• FIG. 11 shows different cross-sectional shapes and area ratios of the proposed ventilation channels 33a to 33e. 11 (a), the ventilation duct 33a built into the otoplastic shell 35a has a rectangular or square cross-sectional shape.
• the ventilation duct 33c has a circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape, while in the embodiment variant according to FIG. 11 (d) it has a triangular cross-sectional shape.
• the otoplastic shell has a complex internal shape, e.g. a bracket section 37 integrated thereon.
• the ventilation channel 35e is designed with a cross-sectional shape that also uses complex shapes of the otoplastic shell. Accordingly, its cross-sectional shape extends, in part, in a complicated manner into the mounting strip 37 attached to the shell 35e.
• FIG. 12 shows an embodiment variant of a fully integrated ventilation duct 39, which has different cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions along its longitudinal extent, as shown, for example, in the otoplastic shell 41, thus optimizing the acoustic transmission behavior in the sense of realizing different acoustic impedance elements can be.
• ventilation channels in particular the closed construction shown in this section, can be used at least in sections at the same time as acoustic conductor sections on the output side active electromechanical transducer, as can be used on the output side of microphones, for example in in-the-ear hearing aids.
• FIGS. 9 and 10 in analogy to FIGS. 9 and 10, show how on the one hand on the respective otoplastic 43 the integrated ventilation channels explained in this section are lengthened by appropriate web guidance or on the other hand as two or more of the channels mentioned, if necessary with different and / or varying channel cross sections, analogous to FIG. 12, can be integrated on the otoplastic.
• sections 2a) and 2b) open up and can be combined in any way to the expert, a myriad of design variants of the new ventilation systems and, in particular, a large degree of freedom, due to the various parameters that can be dimensioned individually, to create optimal wax protection and optimal acoustic transmission conditions for the respective individual earmold.
• the specific individual configuration of the system is preferably calculated or modeled, taking account of the needs mentioned. Then the individual earmould is realized.
• FIG. 15 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional illustration of an in-ear earmold
• FIG. 16 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a section of this earmold
• the earmold - e.g. for holding electronic components - has a shell 45 which is made of elastic material in the manner of a stocking and has a thin wall.
• the shape stability of the shell skin which is smooth on the outside in the exemplary embodiment shown, is ensured, if desired, by ribs 47 which are integrally placed on the inside of the shell and which are made of the same material with respect to the shell skin.
• the course of the wall thickness of the skin of the shell becomes 45, the density and shape of the ribs 47 previously calculated and then the otoplastic built up according to the calculated data.
• the design of the in-ear earmold just explained can be combined with a ventilation system, as was explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 14.
• the ribs provided to influence the shape stability or bendability in certain areas of the otoplastic can also be formed with a different cross-sectional profile, possibly also progressively extending in their longitudinal extent from one cross-section to the other.
• this can be used for the otoplastics with cavity considered here, but also for otoplastics with no cavity, for example with no electronic components, for example for hearing protection devices. conditions or water protection devices.
• Such an otoplastic is shown schematically in a cross-sectional illustration in FIG. 20.
• the interior 53 is made, for example, from extremely compressible absorption material and is surrounded by a shaping skin shell 55 with the rib pattern 57.
• "Skin" 55 and the rib pattern 57 are manufactured integrally.
• the manufacturing method explained at the beginning, with the aid of additive construction methods, is again suitable for this. It remains to be seen how far in the near future these additive assembly processes can be realized by changing the processed materials on a workpiece .. If this becomes possible, the path is free, for example in the embodiment according to FIG. 20 also the filler 53 simultaneously with the shell skin 55 and build up the ribs 57 sequentially in the respective structural layers.
• Ventilation channels or free spaces can be formed at the same time, as is shown purely schematically and, for example, by the path P.
• otoplastics can also be created, which probably leave a cavity for aggregates to be accommodated, such as electronic components, but in which the space between such a cavity 59 is specific to the necessary volumes and shapes of the additional 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 are poured out with such material as far as the shell skin 55.
• the shell skin 55 or 45, according to FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, can certainly be made of electrically conductive material, which at the same time creates an electrical shielding effect for internal electronic components. This may also apply to the filling 53 according to FIG. 20.
• an otoplastic was shown using the example of an in-the-ear otoplastic, the shell of which is shape-stabilized with internal and / or external ribs, which results in an extraordinarily light and selectively formable construction.
• this design can also be used for outer ear earmolds if necessary.
• FIG. 21 shows a further embodiment variant of an in-the-ear earmold which can be bent or compressed in a targeted manner.
• the shell 61 of an otoplastic in particular the shell of an in-the-ear hearing device, has for this purpose, in one or more predetermined areas, a corrugated or corrugated hose configuration 63, on which it can be bent or compressed in accordance with the respective requirements.
• FIG. 21 shows this procedure using the shell of an in-ear earmold, this procedure can be implemented and if necessary also for an outer ear earmold. Again, the manufacturing method explained at the outset is preferably used for this purpose.
• the inner volume of the otoplastic can be filled with the filling material corresponding to the requirements, or built-in components can be embedded therein in such filling material, which results in improved stability of the device Acoustic conditions.
• an in-ear earmold 65 is shown schematically and in longitudinal section, in which the shape of the inner space 67 essentially corresponds to the shape of the electronics module 69 to be accommodated, which is shown schematically in FIG. 23.
• the otoplastic 65 is made of rubber-elastic material and, as shown in FIG. 23, can be put over the electronics module 69.
• the shape of the interior 67 is such that the one or more modules to be accommodated le positively positioned and held directly by the earmold 65. Because of this procedure, it is easily possible to provide one and the same electronic modules 69 with different otoplastics 65, in order to take account of the changing ear canal formation, for example, in a growing child.
• the earmold practically becomes an easily replaceable disposable accessory for the in-the-ear hearing aid.
• the earmold 65 can be easily replaced not only to take account of changing conditions in the application area, namely the ear canal, but also simply for reasons of contamination. This concept can even be used to carry out medical applications, for example in the case of ear canal infections, for example by applying medication to the outer surface of the otoplastic or at least in order to use sterilized otoplastics at regular intervals.
• FIGS. 22 and 23 can of course be combined with the concepts set out in sections 2) and 3), and the otoplastic 65 is preferably produced according to the manufacturing process explained in section 1), which involves the formation of the most complex internal shapes - And vibration-free recording of the module 69 enables.
• the phase plate 1 otherwise provided in conventional in-the-ear hearing aids becomes integral with the Built earmold.
• the layer-by-layer build-up method set out in section 1) is implemented, as shown by dash-dotted lines in FIG. 22 and in the direction indicated by the arrow AB, then it should be possible without further ado to convert the otoplastic in the abutment direction AB mentioned, depending on the requirements in the to manufacture respective areas from different materials.
• This also applies to the earmoulds set out in Sections 2) and 3) and to those explained in Sections 5), 6) and 7) below.
• FIG. 22 it is therefore entirely possible to manufacture the area 65 a from rubber-elastic material, whereas the exit area 65 b is made from more dimensionally stable material.
• Otoplasty again as an example using an in-the-ear hearing aid, is shown, which enables the internal fittings to be replaced quickly and easily.
• it is proposed to design the otoplastic shell on an in-the-ear otoplastic with built-in parts, and this can be assembled, as shown in FIG. 24.
• fast-acting closures such as snap-in closures, latch-in closures or even bayonet-like closures
• housing parts 73a and 73b on the in-ear earmold, to remove the internals, such as electronic modules, and to reinstall them in a new shell, if necessary with a changed external shape or basically in a new bowl, even if this for cleaning reasons, sterility reasons, etc.
• acoustic / electrical transducers or electro-acoustic output transducers with the surroundings of the hearing aid on the input or output side via acoustic conductors assembled as independent parts, namely tube-like structures couple, or, in particular in the case of acoustic / electrical transducers on the input side, 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 slight cavities and protective measures.
• a converter module 75 has an acoustic input or output 77.
• the shell 79 of the otoplastic of an in-the-ear or an outer-ear hearing device or a headphone has, integrated in it, an acoustic conductor 81. It lies at least in sections and, as shown in FIG. 25, within the wall of the otoplastic shell 79.
• the respective acoustic impedance of the acoustic conductor 81 is preferably adapted by means of acoustic stub lines or line sections 83.
• This concept makes it possible to provide offset and, where desired, acoustic input openings 85 along the hearing aid, to couple them to the provided acoustic / electrical transducers 91 via acoustic conductors 89 integrated in the otoplastic or its shell 87, in essentially regardless of where these transducers 91 are installed in the hearing aid.
• Fig. 26 only provides to centralize two transducers into one module and to connect their inputs to the desired receiving openings 85 by the aforementioned guidance of the acoustic conductors 89. From consideration of FIGS.
• Ventilation channels as acoustic conductor channels, in particular if, as schematized in FIG. 25, by means of acoustic adapter elements 83 the acoustic impedance conditions are specifically designed.
• each is individually adapted to its respective wearer. It would therefore be extremely desirable to mark each earmold that is manufactured, as mentioned in particular each in-ear earmold, and in particular every in-ear hearing aid. It is therefore proposed to provide an individual marking in the otoplastic or in its shell, by indentations and / or by bulges, which, in addition to the individual customer, for example the manufacturer, can contain a product serial number, left-right application, etc. Such a marking is created in a far more preferred manner during the manufacture of the earmold using the removal method described under 1). This ensures that any confusion of the earmolds is excluded from production. This is particularly important for the following, possibly automated assembly with further modules, such as the assembly of in-the-ear hearing aids.
• the dynamic application area represented by block 93, takes shape or, like a film, the dynamics at several positions corresponding to the dynamics occurring in practice of the application area itself.
• the resulting data records are stored in a storage unit 95. This can also be achieved in the conventional procedure by taking impressions by moving the application area in two or more positions impressions corresponding to practical dynamics can be taken.
• the dynamics of the application area can be recorded by means of X-ray images.
• the computing unit 97 controls the manufacturing process 99 for the earmold. If, for example, and as is usual until now, in-ear earmolds are manufactured with a relatively hard shell, the computing unit 97 calculates the best fit for the dynamic data stored in the storage unit 95 and, if necessary, as shown schematically at K, other manufacturing parameters the earmold, so that optimal wearing comfort is achieved in everyday life, while maintaining its functionality.
• the computing unit 97 determines which otoplastic areas are to be designed and how, in terms of their flexibility, flexibility, compressibility, etc., as mentioned, the computing unit 97 controls the output side Manufacturing process 99, loading preferably the manufacturing process, as set out in Section 1) as the preferred process.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Otolaryngology (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Neurosurgery (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Psychology (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Headphones And Earphones (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-09-25 AU AU7266000A patent/AU7266000A/xx active Pending
  • 2000-09-25 AU AU2000272660A patent/AU2000272660B2/en not_active Expired
  • 2000-09-25 WO PCT/CH2000/000525 patent/WO2002024127A2/de not_active Ceased
  • 2000-09-25 CA CA002410995A patent/CA2410995C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-09-25 DE DE50009311T patent/DE50009311D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-09-25 JP JP2002528167A patent/JP2004508785A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-09-25 EP EP00960279A patent/EP1320339B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2002
  • 2002-11-27 US US10/305,472 patent/US6766878B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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