WO2012160098A1

WO2012160098A1 - Piece of ear jewellery for holding a hearing aid, and hearing aid in combination with a piece of ear jewellery

Info

Publication number: WO2012160098A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/059608
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kerime RIEDEL; Sandra COYM
Original assignee: Augenoptik- u. Hörgeräteakustik Riedel GmbH Brillen-Stube
Priority date: 2011-05-23
Filing date: 2012-05-23
Publication date: 2012-11-29
Also published as: EP2713799A1; ES2617985T3; EP2713799B1; PL2713799T3; DE202011101299U1; DK2713799T3; HUE031808T2; PT2713799T

Abstract

The invention relates to a hearing-air unit which comprises a piece of ear jewellery and a hearing aid with a recording and reproducing function, wherein the body of the piece of jewellery comprises a cavity (2) for accommodating a hearing aid (7), one or more outwardly running sound openings opening out into said cavity, and wherein the hearing aid comprises at least one microphone (8), for picking up acoustic signals, a signal-processing unit, a sound transducer and a signal conductor (9), for transmitting acoustic or audio signals into the auditory canal. In order to improve the variability of the design of the piece of jewellery, and the ability to exchange the design in a straightforward manner, without it being necessary to accept losses relating to hearing-aid technology, or without being unable to utilize developments in the technology, the hearing aid (7) is positioned loosely in the cavity (2) of the piece of ear jewellery and is removable, and at least one microphone (8) is arranged in the hearing aid such that, when the hearing aid (7) has been placed in position, the microphone is assigned to a sound-inlet opening (4).

Description

Earrings for holding a hearing aid and hearing aid in

Combination with an ear jewelery

The invention relates to earrings, which is used to hold a hearing aid with recording and playback function, in particular a hearing aid, and thus the attachment of the hearing aid to the human ear. It also relates to a hearing aid which is arranged in such an ear jewelery.

The hearing aid technology currently has two fundamental

Approaches on. On the one hand, these are the in-the-ear devices, and also IdO (in the ear) hearing aids that are worn completely in the ear. These are individually adapted as a compact, one-piece device to the anatomy of the ear, so that they can be more or less introduced into the ear canal. This version is cosmetically very demanding because they are barely visible or not at all. However, the situation in the ear canal proves to be different for different reasons

disadvantageous. In addition to the limited space are the

Occlusion effect, i. the closure of the ear canal by the hearing aid, and the distorted acoustics for the wearer and the hearing aid problematic. The occlusion of the ear canal allows for little or no ventilation, thus improving the ear canal and the technique

become more susceptible to failure. In addition, the wearer takes particular noises such as eating noises or his own voice disturbing and unnatural.

As an alternative, the behind-the-ear devices (BTE hearing aids) are known. In these systems, the hearing device is formed in two parts, the actual hearing aid, which in a housing in particular microphone, electronics, Batteries and transducers and is worn behind the ear, and a custom-made earmold, the earmold, which is connected via a signal conductor to the main unit behind the ear. The earmold is in

Auditory canal arranged. The earmold does not completely close the auditory canal or at least offers

adequate ventilation. In addition, the BTE hearing system allows a sound leakage near the eardrum. The latter is e.g. by the execution of the signal conductor as a sound tube possible, and that when the

Sound transducer is integrated in the hearing aid and the sound is passed as an acoustic signal over the hearing tube to the eardrum.

Alternatively, the sound transducer as an external

Sound transducer, referred to as a handset, be formed. In this case, the handset is connected via a signal conductor, here an electrical signal conductor, to the main unit behind the ear. In this embodiment, an audio signal is transmitted, i. an electrical signal that passes on acoustic information. Such external listeners

allow the generation of sound near the

Eardrum resulting in less distortion of the sound, e.g. due to losses, distortions or feedback. Usually, the hearing aids of the BTE systems are provided with a prefabricated housing. Only the earmolds are adjusted according to the anatomical conditions and are therefore more flexible in their shape. The IT systems, on the other hand, are not yet housed as commercially available components since, as a whole, they receive such a housing by encapsulation, which is adapted to the auditory canal of the wearer. These are the ones provided by the manufacturer

Units in the IDO hearing aids significantly smaller than the BTE hearing aids and for further processing by the hearing aid technician more flexible, especially in the

Shaping the housing.

Subsequently, regardless of whether the transducer is arranged internally or externally, spoken by the actual main unit as a hearing aid. If an external handset is designed, it is explicitly named external as an external component of the hearing device, but is one

Component of the hearing aid.

For conceptual distinction of the components of the BTE hearing systems are hereinafter those which are arranged integrally in a housing, referred to as a hearing aid and the entire arrangement, which may be external

Components such as in particular external listeners includes, as a hearing aid. Although the BTE hearing aids avoid the occlusion effect, provide the wearer with a better hearing and more space for the electronics and thus more diverse technical

However, for cosmetic reasons, options are unacceptable to many hearing-impaired people, even as housings become increasingly smaller.

For this reason, there are BTE ear systems whose hearing aids are integrated in or on an ear jewelry. For example, describes the DE 87 05 651 Ul an ear jewelry, in which the

Hollow body is formed and thus absorbs at least some components of the hearing aid. A sound directed to the auditory canal, the rear sound outlet or a sound tube, the sound to the auricle (Concha) out.

Also in DE 93 19 114 Ul and also in DE 70 40 072, the hearing aid is arranged in an ear clip and has a sound tube, which leads from the clip into the auricle. However, this trained to record a hearing aid earrings is firmly connected to the hearing aid, so that a change, as is customary for earrings, can not be done. In addition, the jewelry design is limited. In order to allow at least a certain variability of the jewelry here, in DE 93 19 114 Ul the caps are made changeable by means of magnetic mounts. However, these can adversely affect the electronics of the hearing aid. In DE 88 15 571 Ul the housing of the hearing aid by means of grub screws and nuts are to be attached to a main body of an ear clip. However, this again requires an adaptation of the hearing aid to the respective

Fasteners and appropriate tools, whereby a simple replacement of the earrings by the wearer himself is difficult.

The invention is therefore based on the object

Possibilities to specify the variability of the

Decorating jewelry design and jewelry use as well as their easy and quick replacement for wearing a hearing aid, without having to accept losses in the hearing aid technology or to be able to use advancements in technology.

To achieve the object, a hearing aid unit with a hearing aid and an ear jewelery according to claim 1 and a suitable ear jewelery according to claim 8 is described. The respective dependent claims describe

advantageous embodiments.

Generically, the ear jewelery on a jewelery body with a cavity and at least one opening into the cavity sound opening and the hearing aid for the realization of the recording and playback function at least one microphone for receiving acoustic signals, a Signal processing unit for processing the recorded acoustic signals, a sound transducer and a signal conductor for the transmission of acoustic or audio signals in the ear canal. According to the invention in the jewelry body at least one

Sound opening as a sound inlet opening on the

Front side, i. the side facing away from the ear, arranged and the cavity is formed in position and shape such that a hearing aid loosely inserted and removed. The

Removability of the hearing aid is so with the

Arrangement of at least one microphone in the hearing linked that with the loose insertion of the microphone

Sound inlet opening is assigned. Both features allow in conjunction with each other, the simple and quick replacement of the earrings by the user himself.

As a sound inlet opening is to be understood that each extending through the wall of the cavity opening, so the cavity acoustically with the external environment

combines.

To the front of the ear jewelery every part surface becomes

Calculated surface of the jewelry body, which is not turned directly to the ear and thus the head of the wearer and comes for the reception of acoustic signals from the environment of the ear in question. In particular, these are surfaces of the jewelry body, pointing in the direction of the wearer of the ear jewelry, back and to the side.

The inventive design of the cavity in

Jewelery body, which is to enable a loose inserting and removing a hearing aid, allows the quick and any change of the ear jewelery without changing the

customized hearing aid, with the loose inserting so to understand that no filigree assembly or

Mounting aids are necessary. It's just

required to slide the hearing aid into the cavity, making it suitable for use

Position is. The position is determined in particular by the position of the one or more sound entry opening through which the sound strikes a microphone of the hearing aid, and / or by possible connections, e.g. to a

Signal conductor of the hearing aid, which must be performed due to the design of the cavity through the wall. If the cavity, however, designed relatively open, but may well the sound inlet openings and / or the

Connections through the already existing openings of the

Cavity be realized. A hearing aid that can be used for the hearing aid unit regularly comprises at least one microphone, provided that

Directional radio technology for spatially selective hearing executed is also several microphones, for receiving acoustic signals and a signal processing unit for

Processing the received signals, e.g. for time and / or frequency and / or amplitude-dependent evaluation, for amplification and for controlling the generation of the

acoustic signal through a sound transducer, which receives the wearer of the hearing aid. The sound transducer can be integrated in the hearing device or designed as a separate, connected to the hearing aid via the signal conductor handset. Such a hearing aid is variable and without filigree mounting or assembly aids with different earrings

combined, resulting in benefits for the wearer of the hearing aid both in terms of hearing aid technology and the cosmetic claims.

With a hearing aid unit according to the invention, the wearer is very much concerned with the design and type of ear jewelery

different and thereby exchangeable variants for Available. The latter relates both to the type of jewelry, the corresponding alternative embodiments eg

plug-like, that is as a compact plug one

pierced ear or as an ear clip, or creolen-like, that is as a full circle or circle formed jewelry, which can also be attached by means of clip or piercing pin on the ear. It is with the invention

Hearing aid unit also to make the position of the jewelry on the ear variable. In addition to the jewelry on the earlobe (Lobulus) jewelry on the auricle (Auricula), on the tragus or anti-tragus is possible. Also in the concha, the pinna, an inventive ear jewelery, e.g. be placed in the shape of an earphone, so that the actual function of this ear jewelery is not visible as a wearer of a hearing aid.

The body of jewelry itself can largely independent of the requirements of the hearing aid, at least as far as it has such a size that fit the current hearing aids in the cavity, be made more attractive and variable and can simultaneously the current technology of hearing systems, both BTE and of IdO hearing aids, without special adaptation. Even men's jewelry can act in form and function and become more attractive, with the benefit comes and is supported by the ear jewelry that technical refinements particularly appeal to the man.

The ear jewelry described can provide an improved and cosmetically sophisticated hearing care and the image of hearing aids can be significantly improved.

At the same time the hearing loss can be openly supplied, as it is known from BTE devices and described above.

The variability of the ear jewelry is realized in that only one cavity must be provided in the jewelry that receives the hearing aid. According to the above description of the structure and function of BTE hearing aids, this means that the actual main unit is in the cavity of the

Ear jewelry is inserted. The signal conductor as well

If necessary, the signal conductor with an external receiver protrudes out of the cavity in order to be able to establish the connection to the auditory canal.

There are no further fasteners necessary because the location and opening of the cavity are for the fixation of the hearing aid in earrings during use

sufficient. According to various embodiments, the position and shape of the cavity can also be designed so that the fixation of the hearing aid alone by

Attachment of the ear jewelery and / or by the

Accuracy of cavity and hearing aid is realized. For example, closes the ear the entrance of the cavity through which the hearing aid is inserted and removed, in the

Use of the jewelry sufficiently. Or the attachment of the Ohrschmuck fixed at the same time the jewelry on the ear and the hearing aid in the jewelry body.

In addition, the hearing aids are becoming ever more filigree and require less space, so that the fixation is simpler and the freedom of design of ear jewelry larger. Also, the often unified, commercially available forms of BTE hearing aids and in particular those with external handset contribute to the more variable, the opportunity adapted and also less expensive interchangeability of the ear jewelry. For such embodiments, e.g. tailor-made cave rooms. Optionally, the loose connection of earrings and BTE hearing aid also allows the temporary wearing of the hearing aid without earrings. If IdO hearing aids are used, their shape can also be adapted to specific cavities and thus to special ear jewelery designs by casting. Such

Embodiment uses the advantages of the IT technology, especially with regard to a small and adaptable shape and a variable but fixable position of one or more microphones together with that of the BTE technique, which allows a spatial separation of the potted components to the listener and beyond the open signal supply due to the external handset.

But also the change of the hearing aid, e.g. Adjustment or improvement of the signal processing can be done without having to change the earrings. This is while maintaining the original, commercially available form of the hearing aid or in a sufficiently large cavity or in a reproducible by the hearing aid technician encapsulation, e.g. possible by casting.

In a further embodiment of the ear jewelery

at least two sound entry openings on the front and spaced from each other. This makes it possible to use hearing aids that use directional microphone technology in the

Ear jewelery to use. In this technique, at least two microphones are integrated with different orientation in the hearing aid and the signals from the individual microphones for spatial selection evaluated differently. Thus, similar to human hearing noise, which arrives from behind or as background noise, be hidden.

For this it is beneficial if the two or more

Sound inlet openings, comparable to the directivity through the auricle, are arranged so that they are in attachment of the ear jewelry to the ear in the direction of the wearer, i. forward, and the opposite

Direction, i. to the rear, aligned and through the

Inserting the hearing aid in the cavity of the Ohrschmuck the

Microphones are assigned to the sound inlet openings. Such alignment achieved by the attachment of the

Ear jewelery on the ear a natural hearing

comparatively close directional effect of recorded sound.

As assigned here is to be understood such a position of microphone and sound inlet opening relative to each other that with the microphones, a directional dependence of the sound is detected according to their orientation. An assignment can be achieved in the best case, that the sound inlet opening opens at the microphone. But also a larger number of sound entry openings or multiple perforated, even net-like walls of the cavity of the ear jewelry ensure such a spatial selection.

For the adjustment of the ear jewelery to the position of the one or more directional microphones on the hearing aid, either unified hearing aids can be used or one or more sound entry openings are formed by the entrance of the earpiece

Cavity realized. In the case of ITE hearing aids, it is also possible to vary the position of the microphones prior to potting. Alternatively, according to a further embodiment, variable sound inlet openings can be achieved if the wall of the jewelry body surrounding the cavity is at least partially broken. This is also an appealing design means, which can combine design and functionality conveniently.

Depending on the position and shape of the cavity, it may also be beneficial, in the cavity another opening to

Implementation of a signal conductor to arrange in the direction of the auricle, so that the signal conductor positioned on the jewelry and ends properly with the attachment of the ear jewelery on the ear. This applies to both signal conductors, which are formed as a sound tube, and electrical connectors to an external handset.

The fixation of the hearing aid in the cavity of the jewelry body is carried out as described above, in particular by the Design of the ear jewelery possibly in connection with its attachment to the ear. In addition, the hearing aid can also be designed such that it can be inserted precisely into the cavity of the ear jewelery. For this, according to an embodiment, the hearing aid, in particular an ITE hearing aid, can be encapsulated in a form that corresponds to the cavity. This is done by potting in plastic in the appropriate form and is practiced by the hearing aid technician for ITE devices or otoplastics of BTE devices.

To attach the hearing aid ear jewelry on the ear, it may be favorable for various designs of Ohrschmucks, although the signal conductor is releasably fixed to the ear jewelry. This is advantageous both for a sound tube and for an electrical conductor as a signal conductor for improving the signal quality.

The invention will be described below with reference to a

Embodiments will be explained in more detail. In the

accompanying drawing show a schematic representation

1A to IE a Creole as earrings according to the invention in different views,

FIGS. 2A and 2B an ear clip as inventive

Earrings in different views and

3A and 3B, a hoop according to FIG. 1A to IE with a

Hearing aid in two different

perspective views.

The creole according to FIGS. 1A to IE is formed by a hook-shaped jewelry body 1 bent backwards

formed, consisting of two side and one bottom surface

is formed and up, to the ear (not shown) is open. In the front view (Fig. 1A) is the

Jewelry body 1 therefore visible as a rectangle.

By definition, the boundary surface of the Jewelery body 1, which points to the ear to be referred to as the back of the ear jewelery. The remaining boundary surfaces should be referred to as front 5. In Fig. 1A this is to be the bottom surface and the right side surface, so that in Fig. 1A, a left earring is shown. In the lower part of the rounding a small, circular sound inlet opening 4 is embedded in the bottom surface.

Fig. 1B illustrates the left side view of the ear jewelery, i. the view from the ear, and clarifies the

hook-shaped design. In the upper part of the ear jewelery a fastener 3 is shown in the form of a plug with a slidable on the plug plate-shaped counterpart. These fasteners 3 are generally known for ear studs for attachment to the earlobe (not shown).

Fig. IC represents the rear view of the Creole. Visible again are the bottom and side surfaces with the plug as a fastening means 3 in the upper region of the bottom surface. For the sake of clarity, the second part of the

Fastener 3, the counterpart not shown. In the rearwardly directed region of the bottom surface, similarly to the forwardly directed region (FIG. 1A), a sound inlet opening 4 is likewise arranged, so that the bottom surface of the hoop has two sound inlet openings 4. One points to the back and the other to the front. The forward facing sound inlet opening 4 is covered in Fig. IC by the slightly raised bottom surface. In addition, the jewelry body 1 on a terminal 11, which serves to attach a signal conductor (not shown). Figures 1D and IE provide the described creole

in perspective, so that in the cavity 2, which is formed between the bottom and the two side surfaces and is upwardly open to the earlobe, can be looked. Due to the right-angled connection between the Floor surfaces and the two side surfaces is the shape and size of the cavity 2 in the shape and size of a

Side surface directly recognizable. In Fig. 1D as

front perspective view and FIG. IE as

Rear perspective view are again

Fastener 3, the clamp 11 and the two

Sound inlet openings 4 to recognize. In Fig. 1D is the front and in Fig. IE is the rear

Sound inlet 4 as a passage through the

Floor surface only partially visible.

Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B represent a cuboid, hollow jewelry body 1 of an ear clip. In Fig. 2A, the open back with the known for ear clips

commonly used bow-shaped fastener 3 shown. The attachment means 3 holds the ear clip on the earlobe (not shown that the cavity 2 in

Inside of the jewelry body through the earlobe

can be largely closed. In the

Fasteners opposite the front 5 of the jewelery body 1 are two parallelogram-shaped

Sound inlet openings 4 next to each other and with a

Distance from each other, which open in the cavity 2 (Fig. 2A).

FIGS. 3A and 3B also show the creole according to FIGS. 1A to IE in front and front perspectives

Rear view is, however, with an inserted hearing aid 7. For the design of the ear jewelery reference is made to the comments on Fig. 1A to IE.

In the cavity 2 of the jewelery body 1 a housed, lens-shaped hearing aid 7 is inserted. Such housing forms are known, for example, from conventional BTE hearing aids. The hearing aid 7 lies solely by its weight in the lower, horizontal part of the hook-shaped cavity 2. The length of this part of the cavity 2 is exactly the same designed so that the hearing aid 7 rests against the front and rear of the bottom surface, so that the two

Sound inlet openings 4 in the jewelry body exactly at the two microphones 8 of the hearing aid 7 open. This position of the cavity 2 causes moreover that the earlobe protrudes through the attachment by means of plug in the hook-shaped curvature of the Creole and thus prevents the hearing aid can fall out. Alternatively, in this and also in other embodiments, a supplementary clamp or comparable fixation hold the hearing device 7 at least for the attachment of the ear jewelery to the ear in the cavity 2. Such fixation may e.g. be integrated with the fastener 3 of the ear jewelery.

From the hearing aid 7 protrudes a signal conductor 9, which connects the hearing aid with an external handset 10. The external handset 10 is an external sound transducer as described above, so that the signal conductor 9 is an electrical conductor for transmitting an audio signal. The signal conductor 9 is fixed to the terminal 11. Is in an alternative embodiment, the sound transducer in

Hearing integrated 7, the signal conductor 9 is formed as a filigree sound tube with an open end, wherein the sound tube can be fixed by means of the clamp 11 so that it rests permanently on or in the auditory canal during the wearing of the Creole.

List of numbers jewelery body

cavity

fastener

Sound port

front

hearing Aid

microphone

signal conductor

external listener

clamp

Claims

Claims 1. Hearing aid unit, which an ear jewelry with a jewelry body (1) and a hearing aid with recording and

Playback function, wherein the jewelry body comprises a cavity (2) for receiving a hearing aid (7), in which one or more outwardly extending

Sound openings open, and wherein the hearing aid at least one microphone (8) for receiving acoustic signals, a signal processing unit for processing the

recorded acoustic signals, a sound transducer and a signal conductor (9) for transmitting acoustic or audio signals in the ear canal, characterized

in that the hearing device (7) is loosely inserted and removable in the cavity (2) of the ear jewelery and at least one microphone (8) is arranged in the hearing device in such a way that in the inserted state of the hearing device (7) in the ear jewelery of a sound entry opening (4 ) is assigned to record acoustic signals.

2. Hearing aid unit according to claim 1, characterized

in that the ear jewelry is plug-like or creole-like design.

3. Hearing aid unit according to one of the above

Claims, characterized in that the

Hearing aid (7) integrated in the hearing aid (7)

Sound transducer or an external handset (10).

4. Hearing aid unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the hearing aid (7) is encapsulated in a form which fits the

Positioning of the at least one microphone (8) realized at a sound inlet opening (4) and the cavity (2) of the ear jewelry and having an external handset (10) which is connected via a signal conductor (9) with the encapsulated hearing aid (7).

5. Hearing aid unit according to one of the above

Claims, characterized in that the

Hearing aid (7) comprises at least two microphones (8) and each microphone (8) is assigned to one of the sound inlet openings (4).

6. Hearing aid unit according to claim 5, characterized

characterized in that the sound inlet openings (4) are aligned with attachment of the ear jewelry on the ear in the direction of the wearer and the opposite direction.

7. Hearing aid unit according to one of the above

Claims, characterized in that the ear jewelry fastening means (3) for fixing the Ohrschmuck on an ear and the cavity (2) in position and shape is formed such that the fixation of a hearing aid (7) in the cavity (2)

Fitting accuracy of the cavity (2) and / or attachment of the ear jewelery on the ear can be achieved.

8. Ear jewelery with a jewelery body (1) and with

Fastening means (3) for fastening the ear jewelry to an ear, wherein in the jewelry body (1) has a cavity (2) is formed for receiving a hearing aid (7) and wherein in the cavity (2) one or more outwardly extending

Sound openings open, characterized in that at least one sound opening as Sound inlet opening (4) is arranged on the

Front side (5), i. the side facing away from the ear, the jewelry body (1) and that the cavity (2) in position and shape is formed such that a hearing aid (7) for use in a hearing aid unit according to any one of the preceding claims is loosely inserted and removed.

9. ear jewelery according to claim 8, characterized

in that the ear jewelry is plug-like or creole-like design.

10. ear jewelery according to one of claims 8 or 9,

characterized in that at least two

Sound inlet openings (4) on the front side (5) of the jewelry body (1) and spaced from each other are arranged.

11. Ear jewelery according to claim 10, characterized

in that the sound inlet openings (4) are arranged in such a way that they can be fastened when mounting the

Ear jewelery on the ear in the direction of the wearer and the opposite direction are aligned.

12. ear jewelery according to one of claims 8 to 11,

characterized in that the one or more sound inlet openings (4) by at least one

partially broken wall of the jewelry body (1) is formed.

13. ear jewelery according to one of claims 8 to 12,

characterized in that the cavity (2) has a further opening for the passage of a signal conductor (9) in the direction of the pinna.