Hearing device
Various embodiments of a hearing device and a system including such device are disclosed. The hearing device includes an enclosure having a front housing and a rear housing, and an isolator disposed between the front housing and the rear housing, where the isolator includes a body and a sleeve disposed on a side surface of the body. A second end of the front housing and a second end of the rear housing are connected to the sleeve of the isolator. The device also includes a microphone disposed in the rear housing and a receiver disposed in the front housing.
1 . A hearing device comprising:
an enclosure extending along an enclosure axis and comprising a front housing and a rear housing, wherein the front housing extends along the enclosure axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be disposed at least partially within an ear canal of a wearer, and further wherein the rear housing extends along the enclosure axis between a first end and a second end;
an isolator disposed between the front housing and the rear housing, wherein the isolator comprises a body and a sleeve disposed on a side surface of the body, wherein the second end of the front housing and the second end of the rear housing are connected to the sleeve of the isolator, wherein a hardness value of the sleeve of the isolator is greater than a hardness value of the body of the isolator;
a microphone disposed in the rear housing;
a microphone port extending between an inlet disposed in the rear housing and an outlet that is acoustically connected to an inlet of the microphone;
a receiver disposed in the front housing; and
an acoustic port extending between the receiver and an opening disposed in the first end of the front housing, wherein the acoustic port acoustically connects the receiver to the opening.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is over-molded onto the side surface of the body of the isolator.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the isolator further comprises a flange that extends from the side surface, wherein the sleeve is in contact with the flange.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first portion that is connected to the front housing and a second portion that is connected to the rear housing, wherein the flange is disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the sleeve.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the body of the isolator comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer, thermoset polymer, thermoplastic elastomer, or photopolymer.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the body of the isolator comprises a hardness value of at least 20 durometer Shore OO and no greater than 80 durometer Shore A.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an earbud connected to the first end of the front housing.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve of the isolator further comprises a first rib that extends toward the first end of the front housing along the enclosure axis, wherein the first rib is adapted to be inserted into the second end of the front housing.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the sleeve of the isolator further comprises a second rib extending toward the first end of the rear housing along the enclosure axis, wherein the second rib is adapted to be inserted into the first end of the rear housing.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the sleeve of the isolator further comprises a ledge that extends from the first rib to a perimeter of the sleeve, wherein an end surface of the second end of the front housing is adapted to engage the ledge.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve of the isolator further comprises a second ledge that extends from the second rib to the perimeter of the sleeve, wherein an end surface of the second end of the rear housing is adapted to engage the ledge.
12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a connector port disposed in the first end of the rear housing and adapted to receive an end of a cable.
13 . A hearing device system comprising:
a hearing device comprising:
an enclosure extending along an enclosure axis and comprising a front housing and a rear housing, wherein the front housing extends along the enclosure axis between a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be disposed at least partially within an ear canal of a wearer, and further wherein the rear housing extends along the enclosure axis between a first end and a second end;
an isolator disposed between the front housing and the rear housing, wherein the isolator comprises a body and a sleeve disposed on a side surface of the body, wherein the second end of the front housing and the second end of the rear housing are connected to the sleeve of the isolator;
a microphone disposed in the rear housing;
a microphone port extending between an inlet disposed in the rear housing and an outlet acoustically connected to an inlet of the microphone;
a receiver disposed in the front housing; and
an acoustic port extending between the receiver and an opening disposed in the first end of the front housing, wherein the acoustic port acoustically connects the receiver to the opening;
a hearing module adapted to be disposed between an ear and a skull of the wearer, wherein the hearing module comprises a module housing and electronic components disposed within the module housing; and
a cable that connects the hearing device to the hearing module.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic components of the hearing module comprise a controller that is operatively connected to the hearing device.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is adapted to direct a noise canceling signal to the receiver of the hearing device that is based upon a noise signal received from the microphone of the hearing device, wherein the receiver is adapted to direct a noise canceling acoustic wave into an ear canal of a wearer of the hearing device that is based upon the noise canceling signal from the controller.
16 . A method comprising:
forming a body of an isolator;
overmolding a sleeve onto a side surface of the body of the isolator;
disposing a microphone at least partially within a rear housing, wherein the rear housing comprises a first end and a second end;
disposing a receiver within a front housing, wherein the front housing comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be disposed at least partially within an ear canal of a wearer;
connecting the second end of the front housing to the sleeve of the isolator; and
connecting the second end of the rear housing to the sleeve of the isolator, wherein the front housing, the isolator, and the rear housing define an enclosure that extends along an enclosure axis.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising disposing a microphone port in the rear housing that extends between an inlet disposed in the rear housing and an outlet disposed adjacent to the microphone.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the body of the isolator comprises molding the body of the isolator.
19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the isolator of the hearing device further comprises a flange that extends from the side surface, where the sleeve is in contact with the flange.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first portion that is connected to the front housing and a second portion that is connected to the rear housing, wherein the flange is disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the sleeve.