Universal-fit hearing device
View Patent ↗An in-the-ear hearing instrument comprises a deformable holding element ( 3 ) outside the ear canal and a sealing element ( 7 ) comprising venting elements. The sealing element is an exchangeable resilient eartip, which by means of venting elements, such as holes, channels, openings, etc. defines the amount of acoustic leakage.
1. A hearing instrument to be worn in the ear comprising:
an elongated, at least partially resilient portion ( 3 ) to be placed outside the ear canal,
housing portion ( 5 ) dimensioned such that it is partially inserted into the ear canal and does not fill out the canal and
a resilient eartip member ( 7 ) located at a housing-like portion in direction to the inner ear, which is designed such that it abuts at least partially at the inner wall of the ear canal.
2. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the eartip member comprises an inner opening enabling output from the hearing instrument into the ear canal.
3. Hearing instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the eartip member comprises a central opening enabling output from the hearing instrument into the ear canal.
4. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one microphone ( 11 ) is located in or at the resilient portion ( 3 ) and a receiver is located in or at the housing portion, the receiver and the at least one microphone are being acoustically sealed from each other.
5. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the resilient eartip member being formed porous and/or being provided in its or near its periphery portion with at least one passage for acoustic penetration between the outside and the inner ear area.
6. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that a signal processing unit and a battery ( 9 ) are being arranged within the resilient portion ( 3 ).
7. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that an antenna is integrated within the resilient portion ( 3 ).
8. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the resilient eartip member ( 7 ) is replaceably mounted at or on the housing portion ( 5 ).
9. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the elongated resilient portion is preshaped or biased-shaped such that it fits within the concha of a user person.
10. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the elongated resilient portion and the housing portion are arranged in a more or less perpendicular angle and the two portions are connected releasably and/or are connected in a flexible manner in the sense of a hinge.
11. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the at least partially resilient portion and/or the resilient eartip member are consisting of a thermoplastic material with silicone-like or rubber-like properties or the at least partially resilient portion and/or the resilient eartip member are consisting of a silicone material.
12. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the hearing instrument is a hearing aid.
13. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is dimensioned such that it partially abuts the inner wall of the ear canal.
14. Hearing instrument according to claim 1 , characterized in that the resilient portion ( 3 ) is to be placed at least partially within an auricle ( 21 ).