Impression procedure

1. A method of creating a hearing system for a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

taking a first impression of a first portion of an ear canal using an impression material having a first viscosity;

taking a second impression of a second portion of the ear canal using an impression material having a second viscosity;

bonding the first impression to the second impression;

raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position prior to the step of taking a second impression;

digitally scanning the first impression to create a first digital model;

digitally scanning the second impression to create a second digital model;

merging the first digital model with the second digital model to create a merged model where the lateral portion of the merged model is comprised of at least a portion of the first digital model and the medial portion of the merged model is comprised of at least a portion of the second model; and

using the merged digital model to manufacture at least one of an ear tip and a contact hearing device.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first impression comprises an impression of the subject's tympanic membrane.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the ear canal overlap.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the first viscosity is lower than the second viscosity.

5. A method of creating a hearing system for a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a hybrid impression of a subject's ear canal, the method of creating a hybrid impression comprising the steps of:

injecting a low viscosity impression material into a first portion of the ear canal, wherein the low viscosity impression material is injected with the subject in a supine position; and

injecting a high viscosity impression material into a second portion of the ear canal lateral to the first portion, wherein the high viscosity impression material is injected with the subject in an upright position;

bonding the high viscosity impression material to the low viscosity impression material;

digitally scanning the hybrid impression to create a digital model of the subject's ear canal; and

using the digital model to manufacture at least one of ear tip and a contact hearing device.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the viscosity of the low viscosity impression material is lower than the viscosity of the high viscosity impression material.

7. A method according to claim 5 , further including the step of raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position prior to injecting the high viscosity impression material.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the subject is raised from a supine to an upright position after the low viscosity impression material has transitioned from a liquid to a gel state.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the subject is raised from a supine to an upright position before the low viscosity impression material is fully cured.

10. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position occurs at a predetermined time after the beginning of the step of injecting a low viscosity impression material.

11. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position occurs before the low viscosity impression material cures into a gel state.

12. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position occurs after the viscosity of the low viscosity impression material has increased to a viscosity where the low viscosity impression material no longer flows when subjected to gravitational forces.