Rapid prototype fabrication of a monolithic hearing instrument housing with an integrally-fabricated faceplate
AssigneeSiemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Marxen, Martin W. Masters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The benefits of rapid modeling and prototyping of a hearing instrument housing can be increased by fashioning the housing as a monolithic unit, incorporating the faceplate as an integral part of the housing. An opening in the faceplate region of the housing can be created to accept a module containing various electronic components of the hearing instrument.
Claims15
A method for fabricating a housing for a hearing instrument, comprising:
- obtaining a digital representation of at least a portion of the ear canal and optionally a portion of the ear external to the ear canal;
- creating a digital representation of a shell conforming to at least a portion of the digital representation of the ear canal and optionally a portion of the ear external to the ear canal;
- and
- creating a digital representation of a monolithic housing, incorporating the digital representation of the shell.
A method for fabricating a housing for a hearing instrument, comprising:
- obtaining a digital representation of at least a portion of the ear canal and optionally a portion of the ear external to the ear canal;
- creating a digital representation of a shell conforming to at least a portion of the digital representation of the ear canal and optionally a portion of the ear external to the ear canal;
- superpositioning a digital representation of an electronics module and a mating receptacle with respect to the digital representation of the shell;
- creating a transition region between the digital representation of the shell and the receptacle, the step of creating a transition region comprising fixing a series of graduated contours between the receptacle and the digital representation of the shell;
- creating an intermediate transition between the transition region and the digital representation of the shell, where the intermediate transition is rounded, elliptical, straight, curved, or of some other shape;
- and
- creating a digital representation of a monolithic housing, incorporating the digital representation of the shell, the receptacle, the transition region, and the intermediate transition;
- and
- fabricating a monolithic housing from the digital representation of the housing by rapid prototyping or direct manufacture.
A monolithic hearing instrument housing.
A monolithic hearing instrument housing fabricated utilizing rapid prototyping or direct manufacture.
A monolithic hearing instrument housing for insertion in the ear canal of a user, comprising:
- a shell conforming to at least a portion of a digital representation of the ear canal and optionally a portion of the ear external to the ear canal;
- and
- a receptacle for an electronics module;
- where the housing is fabricated utilizing rapid prototyping or direct manufacture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.