# US 2014/0150234 A1 · Tool for insertion of canal hearing device into the ear canal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150234 A1 - Document ID: US20140150234A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,641 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: iHear Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Ihear Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Adnan Shennib; Victor Valenzuela; Patrick Contioso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150234A1 ## CPC - H04R 25/603: {of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements} - H04R 2460/17: Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - Y10T 29/53943: Hand gripper for direct push or pull - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A hand held tool for safely inserting a canal hearing device into the ear canal having a medial end configured to simultaneously cradle the lateral end of the canal hearing device and constrain a knob element laterally positioned on the canal hearing device. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion tool comprises a C-shaped cavity for self-centering engagement with a D-shaped lateral end of a CIC device, providing ease of use for hearing impaired individuals. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion tool is substantially formed of a single monolithic structure for improved durability and lower cost of fabrication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for manually inserting a canal hearing device into the ear canal comprising: a medial section configured to removably couple to a lateral end of the canal hearing device, the medial section including a first cavity for cradling at least a portion of the lateral end of the canal hearing device and a second cavity for engaging a knob element attached with a shaft to the lateral end of the canal hearing device; and a handle section laterally positioned and structured to manually release the knob element, wherein the tool is configured to secure the canal hearing device to the tool by retaining the knob element within the second cavity and cradling the lateral end of the canal hearing device within the first cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is a monolithic structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the first cavity is configured for self-centering with the lateral end of the canal hearing device when mating thereto. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the second cavity is configured to retain the knob element therewithin by a snap fit between the knob element and the second cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tool of claim 4, wherein the snap fit is achieved without expanding the medial section of the tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the second cavity is configured to retain the knob element therewithin in response to an application of a squeezing force on the handle section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is symmetrically designed for mating with the lateral end of the canal hearing device in either of two opposing orientations. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the first cavity is C-shaped for mating with a complimentary D-shaped section of the lateral end of the canal hearing device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further comprising a central pivoting structure positioned between the handle section and medial section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tool of claim 9, further comprising a medial channel extending from a medial end of the tool towards the central pivoting structure and a lateral channel extending from a lateral end of the tool towards the central pivoting structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tool of claim 10, wherein sections of the tool on opposing sides of the medial channel and lateral channel are generally mirrored halves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further comprising a channel between the first cavity and the second cavity to allow the knob element to advance to the second cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to manually release the knob element by squeezing the handle section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is configured to engage the knob element by squeezing the handle section and further configured to manually release the knob element by unsqueezing the handle section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the medial section further comprises one or more structures extending from the medial section configured to prevent advancement of the knob element beyond the aperture of the ear canal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16, wherein the one or more structures extending from the medial section include a flange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool further comprises a pivoting structure lateral to the handle section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, further comprising a removal loop attached to a lateral end and configured for interlocking with the knob element of the canal hearing device while the canal hearing device is in the ear canal. ### Claim 20 A tool for inserting a canal hearing device into the ear canal, the tool comprising: a monolithic tool body including: a medial section having a first cavity and a second cavity positioned laterally relative to the first cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity being connected by a first channel; and a handle section extending lateral to the medial section and configured to be resiliently deformed from a first position to a second position upon the application of a force and wherein the handle section returns to the first position upon release of said force; wherein the handle section is coupled to the medial section such that deformation of the handle section changes a dimension of the first and second cavities. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The tool of claim 20, wherein the monolithic tool body further includes a pivot portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The tool of claim 21, wherein the pivot portion is located between the medial section and the handle section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The tool of claim 21, wherein the pivot portion is located laterally relative to the handle section. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The tool of claim 20, wherein the first position is a closed position and the second position is an open position. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The tool of claim 20, wherein the first cavity is smaller than the second cavity and the second cavity is shaped cooperating to the shape of a battery module of the canal hearing device. ### Claim 26 A method for inserting a canal hearing device into the ear canal, the method comprising: engaging a medial end of an insertion tool with a canal hearing device outside of the ear canal by axially joining the insertion tool to a lateral end of the canal hearing device, whereby a knob element of the canal hearing device is constrained within a locking cavity of the medial end and a portion of the lateral end of the canal hearing device is cradled within a cradling cavity of the medial end; grasping a handle of the insertion tool; and inserting the canal hearing device into the ear canal by advancing the medial end of the insertion tool with the canal hearing device engaged therewithin towards the ear canal t while the insertion tool is cradling the lateral end and constraining the knob element. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising releasing the canal hearing device from the insertion tool by pressing the lateral end of insertion tool. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising releasing the canal hearing device from the insertion tool by unsqueezing the lateral end of insertion tool. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising preventing advancement of the knob element beyond the aperture of the ear canal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said axially joining comprises snap fitting the insertion tool to the lateral end of the canal hearing device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising disengaging the insertion tool from the canal hearing device by manually manipulating the handle of the insertion tool. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein said axially joining the insertion tool to the lateral end of the canal hearing device includes squeezing the handle of the insertion tool. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising using a removal loop attached to a lateral end of the insertion tool to remove the canal hearing device from the ear canal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein said disengaging the insertion tool includes squeezing the handle of the insertion tool. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein said disengaging the insertion tool includes unsqueezing the handle of the insertion tool.