Canal hearing device with tubular insert

A tubular insert adapted for axial connection to a hearing device, said tubular insert comprising:

• a sound conduction tube constructed and adapted to be positioned in an ear canal of a wearer of said device for delivering sound produced by said device toward and in proximity of the tympanic membrane of said wearer,
• a primary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube to seal said ear canal in the bony part thereof and to form a first space between said primary seal and said tympanic membrane, and a secondary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube laterally of said primary seal to provide sealing in the cartilaginous part of said ear canal and to form a second space between said secondary seal and said primary seal when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal;
• and
• a venting system including a relatively small pressure vent associated with said primary seal, and a relatively larger occlusion-relief vent associated with said secondary seal to acoustically connect said second space to space outside of said ear canal, said occlusion-relief vent constituting a path of least acoustic resistance for leaking occlusion sounds relative to said pressure vent;
• whereby, when said tubular insert is worn in said ear canal, said venting system provides substantial acoustic sealing for sound delivered in said first space, while simultaneously attenuating occlusion sounds in said first space by directing said occlusion sounds away from said tympanic membrane.

A canal hearing device comprising:

• a main module, and a tubular insert axially connected to said main module;
• said main module comprising a housing including a receiver for producing sound, said main module being constructed and adapted to be at least partially positioned in the cartilaginous part of an ear canal of a wearer of said device;
• said tubular insert comprising a sound conduction tube having a diameter substantially less than the diameter of said ear canal, said sound conduction tube being constructed and adapted to be positioned in said ear canal for delivering sound produced by said receiver toward and in proximity of the tympanic membrane of said ear canal, and a primary seal concentrically positioned over said sound conduction tube to seal said ear canal and to form a first space between said primary seal and said tympanic membrane when said device is worn in said ear canal, said primary seal having an associated pressure vent for said first space;
• said main module further comprising a secondary seal to provide sealing in the cartilaginous part of said ear canal lateral to said primary seal and forming a second space between said primary and secondary seals when said main module and said tubular insert are connected and worn in said ear canal, and an occlusion-relief vent acoustically connecting said second space to space outside of said car canal, said occlusion-relief vent constituting a path of least acoustic resistance relative to said pressure vent;
• whereby, when said canal hearing device is worn in said ear canal, said primary and secondary seals and occlusion-relief vent, in combination, provide substantial acoustic sealing of sound delivered in said first space, while simultaneously attenuating occlusion sounds by directing said occlusion sounds away from said tympanic membrane.