# US 7,407,035 B2 · Split shell system and method for hearing aids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,035 B2 - Document ID: US7407035B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/374,506 - Filed: 2003-02-25 - Published: 2003-12-04 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2002-02-28 - Assignees: GN ReSound A/S - Inventors: Robert Stinauer; Erik Lindberg; Michael Haberman; Roman Klyachman; Russell Lee Schreiner; James R. Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407035B2 ## CPC - H04R 25/652: {Ear tips; Ear moulds (hybrid ear moulds or post-processing thereof for their customisation H04R25/659)} - H04R 25/609: {of circuitry (of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603)} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - H04R 25/456: {mechanically} - H04R 25/604: {of acoustic or vibrational transducers} - H04R 25/658: {Manufacture of housing parts} - H04R 2225/023: Completely in the canal [CIC] hearing aids - H04R 2225/025: In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids - H04R 2225/57: Aspects of electrical interconnection between hearing aid parts - H04R 2460/11: Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion - 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) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract An in-the-ear hearing aid has a housing with an audio input end and an audio output end. The housing is formed of two sections which are coupled together along a seam which extends between the two ends. An elastomeric sheath can enclose the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hearing aid comprising: first and second housing sections each elongated along a common centerline wherein the sections engage one another generally along the centerline to form a substantially closed housing insertable, at least in part, into a user's ear canal, the sections each close, at least in part, a first end of the housing, wherein the housing defines an interior component receiving region and a separate substantially self-contained electronic module that is carried by the housing sections at a second end thereof, the module closes at least in part, the second end; wherein at least one of the housing sections carries a receiver supporting member which extends into the interior receiving region; and wherein the supporting member comprises a compliant support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein the housing sections carry first and second respective locking features, and as the sections engage one another the locking features couple to one another thereby locking the sections together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A hearing aid as in claim 2 wherein the housing is contained, at least in part, in an elastomeric sheath. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A hearing aid as in claim 2 which includes an audio output transducer carried in the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A hearing aid as in claim 4 wherein the module carries a microphone wherein the output transducer and microphone are located relative to at least one of the housing sections before the housing sections are locked together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A hearing aid as in claim 5 which includes a battery container carried at least in part in the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein the housing sections are substantially rigid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein the housing sections define first and second internal component receiving regions separated by an internal bounding wall with each region having a component supporting feature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 which includes a microphone carried in the interior region supported on at least one of the housing sections. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein a receiver, carried by the supporting member, has an audio output port positioned adjacent to an output end of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein a receiver carried by the supporting member, has an audio output port oriented away from an output end of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 where each housing section carries an elongated peripheral surface, the surfaces contact one another when the sections engage one another and define a longitudinal seam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A hearing aid as in claim 1 wherein the region is divided into two separate sections by a wall partly formed in each of the parts of the housing. ### Claim 14 A hearing aid comprising a hollow housing, with first and second displaced ends, one of which is insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the housing has first and second elongated, separate, housing segments, each segment engages the other along a seam that extends through the ends and, a vent which is formed in only one of the segments, the vent extends from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A hearing aid as in claim 14 wherein each segment forms part of the same end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A hearing aid as in claim 14 wherein the segments each carry locking elements, the locking elements engage one another as the segments come together. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A hearing aid as in claim 16 which includes an exterior elastomeric sheath that contains the housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A hearing aid as in claim 14 wherein at least one of the segments carries a component support feature that extends into the hollow housing. ### Claim 19 A hearing aid as in clam 18 which includes a receiver in the housing carried by the component support feature. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A hearing aid as in claim 19 wherein the receiver has a central axis oriented so as to extend through the ends, or, extend transversely of the ends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A hearing aid as in claim 18 which includes one of, a microphone or, signal processing circuitry, carried, in the housing, by the component support feature. ### Claim 22 A hearing aid comprising: a first housing part and a second, separate, housing part, the parts engage one another to form a housing which defines an internal region; a receiver, the receiver installable on a housing part prior to joining the housing parts together; a microphone installable on a housing part prior to joining the two parts together; and an ear canal vent formed in only one of the housing parts, the vent extending from a first end to a second end of the one housing part. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A hearing aid as in claim 22 which includes: first and second latch elements each carried on a respective housing part, the latch elements lockingly engage one another to form a substantially closed housing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A hearing aid as in claim 22 where the receiver carrying housing part defines an elongated concave interior surface that terminates at a bounding edge with the interior surface having a generally central concave region with lines normal to that region intersecting a plane that extends across the bounding edge. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A hearing aid as in claim 24 where the other housing part defines another elongated concave interior surface that terminates at a bounding edge with the interior surface having a generally central concave region with lines normal to that region intersecting a plane that extends across the bounding edge. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) A hearing aid as in claim 22 which includes an extractor element for applying an extraction force generally parallel to a seam between the two housing parts. ### Claim 27 A hearing aid insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the aid comprising: an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis and an end insertable into the user's ear canal, and a displaced second end, the housing substantially bounding an internal component receiving region, the housing formed of first and second sections joined along an elongated seam line that extends generally along the longitudinal axis and a separate battery container located at the second end, the container having an access door outside of the housing, and, wherein at least one of the sections includes a receiver support member. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A hearing aid as in claim 27 wherein the sections are coupled together by at least one of an interference fit, a slidably engageable latch, a twist-lock or a snap fit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) A hearing aid as in claim 27 which includes a laterally extending isolation wall formed in each section, the walls mating when the first and second sections are joined, the mated walls blocking feedback within the housing. ### Claim 30 A housing adapted to be insertable, at least in part, into an ear canal of a user, the housing comprising: first and second matable housing sections, the housing sections being sized for the user's ear canal, when mated the sections define a substantially closed interior region and first and second spaced apart ends, one of the ends defines an audio output port, the other end carries a separate microphone module which defines an audio input port, an exterior periphery of the one end is configured to slidably engage a portion of the user's ear canal with a seam formed by the mated sections extending generally between the ends, the module has a selected size and shape usable with different sizes of housing sections. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A housing as in claim 30 with first and second engaging elements carried by respective housing sections, when mated, the engaging elements block separation of the sections. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A housing as in claim 30 wherein the other end defines a recess for a component module. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A housing as in claim 32 wherein the recess defines at least one groove for slidably receiving a component module. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A housing as in claim 33 wherein the groove is defined in part in each housing section and when mated, the housing sections lock the module thereto. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A housing as in claim 34 wherein at least one of the housing sections carries a receiver support structure which structure extends into the interior region. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) A housing as in claim 35 wherein at least one of the housing sections carries internal blocking wall. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) A housing as in claim 35 with a vent extending end-to-end in one of the sections. ### Claim 38 A hearing aid insertable at least in part into a user's ear canal, the aid comprising: an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis and an end insertable into the user's ear canal, and a displaced second end, the housing substantially bounding an internal component receiving region, the housing formed of first and second sections joined along an elongated seam line that extends generally along the longitudinal axis and a separate battery container located at the second end, the container having an access door outside of the housing, and, wherein at least one of the sections includes a compliant receiver support member.