Method and system for transcutaneous proximity wireless control of a canal hearing device

A method for wirelessly controlling a canal hearing device positioned laterally inside an ear canal of an ear, the method comprising:

• positioning a remote control device external to the ear and anterior to a tragus;
• transmitting a magnetic field generated by the remote control device transcutaneously into the canal hearing device through cartilaginous tissue present between the remote control and the canal hearing device;
• activating a reed switch incorporated within the canal hearing device in response to the magnetic field, wherein the reed switch is positioned in a cartilaginous region of the ear and wherein the reed switch is oriented to generate a control command based on the activation of the reed switch while the remote control device remains outside of the ear canal and anterior to the tragus.

A system for wirelessly controlling a canal hearing device comprising:

• a remote control device configured to transmit a magnetic field for transmittance transcutaneously through a cartilaginous tissue of an ear;
• and
• a canal hearing device configured for positioning laterally inside an ear canal of the ear, the canal hearing device having a plurality of magnetic sensors incorporated therein, wherein said magnetic sensors are positioned in a cartilaginous region of the ear and oriented to selectively respond to the magnetic field from the remote control device when said remote control device is positioned non-invasively exterior to the ear and anterior to a tragus at a temporomandibular region for transmitting the magnetic field transcutaneously to any of the magnetic sensors through the cartilaginous tissue between the remote control device and any of the magnetic sensors while the remote control device remains outside of the ear canal.

A canal hearing device configured for lateral placement inside an ear canal of an ear, the canal hearing device having one or more magnetic sensors incorporated therein and positioned in a cartilaginous region of the ear, wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are oriented to respond to a magnetic field source applied non-invasively exterior to the ear and anterior to a tragus at a temporomandibular joint region and transmitted transcutaneously to the one or more magnetic sensors through cartilaginous tissue present between the magnetic field source and the canal hearing device so that the canal hearing device is configured to be controlled while the magnetic field source is outside of the ear canal.