Open ear canal hearing aid
AssigneeEargo, Inc.
InventorsFlorent Michel, Raphael Michel, Daniel Shen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides systems and methods for providing hearing aid. An open ear canal hearing aid may be provided in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The hearing aid may include a part that contains electronic components, a passive amplifier, and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism may include bristles or balloons. The securing mechanism may have various configurations and be adjustable.
Claims21
An open ear canal hearing aid, comprising:
- a housing comprising first and second ends, a longitudinal axis and an electronics containing portion, said housing further comprising a non-occluding securing mechanism that is configured to secure said hearing aid in an ear canal,
- said securing mechanism comprising a plurality of flexible bristle members configured to contact a surface of said ear canal, each of said plurality of flexible bristle members comprising a flat cross-sectional shape,
- each of said plurality of flexible bristle members further comprising a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 3 cm and a width in the range of 1.0 μm to 3.0 mm,
- said plurality of flexible bristle members being disposed circumferentially around said housing and projecting outwardly therefrom at an angle relative to said housing longitudinal axis in the range of approximately 5° to 85°,
- said plurality of flexible bristle members being configured to transition from an open configuration to a collapsed configuration when said housing is inserted in said ear canal, wherein said plurality of flexible bristle members allow air and external audio signals to be transmitted therethrough.
An open ear canal hearing aid, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis and a first end;
- and
- a plurality of rows of a plurality of flexible bristles extending from the housing;
- wherein the flexible bristles extend outwardly from the housing at one or more non-orthogonal angles relative to said housing longitudinal axis;
- and
- wherein the angulation of said bristles is configured to facilitate wax removal from an ear canal of a user when the hearing aid is removed from the ear canal.
A component for an open ear canal hearing aid, said component comprising:
- a securing mechanism having a plurality of rows of a plurality of flexible bristles extending therefrom;
- wherein said securing mechanism is configured to be removably attached to a housing of the open ear canal hearing aid;
- and
- wherein the flexible bristles extend outwardly from a portion of the securing mechanism at one or more angles relative to a longitudinal axis of said portion in the range of approximately 5° to 85° .
An open ear canal hearing aid, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis and a first end;
- and
- a plurality of rows of a plurality of flexible bristles extending from the housing;
- and
- a mechanism configured to adjust the angle of one or more of the flexible bristles;
- wherein the flexible bristles extend outwardly from the housing at one or more non-orthogonal angles relative to said housing longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.