| Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120008808 | HEARING AID WITH OCCLUSION REDUCTION - A hearing aid having hearing loss-compensating components, active occlusion reduction components, a vent, a tuned piston, and a flexible surround. The piston and the surround combination are assembled on the faceplate and cover the outside end of the vent that is situated on the faceplate. The piston and the surround combination minimize the adverse effects of walk-induced head vibrations. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20110289764 | Method of Assembling A Hearing Aid | 12-01-2011 |
| 20100290656 | Domes for a Receiver-in-the-Canal Hearing Instrument - A receiver for a receiver-in-the-canal hearing instrument can be securely held by a dome comprising a receiver receptacle that selectively receives and holds the receiver. After the dome has been assembled, pulling on the electrical cable connected to the receiver will not dislodge the receiver from the dome. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100286964 | Method of Generating an Optimized Venting Channel in a Hearing Instrument - A computerized method is provided for designing a vent in a hearing aid housing shell based on an image of a patient's ear canal impression, and wherein a program is provided on a computer-readable medium. With the program, an image of a starter housing shell based on the image of the patient's ear canal impression is created which is longer than a final version of the housing shell to be created. A starter vent running from an inner canal end near the patient's ear drum to an outer end of the starter housing shell is placed inside the shell. Components are then placed substantially as deep as possible inside the starter shell but lying outside of the starter vent. Portions of the starter shell lying beyond where a faceplate is to be mounted are removed and the faceplate is mounted. The starter vent is then grown larger so that it fills substantially all space inside the shell without interfering with the components. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100226517 | Behind-the-Ear Accessory Module for a Helix Hearing Instrument - The capabilities of a helix hearing instrument may expanded with a behind-the-ear accessory module. The module accommodates additional batteries and a variety of accessory functions including an external volume control. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100226502 | Method For Fabricating A Hearing Device | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100131090 | METHOD AND PROCESS FOR AUTOMATING THE DESIGN OF A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A HEARING INSTRUMENT - In a method for automating design of a locking mechanism for a hearing instrument, a computerized 3D file of an ear impression shell surface is provided based on a 3D scan of a 3D ear impression of a patient's ear. The ear impression shell surface includes a locking surface comprising at least one of a helix or canal concha portion of the patient's ear. A 3D file is provided of a hearing aid shell. With a computer, the hearing aid shell is placed in a desired location in the ear impression shell surface where the hearing aid shell is to be locked in position. With the computer, a volume surface as a 3D file is created representing the locking mechanism by utilizing a profile of the ear impression shell surface to be used as the locking surface. The volume surface runs from the ear impression shell surface and along the profile of the locking surface. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100092001 | COUPLER FOR OPEN FITTING HEARING AID MEASUREMENTS - In a system and method for open fitting hearing aid frequency response sound measurements, a test space is provided having located therein a sound source, a hearing aid with a microphone, and an open fit receiver. An acoustic shield is provided and within the acoustic shield an ear simulator coupler is provided having an ear extension attached thereto, the ear extension having mounted thereto at least a portion of the open fit receiver. A measurement unit receives sound signals from the ear simulator coupler. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100067724 | Molded Pull String for Custom Hearing Instruments - A pull string for a hearing instrument may be attached to an anchor positioned on the inside wall of the hearing instrument shell. Collision detection may be utilized to determine a location for the anchor and the pull string. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100026775 | Simultaneous Negative Cast and Shell Fabrication for Custom Hearing Aids - In a method to create a hearing aid housing shell and a negative cast for a hearing aid to be fitted to a patient's ear canal, a 3D jet printer apparatus is provided able to build a 3D part by injecting both the soft material and a hard material with the soft material serving as a support for the hard material. The 3D file is input to the 3D jet printer apparatus to build the hearing aid shell with the hard material and the combined negative cast with the soft material. The negative cast is used to check a quality of the hearing aid shell and to add external features to the shell by fitting the shell into the negative cast. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20090296971 | Hearing Instrument Receiver With Improved Low-Frequency Efficiency - The low frequency efficiency of a hearing instrument receiver can be improved by increasing the unoccupied rear volume. The receiver may be configured with one or more motor and diaphragm assemblies. The receiver may also be fabricated using multiple, conventional receivers with an added housing to create the increased, unoccupied rear volume. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090285427 | Receiver Tube and Retaining Clamp Assembly for a Hearing Instrument Receiver - A receiver tube for a hearing instrument may be securely affixed to the instruments receiver with a retaining clamp. Such an arrangement facilitates assembly and repair, and provides a positive means for the securing the receiver tube. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090245559 | Method for Adaptive Construction of a Small CIC Hearing Instrument - A small hearing aid is provided which fits completely in an ear canal of a user wherein a shell as an outer housing of the hearing aid is shaped to closely surround components of the hearing aid to provide a gap between the hearing canal inner walls and the shell to allow flow of air when the hearing aid is mounted in the ear by a mounting element connected to the shell. The mounting element is provided with at least one aperture to allow the air flow. In a fabricating method, an image of the shell is shrunk to closely surround the hearing aid components while maintaining a shape of the ear canal to assure a custom fit. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090238388 | Hearing Aid With Enhanced Vent - A hearing aid with a microphone for receiving acoustic signals and converting them to electrical signals, electronic circuitry for processing the electrical signals, and a speaker for converting the processed electrical signals into acoustic signals, has a shell that encases at least portions of the microphone, the electronic circuitry, and the speaker, the shell further encasing an inside volume. The hearing aid further has a vent that provides an opening between the inside volume and a region external to the hearing aid. A flexible membrane is provided that covers an opening of the vent and an acoustic resistor that contacts the flexible membrane. The membrane helps prevent wax fumes from entering the inside volume, and the acoustic resistor helps to reduce distortion in the frequency response of the hearing aid. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090196447 | Assembly Method of Custom Hearing Aids - The present invention relates generally to a method for assembling a hearing aid device, comprised of providing a software system that determines a position for a virtual receiver and a position for at least one component of a virtual faceplate inside a hearing aid shell. The present invention also includes utilizing guides to replicate the position for the receiver and the position for at least one component of the faceplate during construction of the shell, and providing the software system to verify that the receiver and one or more components will not collide with the faceplate and guides. The present invention is further comprised of providing the software system to merge the shell with the guides. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090189313 | Fabrication of a Soft-Silicone Cover for a Hearing Instrument Shell - The manufacture of a hearing instrument having a hard inner shell and a softer outer covering, for insertion into the ear canal of the user, may be accomplished using rapid manufacturing and prototyping techniques. Starting with a digital model of the ear canal, a mold for the softer outer covering may be fabricated using a process such as stereo lithography. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090123015 | Composite Receiver Tube For A Hearing Instrument - The compliance of a receiver tube for a hearing instrument may be enhanced by fabricating it as a composite assembly of a tube and a compliant insulator positioned between the tube and the receiver. The material of the insulator is selected such that it has a greater compliance than that of the tube. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090099677 | Method For Anatomically Aware Automatic Faceplate Placement Protocols for Hearing Instrument Design - A method is provided for automatically determining the position of and placing a faceplate assembly on a hearing instrument shell that takes into account patient anatomical features. These anatomical features of the shell are used as landmarks for ensuring that the final position of the faceplate on the hearing instrument is optimized both in terms of esthetics and increased comfort. The protocols defined herein take advantage of the intrinsic features of the human ear anatomy and the geometry of the electronic components to ensure that design and manufacturing of ITEs are optimized for efficiency and the process can be completely automated to ensure consistence and practice reproducibility. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090097724 | System and Method For The Analysis of Basic Ear Canal Taxonomy - A method and appertaining system determine and output parameters associated with an ear canal according to a particular taxonomy. The output can then be input to various other systems associated with hearing aid design. An intelligent computational approach is utilized that models the physiology of the human ear canal as reconcilable with a conic or quadric section. The canal segment of the impression is sliced, and various parameters are determined according to each slice. Then, these parameters are analyzed in order to create a basic classification of the canal morphology. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090097682 | Computerized rule based binaural modeling system for the hearing aid design - The invention relates to a method for implementing an automated hearing aid modeling system that is a computerized rule-based binaural modeling system which includes performing a hearing-aid class dependent processing on the hearing aid shell design. Features of the hearing aid shell are recognized and attributes associated with these features are stored. A rule-based product handling for the shell model is used that is determined based on a determined shell type. Global and local offsets are performed on data associated with the shell model, as is binaural processing to augmented detailing and modeling protocols used on the shell model. The hearing aid is created based on the shell model processed according to the preceding steps. An appertaining system for implementing the method is also provided. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090067656 | Protective Finishing Plug For A Hearing Instrument Shell - During tumbling, a plug may be inserted into the opening of a hearing instrument shell to protect the hole and minimize additional cleaning operations subsequent to tumbling. A suitable conforming plug may be fabricated at the same time the shell is made. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090063184 | Method For Automatic Project File Reconstruction and Batch Processor - A method and appertaining system for performing the method is provided in which the modeling and detailing of a hearing aid shell can be done at a remote site, while the work order handling and the actual manufacture are performed at a local site without the need to transmit large STL files from the remote site to the local site. The local site is able to construct an STL file from data defining the original undetailed impression and a project file containing the detailing algorithms from the remote site. The hearing aid shell may then be manufactured from the STL file. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090063107 | Manufacturing Process of Hearing Aid Shells With Reduced Surface Distortions and Adaptive Shell Surface Modification to Improve Fit and Appertaining System - A method and appertaining system is provided for reducing distortions in a hearing aid shell having complex surfaces with areas having high and low curvatures, the distortions occurring due to uneven material loss during tumbling and buffing operations. The method determines the curvature in defined regions of the shell and determines a new shell surface that is dependent upon the curvature in each respective region. Templates may be utilized th further define the new surface. With the new surface thus defined, the tumbling and buffing operations result in an end product having the desired shape. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090060242 | Assembly Procedure for CIC With Floating Components - A method and appertaining assembly are provided for CIC hearing aid manufacture for the placement of floating components. A hearing aid shell fixture is formed that comprises an interior region identical in shape and size to an interior region of an actual hearing aid shell, and a replica of one or more shell components that is positioned so as to replicate a position and size of one or more real shell components in the actual hearing aid shell. The hearing aid shell fixture is placed onto a faceplate assembly that comprises a floating component, and a position of the floating component is adjusted to avoid contact with the replica of one or more shell components. The hearing aid shell fixture on the faceplate is subsequently replaced with the actual hearing aid shell. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090060241 | Completely-In-Canal Hearing Instrument With Robust Feedback Stability - A CIC hearing instrument and appertaining method are provided that improve feedback stability. Accordingly, the microphone inlet is located on the faceplate of the instrument at a position of least vibration. Furthermore, the receiver is located in the device such that its vibrating membrane is parallel to a plane calculated to include a line of minimal vibration on the faceplate and a center of gravity for the instrument. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20080273729 | Assembly Method For Custom Hearing Aids - A hearing aid and appertaining method of assembly are provided in which a receiver assembly is placed within a shell of the hearing aid, the receiver assembly comprising a left and right stud. A receiver tube is connected to the receiver assembly and extends through a hole in a supporting plate and shell tip respectively. A permanent latch is provided comprising a cavity into which the first stud of the receiver assembly is located when the receiver assembly is in its designated position. An external rail latch slides on the external rail and secures the receiver assembly in its designated position by interfacing with the second stud. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080253597 | Computerized Automated Wax Design and Modeling for Hearing Instruments - A method and appertaining system provide for automatically adding a wax guard to a hearing aid shell impression. The location of a canal, tip of the canal, and central line of the impression are automatically identified in a digital 3D representation of a hearing aid shell impression. A first wax guard plane is determined at a predefined flip distance from the canal tip along the central line, and a second wax guard plane is determined at a predefined canal tip offset distance from the canal tip along the central line. A size and position for a feature of the wax guard is calculated based on predefined parameters, and the wax guard is constructed utilizing the calculated side and position. The type of wax guard can be a bell bore design, an open design, a Philip design, or a flip design. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080247581 | Construction of A Completely-In-Canal Hearing Instrument With Receiver Compartment - A construction of a CIC instrument is provided, along with a corresponding method of manufacturing such a CIC instrument, that prevents floating components from contacting with an insulated receiver and, therefore, assures feedback-free operation. This is achieved through the presence of a compartment for the receiver in which the receiver resides, and a cover placed on top of the receiver compartment in a mating recess of the receiver compartment. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080247579 | System and Method For Designing Hearing Aid Components With A Flexible Cover - A method and appertaining system for implementing the method is provided for designing hearing aids having flexible parts. Three-dimensional data is provided that is related to both a soft part and a hard part of a hearing aid component into a computer-based system. Additionally, information is entered related to material characteristics for both the soft part and the hard part of the component. A component within the hearing aid shell is placed and moved in a model generated by the system. Forces, stresses, and/or amount of deformation for parts of the component based on the location of the component and at least one of another component and the shell are calculated, and the three-dimensional data model of the shell is revised based upon the calculated degree of deformation, forces, and/or stresses. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080247578 | Hearing Aid Receiver With Vibration Compensation - In order to reduce feedback in a hearing aid, a hearing aid receiver is provided that comprises a housing having an inside surface and an outside surface, a motor, an active armature that is attached to the motor and attached to the inside surface of the housing, the active armature being driven in a vibrational manner by the motor, and an external passive component that is attached to the outside surface of the housing, the external passive component designed to vibrate in a direction opposed to vibrations of the active armature. A corresponding method for operating such a hearing aid receives is also provided. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080230495 | Secure Mount For A Hearing Instrument Electronics Module - Receptacle tongues and complementary grooves provides a secure mount for an electronics module in the faceplate of a hearing instrument. The receptacle tongues and grooves may assume a variety of cross-sectional profiles. | 09-25-2008 |
