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EP1558058B1 - Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1558058B1
EP1558058B1 EP05008109.0A EP05008109A EP1558058B1 EP 1558058 B1 EP1558058 B1 EP 1558058B1 EP 05008109 A EP05008109 A EP 05008109A EP 1558058 B1 EP1558058 B1 EP 1558058B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hearing device
data storage
data
ear
geometry
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP05008109.0A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1558058A2 (de
EP1558058A3 (de
Inventor
Christoph Widmer
Herbert BÄCHLER
Alfred Stirnemann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sonova Holding AG
Original Assignee
Phonak AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonak AG filed Critical Phonak AG
Priority to DK05008109.0T priority Critical patent/DK1558058T3/da
Priority to EP05008109.0A priority patent/EP1558058B1/de
Publication of EP1558058A2 publication Critical patent/EP1558058A2/de
Publication of EP1558058A3 publication Critical patent/EP1558058A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1558058B1 publication Critical patent/EP1558058B1/de
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/652—Ear tips; Ear moulds
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/65—Housing parts, e.g. shells, tips or moulds, or their manufacture
    • H04R25/658—Manufacture of housing parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R31/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of transducers or diaphragms therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2225/00—Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
    • H04R2225/77—Design aspects, e.g. CAD, of hearing aid tips, moulds or housings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of providing input parameters for the fitting process of individually shaped or customized hearing devices.
  • the process usually starts with taking an impression of the shape of the ear.
  • the shape of this impression will than have to be digitized for instance by means of a scanning device.
  • the first step must actually be performed with the user of the hearing device present at the location of the dispenser, whilst the following steps may be done either at the location of the dispenser or at the hearing device manufacturing center.
  • the shell of this hearing device may be typically manufactured by means of dedicated shell modeling software at the hearing device manufacturing center.
  • This software produces a digital representation of the shell shape and the shell of the hearing device is then produced using a direct manufacturing process such as selective-laser sintering, stereo lithography or digital light processing. After assembling of the shell and the electronic and/or mechanical components of the hearing device, the hearing device is shipped to the dispenser for the final fitting according to the individual needs of the user of this device.
  • the input parameters for the fitting process dependent on the geometry of the shell and/or the ear will initially be set based on standard values or standardized estimates. During the fitting process, the parameters will then have to be adjusted by the mentioned trial and error principle to reach the desired result.
  • the present invention provides a method of providing input parameters for the fitting process of individually shaped or customized hearing devices by storing geometry data during the manufacturing process into data storage and selectively reading out data from this data storage during the manufacturing and/or fitting process of the hearing device.
  • the dispenser will advantageously have access to those data as they are stored in the data storage.
  • the data storage is a shared data storage, located at one or more locations, accessible via online connections from any other location.
  • the storage capacity of this device may dynamically grow with the number of hearing devices and the amount of data to be stored.
  • the centralized data storage may itself be a storage cluster with distributed shared storage devices, located at one location or at several different locations. As the data storage is accessible anytime from any location, all data generated in connection with the ordering and shell modeling may already be entered into the data storage and is thus instantly available for any following manufacturing process at any location.
  • connection will be established via the Internet.
  • the accessibility of the data in the data storage via an Internet connection allows a quick and simple transfer of those data without the need of specialized connection means only for the purpose of manufacturing the hearing device.
  • secure services and/or encryption the privacy of the data may be ensured.
  • the data storage is located directly in the hearing device memory. It is possible to store the geometry and parameter data directly in the memory of the hearing device. Thus the data is always directly available together with the hearing device itself and the hearing device therefore becomes a virtual extension of the data storage for all parameters and geometries generated during the manufacturing process. Instead of using the built-in memory of the hearing device, it is for instance as well possible to use memory of a remote control of the hearing device. As such data storage only has to storage the data of the particular hearing device, it is sufficient to provide only low storage capacity.
  • the method further comprises the step of storing the parameter data used during the manufacturing process.
  • the parameter data used during the manufacturing process it may be of advantage not only to store geometric data of the shape of the ear or ear canal and the hearing device, but also to store other parameter data of a certain importance in connection with the fitting process of the hearing device.
  • the available geometry and/or parameter data of the order and/or ear impression and/or shell modeling process will be stored as well into the data storage.
  • the fitting software can thus simply read-out the required information from the data storage during the fitting process and use this information for pre-calculation and simulation of the acoustic behavior of the hearing device.
  • At least one of the following geometry data is stored:
  • the present invention not only applies to hearing devices such as behind the ear or in the ear canal hearing aids for the compensation or correction of a hearing impairment.
  • the present invention may be applied as well for any hearing device used to improve communication.
  • the process of manufacturing an individually shaped or customized hearing device in form of a miniaturized in-the-ear hearing aid starts at the moment of ordering such a device and ends with the final fitting process.
  • the individual stages of ordering and manufacturing are shown while in the middle part the actual shape or stage of the hearing device shell is exemplary shown in small pictures.
  • the data storage is schematically shown as a bar in the lower part of the figure in order to manifest its accessibility during the whole process at each process step.
  • the accessibility is independent of the location of the ordering and manufacturing process.
  • new data such as geometry data will be stored into the data storage and eventually read out of the data storage for input into one or more of the following process steps.
  • this data storage is a centralized shared data storage, located i.e. at the hearing device manufacturing location.
  • This data storage is advantageously online accessible from all different locations where the manufacturing process takes place. This access may for instance be provided via direct Internet access to this data storage.
  • One of the great advantages of such a data storage is in fact its practically unlimited storage capacity.
  • the centralized data storage does not have to be moved together with the hearing devices, it is not limited by weight or shape and may be designed to dynamically grow with the needs of storage capacity. It is thus possible to store the complete digitized shape geometry of the whole ear and not only of the hearing device shell for each individual user, for an exact simulation of the acoustic properties and behavior of such a hearing device.
  • this data storage is located directly in the storage area of the hearing device itself, e.g. in the memory of the hearing aid electronic components to be assembled into the hearing device itself or in the memory of a remote control for the hearing device.
  • Such memory will then be transferred together with the model of the shell or later with the shell itself for the whole manufacturing process and the data will be transferred by means of direct link or remote link into the memory.
  • the data may be erased after the final fitting process and the free space used for other data or parameters used for the operation of the hearing device.
  • vent shape such as cross section, length and curvature, vent microphone distances, shell thickness, estimated residual volume between the hearing device and the tympanic membrane are such geometry information that can be used for the fitting process.
  • other parameters determined during the manufacturing process and stored in the data storage may used if of relevant influence with respect to the optimal acoustic performance of the hearing device.
  • a method for recording of information in a hearing aid is published in EP 1 414 271 . This method may be used for the technical process of storing the information described above either in the hearing aid memory or in a centralized or shared storage.
  • the present invention provides a method to improve the quality of the fitting in a time saving manner, as both known and/or estimated geometry data collected through the whole process of manufacturing of a hearing device are used preliminary and/or during the fitting of the hearing device at the dispenser's office.
  • the usage of the entire shape data of the ear impression and the shell of the hearing device allows a complete simulation of acoustical performance of the hearing aid under operational conditions, i.e. when inserted into the user's ear canal, by considering aspects such as the shape of the concha bowl or reflection of sound waves from the vent at the tragus or the dampening effect of the shell structure.
  • the use of a centralized or shared data storage device is of great advantage.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Neurosurgery (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • General Factory Administration (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Verfahren zum Bereitstellen von Eingabeparametern für den Einsetzvorgang von individuell geformten oder kundenspezifischen Hörgeräten, durch ein Speichern von Geometriedaten im Verlaufe des Herstellungsablaufs in einen Datenspeicher, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ferner die im Verlaufe des Herstellungsablaufs verwendeten Parameterdaten gespeichert werden, und selektiv Geometrie- und Parameterdaten aus diesem Datenspeicher im Verlaufe des Einsetzvorgangs des Hörgeräts ausgelesen werden, um wenigstens eine der folgenden Grössen abzuschätzen:
    - Verlust durch Druckausgleichsrohr, Reduktion der Okklusionswirkung, tatsächlicher Ohr-Okklusion-Zuwachs, tatsächliche Ohr-zu-Verbindungsstück-Differenz im Niedrigfrequenzbereich;
    - Wirkung hinsichtlich der Position des Mikrophons, Strahlformung-Korrektur bei höheren Frequenzen, Rückkopplung-Schwellwert-Abschätzung;
    - Abschätzung eines Restvolumens und eines Abstands zum Trommelfell;
    - tatsächliche Ohr-zu-Verbindungsstück-Differenz im Hochfrequenzbereich;
    - Verstärkung durch offenen Gehörgang.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Datenspeicher ein gemeinsam benutzter Datenspeicher ist, welcher, über Online-Verbindungen von einem jeglichen weiteren Ort zugreifbar, an einem oder mehreren Orten angeordnet ist.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verbindung über das Internet hergestellt wird.
  4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Datenspeicher direkt im Hörgerätespeicher angeordnet ist.
  5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die verfügbaren Geometrie-und/oder Parameterdaten der Ausführung und/oder die Ohr-Abformung und/oder der Gehäusemodellierungsablauf ebenso im Datenspeicher gespeichert werden.
  6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass aus den folgenden Geometriedaten wenigstens gespeichert wird:
    - der Querschnittsbereich, die Form des Querschnitts und die Länge der Druckausgleichsrohr-Geometrie,
    - die Abstände zwischen Druckausgleichsrohr und Mikrophon, die Mikrophon-Positionen, die Tiefe des Hörgeräts in der Ohrmuschel, die Höhe der Ohrmuschel, die Breite der Ohrmuschel,
    - die Länge des Hörgeräts, der gemittelte Querschnitt des Gehörgangs.
EP05008109.0A 2005-04-13 2005-04-13 Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe Active EP1558058B1 (de)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK05008109.0T DK1558058T3 (en) 2005-04-13 2005-04-13 Method of manufacturing and individually shaped hearing device or hearing aid
EP05008109.0A EP1558058B1 (de) 2005-04-13 2005-04-13 Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05008109.0A EP1558058B1 (de) 2005-04-13 2005-04-13 Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1558058A2 EP1558058A2 (de) 2005-07-27
EP1558058A3 EP1558058A3 (de) 2006-01-11
EP1558058B1 true EP1558058B1 (de) 2014-06-11

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ID=34626581

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05008109.0A Active EP1558058B1 (de) 2005-04-13 2005-04-13 Verfahren zur Herstellung eines individuell geformten Hörgeräts oder einer individuell geformten Hörhilfe

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EP (1) EP1558058B1 (de)
DK (1) DK1558058T3 (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005061569B3 (de) 2005-12-22 2007-05-24 Siemens Audiologische Technik Gmbh Verfahren zum Konstruieren einer Otoplastik und zum Einstellen eines Hörgeräts

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ATE539562T1 (de) * 2001-03-02 2012-01-15 3Shape As Verfahren zum individuellen anpassen von hörmuscheln
DK1345470T3 (da) * 2003-04-03 2007-03-12 Phonak Ag Fremgangsmåde til fremstilling af en kropsbåret elektronisk anordning, der kan tilpasses til et individs legemsflade
US7308328B2 (en) * 2003-05-15 2007-12-11 Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc. Synchronized processing of ear shells for hearing aids

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1558058A2 (de) 2005-07-27
EP1558058A3 (de) 2006-01-11
DK1558058T3 (en) 2014-07-07

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