EP2007172B1 - Sound emitting pipes with 2 component design - Google Patents

Abstract

The tube (12) has an injection molded part including an end configured for direct connection to an output nozzle of an earpiece (10) of a hearing device. The injection molded part comprises an outer sheath (121) consisting of a plastic i.e. silicone material. The injection molded part comprises an inner wall (122) that consist of another plastic i.e. silicone material, where the latter plastic includes more elasticity than the former plastic. The outer sheath and the inner wall of the injection molded part are formed by 2-component injection molding, where the molded part forms a pipe bend. An independent claim is also included for a behind the ear hearing system comprising a hearing device.

Description

The present invention relates to a sound output tube for direct connection to an output port of a listener of a hearing device, which is made as an injection molded part. A hearing device is understood to mean, in particular, a device that can be worn on the ear, such as a hearing aid, a headset, a headset and the like.

Hearing aids are portable hearing aids that are used to care for the hearing impaired. In order to meet the numerous individual needs, different types of hearing aids such as behind-the-ear hearing aids (BTE) and in-the-ear hearing aids (ITO), e.g. also Concha hearing aids or canal hearing aids (CIC), provided. The hearing aids listed by way of example are worn on the outer ear or in the ear canal. In addition, bone conduction hearing aids, implantable or vibrotactile hearing aids are also available on the market. The stimulation of the damaged hearing takes place either mechanically or electrically.

Hearing aids have in principle as essential components an input transducer, an amplifier and an output transducer. The input transducer is usually a sound receiver, z. As a microphone, and / or an electromagnetic receiver, for. B. an induction coil. The output transducer is usually used as an electroacoustic transducer, z. As miniature speaker, or as an electromechanical transducer, z. B. bone conduction, realized. The amplifier is usually integrated in a signal processing unit. This basic structure is in FIG. 1 shown using the example of a behind-the-ear hearing aid. In a hearing aid housing 1 for carrying behind the ear, one or more microphones 2 for receiving the sound from the environment are installed. A signal processing unit 3, which also in the Hearing aid housing 1 is integrated, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is transmitted to a loudspeaker or earpiece 4, which outputs an acoustic signal. The sound is optionally transmitted via a sound tube, which is fixed with an earmold in the ear canal, to the eardrum of the device carrier. The power supply of the hearing device and in particular of the signal processing unit 3 is carried out by a likewise integrated into the hearing aid housing 1 battery. 5

The handset 4 is connected with its output to a connector 6. This serves at the same time as a mechanical plug connection or attachment for a carrying hook 7 and for transmitting the amplified sound from the handset 4 in a sound channel 8 of the carrying hook 7. From the carrying hook 7 of the sound via a sound tube, not shown, is usually performed to the ear canal.

In such a construction of a BTE hearing aid, however, there is a risk that the listener transmits vibrations to the carrying hook or the hearing aid housing. As a result, the acoustic properties of the hearing aid change and, in particular, unwanted feedback greatly increases. This means that the transfer function of the hearing aid has clear peaks.

One solution to this problem is to make the fitting of a softer material. Alternatively, a short sound output tube made of a soft material is also inserted between the receiver and the connector. However, this leads to the further problem that the handset is no longer held tight enough in the hearing aid housing. As a result, it can strike the hearing aid housing during vibration, which in turn reduces the acoustic stability. Conversely, blows that act on the hearing aid from outside can be transmitted to a less tight-fitting listener. This is the Danger of the handset being damaged or destroyed. In particular, the stability of a hearing aid is tested by drop tests, which can be simulated with how robust the hearing aid behaves when dropped.

Drop tests and auditory vibrations require a muted suspension of the handset in the hearing aid housing. Therefore, a corresponding installation space in the hearing aid housing is provided so that the listener can perform in a defined frame movements. In order to achieve a damped suspension in this room, often appropriate adhesive or reinforced microphone mounts are used. In addition, it is also known to embed the handset in a polyurethane mold or to stick the hearing aid housing with a soft silicone adhesive.

A soft sound output tube and soft suspensions of the listener lead to better acoustic properties of the hearing device or the hearing device. However, this also requires a larger installation space for the listener, since he must be able to move accordingly, in particular in case tests. Thus, a compromise is sought that allows the smallest possible installation space, but at the same time the vibrations of the handset or the hearing aid housing are sufficiently absorbed. It is therefore necessary to balance between acoustic stability and mechanical design.

From the publication WO 2006/125434 A1 is a hook for a hearing aid known. The hearing aid hook has damping means to dampen its mechanical vibrations. In particular, a multi-part hook is proposed, the middle part consists of a damping material. Overall, the hook can be produced in a multi-component injection molding process. As a damping material, for example, silicone is suitable.

From the publication EP 1 492 383 A1 a hearing aid is known in which at least two of the to be assembled thereon Parts made of different materials in two- or multi-component injection molding are made. Thus, for example, a seal is sprayed onto a two-part or multi-part shell of a hearing aid in an edge region of a shell part.

From the publication NL-A-8 601 513 is a hearing aid known in which there is a microphone. At the sound input of the hearing aid is a sleeve made of a harder plastic material. A rubber hose connects the sleeve to the input port of the microphone. Thus, less vibration is transmitted from the housing of the hearing aid to the microphone.

The object of the present invention is to ensure a sufficiently stable against external influences in a listener of a hearing device, on the other hand, the vibrations of the listener to be sufficiently attenuated.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a sound outlet tube for direct connection to an outlet nozzle of a receiver of a hearing, which is made as an injection molded part, comprising an outer sheath of a first plastic and an inner wall of a second plastic, which is more elastic than the first plastic, wherein the Outer jacket and the inner wall are made by 2-component injection molding, and wherein at each end of the sound outlet tube, a tubular portion of the inner wall protrudes from the outer jacket. Thus, no vibrations from the listener to the housing of the hearing or vice versa transmitted by the relatively rigid outer sheath.

Advantageously, the inventive 2-component sound output tube with its hard outer jacket fulfills the function of a stable suspension of the listener. The soft, elastic inner wall also ensures the necessary absorption of the listener's vibrations.

In an advantageous embodiment of the sound output tube, the first plastic is a silicone material and the second plastic is a softer silicone material. Not only is a very reliable material chosen, but a high-quality 2-component injection-molded part can also be achieved, since both components are based on silicone.

According to a further embodiment, the sound output tube may be formed as a pipe bend. In order to The spatial conditions in a hearing aid housing can be better taken into account.

In a particularly preferred application, a BTE hearing aid with a receiver, a carrying hook, a connector for transmitting sound in the carrying hook and a sound outlet tube, as described above, which connects the output socket of the listener with the connecting piece acoustically provided. Thus, the BTE hearing aid, as it is generally required to be made even more compact, since the handset is on the one hand stable and on the other hand suspended vibration damping on the carrying hook or the hearing aid housing.

FIG 1

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Hörgeräts mit seinen wesentlichen Komponenten gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

FIG 2

eine 3-D-Darstellung eines mit Hilfe eines erfindungsgemäßen Schallausgangröhrchens an ein Anschlussstück angeschlossenen Hörers und

FIG 3

eine Längsschnittansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Schallausgangsröhrchens.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1

the basic structure of a hearing aid with its essential components according to the prior art;

FIG. 2

a 3-D representation of a connected by means of a sound output tube according to the invention to a connector and handset

FIG. 3

a longitudinal sectional view of the sound output tube according to the invention.

An in FIG. 2 illustrated handset 10 has a sound outlet nozzle 11. At this sound outlet nozzle 11 a sound output tube 12 is inserted. This sound output tube 12 is designed arcuate and passes in its interior, the sound of the handset 10 on to a connector 13. For this purpose, the connector 13 is attached to the opposite end of the receiver 10 of the sound output tube 12.

The connecting piece 13 is substantially tubular and serves as an adapter. It has at one end a mounting part 131, with which it is fastened to the housing of the hearing device or the hearing aid housing. At its other end, the connecting piece 13 has a plug-in part 132, on which a carrying hook 7 is inserted. The connector 13 may also be integrally connected to the respective housing of the hearing device and in particular be injected in one piece. In the case of an ITE hearing aid, the sound output tube 12 may also be directly connected to a sound output element of the hearing aid shell.

The sound output tube 12 is produced according to the invention in a 2-component injection molding process (over-mold technology). It consists essentially of two components: a hard outer shell 121 and a softer or more elastic inner wall 122. A longitudinal section through the sound exit tube 12 is in FIG. 3 shown. In the outer shell 121 so a soft inner wall 122 is injected or to the soft inner wall 122 is a harder outer shell 121 sprayed.

On the inside of the sound output tube 112 has a sound channel 123. On the side of the earphone 10, this sound channel 123 is expanded to a cylindrical receptacle 124 so that the sound output tube 12 can be plugged onto the sound outlet nozzle 11 of the earphone 10. The outer sheath 121 does not extend over the entire arc length of the inner wall 122 and the sound channel 123 including receptacle 124. Rather, both on the side of the listener 10 and on the side of the connector 13 is a tubular inner wall portion 125, 126 from the outer shell 121 forth. By these protruding portions 125 and 126 of the inner wall 122 it is ensured that the outer shell 122 does not come into direct contact with the housing or sound outlet nozzle 11 of the receiver 10 or the connecting piece 13. This prevents as far as possible that vibrations are transmitted via the outer jacket 121. The soft or elastic inner wall 122 dampens the vibrations in the desired manner. The task of the outer shell 121 is merely to mechanically stabilize the inner wall 122 as much as possible. This can be prevented, for example, that the handset 10 strikes against a wall of a hearing aid housing when the hearing aid is dropped.

The protruding parts 125 and 126 are only necessary insofar as there is a risk that the rigid outer shell 121 comes into direct contact with one of the two connection components 10, 13. Finally, vibrations that the listener 10 itself generates are not transmitted to the outside of the hearing device housing or carrying hook. This ultimately leads to a reduction of feedback.

In the present example, the inner wall 122 is made of a soft silicone and the outer wall 121 is made of a hard silicone.

Claims (4)

1. Sound-emitting pipe (12) for direct connection to an output nozzle (11) of a receiver (10) of a hearing apparatus,

   - which is manufactured as an injection-moulded part,

   characterised by

   - an outer sheath (121) made of a first plastic and

   - an inner wall (122) made of a second plastic, which is more elastic than the first plastic, with

   - the outer sheath (121) and the inner wall (122) being manufactured by means of a 2-component injection moulding, and with

   - a tubular section (125, 126) of the inner wall protruding from the outer sheath on both ends of the sound-emitting pipe in each instance.
2. Sound-emitting pipe according to claim 1, with the first plastic being a silicon material and the second plastic being a softer silicon material.
3. Sound-emitting pipe according to claim 1 or 2, which forms a pipe bend.
4. Behind-the-ear hearing device having

   - a receiver (4, 10),

   - a wearing hook (7),

   - a connecting piece (6, 13) for transmitting sound into the wearing hook (4) and

   - a sound-emitting pipe (12) according to one of the preceding claims, which acoustically connects the output nozzle (11) of the receiver (4, 10) to the connecting piece (6, 13).

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