Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Hearing aids – electrical – Specified casing or housing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-23
2004-06-08
Kuntz, Curtis (Department: 2643)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Hearing aids, electrical
Specified casing or housing
C381S328000, C381S305000, C381S304000, C381S324000, C181S130000, C181S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748093
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to manufacturing of a hearing aid housing that is individually matched to the shape of the auditory canal of a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,012, a method is disclosed for manufacturing of a hearing aid housing comprising a hearing aid shell with an opening, and a face plate for covering the opening. The shell is individually matched to the shape of the auditory canal of a user. The method comprises the steps of a) direct or indirect acquisition of the shape of the auditory canal to obtain digital data representing the shape, b) conversion of the digital representation of the shape into a multi-dimensional computer model of the outer shape of the matching shell, and c) computer controlled production of the shell based on the data obtained from the three-dimensional computer model of the shell.
Problems relating to manufacture of the face plate are not recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,012.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide further improvements of the above-mentioned method for manufacturing of a hearing aid housing, e.g. improvements related to automation of the manufacture of the face plate.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to further automate production of individually matched housings of in-the-ear hearing aids.
It is another object of the present invention to facilitate optimum utilization of the space available in the auditory canal and in the outer ear thereby minimizing the size of the hearing aid.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hearing aid with a cosmetic attractive appearance.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned and other objects are fulfilled by a system and a method wherein a) the shape of the auditory canal is acquired and represented by digital data, b) the digital data are converted to a three dimensional computer model of a hearing aid shell that is matched to the shape of the auditory canal, c) positions and shapes of various features of the hearing aid housing, such as junction contour, i.e. the contour of the junction between shell and face plate, vent channel openings, sound input and output openings, battery opening, stubs, bushings, etc, are selected and models of the respective features are included in the shell model, d) a model of a face plate having engaging means for receiving and holding a hearing aid component and mating the shell model is formed and combined with the shell model to form a hearing aid housing model, and wherein e) computer controlled production of a hearing aid housing including the face plate is performed based on the housing model.
Thus, according to the invention manufacturing of the face plate includes at least one automatic processing step based on data from the model of the hearing aid housing whereby the face plate is automatically manufactured to fit the hearing aid shell. For example, junction contour data may be provided to a numerically controlled machine that automatically cuts a separately manufactured face plate along a contour that matches the junction contour.
Various methods of determining or acquiring the shape of a body, such as an ear impression, are well-known in the art. Determination of position of a point on a surface of an object may be performed by moving a mechanical device into contact with the point and reading the position of the mechanical device, e.g. using a co-ordinate measuring machine having scales on moving parts.
In non-contact measurements, positions of points on the surface of an object may be determined by transmitting one or more beams of radiated energy towards the object and detecting radiated energy that has interacted with arbitrary parts of the object.
The radiated energy may be of any form, such as ultrasound radiation, sound radiation, electromagnetic radiation of any frequency, such as radiation of X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, far infrared radiation, UHF radiation, HF radiation, etc, particle radiation, such as radiation of electrons, neutrons, alpha-particles, etc, etc.
The object, the shape of which is to be determined, may interact with the radiated energy by reflecting, refracting, diffracting or absorbing energy or by any combination hereof.
For example, a laser may emit a linear light beam towards the object under measurement, and a video camera with a CCD chip may be utilized to detect light diffusely reflected from the surface of the object. Then, positions of points of the surface of the object reflecting the light beam are determined by triangulation methods. The beam is swept across the surface of the object e.g. by a movable mirror.
The shape of an object may also be determined with a plurality of electronic cameras. The object is then illuminated by a set of incoherent light sources, such as light bulbs, emitting substantially white light in all directions. A plurality of cameras with known positions in relation to each other are used to determine positions of points of the surfaces of the object by triangulation methods.
When the shape of the auditory canal is acquired by scanning of the canal itself, dynamic recording of the auditory canal may be performed. Since the shape of the auditory canal changes as a result of speaking, eating, drinking etc, this method of acquiring the shape of the auditory canal provides data which vary in time whereby such shape changes can also be taken into consideration during manufacture of the corresponding hearing aid housing.
Alternatively, a plurality of impressions may be made of the auditory canal with the jaw in various respective positions in order to accommodate shape changes of the auditory canal. For example, two impressions may be made namely one with closed mouth and one with open mouth.
Having acquired digital data representing the shape of the auditory canal and a part of the outer ear, these data may be further manipulated according to well-known methods of CAD/CAM systems to design and produce a hearing aid housing, e.g. including forming a three-dimensional model of the shape of the hearing aid shell. Further, the model may be displayed on a computer screen in various three-dimensional views and two-dimensional cross-sections, and various automatic and operator controlled functions, including the functions described herein, for adjustment of the model may be provided by a CAD/CAM system.
Thus, according to the present invention, a CAD/CAM system is provided for design and manufacture of a hearing aid housing with a face plate and a shell that is matched to the auditory canal of a user, comprising a processor that is adapted to receive and process data representing the shape of the auditory canal, forming a three-dimensional model of the shell based on the data, and outputting data representing the model for production of the shell and the face plate based on the model.
Two identical models may be formed from the acquired digital data, i.e. a model of the auditory canal including a part of the outer ear, and a model of the hearing aid shell. The model of the auditory canal remains unchanged while the model of the hearing aid shell may be subject to modifications and additions of various features as will be described below. The models may be displayed in distinguishable colors, and the shell may be displayed inserted in the auditory canal. For this and other purposes, the model of the auditory canal may be displayed transparently.
Upon formation of the three-dimensional model of the hearing aid shell, a contour encircling the shell may be selected for definition of a junction between the hearing aid shell and the face plate, and data representing the selected junction contour may be determined. Preferably, the junction contour is a plane contour.
According to the invention, the shell is produced based on the model and may be terminated with an outward opening defined by the junction contour.
In one embodiment of the invention the junction contour data are transferred to a numerically controlled mac
Harvey Dionne
Kuntz Curtis
Tøpholm & Westermann APS
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