Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

Jay M Stewart

Michael Karl Sacha

Craig C Feldsien

Beau Jay Polinske

Jay Rabel

Zhenchao Yang

Deepak Hosadurga

Westley Gordon Gentry

Wes Gentry

Michael J Tadeusiak

Sidney A Higgins

Justin R Burwinkel

Stephen Paul Flood

Buye Xu

Kyle D Olson

Jason Alan Galster

Randy Kannas

Casey Edward Murray

Fue Yang

Peggi S Cross

Martin Mckinney

Various embodiments of a hearing assistance device and a method of forming such device are disclosed. The device includes a housing having a shell and a frame disposed at least partially within the shell. An inner surface of the shell and at least a portion of the frame define a void. Further, an indentation hardness value of the frame is greater than an indentation hardness value of the shell. The hearing assistance device also includes hearing assistance components that are disposed at least partially within the void.

Hearing assistance device

An ear-wearable electronic device comprises a shell and a faceplate connected to the shell. Electronic circuitry and a power source are respectively disposed in the shell. A removal handle includes a proximal end connected to the faceplate. First and second electrical conductors extend along the removal handle and comprise first and second proximal ends coupled to the electronic circuitry. An electrical contact module is disposed at a distal end of the removal handle. The electrical contact module comprises a substrate. A first electrical contact is mounted on, or supported by, the substrate and coupled to a first distal end of the first electrical conductor. A second electrical contact is mounted on, or supported by, the substrate and coupled to a second distal end of the second electrical conductor.

Ear-wearable electronic device including multi-function removal handle

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a hearing assistance device housing for biometric sensing. In various embodiments, a hearing assistance device for a wearer includes a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear. The housing is configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer, and a biometric sensor is included on a surface of the housing. According to various embodiments, the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.

Hearing assistance device housing for improved biometric sensing

A method for manufacturing a hearing instrument includes placing a component support structure at least partially in a bath of a resin liquid, wherein one or more operative components of the hearing instrument are attached to or contained within the component support structure prior to the component support structure being at least partially placed in the bath of the resin liquid. While the component support structure is at least partially in the bath, volumetric 3-dimensional (3D) printing is performed to form a shell of the hearing instrument attached to the component support structure.

Construction techniques for hearing instruments

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing, hearing electronics within the housing, and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

Radio frequency antenna for an in-the-ear hearing device

A method is a described for constructing a hearing aid shell that comprises a combination of hard and soft materials. In one embodiment, 3D printing is combined with conventional mold/casting methods so that a first shell portion made of a hard material and a mold for a second shell portion are 3D printed. The mold is then filled with a soft material which is allowed to set to form the second shell portion, and the first and second shell portions are adhesively attached.

Hybrid shell for hearing aid

Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for a hearing device antenna. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a hearing device configured to be worn in an ear of a wearer to perform wireless communication. The hearing device includes a housing hearing electronics within the housing and an inverted F antenna or loop antenna disposed at least partially in the housing and configured for performing 2.4 GHz wireless communication. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the antenna protrudes from an exterior of the housing.

An ear-wearable device includes a shell shaped for wearing in a user's ear. The shell comprises a tunnel wall shaped to define a tunnel that passes through the ear-wearable device. The ear-wearable device includes a receiver coil that is formed in or around the tunnel wall of the tunnel. The receiver coil is configured to inductively couple with a power coil via the tunnel and to inductively receive electromagnetic power from the power coil, and the receiver coil is configured to convert the electromagnetic power to an electrical current. The ear-wearable device includes one or more electrical components encased within the shell and configured to receive the electrical current from the receiver coil.

Ear-wearable device having tunnel with receiver coil

Certain types of hearing aids are designed to be worn completely in the ear. Examples of such hearing aids include in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), completely-in-the-canal (CIC) type, or invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) hearing aids. Described herein are structures to help prevent wax accumulation in the sound port that conveys sound to the microphone. In one embodiment, an injection molded T-fitting connects to a microphone and provides both a microphone inlet pathway and a wax relief pathway.

Growing community of inventors

Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Jay M Stewart