Sarnoff Corporation

Rca Inc.

Delsys Pharmaceutical Corporation

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.

Marvin Allan Leedom

Walter Paul Sjursen

Derek Dwayne Mahoney

John Gregory Aceti

John Michael Margicin

Frederick J Fritz

Michael H Tardugno

John Edward Oltman

David A Preves

Robert Richard Demers

Robert C Maxwell

Allan E White

John Clifford Bleazey

Istvan Gorog

Ponnusamy Palanisamy

Robert R Demers

James P Wittke

Reuben Zielinski

Wayne J Staab

Fredrick Fritz

Gary John Hollingsworth

Sam Meytus

A hearing aid is enclosed in a gas-impermeable or substantially gas-impermeable package to prevent inadvertent activation of the hearing aid during transport. The package may include a housing having a groove that substantially conforms to at least a portion of the shape of the hearing aid to snugly hold the hearing aid. The groove may be substantially open adjacent a switch on the hearing aid. A securing member, such as a strap, may be used to immobilize the switch relative to the housing.

Hearing aid package

A disposable hearing aid insertable into an ear canal which includes a microphone which translates acoustic energy into electrical signals, signal processing circuitry which processes the electrical signals provided by the microphone, a receiver which converts the processed electrical signals into acoustic energy, and a power source permanently disposed within the hearing aid such that the source is substantially non-removeably integrated with the hearing aid.

Hearing aid

The present invention relates to a modular hearing aid having a base unit and a detachable earmold. A battery, an earmold tip and a receiver can be integrated with the earmold. The earmold can also include a removably attached module. The module can have a shell, electronics, a receiver or a microphone. A hearing aid also includes a flexible hearing aid tip having a vibration isolator portion and a mushroom shaped tip portion. The vibration isolator portion mechanically decouples a receiver from a hearing aid base unit while the mushroom shaped tip portion provides an acoustic seal in the ear canal of a user. The internal components of a hearing aid can be potted to attenuate vibrations created by the receiver during operation.

Disposable modular hearing aid

A disposable-type hearing aid uses a relatively large single diaphragm or a large single diaphragm subdivided into a plurality of smaller active diaphragm areas obtained using a grate-like back support plate with ridges which contact and divide the diaphragm into the several smaller active diaphragm areas. The diaphragm and a backplate are enclosed in a metal housing and are disposed proximal and parallel to a shell-like hearing aid enclosure having sound inlets. The metal housing is closed at an end opposite the sound inlets by a printed circuit board (PCB) forming an acoustical seal for a back volume of the microphone. The PCB also carries substantially all the electronic components for the hearing aid thereon. The PCB has a ground plane in contact with the housing whereby the PCB also acts as an EMI shield. An electrical connection is formed in various ways between the back support plate and the PCB during assembly of the metal housing and components with the PCB. Mass production of disposable hearing aids with large diaphragms and relatively low noise levels is thus possible using this invention.

Hearing aid with large diaphragm microphone element including a printed circuit board

A hearing aid includes a first half shell and a second shell attached to the first shell. A microphone, battery, electronics, a receiver and a flexible tip are mounted within a housing formed by the first half shell and the second half shell. A mechanical securing mechanism, located on the first half shell and the second half shell, attaches the first half shell to the second half shell. A flexible tip for a hearing aid includes a tip portion, a sound port attached to the tip portion and a vent formed in the flexible tip. The vent provides static pressure equilibrium between an ear canal and an ambient pressure.

A one-size-fits-all uni-hearing aid is described which is adapted to fit into either ear of an ear canal of a user to a depth proximal to the tympanic membrane. The hearing aid is comprised of two half shells joined together to house the hearing aid components. The joined shells secure a flexible tip at the distal end of the shell.

One-size-fits-all uni-ear hearing instrument

A hearing aid insertable into an ear canal includes a microphone which translates acoustic energy into electrical signals, signal processing circuitry which processes the electrical signals provided by the microphone, a receiver which converts the processed electrical signals into acoustic energy, and a power source connectable to the signal processing circuitry.

A hearing aid assembled from three sections includes a first section having a first housing containing a microphone and electronics, a second section having a second housing containing a battery a flex circuit mounted around the battery and a third section having a compliant tip and a receiver contained within a receptacle in the tip. The flex circuit provides solder less electrical connections among the electrical components of the hearing aid. The hearing aid also includes an actuator switch that allows the user to engage the hearing aid in an ON or an OFF mode of operation. Preferably, the actuator is electrically connected to the hearing aid without the use of solder. Connection between the first and second sections includes a mechanical securing mechanism, such as an interlocking joint.

Hearing aid with a flexible shell

A hearing aid includes a microphone, signal processing circuitry, receiver and integral battery all mounted in a casing. The battery may be a metal-air device. The battery may be activated by removing a tape which blocks air holes on the battery or, if the battery is sealed into the hearing aid, air-vent holes on the hearing aid. The hearing aid may also include an air-blocking mechanism which is activated when the hearing aid is inserted in the user's ear and deactivated when the hearing aid is removed. The assembled hearing aid may also be packaged in non-permeable packaging material to extinguish battery activity. The hearing aid may also include an electronic switch which monitors the battery potential to disconnect the battery from the hearing aid electronics when the battery is deprived of oxygen and which connects the battery to the electronics when oxygen is provided to the battery. In one embodiment of the invention, the integral battery is a rechargeable battery which is recharged via external contacts. In another embodiment, the battery is recharged using an induced alternating current potential which is rectified before being applied to the battery.

Disposable hearing aid with integral power source

Provided is a powder delivery system which uses mechanical or electrical means to individually release covers that cover powder at a variety of powder aliquot locations on a rigid substrate.

Dry powder delivery system apparatus

A metal-air cell for powering electronic components in a hearing aid device. The metal-air cell has a flex circuit inside containing an anode mixture. The flex circuit comprises a flexible substrate having a cathode electrode area at one end of the substrate, an anode electrode area at another end of the substrate and an electronic components area in between. The flexible substrate is disposed within the housing. The cathode electrode area is near a top surface of the housing, and the anode electrode area is near a bottom surface of the housing and in contact with the anode mixture. The cathode electrode area has air flow means for permitting air into the housing. An isolation means between the cathode electrode area and the anode mixture is provided for preventing contact between the cathode electrode area and the anode mixture.

Power source for a hearing aid

An electronic signal processing system, including a microphone section and an integral battery, may be assembled with a receiver section to form a three section hearing-aid. The shape of the outer shell of an integral battery may approximate the shape of an ear canal when attached to the other two sections. An integral (sealed-in) battery with such an unusual shape may have a higher capacity battery than those of standard insertable/removable batteries. The integral battery (e.g. a zinc-air battery) may be tested for leakage before being assembled to the other sections of the hearing-aid. To preserve battery shelf-life a &ldquo;pull&rdquo; tab may be placed over vents in the integral battery. To activate the battery, the &ldquo;pull&rdquo; tab may be removed. Conducting strips may be formed on the &ldquo;pull&rdquo; tab permitting the circuits, battery and components of the hearing-aid to be tested after assembly. In addition, a rotating microphone section-may be used to shift between audio modes of the signal processing circuitry.

Modular electroacoustic instrument

A disposable in-the-ear monitoring instrument includes a monitoring assembly for monitoring one or more vital health signs of a user, a transmitter assembly for transmitting the monitored vital health signs to a remote receiving unit, and a battery for energizing the assemblies. The assemblies and battery are mounted on a printed circuit which is disposed in a cylindrical shell. And the cylindrical shell is itself mounted in an earmold. The disposable in-the-ear monitoring instrument is of an optimum design having a minimum number of components, and thus is easy to assemble on an automated basis. The automated assembly of the in-the-ear monitoring instrument and its optimum design reduces costs and allows for the disposability of the monitoring instrument.

Disposable in-the-ear monitoring instrument and method of manufacture

A hearing instrument is adapted for positioning in the external auditory canal of a human proximal to the tympanic membrane. It includes a substantially rigid shell and a relatively flexible tip member. The tip member includes a hollow body portion defining a elongated passage for the communication of acoustic signals through the tip member. The hollow body portion of the tip member is sufficiently deformable so that an axis of the passage substantially conforms to an axis of the external auditory canal upon insertion. The hollow body is also significantly rigid to resist substantial collapse of the passage upon such insertion. The axis of the passage defined by the hollow body portion is moveable at an angle with respect to the axis of the shell so that the hearing instrument can navigate the canal during insertion. Wax guard and receiver mounting configurations as well as a method of assembly are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Princeton, NJ, United States of America

Marvin Allan Leedom