EP2001264A2 - Carrying hook with metal cut-out for a hearing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The stretcher hook has a sound channel (12), which runs along the stretcher hook. The stretcher hook split transverse to the sound channel into two sections. The former section (10), with which the stretcher hook is mounted onto the rear ear hearing device is made of plastic, where latter section (11) is made of metal. The two sections are added in such a manner that the sound channel runs continuously.

Description

The present invention relates to a wearing hook for a behind-the-ear hearing device with a sound tube extending along the support hook in its interior.

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 is also integrated in the hearing aid housing 1, processes the microphone signals and amplifies them. The output signal of the signal processing unit 3 is sent to a loudspeaker or

Handset 4 is transmitted, which emits 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

To the housing of a BTE hearing aid for wearing the hearing aid usually a carrying hook is plugged or screwed. A sound tube runs through the carrying hook along its curved shape. On the tip of the carrying hook, a sound tube is plugged, which transmits the output sound of the hearing aid to the ear canal.

The sound generated by the handset of the BTE hearing aid or the listener itself lead to vibrations of the tip of the carrying hook. Optionally, the hook tip is excited to resonant vibrations. These vibrations lead to unwanted acoustic instabilities. This results in frequency responses with disturbing peaks and it often comes back to feedback that lead to unpleasant whistling.

From the publication DE 298 19 415 U1 is a carrying hook for BTE hearing aids known, which can be easily brought into one of the ear shape of the hearing aid wearer customized shape. The curved, over the ear to hang hooks consists of a plastic, in which a metal core is poured for plastic deformability. Due to the metal core, the carrying hook is permanently plastically deformable. But it can also be poured into plastic other metal cores such as metal pipes, goosenecks and the like.

From the publication DE 29 50 331 a BTE hearing aid is known with a housing and a through channel through a continuous hook-shaped part. The hook-shaped part serves the sound to an ear connector be reconciled. To improve the frequency response, the hook-shaped part is designed so that the clear cross-section increases in the direction away from the housing.

The object of the present invention is to improve the acoustic properties of a support hook for a hearing aid.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a carrying hook for a behind-the-ear hearing device having a sound tube which extends along the carrying hook in its interior, wherein the carrying hook is bisected substantially transversely to the sound tube into a first section and a second section, the first section, with which the carrying hook can be mounted on the behind-the-ear hearing device, essentially consists of a plastic and the second section essentially consists of a metal.

Advantageously, the acoustic stability of the entire hearing device can thus be improved, since the metal increases the mass of the carrying hook, so that it vibrates less, in particular at its tip. Thus, the frequency response of the hearing aid is less influenced by the wearing hook and the inclinations to feedback are reduced.

Preferably, the second portion of the carrying hook has a plastic coating. This makes it more resistant to corrosion.

The second section may be bolted to the first section of the carrying hook. This makes it possible to establish a stable connection between the two sections. The plastic part may also be molded or infected to the metal part.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the length of the second section along the sonic tube exceeds one third of the total length of the sonic tube. In As a rule, sufficient acoustic stability can thereby be achieved. In principle, however, the mass and thus the volume or the length of the metal section should be selected so that the desired acoustic properties with respect to acoustic stability occur.

In addition, it may be advantageous if a damper fabric is slidably inserted into the sound tube of the second section. Thus, the acoustic transfer function of the carrying hook can also be positively influenced in terms of acoustic stability.

FIG 1

den prinzipiellen Aufbau eines Hörgeräts mit seinen wesentlichen Komponenten

FIG 2

einen Tragehaken gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung;

FIG 3

den Tragehaken von FIG 2 mit einem Dämpfer im Metallabschnitt;

FIG 4

den Tragehaken von FIG 3 mit dem Dämpfer im Mittelbereich des Metallabschnitts;

FIG 5

den Tragehaken von FIG 3 mit dem Dämpfer am proximalen Ende des Metallabschnitts;

FIG 6

eine zweite Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Tragehakens;

FIG 7

den Metallabschnitt eines Tragehakens in einer ersten Länge;

FIG 8

den Metallabschnitt eines Tragehakens in einer zweiten Länge und

FIG 9

den Kunststoffteil des Tragehakens von FIG 6.

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

FIG. 2

a wearing hook according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3

the carrying hook of FIG. 2 with a damper in the metal section;

FIG. 4

the carrying hook of FIG. 3 with the damper in the central region of the metal section;

FIG. 5

the carrying hook of FIG. 3 with the damper at the proximal end of the metal section;

FIG. 6

a second embodiment of a carrying hook according to the invention;

FIG. 7

the metal portion of a carrying hook in a first length;

FIG. 8

the metal portion of a carrying hook in a second length and

FIG. 9

the plastic part of the carrying hook of FIG. 6 ,

The embodiments described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a carrying hook, with a plastic portion 10 (first portion) and a metal portion 11 (second portion). The two sections 10 and 11 are joined to one another in such a way that a sound channel or a sound tube 12 runs through them continuously. It runs along the hook in its interior, as the longitudinal section of FIG. 2 shows. The sonic tube 12 thus extends as arcuate as the carrying hook itself.

Overall, the carrying hook runs from its proximal end 13, to which it is attached to the hearing aid, to its distal end 14, at which the sound emerges pointed. This means that the plastic part 10 transversely to the sound tube 12 on average has a larger circumference than the metal portion 11. The separation between the metal portion 11 and the plastic portion 10 extends in the example of FIG. 2 along a cutting plane 15, which is arranged perpendicular to the sound tube 12.

The metal portion 11 is provided at its distal end 14 with a circumferential barb 16. This ensures that an over pushed plastic hose can be fixed mechanically and acoustically close to the carrying hook.

In FIG. 3 is the carrying hook of FIG. 2 shown, wherein additionally a damper 17 is inserted at the distal end 14 in the sound tube 12. This damper (screen damper) serves as an acoustic resistor. It consists of a plastic fabric with specific mesh density. This is chosen so that the desired acoustic resistance is achieved.

Since the damper 17 is made of plastic, it is difficult to fix it in a plastic hook, since there in the Usually insufficient friction can be achieved. Here is another advantage of the metal portion 11 is noticeable, namely that between the plastic damper 17 and the metal inner surface of the metal portion 11 sufficient friction can be achieved to the damper, for example, in the in FIG. 4 permanent position shown. There, the damper is fixed in the central region of the metal portion 11 by friction. Depending on the desired acoustic transfer function of the carrying hook, the damper 17 can also be positioned at other positions of the sound tube 12. So he is in the example of FIG. 5 positioned at the parting plane 15 between the metal portion 11 and the plastic portion 10.

In FIG. 6 a further embodiment of a carrying hook according to the invention is shown. The plastic portion 20 has substantially the same shape as the plastic portion 10 of the previous embodiment in the FIGS. 2 to 5 , However, the metal portion 21 is screwed to the plastic portion 20 here. For this purpose, has the plastic hook half or the plastic portion 20 at its distal end relative to the hearing aid with the sonic tube 22 concentric external thread 23, as shown in FIG FIG. 7 is shown. The metal section 21 has a corresponding internal thread 24. The screw connection between the metal section 21 and the plastic section 20 ensures firm and play-free hold. In addition, the metal portion 21 can be detached from the plastic portion 20 multiple times, without causing significant wear.

The main purpose of the metal portion 21 on the carrying hook is to increase the mass at the tip of the carrying hook, ie at its distal end 14, 25 FIG. 8 is the metal portion 11 of FIG. 2 shown without the plastic portion 10. It has a certain length along the sound tube 12. It is dependent on the anatomical conditions of the wearer's ear and depending on the desired mass chosen for the vibration damping. If it is necessary in view of the acoustic stability to increase the mass of the metal portion, then a correspondingly longer metal portion 31 can be selected, as in FIG. 9 is shown. To increase the mass but also the wall thickness of the metal piece 11 can be varied. In addition, the mass of the metal portion 11, 21, 31 can also be influenced by the choice of the metal (steel, aluminum, etc.).

In FIG. 9 is also indicated that in the sound tube 32 of the local metal portion 31, a cylindrical plastic fabric damper 33 is not from the distal end 34, but from the opposite end 35, which faces the plastic portion, not shown, can be inserted. This damper can also be in the metal section 11 of FIG. 8 be inserted.

With the metal section 11, 21, 31, it is possible according to the invention to ensure the acoustic stability even with hearing aids with very high amplification. In the case of hearing aids with pure plastic straps, on the other hand, there is only the possibility of reducing the reinforcement or of applying material to the wearing hook until its vibrations are reduced to a manageable level. It can also be dispensed with the metal hook half, the acoustic transfer function of the sound channel to form or dampen so that no vibrations of the hook tip occur. This represented a complex procedure, since a suitable transfer function had to be found separately for each length of a carrying hook.

Claims (8)

Carrying hook for a behind-the-ear hearing aid a sound tube (12) running along the support hook in its interior, characterized in that the carrying hook is divided into two parts transversely to the sound tube (12) into a first section (10) and a second section (11), the first section (10), with which the carrying hook can be mounted on the behind-the-ear hearing device, consists of a plastic, the second section (11) is made of a metal, the sound tube (12) passes through the two sections (10, 11), - The second section (11) has a plastic coating, and - The length of the second portion (11) along the sonic tube (12) exceeds one third of the total length of the sonic tube (12). A wearing hook according to claim 1, wherein the second portion (11) is screwed to the first portion (10). Carrying hook according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the sound tube (12) of the second portion (11) a damper fabric (17) is slidably inserted. Carrying hook for a behind-the-ear hearing aid a sound tube (12) running along the support hook in its interior, characterized in that the carrying hook is divided into two parts transversely to the sound tube (12) into a first section (10) and a second section (11), the first section (10), with which the carrying hook can be mounted on the behind-the-ear hearing device, consists of a plastic, - The second section (11) consists of a metal and - The sonic tube (12) through the two sections (10, 11) passes therethrough. Carrying hook according to claim 4, wherein the second portion (11) has a plastic coating. Carrying hook according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second portion (11) is screwed to the first portion (10). Carrying hook according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, wherein the length of the second portion (11) along the sonic tube (12) exceeds one third of the total length of the sonic tube (12). Carrying hook according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 7, wherein in the sound tube (12) of the second portion (11) a damper fabric (17) is slidably inserted.

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