Abstract: A flexible support for a hearing instrument receiver suspended on a receiver tube in a hearing instrument housing will lessen the feedback that could be generated if the housing is jostled. A mounting assembly affixed to the receiver and anchored to the housing functions in this manner, and also improves the stability of the receiver inside the housing.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically determining the position of and placing a faceplate assembly on a hearing instrument shell that takes into account patient anatomical features. These anatomical features of the shell are used as landmarks for ensuring that the final position of the faceplate on the hearing instrument is optimized both in terms of esthetics and increased comfort. The protocols defined herein take advantage of the intrinsic features of the human ear anatomy and the geometry of the electronic components to ensure that design and manufacturing of ITEs are optimized for efficiency and the process can be completely automated to ensure consistence and practice reproducibility.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system determine and output parameters associated with an ear canal according to a particular taxonomy. The output can then be input to various other systems associated with hearing aid design. An intelligent computational approach is utilized that models the physiology of the human ear canal as reconcilable with a conic or quadric section. The canal segment of the impression is sliced, and various parameters are determined according to each slice. Then, these parameters are analyzed in order to create a basic classification of the canal morphology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for implementing an automated hearing aid modeling system that is a computerized rule-based binaural modeling system which includes performing a hearing-aid class dependent processing on the hearing aid shell design. Features of the hearing aid shell are recognized and attributes associated with these features are stored. A rule-based product handling for the shell model is used that is determined based on a determined shell type. Global and local offsets are performed on data associated with the shell model, as is binaural processing to augmented detailing and modeling protocols used on the shell model. The hearing aid is created based on the shell model processed according to the preceding steps. An appertaining system for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: During tumbling, a plug may be inserted into the opening of a hearing instrument shell to protect the hole and minimize additional cleaning operations subsequent to tumbling. A suitable conforming plug may be fabricated at the same time the shell is made.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system is provided for reducing distortions in a hearing aid shell having complex surfaces with areas having high and low curvatures, the distortions occurring due to uneven material loss during tumbling and buffing operations. The method determines the curvature in defined regions of the shell and determines a new shell surface that is dependent upon the curvature in each respective region. Templates may be utilized th further define the new surface. With the new surface thus defined, the tumbling and buffing operations result in an end product having the desired shape.

Abstract: A method and appertaining assembly are provided for CIC hearing aid manufacture for the placement of floating components. A hearing aid shell fixture is formed that comprises an interior region identical in shape and size to an interior region of an actual hearing aid shell, and a replica of one or more shell components that is positioned so as to replicate a position and size of one or more real shell components in the actual hearing aid shell. The hearing aid shell fixture is placed onto a faceplate assembly that comprises a floating component, and a position of the floating component is adjusted to avoid contact with the replica of one or more shell components. The hearing aid shell fixture on the faceplate is subsequently replaced with the actual hearing aid shell.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system for performing the method is provided in which the modeling and detailing of a hearing aid shell can be done at a remote site, while the work order handling and the actual manufacture are performed at a local site without the need to transmit large STL files from the remote site to the local site. The local site is able to construct an STL file from data defining the original undetailed impression and a project file containing the detailing algorithms from the remote site. The hearing aid shell may then be manufactured from the STL file.

Abstract: A CIC hearing instrument and appertaining method are provided that improve feedback stability. Accordingly, the microphone inlet is located on the faceplate of the instrument at a position of least vibration. Furthermore, the receiver is located in the device such that its vibrating membrane is parallel to a plane calculated to include a line of minimal vibration on the faceplate and a center of gravity for the instrument.

Abstract: A flexible support for a hearing instrument receiver suspended on a receiver tube in a hearing instrument housing will lessen the feedback that could be generated if the housing is jostled. A tether affixed to the receiver and anchored to the housing functions in this manner, and also improves the stability of the receiver inside the housing. Alternatively, a floating arrangement, where the receiver rotatably resides in a cradle may also offer feedback reduction and isolation for the receiver.

Abstract: A hearing aid and appertaining method of assembly are provided in which a receiver assembly is placed within a shell of the hearing aid, the receiver assembly comprising a left and right stud. A receiver tube is connected to the receiver assembly and extends through a hole in a supporting plate and shell tip respectively. A permanent latch is provided comprising a cavity into which the first stud of the receiver assembly is located when the receiver assembly is in its designated position. An external rail latch slides on the external rail and secures the receiver assembly in its designated position by interfacing with the second stud.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system provide for automatically adding a wax guard to a hearing aid shell impression. The location of a canal, tip of the canal, and central line of the impression are automatically identified in a digital 3D representation of a hearing aid shell impression. A first wax guard plane is determined at a predefined flip distance from the canal tip along the central line, and a second wax guard plane is determined at a predefined canal tip offset distance from the canal tip along the central line. A size and position for a feature of the wax guard is calculated based on predefined parameters, and the wax guard is constructed utilizing the calculated side and position. The type of wax guard can be a bell bore design, an open design, a Philip design, or a flip design.

Abstract: In order to reduce feedback in a hearing aid, a hearing aid receiver is provided that comprises a housing having an inside surface and an outside surface, a motor, an active armature that is attached to the motor and attached to the inside surface of the housing, the active armature being driven in a vibrational manner by the motor, and an external passive component that is attached to the outside surface of the housing, the external passive component designed to vibrate in a direction opposed to vibrations of the active armature. A corresponding method for operating such a hearing aid receives is also provided.

Abstract: A construction of a CIC instrument is provided, along with a corresponding method of manufacturing such a CIC instrument, that prevents floating components from contacting with an insulated receiver and, therefore, assures feedback-free operation. This is achieved through the presence of a compartment for the receiver in which the receiver resides, and a cover placed on top of the receiver compartment in a mating recess of the receiver compartment.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system for implementing the method is provided for designing hearing aids having flexible parts. Three-dimensional data is provided that is related to both a soft part and a hard part of a hearing aid component into a computer-based system. Additionally, information is entered related to material characteristics for both the soft part and the hard part of the component. A component within the hearing aid shell is placed and moved in a model generated by the system. Forces, stresses, and/or amount of deformation for parts of the component based on the location of the component and at least one of another component and the shell are calculated, and the three-dimensional data model of the shell is revised based upon the calculated degree of deformation, forces, and/or stresses.

Abstract: Receptacle tongues and complementary grooves provides a secure mount for an electronics module in the faceplate of a hearing instrument. The receptacle tongues and grooves may assume a variety of cross-sectional profiles.

Abstract: A sound tube having two passages affords a compact arrangement for a combined receiver and ear-canal microphone assembly. The ear-canal microphone is positioned in line with the receiver but above the receiver's output port, and the sound tube connects both with the inner ear.

Abstract: To prevent stereo lithography (SLA) support structures for parts fabricated in an SLA apparatus from interfering with features in the parts, a structural shield such as a dome may be place around the feature and then discarded at the conclusion of the SLA process.

Abstract: A hearing instrument uses a single momentary switch or joystick to toggle programmable functions or value for each function. The length of the user actuation, short or long, can determine the action for internal circuit programming. The function change can be used in a circular or cyclical way, and the value range of each function can be programmed by specialized computer software. The present invention can replace plurality of controls used historically with one single component, which is very critical in building small hearing aids. The smaller faceplate area allows for better miniaturization and easier access for hearing aid users.

Abstract: A structure for an instrument or device, such as a hearing aid instrument, having a shell for enclosing the instrument components and an opening through a wall or face of the shell for access to the components wherein the shell has relatively large dimensional tolerances while the components are to be mounted within relatively close dimensional tolerances. A unitary or multi-part interface frame for mounting the components into the shell is mounted to the shell, typically in the opening therein, and has an outer contour adapted to the dimensional and shape tolerances of the shell and an inner contour adapted to the dimensional tolerances of the components.