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: A computerized method is provided for designing a vent in a hearing aid housing shell based on an image of a patient's ear canal impression, and wherein a program is provided on a computer-readable medium. With the program, an image of a starter housing shell based on the image of the patient's ear canal impression is created which is longer than a final version of the housing shell to be created. A starter vent running from an inner canal end near the patient's ear drum to an outer end of the starter housing shell is placed inside the shell. Components are then placed substantially as deep as possible inside the starter shell but lying outside of the starter vent. Portions of the starter shell lying beyond where a faceplate is to be mounted are removed and the faceplate is mounted. The starter vent is then grown larger so that it fills substantially all space inside the shell without interfering with the components.

Abstract: A method for designing a prosthetic device includes acquiring a three-dimensional image of an anatomical surface. A rules script for automatically performing a plurality of image processing rules using a script interpreter is executed. For each particular rule of the plurality of rules, one or more anatomical features that are relevant to the particular rule using a surface shaping engine are determined, the one or more determined anatomical features are automatically segmented from the acquired three-dimensional image using a feature detector, and the particular image processing rule is performed on the acquired three-dimensional image based on the automatically segmented anatomical features using a CAD tool. A prosthetic device design is produced based on the three-dimensional image upon which the rules of the plurality of image processing rules have been performed.

Abstract: A hearing aid with a microphone for receiving acoustic signals and converting them to electrical signals, electronic circuitry for processing the electrical signals, and a speaker for converting the processed electrical signals into acoustic signals, has a shell that encases at least portions of the microphone, the electronic circuitry, and the speaker, the shell further encasing an inside volume. The hearing aid further has a vent that provides an opening between the inside volume and a region external to the hearing aid. A flexible membrane is provided that covers an opening of the vent and an acoustic resistor that contacts the flexible membrane. The membrane helps prevent wax fumes from entering the inside volume, and the acoustic resistor helps to reduce distortion in the frequency response of the hearing aid.

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 method and system for side detection of an undetailed 3D ear impression is disclosed. In order to determine whether a received 3D undetailed ear impression is a left or right ear impression, a local coordinate system of the 3D undetailed ear is defined based on side independent features of the 3D undetailed ear impression. A skeleton (or center spline) of the 3D undetailed ear impression is detected, and it is determined whether the 3D undetailed ear impression is a left or right ear impression based on the skeleton and the local coordinate system.

Abstract: A method and appertaining system implement the use of manufacturing protocols for hearing aid design such that the ability to build an instrument can be displayed as a numeric parameter based on the partial numerical and metrological contributions of all the essential parameters of the given impression, and a buildability index can be displayed as a 3D virtual image of the proposed shell or preferred shell types. The method utilizes a predefined parameter table comprising parameters to utilize for a buildability determination. The buildability index is computed based on impression shape data, selected shell type, selected number of device options, data obtained from the parameter table, and data obtained from a receiver table, and the buildability index is output to a display of a user interface device or an external system.

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: 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 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: A vent having a reduced cross-section or taper permits the fabrication of very small hearing instruments while providing the necessary openings for the receiver tube and the vent in the tip of the instrument. The reduced cross-section provides sufficient clearance for the full cross-section of the receiver tube, without sacrificing the performance of the vent. The modified vent may be created in a CAD environment using Boolean modeling operations.

Abstract: A method of designing hearing aid molds is disclosed whereby two shapes corresponding to graphical images of ear impressions are registered with each other to facilitate joint processing of the hearing aid design. In a first embodiment, a first graphical representation of a first ear impression is received and a feature, such as the aperture of the ear impression, is identified on that graphical model. A first vector is generated that represents the orientation and shape of that first feature. The three-dimensional translation and rotation of that first vector are determined that are necessary to align the first vector with a second vector representing the orientation and a shape of a feature, once again such as the aperture, of a second ear impression. In another embodiment, this alignment is then refined by minimizing the sum of the distances between points on the first and second graphical representations.

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 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 isolated 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 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: A method identifying apertures of ear impressions is disclosed. A plurality of contour lines associated with an ear impression are determined and a difference value between a value of a characteristic, such as the diameter, of each contour line and that characteristic of an adjacent contour line is determined. The aperture is identified as being that contour line having the greatest difference value. The contour lines are determined by identifying where a plane intersects the surface of the graphical representations. In another embodiment, the contour lines are assigned a weight. A contour index is then calculated for each contour line as a function of the difference value and these weights. According to this embodiment, the aperture is identified as being a contour line that is adjacent to that contour line having the greatest contour index.

Abstract: A computerized method is provided for designing a vent in a hearing aid housing shell based on an image of a patient's ear canal impression, and wherein a program is provided on a computer-readable medium. With the program, an image of a starter housing shell based on the image of the patient's ear canal impression is created which is longer than a final version of the housing shell to be created. A starter vent running from an inner canal end near the patient's ear drum to an outer end of the starter housing shell is placed inside the shell. Components are then placed substantially as deep as possible inside the starter shell but lying outside of the starter vent. Portions of the starter shell lying beyond where a faceplate is to be mounted are removed and the faceplate is mounted. The starter vent is then grown larger so that it fills substantially all space inside the shell without interfering with the components.

Abstract: In a method for automating design of a locking mechanism for a hearing instrument, a computerized 3D file of an ear impression shell surface is provided based on a 3D scan of a 3D ear impression of a patient's ear. The ear impression shell surface includes a locking surface comprising at least one of a helix or canal concha portion of the patient's ear. A 3D file is provided of a hearing aid shell. With a computer, the hearing aid shell is placed in a desired location in the ear impression shell surface where the hearing aid shell is to be locked in position. With the computer, a volume surface as a 3D file is created representing the locking mechanism by utilizing a profile of the ear impression shell surface to be used as the locking surface. The volume surface runs from the ear impression shell surface and along the profile of the locking surface.

Abstract: A method for designing a prosthetic device includes acquiring a three-dimensional image of an anatomical surface. A rules script for automatically performing a plurality of image processing rules using a script interpreter is executed. For each particular rule of the plurality of rules, one or more anatomical features that are relevant to the particular rule using a surface shaping engine are determined, the one or more determined anatomical features are automatically segmented from the acquired three-dimensional image using a feature detector, and the particular image processing rule is performed on the acquired three-dimensional image based on the automatically segmented anatomical features using a CAD tool. A prosthetic device design is produced based on the three-dimensional image upon which the rules of the plurality of image processing rules have been performed.