Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a flexible joint for extended wear hearing devices. One embodiment provides a flexible joint for a hearing device comprising a compliant tube having a lateral and a medial end, a pivotal portion and a lumen. The hearing device can include a CIC hearing aid positioned in the bony portion of the ear canal. The tube ends are configured to be coupled to lateral and medial device assemblies. The tube allows the lateral assembly to advance the medial assembly into the bony portion of the ear canal and have the lateral and medial assemblies conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement. The tube also acoustically decouples the two assemblies. The pivotal portion can comprise a necked portion or otherwise have decreased stiffness relative to other tube portions. The tube can be shaped to fit over and retain one or both assemblies.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. The shell wall has a shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall dynamically conforms to changes in the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The shell can include an anti-microbial coating to produce a reduction in bacteria contacting the coating. Also, the shell wall can have a water vapor transmission rate to reduce moisture accumulation in the canal during periods of extended wear to reduce the incidence of infection and otitis.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a continuous wear hearing device to be worn entirely within the ear canal, comprising a receiver assembly sized to be positioned in the bony portion of the canal, a battery assembly and a microphone assembly. The receiver assembly includes a receiver for supplying acoustic signals to the tympanic membrane. The battery assembly is coupled to the receiver assembly and includes a metal-air battery and a battery vent. The microphone assembly is coupled to the battery assembly and includes a microphone and a microphone sound port. The sound port faces a medial direction with respect to the canal. The orientation and position of the microphone in the canal are configured to reduce fouling of the port by cerumen. The positioning of the microphone assembly defines an air cavity disposed between the microphone assembly and the battery assembly with the port and the vent fluidically coupled to the cavity.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a flexible joint for extended wear hearing devices. One embodiment provides a flexible joint for a hearing device comprising a compliant tube having a lateral and a medial end, a pivotal portion and a lumen. The hearing device can include a CIC hearing aid positioned in the bony portion of the ear canal. The tube ends are configured to be coupled to lateral and medial device assemblies. The tube allows the lateral assembly to advance the medial assembly into the bony portion of the ear canal and have the lateral and medial assemblies conform to the shape of the ear canal via pivotal movement. The tube also acoustically decouples the two assemblies. The pivotal portion can comprise a necked portion or otherwise have decreased stiffness relative to other tube portions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies which are resistant to moisture. One embodiment provides a microphone assembly comprising a housing, a diaphragm disposed in the housing and a backplate disposed in the housing. The housing includes a sound inlet port for the entry of sound waves. The backplate includes a surface and an electret portion having an embedded permanent charge. The diaphragm is configured to vibrate in response to sound waves entering the housing. The vibrations of the diaphragm interact with the electret portion to produce an electrical signal associated with the sound waves entering the housing. A hydrophobic coating can be applied to one or both of the backplate and diaphragm surfaces so as to reduce condensation and/or wetting of the backplate. This minimizes neutralization of an electric field of the backplate surface from condensation preserving the field and the function of the microphone in humid environments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell wall defines a cavity for retention of a hearing device component with at least a portion of the shell comprising a resilient material having sound attenuating properties. The shell has a structure such that a force for removal of the seal from the canal is greater than a force for insertion of the seal into the canal. That structure can have an umbrella or cup shape. The structure can be configured to act as a mechanical toggle when acted upon by a laterally applied force to the shell. The structure can also be configured to exert a constant frictional force against the canal wall during insertion into the ear canal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide seals for retaining hearing devices in the ear canal. An embodiment provides a seal for a hearing device comprising a curved shell having a wall and an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. The shell wall has a shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall dynamically conforms to changes in the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The shell can include an anti-microbial coating to produce a reduction in bacteria contacting the coating. Also, the shell wall can have a water vapor transmission rate to reduce moisture accumulation in the canal during periods of extended wear to reduce the incidence of infection and otitis.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a user interface for remotely controlling the operational state of a hearing device positioned in the ear canal. The interface comprises a controller, a switch coupled to the controller and an audio port coupled to the controller. The controller switches between the operational states of a hearing device having at least a first and a second operational state, such as an off-state, an on-state. The switch receives inputs from the user to change the operational state of the hearing device and is actuable by an external magnetic field source held in the hand of the user within a selected proximity envelope from the switch. The controller switches between the states responsive to a pattern of movement of the magnetic field source made relative to the proximity envelope. The audio port produces an audio output indicating to the user the operational state of the hearing device.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical wave guide device (1) comprising a semiconductor layer (3) having an upper surface (5), and a lower surface (7) which is defined by a lower confinement layer(9), the semiconduct or layer having formed therein: (a) a wave guide (13); (b) at least one recess (19) adjacent to the waveguide (13)and extending from the upper surface (5)of the semiconductor layer (3); (c) at least one doped region (21, 23), at least part of which is situated between a said recess (19) and the lower confinement layer (9); and (d) at least one trench (25) adjacent to a said doped region (21, 23) and recess (19) and situated on an opposite side thereof to the waveguide, wherein the (or each) trench (25) extends from the upper surface of the semiconductor layer (3).

Abstract: An embodiment provides a seal for retaining a hearing device within the ear canal comprising a curved shell having an opening at a shell apex portion. The shell defines a cavity for retention of a device component. An interior surface of a shell wall has a scalloped shape configured to distribute compressive forces applied to the shell perimeter such that when the shell is positioned in the canal, the shell wall conforms to the shape of the canal to maintain an acoustical seal between a shell exterior surface and the canal walls. The scalloped shape can be configured to produce a substantially constant amount of inward deformation of a shell wall independent of a force application point on a shell perimeter. The shell can include a coating to retain the seal in the canal and/or to promote asparagine growth into the coating to fastenly retain the seal in the canal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to support the provision of context-sensitive help functions in a back-end HTML/XML server. The apparatus provides partner-sensitive help functions to users that have been redirected from a plurality of partner sites to the back-end server. The apparatus has a data base and a context-sensitive help engine. The data base stores general help data, as well as partner-specific metadata corresponding to the plurality of partner sites. The context-sensitive help engine is coupled to the data base. The context-sensitive help engine receives a help transaction request that has been redirected from a specific one of the plurality of partner sites. The context-sensitive help engine provides specific help functions in response to the help transaction request, where the specific help functions correspond to the specific partner site.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a canal hearing device and method in which the device is implemented with a mode of operation that provides acoustic transparency as well as a power-saving function, permitting the user to wear the device in the ear canal during periods of sleep or inactivity without substantial loss of normal unaided response. The transparent mode has an in-situ acoustic transfer function that compensates for the insertion loss caused by the presence of a hearing device in the ear canal. While the device is in this transparent mode, its acoustic transfer function gives the user a perception of unaided hearing, as though the device were removed, when it is actually being worn continuously in the ear canal. Current drain of the device is significantly reduced as the transparent mode serves to shut off or reduce bias currents of at least one circuit element within device circuitry.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a continuous wear hearing device to be worn entirely within the ear canal, comprising a receiver assembly sized to be positioned in the bony portion of the canal, a battery assembly and a microphone assembly. The receiver assembly includes a receiver for supplying acoustic signals to the tympanic membrane. The battery assembly is coupled to the receiver assembly and includes a metal-air battery and a battery vent. The microphone assembly is coupled to the battery assembly and includes a microphone and a microphone sound port. The sound port faces a medial direction with respect to the canal. The orientation and position of the microphone in the canal are configured to reduce fouling of the port by cerumen. The positioning of the microphone assembly defines an air cavity disposed between the microphone assembly and the battery assembly with the port and the vent fluidically coupled to the cavity.

Abstract: An electro-optic device includes a semiconducting layer in which is formed a waveguide, a modulator formed across the waveguide comprising a p-doped region to one side and an n-doped region to the other side of the waveguide, wherein at least one of the doped regions extends from the base of a recess formed in the semiconducting layer. In this way, the doped regions can extend further into the semiconducting layer and further hinder escape of charge carriers without the need to increase the diffusion distance of the dopant and incur an additional thermal burden on the device. In an SOI device, the doped region can extend to the insulating layer. Ideally, both the p and n-doped regions extend from the base of a recess, but this may be unnecessary in some designs. Insulating layers can be used to ensure that dopant extends from the base of the recess only, giving a more clearly defined doped region.

Abstract: An method and system are disclosed for NMR echo-train data acquisition and processing for enhanced vertical resolution for a given signal to noise ratio. In one aspect, the method is based on providing an estimate of non-formation signal components and removing the estimate from the NMR signals. Computation of the estimate is done from the data itself or using a direct measurement of non-formation signals. In another aspect, the functions of reducing coherent noise components is separated from the function of reducing the random noise components, to enhance the resolution of the NMR pulse echo data for a given signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the data. Combination processing is disclosed, which enables efficient filtering of the input NMR data for both relatively high and relatively low SNR of the formation data.

Abstract: System and method for characterizing formation properties based on NMR measurements. NMR clay measurements of this invention distinguish between interstitial pore water and the water adsorbed by the clay minerals. The measurements can be used to determine the quantity of adsorbed water in different clays and correct previously available data obtained using conventional density and neutron porosity logs. A new petrophysical parameter wetness clay is defined as an intrinsic parameter for clays, and its value is computed for members of the smectite group of clays, such as montmorillonite. The wet clay values for the density, neutron logs based on the adsorbed water in clays are used to enhance the quality and accuracy of the overall log interpretation.