Abstract: A hearing instrument has a shell, a bottom faceplate attached to the shell, and a replaceable receiver. The receiver is replaceable through the bottom plate without removing the bottom plate from the shell. The receiver is locked in its mounting position by a mechanism that can be unlocked.

Abstract: A hearing instrument has a shell, a bottom faceplate attached to the shell, and a replaceable receiver. The receiver is replaceable through the bottom plate without removing the bottom plate from the shell. The receiver is locked in its mounting position by a mechanism that can be unlocked.

Abstract: A pull string for a hearing instrument may be attached to an anchor positioned on the inside wall of the hearing instrument shell. Collision detection may be utilized to determine a location for the anchor and the pull string.

Abstract: A small hearing aid is provided which fits completely in an ear canal of a user wherein a shell as an outer housing of the hearing aid is shaped to closely surround components of the hearing aid to provide a gap between the hearing canal inner walls and the shell to allow flow of air when the hearing aid is mounted in the ear by a mounting element connected to the shell. The mounting element is provided with at least one aperture to allow the air flow. In a fabricating method, an image of the shell is shrunk to closely surround the hearing aid components while maintaining a shape of the ear canal to assure a custom fit.

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 method (20) of assembling a hearing aid that uses a shell locator (35) to guide the relative placement of the shell (34) and the faceplate (32).

Abstract: In a method to create a hearing aid housing shell and a negative cast for a hearing aid to be fitted to a patient's ear canal, a 3D jet printer apparatus is provided able to build a 3D part by injecting both the soft material and a hard material with the soft material serving as a support for the hard material. The 3D file is input to the 3D jet printer apparatus to build the hearing aid shell with the hard material and the combined negative cast with the soft material. The negative cast is used to check a quality of the hearing aid shell and to add external features to the shell by fitting the shell into the negative cast.

Abstract: A pull string for a hearing instrument may be attached to an anchor positioned on the inside wall of the hearing instrument shell. Collision detection may be utilized to determine a location for the anchor and the pull string.

Abstract: In a method to create a hearing aid housing shell and a negative cast for a hearing aid to be fitted to a patient's ear canal, a 3D jet printer apparatus is provided able to build a 3D part by injecting both the soft material and a hard material with the soft material serving as a support for the hard material. The 3D file is input to the 3D jet printer apparatus to build the hearing aid shell with the hard material and the combined negative cast with the soft material. The negative cast is used to check a quality of the hearing aid shell and to add external features to the shell by fitting the shell into the negative cast.

Abstract: A small hearing aid is provided which fits completely in an ear canal of a user wherein a shell as an outer housing of the hearing aid is shaped to closely surround components of the hearing aid to provide a gap between the hearing canal inner walls and the shell to allow flow of air when the hearing aid is mounted in the ear by a mounting element connected to the shell. The mounting element is provided with at least one aperture to allow the air flow. In a fabricating method, an image of the shell is shrunk to closely surround the hearing aid components while maintaining a shape of the ear canal to assure a custom fit.

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: 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.