EP0755169A1 - Sound transmission with fluid/jelly coupling to the human skull for hearing aids and microphones - Google Patents

Sound transmission with fluid/jelly coupling to the human skull for hearing aids and microphones Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0755169A1
EP0755169A1 EP96107743A EP96107743A EP0755169A1 EP 0755169 A1 EP0755169 A1 EP 0755169A1 EP 96107743 A EP96107743 A EP 96107743A EP 96107743 A EP96107743 A EP 96107743A EP 0755169 A1 EP0755169 A1 EP 0755169A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
balloon
hearing aid
protection
vibrator
aid according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96107743A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Ralf Pd Dr. Dr. Siegert
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP0755169A1 publication Critical patent/EP0755169A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R25/00—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception
    • H04R25/48—Deaf-aid sets, i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception using constructional means for obtaining a desired frequency response

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the transmission of solid-state sound between the skull and vibrator, as is required for bone conduction hearing aids or certain body microphones.
  • the sound can be transmitted to the inner ear via the bones.
  • the coupling can be done by bone conduction listeners; which are pressed against the skin of the mastoid with an elastic strap. With this technique, good sound transmission is only achieved if pressure that is unpleasant for many patients is applied over the long term.
  • the sound is picked up and amplified via a microphone (1), as is known from conventional hearing aids.
  • the amplifier of the hearing aid (1) is connected via an electrical cable (2) to a vibrator (3), as is known in a similar way from conventional bone conduction hearing aids.
  • the vibrator is located in an earmold in the cavum conchae. It is mechanically connected to a balloon (4) in the ear canal.
  • the balloon can be filled and emptied with liquid, preferably water, or a gel via a hose (5) and a valve or a tap (6).
  • FIGS. 2 to 4 Two different exemplary embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4.
  • the balloon (4) is in the ear canal (7).
  • the balloon can touch the eardrum (8) if it is filled accordingly.
  • a drainage tube (9) in or next to the balloon (4) which serves to ventilate the peritympanal space (between 8 and 10) and possibly the secretion drain. So that the balloon cannot expand until it touches the eardrum, in this embodiment there is also an individually adaptable plate (10) in front of the eardrum. It is attached to the tube (9) or a strut and largely rigidly connected to the vibrator (3) and the earmold.
  • the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4 is a modification of the hearing aids in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the auditory canal balloon (4) is connected to a compensating balloon (11) via a liquid / gel-filled tube (5). Due to the elastic wall tension of this second balloon, the pressure in the ear canal is kept constant in a certain area.
  • the vibrator can also transmit the sound in the component with the amplifier to the liquid / gel-filled cavity.
  • the sound energy is conducted through the hoses to the balloon.
  • the duct of the auditory canal balloon (4) which is stretchable in comparison to the tubes, transmits the sound energy through the thin skin of the ear canal (7) on the bone, which passes it on to the inner ear.
  • the larynx microphones are known, which record the voice from the skin in the larynx area. Since the articulation, which is important for speech intelligibility, is not in the larynx area, but in the head, the sound from the skull can be better understood. Therefore, it is advisable to use the described apparatus not only to transmit the solid-state vibrations into the skull, but also to reverse the sound waves via the liquid / gel coupling by the vibrator and to process them electronically. In addition, the noise can be dampened by using passive noise protection headphones.

Abstract

The hearing aid unit Ä1Ü has a microphone that detects acoustic signals and connects electrically via a wire to a vibrator element Ä3Ü in the ear that transmits via the bone to the inner ear. The vibrator is contained within a balloon element Ä4Ü that couples to the hearing aid via a flexible tube. The balloon and tube is filled with a liquid or gel. An access point Ä6Ü is provided for filling or emptying.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf die Übertragung von Festkörperschall zwischen Schädelknochen und Vibrator, wie es für Knochenleitungshörgeräte oder bestimmte Körpermikrophone erforderlich ist.The invention relates to the transmission of solid-state sound between the skull and vibrator, as is required for bone conduction hearing aids or certain body microphones.

Bei Mittelohrfehlbildungen und konventionell wegen chronischer Otorrhoe nicht versorgbarer Mittelohrschwerhörigkeiten kann der Schall über den Knochen zum Innenohr übertragen werden. Die Ankopplung kann durch Knochenleitungshörer erfolgen; die mit einem elastischen Bügel an die Haut des Mastoids angedrückt werden. Bei dieser Technik wird eine gute Schallübertragung nur dann erzielt, wenn ein für viele Patienten auf Dauer unangenehmer Druck ausgeübt wird.In middle ear malformations and conventional hearing loss due to chronic otorrhea, the sound can be transmitted to the inner ear via the bones. The coupling can be done by bone conduction listeners; which are pressed against the skin of the mastoid with an elastic strap. With this technique, good sound transmission is only achieved if pressure that is unpleasant for many patients is applied over the long term.

Eine Alternative besteht in den knochenverankerten Hörgeräten, die auf einer im Knochen eingebrachten Schraube fixiert werden. Ihre Nachteile liegen in dem operativen Aufwand der Schraubenverankerung sowie der permanent die Haut perforierenden Schraube mit der Gefahr chronischer Entzündungen und ihren ästhetischen Nachteilen. Diese Probleme können mit dem in den Schutzansprüchen aufgeführten Hörgerät überwunden werden.An alternative is the bone-anchored hearing aids, which are fixed on a screw inserted in the bone. Their disadvantages lie in the operational complexity of screw anchoring and the screw permanently perforating the skin with the risk of chronic inflammation and its aesthetic disadvantages. These problems can be overcome with the hearing aid listed in the protection claims.

Bei dem in den Abb. 1 bis 3 schematisch dargestellten Ausführungsbeispielen wird der Schall über ein Mikrophon aufgenommen und verstärkt (1), wie es von konventionellen Hörgeräten her bekannt ist. Der Verstärker des Hörgerätes (1) ist über ein elektrisches Kabel (2) mit einem Vibrator (3) verbunden, wie er in ähnlicher Weise von konventionellen Knochenleitungshörgeräten her bekannt ist. Der Vibrator befindet sich in einem Ohrpaßstück im Cavum conchae. Er ist mit einem Ballon (4) im Gehörgang mechanisch verbunden. Der Ballon kann über einen Schlauch (5) und ein Ventil bzw. einem Hahn (6) mit Flüssigkeit, vorzugsweise Wasser, oder einem Gel gefüllt und entleert werden.In the exemplary embodiments shown schematically in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sound is picked up and amplified via a microphone (1), as is known from conventional hearing aids. The amplifier of the hearing aid (1) is connected via an electrical cable (2) to a vibrator (3), as is known in a similar way from conventional bone conduction hearing aids. The vibrator is located in an earmold in the cavum conchae. It is mechanically connected to a balloon (4) in the ear canal. The balloon can be filled and emptied with liquid, preferably water, or a gel via a hose (5) and a valve or a tap (6).

In den Abb. 2 bis 4 sind drei verschiedene Ausführungsbeispiele dargestellt. Bei der Version der Abb. 2 befindet sich der Ballon (4) in dem Gehörgang (7). Der Ballon kann bei entsprechender Füllung das Trommelfell (8) berühren.Two different exemplary embodiments are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. In the version of Fig. 2, the balloon (4) is in the ear canal (7). The balloon can touch the eardrum (8) if it is filled accordingly.

In der Version der Abb. 3 befindet sich in oder neben dem Ballon (4) ein Drainagerohr (9), das der Belüftung des peritympanalen Raumes (zwischen 8 und 10) und ggf. dem Sekretabfluß dient. Damit sich der Ballon nicht bis zur Berührung des Trommelfells ausdehnen kann, befindet sich in diesem Ausführungsbeispiel zusätzlich eine individuell anzupassende Platte (10) vor dem Trommelfell. Sie ist an dem Rohr (9) oder einer Verstrebung befestigt und weitgehend starr mit dem Vibrator (3) und dem Ohrpaßstück verbunden.In the version of Fig. 3 there is a drainage tube (9) in or next to the balloon (4), which serves to ventilate the peritympanal space (between 8 and 10) and possibly the secretion drain. So that the balloon cannot expand until it touches the eardrum, in this embodiment there is also an individually adaptable plate (10) in front of the eardrum. It is attached to the tube (9) or a strut and largely rigidly connected to the vibrator (3) and the earmold.

Das Ausführungsbeispiel der Abb. 4 ist eine Modifikation der Hörgeräte der Abb. 2 und 3. Der Gehörgangsballon (4) ist über einen flüssigkeits-/gelgefüllten Schlauch (5) mit einem Ausgleichsballon (11) verbunden. Durch die elastische Wandspannung dieses zweiten Ballons wird der Druck im Gehörgang in einem bestimmten Bereich konstant gehalten.The exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4 is a modification of the hearing aids in FIGS. 2 and 3. The auditory canal balloon (4) is connected to a compensating balloon (11) via a liquid / gel-filled tube (5). Due to the elastic wall tension of this second balloon, the pressure in the ear canal is kept constant in a certain area.

Um das Volumen des Gerätes im Cavum conchae zu reduzieren, kann der Vibrator den Schall auch in dem Bauteil mit dem Verstärker an das flüssigkeits-/gelgefüllte Hohlraum übertragen. Die Schallenergie wird dabei durch die Schläuche zum Ballon geleitet.In order to reduce the volume of the device in the cavum conchae, the vibrator can also transmit the sound in the component with the amplifier to the liquid / gel-filled cavity. The sound energy is conducted through the hoses to the balloon.

Die im Vergleich zu den Schläuchen dehnbare Hülle des Gehörgangsballons (4) überträgt die Schallenergie durch die dünne Haut des Gehörganges (7) auf den Knochen, der ihn zum Innenohr weiterleitet.The duct of the auditory canal balloon (4), which is stretchable in comparison to the tubes, transmits the sound energy through the thin skin of the ear canal (7) on the bone, which passes it on to the inner ear.

Ein ähnliches Problem der Schallübertragung besteht bei der Aufnahme von Sprache im Störlärm. Bekannt sind dazu die Kehlkopfmikrophone, die die Stimme von der Haut im Kehlkopfbereich aufnehmen. Da die für die Sprachverständlichkeit wichtige Artikulation jedoch nicht im Kehlkopfbereich, sondern im Kopf erfolgt, ermöglicht die Aufnahme des Schalls vom Schädel eine bessere Verständlichkeit. Deshalb bietet es sich an mit der geschilderten Apparatur nicht nur die Festkörperschwingungen in den Schädel zu übertragen, sondern auch umgekehrt die Schallwellen über die Flüssigkeits-/Gelankopplung durch den Vibrator aufzunehmen und elektronisch weiter zu verarbeiten. Zusätzlich kann dabei der Störlärm durch Verwendung passiver Schallschutzkopfhörer gedämpft werden.A similar problem of sound transmission exists when recording speech in noise. For this purpose, the larynx microphones are known, which record the voice from the skin in the larynx area. Since the articulation, which is important for speech intelligibility, is not in the larynx area, but in the head, the sound from the skull can be better understood. Therefore, it is advisable to use the described apparatus not only to transmit the solid-state vibrations into the skull, but also to reverse the sound waves via the liquid / gel coupling by the vibrator and to process them electronically. In addition, the noise can be dampened by using passive noise protection headphones.

Claims (10)

Knochenleitungshörgerät
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Schallenergie über ein abgeschlossenes flüssigkeits-/gelgefülltes Hohlraumsystem in die Weichteile und den Knochen des Kopfes übertragen wird.Bone conduction hearing aid
characterized,
that the sound energy is transmitted to the soft tissues and the bones of the head via a closed liquid / gel-filled cavity system. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Flüssigkeit über einen Schlauch mit einem Ballon verbunden ist. Dieser Ballon wird im Gehörgang positioniert.Hearing aid according to protection claim 1
characterized,
that the liquid is connected to a balloon via a hose. This balloon is positioned in the ear canal. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 und 2
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß das Schlauchsystem über einen Hahn oder ein Ventil gefüllt und entleert werden kann.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 and 2
characterized,
that the hose system can be filled and emptied via a tap or a valve. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 3
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Ballon von dem - die Schallenergie erzeugenden - Vibrator abgenommen und isoliert gewechselt werden kann.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 3
characterized,
that the balloon can be removed from the vibrator - which generates the sound energy - and replaced in isolation. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 4
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Vibrator von der individuellen Otoplastik, dem "Ohrpaßstück", abgenommen und isoliert gewechselt werden kann.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 4
characterized,
that the vibrator can be removed from the individual earmold, the "earmold", and replaced in isolation. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 5
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß im Gehörgang zusätzlich zum Ballon ein Drainageschlauch zur Belüftung und Sekretableitung aus dem peritympanalen Raum, der Region vor dem Trommelfell, positioniert wird.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 5
characterized,
that in addition to the balloon, a drainage tube is placed in the ear canal for ventilation and secretion drainage from the peritympanal space, the region in front of the eardrum. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 6
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß peritympanal eine Schutzplatte positioniert wird, die an dem Drainageschlauch und/oder einer starren Verstrebung zur Otoplastik bzw. zum Vibratorgehäuse fixiert wird und eine Ausbreitung des Ballons zum Trommelfell hin verhindert.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 6
characterized,
that a protective plate is positioned peritympanal, which is fixed to the drainage tube and / or a rigid strut to the earmold or to the vibrator housing and prevents the balloon from spreading toward the eardrum. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 7
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß sich zwischen dem Vibrator und dem Gehörgangsballon ein flüssigkeits-/gelgefüllter Schlauch befindet, der die Schallenergie überträgt, so daß der Vibrator von dem Gehörgangsballon entfernt angebracht werden kann.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 7
characterized,
that there is a liquid / gel-filled tube between the vibrator and the ear canal balloon, which transmits the sound energy, so that the vibrator can be mounted away from the ear canal balloon. Hörgerät nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 8
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Gehörgangsballon durch einen Schlauch mit einem Druckausgleichsballon verbunden ist, der den Druck im Gehörgangsballon in bestimmten Grenzen konstant hält.Hearing aid according to protection claims 1 to 8
characterized,
that the ear canal balloon is connected by a hose to a pressure equalization balloon, which keeps the pressure in the ear canal balloon constant within certain limits. Apparatur nach Schutzanspruch 1 bis 9
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Vibrator als Mikrophon zur Aufnahme des Körperschalls dient.Apparatus according to protection claims 1 to 9
characterized,
that the vibrator serves as a microphone for picking up structure-borne noise.
EP96107743A 1995-07-21 1996-05-15 Sound transmission with fluid/jelly coupling to the human skull for hearing aids and microphones Withdrawn EP0755169A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE29511772U 1995-07-21
DE29511772U DE29511772U1 (en) 1995-07-21 1995-07-21 Bone conduction hearing aid with fluid coupling

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0755169A1 true EP0755169A1 (en) 1997-01-22

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9210521B2 (en) 2012-07-16 2015-12-08 Sophono, Inc. Abutment attachment systems, mechanisms, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids
US9788125B2 (en) 2012-07-16 2017-10-10 Sophono, Inc. Systems, devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29511772U1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1995-12-07 Siegert Ralf Dr Med Dent Dr Me Bone conduction hearing aid with fluid coupling

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2058156A1 (en) * 1969-07-31 1971-05-28 Tomatis Alfred
US4006796A (en) * 1973-12-21 1977-02-08 U.S. Philips Corporation Earpiece which substantially consists of a thin-walled flexible capsule filled with a liquid medium
US4133984A (en) * 1976-09-01 1979-01-09 Koken Co., Ltd. Plug-type hearing device
US4150262A (en) * 1974-11-18 1979-04-17 Hiroshi Ono Piezoelectric bone conductive in ear voice sounds transmitting and receiving apparatus
DE2913644A1 (en) * 1979-04-05 1980-10-09 Wullstein Horst L Prof Dr Med Electric hearing aid earpiece worn inside ear - transmits sound through inflated balloon inserted in ear canal
US4834211A (en) * 1988-02-02 1989-05-30 Kenneth Bibby Anchoring element for in-the-ear devices
DE29511772U1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1995-12-07 Siegert Ralf Dr Med Dent Dr Me Bone conduction hearing aid with fluid coupling

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2058156A1 (en) * 1969-07-31 1971-05-28 Tomatis Alfred
US4006796A (en) * 1973-12-21 1977-02-08 U.S. Philips Corporation Earpiece which substantially consists of a thin-walled flexible capsule filled with a liquid medium
US4150262A (en) * 1974-11-18 1979-04-17 Hiroshi Ono Piezoelectric bone conductive in ear voice sounds transmitting and receiving apparatus
US4133984A (en) * 1976-09-01 1979-01-09 Koken Co., Ltd. Plug-type hearing device
DE2913644A1 (en) * 1979-04-05 1980-10-09 Wullstein Horst L Prof Dr Med Electric hearing aid earpiece worn inside ear - transmits sound through inflated balloon inserted in ear canal
US4834211A (en) * 1988-02-02 1989-05-30 Kenneth Bibby Anchoring element for in-the-ear devices
DE29511772U1 (en) * 1995-07-21 1995-12-07 Siegert Ralf Dr Med Dent Dr Me Bone conduction hearing aid with fluid coupling

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9210521B2 (en) 2012-07-16 2015-12-08 Sophono, Inc. Abutment attachment systems, mechanisms, devices, components and methods for bone conduction hearing aids
US9788125B2 (en) 2012-07-16 2017-10-10 Sophono, Inc. Systems, devices, components and methods for providing acoustic isolation between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing aids
US10375488B2 (en) 2014-05-27 2019-08-06 Sophono, Inc. Systems, devices, components and methods for reducing feedback between microphones and transducers in bone conduction magnetic hearing devices

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