MEASURING PAD

Abstract

 The invention relates to a measuring pad (1) for a shell (5) of a hearing device, the measuring pad (1) comprising a carrier (2) and one or a plurality of measuring elements (3), wherein the carrier (2) has a curved shape adapted to a local curvature of an individual or average ear canal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a measuring pad for a hearing device.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Ear level devices such as hearing devices may be configured to provide electrical, optical or other biometric measurements. There may thus be a need for a solution to place measuring elements (electrodes, optical sensors, etc.) on a surface of a shell or housing of the hearing device, in particular for devices comprising a custom made shell.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to allow for measuring electrical, optical, or other biometric quantities in or on an ear of a user.

[0004] The object is achieved by a measuring pad according to claim 1.

[0005] Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, a measuring pad for a shell of a hearing device comprises a carrier and one or a plurality of measuring elements, wherein the carrier has a curved shape adapted to a local curvature of an individual or average ear canal.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or the plurality of measuring elements comprise one or a plurality of:

• electrodes and/or,
• light sensitive elements (in particular photodiodes), and/or
• optical sensors, and/or
• capacitive sensors, and/or
• temperature sensors, and/or
• humidity sensors, and/or
• inductive sensors, and/or
• force sensors, and/or
• acceleration sensors, and/or
• vibration sensors, and/or
• microphones, and/or
• pressure sensors.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring elements comprise a plurality of electrodes.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, at least part of the plurality of electrodes is electrically connected and forms at least one group of electrodes.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrodes protrude from the carrier or are flush with the carrier.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the one or the plurality of measuring elements comprises at least one optical sensor, in particular a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the optical sensor is arranged within an area spanned by the plurality of electrodes.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the curved shape of the carrier is defined by multiple radii, wherein a radius of the curved shape in a first direction is positive or negative and a second radius in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is positive, negative or infinite.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier comprises a marking, in particular an indentation or a protrusion, configured to engage a complementary feature on an opening of a shell of a hearing device. Such a marking may facilitate installation of the measuring pad with the carrier disposed at an intended position and/or with an intended orientation on the shell as defined by the marking).

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring pad further comprises flexible wires and/or a flexible printed circuit board configured to contact the one or the plurality of the measuring elements to an electronic module within a hearing device.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring pad further comprises an electronic circuit, wherein the one or at least part of the plurality of the measuring elements is electrically connected to the electronic circuit.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic circuit is a printed circuit board or arranged on a printed circuit board, which may in particular be flexible and/or curved.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, a curvature of the carrier in a first direction is different than in a second direction.

[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, a kit is provided, comprising a plurality of prefabricated measuring pads as described above, wherein the curved shape of each one of the plurality of prefabricated measuring pads is different from the curved shape of any other one of the plurality of prefabricated measuring pads of the kit. A suitable measuring pad may thus be selected from the kit for an optimized fitting of the measuring pad, in particular the carrier, into an opening of a shell of a hearing device. The shell may have an individual shape customized to a shape of an individual ear canal.

[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, a hearing device is provided, comprising a shell, in particular a shell customized to a shape of an individual ear canal, and at least one measuring pad as described above, arranged within a respective opening in the shell, wherein the carrier is preferably flush with the shell.

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment, the opening is facing an ear canal wall of an ear canal when the shell is inserted into the ear canal.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, said opening is a first opening and the hearing device further comprises a faceplate covering a second opening of the shell. The second opening may be provided at a side of the shell facing away from a tympanic membrane inside an ear canal when the shell is inserted into the ear canal.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring pad comprises at least one pair of electrodes configured to detect a skin resistance to verify correct placement of the hearing device at or in an ear.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring pad further comprises at least one optical sensor, wherein the correct placement of the hearing device corresponds to a correct placement of the optical sensor at or in the ear.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the shell has a curvature, wherein the curved shape of the carrier of the measuring pad copies the curvature of the shell at the respective opening.

[0026] In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier is glued to the shell from an outside or from an inside of the shell. The shell may preferably be made of titanium.

[0027] The measuring pad provides a good contact (electrical connection, vicinity) to the skin of a user at a contact position. The measuring pad is inexpensive and reliable. The mounting effort to install the measuring pad in a shell of a hearing device is low. In particular for curved surfaces, for an in-the-ear device (ITE), the solution allows to follow the curved shape of the ear canal. In particular if the shell is made of a conductive material such as titanium, the carrier of the measuring pad may be made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic.

[0028] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

Figure 1

is a schematic view of a prefabricated measuring pad,

Figure 2

is a schematic cross sectional view of the measuring pad

Figure 3

is a schematic view of a shell of a hearing device having a measuring pad installed,

Figure 4

is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a measuring pad,

Figure 5

is a schematic cross sectional view of the measuring pad,

Figure 6

is a schematic view of a carrier having an infinite radius in a first direction and a positive non-infinite radius in a second direction,

Figure 7

is a schematic view of a carrier having a positive non-infinite radius in the first direction and a positive non-infinite radius in the second direction.

[0030] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a prefabricated measuring pad 1. Figure 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of the measuring pad 1.

[0032] The measuring pad 1 comprises a carrier 2 and one or more measuring elements 3, e.g. electrodes 3, optical sensors. A plurality of electrodes 3 of the measuring pad 1 may be electrically interconnected and form groups G1, G2 of electrodes 3. A group G1, G2 may comprise a single electrode or a plurality of electrodes which may be electrically connected in parallel. An electrode may for example have a diameter of 0.1 mm to 2 mm A measuring pad 1 may comprise a plurality of groups G1, G2. The carrier 2 may have a curved shape. The curvature of the carrier 2 may be defined by multiple radii. The electrodes 3 may protrude from the carrier 2. The protrusion may for example be in a range from 0 mm (no protrusion) up to the diameter of the electrode or in the range of 0 mm to 1mm . This reduces a contact resistance between the electrodes 3 and a skin of the user within the ear canal and may be used to improve retention of the hearing device in which the measuring pad 1 is applied. The measuring pad 1 may comprise measuring elements 3 of different type. A pair of electrodes 3 or electrical contacts on the measuring pad 1 may be used to detect skin resistance and to use this information to verify correct placement of the hearing device at or in the ear. A hearing device may be equipped with a plurality of such measuring pads 1.

[0033] The curvature of the measuring pad 1 may be adapted to a curvature of an ear canal (for instance an individual ear canal and/or an average ear canal).

[0034] The measuring pad 1 may be selected from a kit of prefabricated measuring pads 1 having different curvatures. Each measuring pad 1 of a kit may be a mass product.

[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic view of a shell 5 of a hearing device having a measuring pad 1 installed. The shell 5 will typically have a curved surface. The measuring pad 1 will be arranged within an opening 6 of the shell 5 and may copy the curvature of the shell 5.

[0036] The measuring pad 1 may comprise a marking 4, such as an indentation or a protrusion 4 to facilitate correct orientation during mounting of the measuring pad 1 in an opening 6 of the shell 5 of the hearing device. The measuring pad 1 may be glued to the shell 5 from the outside or from the inside of the shell 5.

[0037] The measuring pad 1 may comprise wires 7 or a printed circuit board 7 to provide contact to an electronic module within the hearing device. The printed circuit board may be a flexible printed circuit board. The wires may be comprised in a cable. The cable may be a flexible cable with flexible wires. The cable may comprise twisted pair wires. The cable may comprise a shielding. The cable may comprise a flexible printed circuit board.

[0038] Figure 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a measuring pad 1.

[0039] Figure 5 is a schematic cross sectional view of the measuring pad 1.

[0040] The measuring pad 1 may comprise an electronic circuit 8. The electronic circuit 8 may be a printed circuit board (PCB), which may be flexible and/or curved. At least two of the measuring elements 3, in particular at least two of the electrodes 3 or all electrodes 3, on the measuring pad 1 may have an individual connection with the printed circuit board. In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic module or circuit 8 may be configured to amplify and/or process signals of the measuring elements 3.

[0041] In some embodiments, the measuring pad 1 comprises different types of measuring elements 3. The types of measuring elements may comprise

• electrodes,
• light sensitive elements, such as photodiodes,
• optical sensors,
• capacitive sensors,
• temperature sensors,
• humidity sensors,
• inductive sensors,
• force sensors,
• acceleration sensors,
• vibration sensors,
• microphones,
• pressure sensors.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the measuring pad 1 may be 1 mm to 6 mm, in particular 2 mm to 5 mm. The curvature of the carrier may be different in a first direction X and in a second direction Y which may be perpendicular to the x direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the radius may be infinite, i.e. the measuring pad 1 may be flat in the respective direction. In other embodiments, the radius may be positive or negative.

[0043] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a carrier 2 having an infinite radius R1 in the first direction X and a positive non-infinite radius R2 in the second direction Y. The carrier 2 is hence a section of a cylinder.

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic view of a carrier 2 having a positive non-infinite radius R1 in the first direction X and a positive non-infinite radius R2 in the second direction Y. The radius R1 may be the same as the radius R2 or different. The carrier 2 is hence a section of an ellipsoid or sphere. In another exemplary embodiment, the carrier 2 may have an infinite radius R1 in the first direction X and an increasing or otherwise varying positive non-infinite radius R2 in the second direction Y. The carrier 2 may hence be a section of a cone.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, a kit of prefabricated carriers 2 or measuring pads 1 is provided, e.g. having the following positive radii in the x direction/y direction:

• Infinite/infinite
• Infinite/8 mm
• Infinite/ 4 mm
• Infinite/ 2 mm
• 8 mm/8 mm
• 8 mm/ 4 mm
• 8 mm/ 2 mm
• 4 mm/ 4 mm
• 4 mm/ 2 mm
• 2 mm/ 2 mm

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, a hearing device comprises a housing or shell 5, the shell 5 comprises one or more measuring pads 1. The carrier 2 of the one or more measuring pads 1 may be flush with a surface of the shell 5. The retention of the hearing device within an ear canal may be improved if the measuring pad 1 comprises protruding electrodes 3.

[0047] The measuring pad 1 may further have a window 9, e.g. to accommodate a sensor 10, in particular an optical sensor 10, e.g. a PPG sensor (photoplethysmography). Electrodes 3 are disposed around window 9, in particular such that window 9 is centred between electrodes 3. Optical sensor 10 accommodated inside window 9 is thus arranged within an area spanned by the electrodes 3. In the example illustrated in Fig. 4, four electrodes 3 are provided in a square shaped arrangement, wherein optical sensor 10 is arranged within the square.

[0048] While in some embodiments mentioned above, the electrodes 3 may protrude from the carrier 2, there may be embodiments in which the electrodes 3 are supposed to be flush with the surface of the shell 5 and also with the surface of the carrier 2.

[0049] In case of a measuring pad 1 having an optical sensor 10, multiple electrodes 3 may be used for contact measurement to confirm a suitable position of the optical sensor 10. It can be assumed, that a suitable position of the optical sensor is reached when each of the multiple electrodes is in contact with the skin. In this case it is assured, that the optical window is close to the skin. When an electrode is not in contact with the skin, for example the electrical resistance of this electrode to the other electrodes would be infinite or would be higher than a predefined limit. By an electrical measurement it can easily be determined if each of the multiple electrodes is in contact with the skin or not.

[0050] The electrical measurements carried out through the electrodes may thus provide one indicator for a suitable position of the optical sensor. Arranging optical sensor 9 within the area spanned by a plurality of electrodes 3, for instance such that the optical sensor is centered between the electrodes, can be further beneficial to verify a correct placement of the optical sensor at or in an ear. Another indicator may be provided by a measurement conducted by the optical sensor itself. A sensor in a bad position would deliver unexpected results.

[0051] In other embodiments, the measuring pad 1 may have more than one sensor 10 and one of the sensors 10 may be configured to confirm that another one of the sensors 10 is in good condition. If for example measurements of one type of sensors 10 indicates a correct position of the measuring pad 1 and another measurement with another type of sensors 10 would indicate the contrary, it can be assumed, that one of the sensors 10 is not in a good condition. One sensor 10, for example an electrode 3, may be considered as a robust sensor 10. A measurement conducted with a robust sensor 10 may indicate a good or bad condition of another sensor 10. If for example an electrode 3 based measurement indicates a suitable position of the measuring pad 1 in an ear and at the same time an optical sensor 10 indicates that the position of the measuring pad 1 may not be good, it can be assumed that the less robust optical sensor 10 is not in a good condition. A user of the device may be notified that some sensor 10 is not in a good condition and be instructed to check the device.

[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier 2 may be made of a dielectric material while the shell 5 may be made of an electrically conductive material such as a metal, e.g. titanium.

List of References

[0053] 

1

measuring pad

2

carrier

3

measuring element, electrode

4

marking

5

shell

6

opening

7

flexible wire, flexible printed circuit board

8

electronic circuit

9

window

10

sensor, optical sensor

G1, G2

group

R1, R2

radius

X, Y

direction

Claims

1. A measuring pad (1) for a shell (5) of a hearing device, the measuring pad (1) comprising a carrier (2) and one or a plurality of measuring elements (3), wherein the carrier (2) has a curved shape adapted to a local curvature of an individual or average ear canal.

2. The measuring pad (1) of claim 1, wherein the measuring elements (3) comprise a plurality of electrodes.

3. The measuring pad (1) of claim 2, wherein at least part of the plurality of electrodes (3) is electrically connected and forms at least one group (G1, G2) of electrodes (3).

4. The measuring pad (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electrodes (3) protrude from the carrier (2).

5. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or the plurality of measuring elements (3) comprises at least one optical sensor (9).

6. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the optical sensor (9) is arranged within an area spanned by the plurality of electrodes (3).

7. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved shape of the carrier (2) is defined by multiple radii, wherein a radius of the curved shape in a first direction is positive or negative and a second radius in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is positive, negative or infinite.

8. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (2) comprises a marking (4), in particular an indentation or a protrusion (4), configured to engage a complementary feature on an opening (6) of a shell (5) of a hearing device.

9. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising flexible wires (7) and/or a flexible printed circuit board (7) configured to contact the one or the plurality of the measuring elements (3) to an electronic module within a hearing device.

10. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an electronic circuit (8), wherein the one or at least part of the plurality of the measuring elements (3) is electrically connected to the electronic circuit (8).

11. The measuring pad (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a curvature of the carrier (2) in a first direction (X) is different than in a second direction (Y).

12. A kit, comprising a plurality of prefabricated measuring pads (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curved shape of each one of the plurality of prefabricated measuring pads (1) is different from the curved shape of any other one of the plurality of prefabricated measuring pads (1) of the kit.

13. A hearing device, comprising a shell (5) and at least one measuring pad (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 11 arranged within a respective opening (6) in the shell (5), wherein the carrier (2) is preferably flush with the shell (5).

14. The hearing device according to claim 13, wherein the measuring pad (1) comprises at least one pair of electrodes (3) configured to detect a skin resistance to verify correct placement of the hearing device at or in an ear.

15. The hearing device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the shell (5) has a curvature, wherein the curved shape of the carrier (2) of the measuring pad (1) copies the curvature of the shell (5) at the respective opening (6).

Drawing