Extended wear canal hearing device

Abstract

A generic canal hearing device is adapted to be positioned deeply and completely within the ear canal, and particularly suited for extended wear. The device includes a removable battery (50) assembly with an outer surface for substantial direct exposure to the environment of the ear canal. The battery assembly (50) is detachably connectable to a microphone (60) section of a universal core assembly, and when connected together, they form a lateral section for positioning comfortably in the cartilaginous (11) part of the canal. The lateral section (40) has an oval cross-sectional perimeter and is substantially cylindrical and elongated along the longitudinal axis of the device corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the ear canal. The microphone section is flexibly coupled (79) to a receiver section of the core assembly which is adapted, with the aid of a surrounding conformable sealing retainer (80), to be seated medially in the bony portion of the ear canal, and by virtue of the flexible coupling and dimensioning, to allow the lateral section substantial freedom to move in response to canal movement with only incidental contact with the walls of the canal in the cartilaginous part so as to be non-occluding and minimally interfering with hair (12) and debris therein.