Foreign material mitigation for hearing assistance device components

摘要

Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for mitigating foreign material buildup for hearing assistance device components. The present subject matter includes coating of at least one surface of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid, with an omniphobic coating, a hydrophilic coating, or a combination of omniphobic and hydrophilic coatings designed to reduce the unwanted effects of wax, moisture and other foreign materials. In various embodiments at least one surface of a receiver with a wax trap or waxceptor in a receiver tube is coated with an omniphobic coating. In various embodiments the present subject matter includes an internal barrier disposed near a receiver in the receiver tube in addition to the wax trap or waxceptor. In various embodiments the internal barrier is coated with an omniphobic coating. In various embodiments at least one surface includes a hydrophilic coating.

主权项

1. A hearing assistance device configured to resist accumulation of foreign materials, the device comprising:
an acoustic port; a transducer; an acoustic path or channel, the acoustic path or channel including a conduit connecting the acoustic port to the transducer, the conduit having an inner surface; a cover in the acoustic path or channel, the cover configured to protect the acoustic port and including an exterior area and an interior area; a first surface coated with an omniphobic coating including superhydrophobic and oleophobic properties, the first surface including an area on the inner surface of the conduit and the exterior area of the cover; and a second surface coated with a hydrophilic coating, the second surface including the interior area of the cover.