	US 11,671,774 B2
	Impression procedure
Rodney Perkins, Woodside, AK (US); James Silver, Palo Alto, CA (US); Amanda French, San Francisco, CA (US); Spencer Croy, San Francisco, CA (US); and Michelle M. Inserra, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Earlens Corporation, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed by Earlens Corporation, Menlo Park, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/464,544.
Application 17/464,544 is a continuation of application No. 16/405,716, filed on May 7, 2019, granted, now 11,166,114.
Application 16/405,716 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/061388, filed on Nov. 13, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/564,574, filed on Sep. 28, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/422,535, filed on Nov. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0400405 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01)

CPC H04R 25/652 (2013.01) [H04R 25/658 (2013.01); H04R 2225/77 (2013.01)]

12 Claims

1. A method of creating a hearing system for a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

taking a first impression of a first portion of an ear canal using an impression material having a first viscosity;

taking a second impression of a second portion of the ear canal using an impression material having a second viscosity;

bonding the first impression to the second impression;

raising the subject from a supine position to an upright position prior to the step of taking a second impression;

digitally scanning the first impression to create a first digital model;

digitally scanning the second impression to create a second digital model;

merging the first digital model with the second digital model to create a merged model where the lateral portion of the merged model is comprised of at least a portion of the first digital model and the medial portion of the merged model is comprised of at least a portion of the second model; and

using the merged digital model to manufacture at least one of an ear tip and a contact hearing device.

5. A method of creating a hearing system for a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a hybrid impression of a subject's ear canal, the method of creating a hybrid impression comprising the steps of:

injecting a low viscosity impression material into a first portion of the ear canal, wherein the low viscosity impression material is injected with the subject in a supine position; and

injecting a high viscosity impression material into a second portion of the ear canal lateral to the first portion, wherein the high viscosity impression material is injected with the subject in an upright position;

bonding the high viscosity impression material to the low viscosity impression material;

digitally scanning the hybrid impression to create a digital model of the subject's ear canal; and

using the digital model to manufacture at least one of ear tip and a contact hearing device.