US 12,239,461 B2
Hearing assistance device housing for improved biometric sensing
Jay Stewart, Eden Prairie, MN (US); Michael Karl Sacha, Chanhassen, MN (US); and Kyle Olson, St. Louis Park, MN (US)
Assigned to Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
Appl. No. 17/597,870
Filed by Starkey Laboratories, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/044296
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/022063, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/880,987, filed on Jul. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0257186 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/1455 (2006.01); A61B 5/24 (2021.01)
CPC A61B 5/6815 (2013.01) [A61B 5/02 (2013.01); A61B 5/14551 (2013.01); A61B 5/24 (2021.01); A61B 5/6843 (2013.01); H04R 25/652 (2013.01); H04R 25/658 (2013.01); H04R 2225/77 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing assistance device for a wearer, comprising:
a housing customized to conform to a continuous section of an inner portion of an ear of the wearer and to extend radially to one or more edges of a conchal bowl of the ear, the housing configured to be placed in the inner portion of the ear of the wearer; and
a biometric sensor on a surface of the housing,
wherein the housing is configured to maintain contact of the biometric sensor with the inner portion of the ear of the wearer during activity of the wearer, to enhance accuracy of biometric sensing.