US 12,003,926 B2
Hearing assist systems and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user
Konstantin Silberzahn, Meilen (CH); Markus Mueller, Männedorf (CH); Natasha Thumm, Wetzikon (CH); Markus Leuthold, Stäfa (CH); and Christian Frei, Staefa (CH)
Assigned to Sonova AG, Staefa (CH)
Appl. No. 17/763,499
Filed by SONOVA AG, Staefa (CH)
PCT Filed Sep. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/059065
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 24, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/064556, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 8, 2021.
Application 17/763,499 is a division of application No. 16/587,759, filed on Sep. 30, 2019, granted, now 11,115,764, issued on Sep. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0377476 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/25 (2021.01); A61B 5/291 (2021.01)
CPC H04R 25/609 (2019.05) [A61B 5/25 (2021.01); A61B 5/291 (2021.01); A61B 5/6815 (2013.01); A61B 5/6817 (2013.01); A61B 5/6826 (2013.01); H04R 25/652 (2013.01); H04R 2225/021 (2013.01); H04R 2225/025 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing system configured to assist a user in hearing, the hearing system comprising:
an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user;
a behind-the-ear (BTE) component that is communicatively coupled to the ITE component;
a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user; and
a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user,
wherein:
the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode are configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user;
the BTE component includes a hook portion configured to contact an upper portion of an ear of the user while the BTE component is worn behind the ear of the user; and
the second sensor electrode is provided on an outer surface of the hook portion of the BTE component and is configured to contact the outer ear tissue of the user at a top portion of the ear when the BTE component is worn by the user.