US 12,089,009 B2
Hearing aid device with biometric sensor
Shawn M. Stephenson, Raleigh, NC (US); Aart Zeger Van Halteren, Hoofddorp (NL); Peter Christiaan Post, Hoofddorp (NL); Aster Katoen, Hoofddorp (NL); Dennis Mocking, Hoofddorp (NL); and Alwin Fransen, Hoofddorp (NL)
Assigned to YUKKA MAGIC LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
Appl. No. 17/268,026
Filed by YUKKA MAGIC LLC, Wilmington, DE (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/051263
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 11, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/060911, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 26, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/733,327, filed on Sep. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0168539 A1, Jun. 3, 2021
Int. Cl. H04R 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/0205 (2006.01); A61B 5/1455 (2006.01); H04R 1/10 (2006.01); H04R 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04R 25/603 (2019.05) [A61B 5/0205 (2013.01); A61B 5/1455 (2013.01); A61B 5/6803 (2013.01); A61B 5/6815 (2013.01); H04R 1/1016 (2013.01); H04R 23/008 (2013.01); H04R 25/65 (2013.01); A61B 2560/0242 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0238 (2013.01); H04R 2225/0216 (2019.05)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hearing aid module configured to be inserted within the auditory canal of an ear of a subject, the module comprising:
an elongated housing having a rectangular configuration with opposite first and second sides, opposite third and fourth sides, and opposite first and second ends, wherein the first and second sides each comprise an opening, and wherein the housing comprises an acoustic passage through the first end thereof;
an optical sensor module located within the housing, the optical sensor module comprising at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector;
an audio driver positioned within the housing adjacent the optical sensor module, wherein the audio driver is configured to provide sound to the subject via the housing acoustic passage;
a first light guide positioned within the housing and configured to guide light from the at least one optical emitter through the opening in the housing first side and toward skin of the auditory canal in a non-line of sight manner; and
a second light guide positioned within the housing and configured to collect light from the skin of the auditory canal and direct the collected light to the at least one optical detector in a non-line of sight manner.