An impression-taking pad, a method of impression-taking, an impression, a method of manufacturing a custom ear canal shell, a custom ear canal shell and a hearing device

Abstract

An impression-taking pad is proposed for impression-taking of an ear canal. The impression-taking pad includes an elastic body having a hollowed dome-shaped contour, wherein the inner surface includes axially aligned scallops.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impression-taking pad ( 10 ) used for impression-taking of an ear canal ( 26 ), said impression-taking pad ( 10 ) comprises an elastic body ( 12 ) having a hollowed dome-shaped contour, wherein the inner surface ( 16 ) comprises axially aligned scallops ( 18 ). 
     
     
         2 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface ( 14 ) comprises a smooth material. 
     
     
         3 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the dome-shaped contour is elliptic in cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface ( 16 ) material comprises a larger contact area than the outer surface ( 14 ) material. 
     
     
         5 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner surface ( 16 ) material comprises porous material, in particular foam. 
     
     
         6 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising an interface part ( 20 ) adapted to be connected with at least one of an insertion tool, a removal yarn ( 22 ) and a ventilation tube. 
     
     
         7 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the interface part ( 20 ) is connected to the distal end of the inner surface ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . The impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a flat plane at the medial distal end of the outer surface ( 14 ). 
     
     
         9 . A method of impression-taking of an ear canal ( 26 ) by means of an impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising:
 inserting the impression-taking pad ( 10 ) into the ear canal ( 26 );   filling impression-taking material into the ear canal ( 26 ) such to fill the ear canal ( 26 ) in addition to the hollowed part of the impression-taking pad ( 10 );   curing the filled impression-taking material; and   removing the cured impression ( 28 ) from the ear canal ( 26 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the insertion step comprises placing the impression-taking pad ( 10 ) a predetermined distance from the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step of measuring the ear canal ( 26 ) length before the inserting step. 
     
     
         12 . An impression ( 28 ) comprising an impression-taking material and an impression-taking pad ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , adhered to the impression-taking material by curing during deep insertion into the ear canal ( 26 ). 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a custom ear canal shell, comprising:
 scanning the impression ( 28 ) according to  claim 12 , said impression ( 28 ) including the impression-taking pad ( 10 ), by means of an impression scanner resulting in ear canal impression model data; and   manufacturing the custom ear canal shell by means of at least one subtractive and/or additive production step using the ear canal impression model data.   
     
     
         14 . A custom ear canal shell manufactured by the method according to  claim 13 , configured for deep insertion into the ear canal ( 26 ). 
     
     
         15 . A hearing device comprising the custom ear canal shell according to  claim 14 , the hearing device configured as Invisible-in-Canal hearing device for deep insertion into the ear canal ( 26 ).