Design Notes for Low Cost Hearing Aids

FYI - Here's some information you might find useful in designing a Low Cost Hearing Aid.

As a start, how about these old Hearing Aid patents that have expired due to age (generally more than 20 years old from the filing date). Expired patents are free to use by anyone.
IMPROVEMENT IN EAR-TRUMPETSUS Pat. 78493
IMPLANTABLE PIEZOELECTRIC HEARING AIDUS Pat. 3712962 - Filed Apr 5, 1971
IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF EAR-TRUMPETSUS Pat. 12951
TRUMPETUS Pat. 2469254 - Filed Jan 15, 1946
ACOUSTIC DEVICEUS Pat. 3618698
AUDIPHONEUS Pat. 1897833 - Filed Jan 26, 1931
AUDIPHONE FOB DEAF MUTESUS Pat. 2018262 - Filed May 12, 1934
DEVICE FOR AIDING THE DEAF TO HEARUS Pat. 226902 - Filed Jan 20, 1880
EAR-TRUMPETUS Pat. 438369 - Filed Jun 9, 1890
APPLIANCE FOR ENABLING THE DEAF TO HEARUS Pat. 608255 - Filed Nov 18, 1897
AURAL INSTRUMENTUS Pat. 30688

To search for more Hearing Aid patents, try the following. Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active.

For a Worldwide search, go to esp@cenet.
1 - In the "International Patent Classification (IPC)" field, copy and paste in the following - H04 OR A61F11/04 OR G02C11/06
2 - In the "Keyword(s) in title or abstract" field, copy and paste in the following - (hear* OR deaf*) AND (aid* OR trumpet*)
3 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the U.S. only, go to U.S. Issued Patents.
1- In the "Query" field, copy and paste in the following - ccl/381/$ AND abst/((hear$ OR deaf$) AND (aid OR aids OR trumpet$ OR horn$))
2 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the latest in U.S. only, go to U.S. Published Applications.
1- In the "Query" field, paste in the same search string above.
2- Press SEARCH. View your results.

In addition, here's some other information you might find interesting.
Slashdot Build Your Own Bluetooth Hearing Aid
Hearing Aid or Ear Trumpet

So what can you do with all this information? Here's some suggestions.
+ You could make and sell the device described in the expired patent. Please note that just because something is patented or written, it might not work all that well or might not be safe in today's standards. Use your own judgment, or seek help, to stay safe and out of trouble.
+ You could "translate" the expired patent into easy-to-understand instructions for others to make the device. These instructions could use easy-to-find materials, like trees, plants, rocks, people, scrap materials, etc.
+ You could recruit the inventors or authors to help you, since they are experts in their field. Some of the inventors of older patents might be retired now and might be looking for something to do.
+ Existing manufacturers of Hearing Aid could use this information to make their already fine products even better, more efficient, or less expensive.
+ You could use the information to brainstorm new ideas. Build on the work of others.

Here's some brainstorming ticklers to help you launch in new directions around the topic of Hearing Aid.
STETHOSCOPEUS Pat. 8591
Sanguma - uses for a plastic vending cup
Convert old telephones into hearing aids?
Combine amplifier and ear trumpet? Inline amplifier?

That's about all for now. As background, the site "Design for the Other 90%" said to "GET INVOLVED", so I did. I plan to continue posting these LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS on my Blog for a while yet. Let me know if you have a topic you would like covered. I'm open to suggestions on improving my blog format, too. Please e-mail me directly.

I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure you can do much better though! Good Luck!

For more of my LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS - Click on the tag below "design for the other 90%".

See disclaimers on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/,

Thanks!