Piezo electric pump and device with such pump

• US 20060197412A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steen Brabrand Rasmussen
• Original Assignee: Steen Brabrand Rasmussen
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Steen Brabrand
• Granted Patent: US 7,268,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/003 driven by piezoelectric means F04B43/046 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/00 Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring in an ear canal, the device comprising a probe for insertion into an ear canal and having an opening for letting air in to and out of the ear canal the device further comprising a pump for providing a pressure above a surrounding atmospheric pressure or below the surrounding atmospheric pressure, the pump comprising a housing with openings for inlet and/or outlet, where within the housing a piston element having piezo electric properties is disposed, where one opening in the pump is operatively connected to the opening in the probe.

Claims

1. A measuring device for acoustic measurement in an ear canal, the device comprising a probe for insertion into an ear canal in a sealing manner and having an opening for transport of air into or out of the ear canal, the device further comprising a pump for providing a pressure difference in relation to a surrounding atmospheric pressure, the pump comprising a housing with openings for inlet and/or outlet, where within the housing a piston element having piezo electric properties is disposed, where one opening in the pump is operatively connected to the opening in the probe.

2. A measuring device according to claim 1, where in connection with the inlet opening and the outlet opening valve elements are provided for controlling the inlet and the outlet and where the valve elements have piezo electric properties.

3. A measuring device according to claim 1, where the pump is adapted to operate at a frequency above 18 kHz, preferably above 20 kHz.

4. A measuring device according to claim 1, where control electronics are provided for controlling valve positions in relation to the piston movement in such a manner that in one mode of operation a pressure above the surrounding pressure may be obtained and in another mode of operation is pressure below the surrounding pressure may be obtained.

5. A measuring device according to claim 1, where a pressure operated passive valve element is provided in connection with the pressurized parts of the device.

6. A pump having a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening and disposed within the housing a piston element having piezo electric properties, where in connection that inlet opening and the outlet opening valve elements are provided for controlling the inlet and the outlet, where the valve elements are valve elements having piezo electric properties.

7. A pump according to claim 6, where the pump is adapted to operate at a frequency above 18 kHz, preferably above 20 kHz.