OCCLUSION EFFECT MITIGATION AND SOUND ISOLATION DEVICE FOR ORIFICE INSERTED SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device configured to be inserted in an ear canal, the device comprising:
- an expandable element including a partially inflated balloon and an expanding medium in the balloon, the expandable element configured to be expanded to a first operating pressure such that the expandable element conforms to a surface of the ear canal and such that, at the first operating pressure, the expandable element forms a chamber within the ear canal that is sealed from an outside environment; and
an insertion element operatively attached to the expandable element,where the first operating pressure of the expanding medium is increased to a second operating pressure, to control an amount of sound isolation provided by the expandable element to the ear canal, thereby effecting an occlusion effect by the expandable element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for sound isolation are provided. A sound isolation device includes an expandable element and an insertion element. The expandable element is operatively attached to the insertion element. The expandable element includes an expanding medium, where the pressure of the expanding medium is varied to vary a sound isolation across the expandable element.
55 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device configured to be inserted in an ear canal, the device comprising:
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an expandable element including a partially inflated balloon and an expanding medium in the balloon, the expandable element configured to be expanded to a first operating pressure such that the expandable element conforms to a surface of the ear canal and such that, at the first operating pressure, the expandable element forms a chamber within the ear canal that is sealed from an outside environment; and an insertion element operatively attached to the expandable element, where the first operating pressure of the expanding medium is increased to a second operating pressure, to control an amount of sound isolation provided by the expandable element to the ear canal, thereby effecting an occlusion effect by the expandable element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for occluding an ear canal comprising:
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expanding a partially inflated balloon in the ear canal to a first operating pressure via an expanding medium in the balloon such that the balloon conforms to a surface of the ear canal and such that, at the first operating pressure, the balloon forms a chamber within the ear canal that is sealed from an outside environment; and increasing the first operating pressure of the expanding medium to a second operating pressure to control an amount of sound isolation provided by the balloon to the ear canal, thereby effecting an occlusion effect by the expandable element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification