Apparatus and method for testing attenuation of in-use insert hearing protectors
First Claim
1. A device for measuring noise level from a proximal tip of an insert-type hearing protector (IHP) placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, the user having a tympanic membrane, wherein the proximal tip of the IHP faces the user'"'"'s tympanic membrane and the IHP has a distal tip, and there is an airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane, the device comprising:
- a. an IHP which can attenuate between about 15 dB and 45 dB of the noise level reaching the distal tip of the IHP;
b. a microphone placed at the proximal tip of the IHP for transmitting sound from within the airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane;
c. electronic coupling means for electronically coupling the microphone to a sound measuring means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The device of the present invention is designed for the purpose of providing a system for conducting objective assessment of the actual or "real world" attenuation which is provided by insert-type hearing protection (IHP) devices. The device is constructed to serve as the input device to any commercially available noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measuring device. A miniature microphone is mounted on, or embedded in the proximal surface of the IHP which is to be inserted in the ear or upon the ear of the user. The miniature microphone is hard wired to a miniature jack which is mounted on, or embedded in the distal surface of the IHP device. A cable connects to the jack on the outside of the IHP device and to the input of the noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measurement device. Thereby, when the IHP device containing the above is used, the dosimetry or sound level measurement instrument conducts assessments of actual sound levels to which the hearing mechanism is exposed when IHP devices are in use. In that manner, objective assessment of IHP device effectiveness is accomplished, allowing the ability to obtain experienced (laboratory) vs. non-experienced (real world) data. Furthermore, inter-subject and intra-subject variability as well as intra-IHP and inter-IHP variability data can be collected with the use of this device and method. This device and method also eliminate the need for any audiometric equipment necessary for the prior art assessment of the effectiveness of IHPs in general.
103 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for measuring noise level from a proximal tip of an insert-type hearing protector (IHP) placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, the user having a tympanic membrane, wherein the proximal tip of the IHP faces the user'"'"'s tympanic membrane and the IHP has a distal tip, and there is an airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane, the device comprising:
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a. an IHP which can attenuate between about 15 dB and 45 dB of the noise level reaching the distal tip of the IHP; b. a microphone placed at the proximal tip of the IHP for transmitting sound from within the airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane; c. electronic coupling means for electronically coupling the microphone to a sound measuring means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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2. An objective method of measuring the sound attenuating effectiveness of an insert-type hearing protector (IHP), comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a device for measuring noise level from a proximal tip of an IHP placed in a user'"'"'s ear canal, the user having a tympanic membrane, wherein the proximal tip of the IHP faces the user'"'"'s tympanic membrane and the IHP has a distal tip, and there is an airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane, the device comprising; (i) an IHP which can attenuate between about 15 dB and 45 dB of the noise level reaching the distal tip of the IHP; (ii) a microphone placed at the proximal tip of the IHP for transmitting sound from within the airspace between the proximal tip of the IHP and the tympanic membrane; and (iii) electronic coupling means for electronically coupling the microphone to a sound measuring means; b) calibrating the sound measuring means using the microphone; and c) using the device to measure noise level within the ear canal of the user, the ear canal having the IHP placed therein. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification