Expandable in-ear device

• US 6,754,357 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc. (Sonomax Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sonomax Hearing Healthcare Inc. (Sonomax Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saulce, Roger, McIntosh, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/349,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 381/322, 381/323, 381/324, 381/325, 381/327, 381/328, 381/330, 381/380, 181/128, 181/129, 181/130, 181/132, 181/135
• US Class Current: 381/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/656 Non-customized, universal ear tips, i.e. ear tips which are not specifically adapted to the size or shape of the ear or ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/659 Post-processing of hybrid ear moulds for customisation, e.g. in-situ curing

Abstract

An expandable in-ear device being implantable within an ear canal of an individual and being customizable in-situ to the shape of the ear canal, and cavum concha, using a settable compound. The device includes a core-form with a nipple extending from a platform, the nipple and the platform being insertable into the ear canal and the cavum concha, respectively. A sound bore extends through the nipple from a position located outside the ear canal to a position located inside for allowing sound transmission therethrough. A deformable sheath attached integrally to the core-form is deformable between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. In the unfolded configuration, the sheath extends generally away from the core-form. The sheath is foldable inside-out from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration wherein the sheet substantially covers the core-form while defining a spacing between the sheath and the core-form, the spacing being fillable by the settable compound.

Claims

1. An expandable in-ear device, said in-ear device being implantable within an ear canal of an individual and being customizable in-situ to the shape of the ear canal using a settable compound, said in-ear device comprising:

a core-form defining a nipple section thereof, said nipple section being insertable into the ear canal,

a sound bore extending through said nipple section from a position located outside the ear canal to a position located inside the ear canal for allowing sound transmission therethrough, and

a deformable sheath extending integrally from said core-form, said deformable sheath being deformable between a sheath first configuration and a sheath second configuration wherein when said sheath is in said sheath first configuration said sheath extends generally away from said nipple section while remaining attached to said core-form, said sheath being foldable inside-out from said sheath first configuration to said sheath second configuration wherein said sheath is in a generally overlying relationship relative to said core-form so as to substantially cover said nipple section while defining a spacing between said sheath and said core-form, said spacing being fillable by the settable compound.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said core-form further defines a platform section, said platform section defining a platform distal end and a generally opposed platform proximal end, said nipple section extending generally away from a position adjacent said proximal end of said platform section, said nipple section defining a nipple distal end and a generally opposed nipple proximal end;

said sheath extending integrally away from a position adjacent said nipple proximal end when in said sheath first configuration and being in a generally overlying relationship relative to said core-form so as to substantially cover said nipple and platform sections when in said sheath second configuration, said sheath defining an opening therethrough, said opening generally overlying said platform distal end when said sheath is in said sheath second configuration.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said platform distal end includes a delimited area slightly protruding away therefrom, said opening of said sheath having a shape to generally assume a perimeter of said delimited area.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said opening of said sheath has a perimeter reinforced with a collar extending integrally from said sheath for tightly engaging a corresponding groove on said perimeter of said delimited area of said platform distal end, thereby closing said spacing.

5. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said platform distal end is generally symmetrical and formed by two planar surfaces having a common distal edge and extending generally downwardly away from each other in a direction towards said platform proximal end, one of said two surfaces including said delimited area while the other of said two surfaces being fully covered by said sheath when said sheath is in said sheath second configuration and being customizable in-situ to the shape of a cavum concha of the individual corresponding to the ear canal.

6. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said sound bore extends generally from a position adjacent said nipple proximal end inside the ear canal to a position adjacent said platform distal end outside the ear canal.

7. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said platform section includes a cavity extending generally inwardly thereinto from a position adjacent said platform distal end, said in-ear device further comprising an insert member removably tightly engaging said cavity of said platform section, and a second sound bore extending generally from a position adjacent said nipple proximal end to said cavity of said platform section through both of said nipple and platform sections for allowing sound transmission therethrough.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said insert member is a plug member to close said second sound bore, whereby said in-ear device is an earplug device.

9. A device as defined in claim 7, wherein said insert member includes a communication element for sound communication with said second sound bore.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said communication element is a band-pass filter for allowing an acceptable frequency range to reach inside the ear canal, whereby said in-ear device is a filtered earplug device.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said communication element is a second cavity extending generally inwardly into said insert member for being releasably engaged by an electronic circuit member that amplifies and transmits sound within a pre-determined frequency range from outside the ear canal to said second sound bore, whereby said in-ear device is a hearing aid device.

12. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said communication element is a sound bore extension extending through said insert member, said sound bore extension communicating with said second sound bore at a proximal end thereof and for being engaged by an external hearing aid device at a distal end thereof, whereby said in-ear device is a hearing aid adaptable device.

13. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said first sound bore is terminated at a position adjacent said platform distal end by a slit opening, said slit opening closing said first sound bore whenever not engaged by a remote instrument.

14. A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising a handle member secured to a position generally adjacent said platform distal end.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said handle member is glued to said platform section of said core-form.

16. A device as defined in claim 14, said handle member includes a notch to engage a corresponding recess on said platform section for properly positioning said handle member relative to said core-form, said handle member having a longitudinal reach-through hole for guiding an injection device containing the settable compound material into a slit channel within said platform section, said slit channel communicating with said spacing so as to allow the settable compound to flow from said slit channel to said spacing.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein said hole of said handle member is closed off by a thin membrane in contact with said core-form.

18. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein said slit channel self closes upon retraction of the injection device therefrom.

19. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheath tightly covers said core-form with said spacing being substantially fluidless when said sheath is in said sheath second configuration.

20. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said in-ear device is a single molded member.