Acoustic device with means for being secured in a human ear

• US 7,068,803 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: INVISIO A/S (INVISIO AB)
• Original Assignee: Nextlink.To A/S
• Inventors: Lundbeck, Jorgen M., Kuhlmann, Peer
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ensey, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/451,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 381/71.6, 381/72, 381/23.1, 381/312, 381/315, 381/322, 381/328, 381/329, 381/330
• US Class Current: 381/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/105 Earpiece supports, e.g. ear hooks for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• 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 25/658 Manufacture of housing parts

Abstract

A device with acoustic effect and a housing for being located in the cavum conchae of a human ear. The housing has a face adapted for abutment on the tragus, a face adapted for abutment on the antitragus, a mouthpiece adapted for being inserted into the mouthing of the auditory tract. A resilient means is adapted to abutment on the cartilage arch between the antihelix and the concha and influences the housing by a force oriented forwards towards the tragus. The resilient means is a leaf spring with a spring rigidity that decreases with the distance from the housing, whereby a uniform distribution of the force towards the cartilage arch at the concha is provided. The device may be a passive noise shield or it may have on eor two transducers for one-way or two way communication.

Claims

1. An acoustic device for being arranged in a human ear and comprising a housing configured for being located in the outer ear, and forming a closed-ear configuration in the cavum conchae, with a face adapted for abutment on the tragus, a face adapted for abutment on the antitragus, a mouthpiece adapted for being inserted into the mouthing of the auditory tract and a resilient means adapted for abutment on the cartilage arch between the antihelix and the concha and configured for influencing the housing with a force oriented generally forwards towards the tragus, wherein the resilient means comprises an elongated element that distributes the force along the cartilage arch at the concha, and that is mounted approximately tangentially relative to that face of the housing that is configured for contact with the antitragus;

wherein the elongated element is a spring that has a spring rigidity that decreases with the distance from the housing, whereby a uniform distribution of the force towards the cartilage arch is provided at the concha.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring has such span width that it is able to ensure a resilient tightening of the housing to persons to whom the distance from the mouthing of the meatus to the interior arch within the concha is comprised within the range of from 30 to 50 mm and in particular within the range of from 35 to 45 mm.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring, whose width decreases with its distance from the housing.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the leaf spring has, at its free end, a portion with a larger curvature than at its base.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein device further comprises an electro-acoustic transducer.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the housing comprise an integral unit for electrical amplification and signal-processing of signals to or from the transducer.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the spring has an integral electrical conductor, thereby enabling it to be used as antenna for radio-frequency signals.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said device further comprises a device for cordless communication.

9. A device according to claim 5, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer comprises a loudspeaker configured for transmitting sound to the mouthpiece.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a microphone.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the microphone comprises a contact cushion configured for being located in abutment on the auditory tract at the tragus and for capturing vibrations with a view to capturing speech transmitted through transmission of vibrations from the mouth region and through the jawbone.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises an acoustic canal configured for establishing pressure equalisation between the auditory canal and the surroundings.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic canal comprises means for regulating the spreading of sound therethrough.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic canal comprises bends for bringing about a labyrinth effect.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic canal comprises an exchangeable filter.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein the acoustic canal comprises a filter that is configured for being open to sound in the speech frequency area, but attenuating to sound within other frequency areas.

17. An acoustic device for being arranged in a human ear and comprising a housing configured for being located in the outer ear, in the cavum conchae, with a face adapted for abutment on the tragus, a face adapted for abutment on the antitragus, a mouthpiece adapted for being inserted into the mouthing of the auditory tract and a resilient means adapted for abutment on the cartilage arch between the antihelix and the concha and configured for influencing the housing with a force oriented generally forwards towards the tragus, wherein the resilient means comprises an elongated element that distributes the force along the cartilage arch at the concha, and that is mounted approximately tangentially relative to that face of the housing that is configured for contact with the antitragus;

wherein the elongated element is a spring that has a spring rigidity that decreases with the distance from the housing, whereby a uniform distribution of the force towards the cartilage arch is provided at the concha, and

wherein said device further comprises an electro-acoustic transducer.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the spring has such span width that it is able to ensure a resilient tightening of the housing to persons to whom the distance from the mouthing of the meatus to the interior arch within the concha is comprised within the range of from 30 to 50 mm and in particular within the range of from 35 to 45 mm.

19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring, whose width decreases with its distance from the housing.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the leaf spring has, at its free end, a portion with a larger curvature than at its base.

21. A device according to claim 17, wherein the housing comprise an integral unit for electrical amplification and signal-processing of signals to or from the transducer.

22. A device according to claim 17, wherein the spring has an integral electrical conductor, thereby enabling it to be used as antenna for radio-frequency signals.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein said device further comprises a device for cordless communication.

24. A device according to claim 17, wherein the electro-acoustic transducer comprises a loudspeaker configured for transmitting sound to the mouthpiece.

25. A device according to claim 17, wherein said device further comprises a microphone.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein the microphone comprises a contact cushion configured for being located in abutment on the auditory tract at the tragus and for capturing vibrations with a view to capturing speech transmitted through transmission of vibrations from the mouth region and through the jawbone.

27. A device according to claim 17, wherein the body comprises an acoustic canal configured for establishing pressure equalisation between the auditory canal and the surroundings.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the acoustic canal comprises means for regulating the spreading of sound therethrough.

29. A device according to claim 27, wherein the acoustic canal comprises bends for bringing about a labyrinth effect.

30. A device according to claim 27, wherein the acoustic canal comprises an exchangeable filter.

31. A device according to claim 27, wherein the acoustic canal comprises a filter that is configured for being open to sound in the speech frequency area, but attenuating to sound within other frequency areas.