Abstract: In a soundproof member 10 including a polyurethane foam 11 and disposed apart from an engine E on a vehicle interior side of a dash panel 50 partitioning a space into an engine room having the engine E as a sound source and a vehicle interior, the polyurethane foam 11 has a surface layer 12 on at least a part of the surface thereof, a one side surface of the polyurethane foam 11 directly facing the vehicle interior side of the dash panel 50 has at least a surface layer 12A in an open cell state or a core, and a surface layer 12B of the other side surface opposite to the one side surface is a surface layer in a closed cell state.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dome-type inserts, or simply domes, for a hearing aid. The dome is intended to be attached to a housing, such as an in-the-ear housing, and abut the ear canal. The dome-type insert comprises one or more vent channels for alleviating air pressure built-up and/or occlusion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a hearing protection device and a method of forming such device are disclosed. The hearing protection device includes a first hearing protector, a second hearing protector, and an elongated connector including a first end that is connected to the first hearing protector and a second end that is connected to the second hearing protector. The device further includes a frangible attachment element disposed between a first portion of the elongated connector and a second portion of the elongated connector that temporarily connects the first portion to the second portion such that the elongated connector is in a compact configuration. The elongated connector is adapted to be disposed in an elongated configuration when the frangible attachment element is broken.

Abstract: An ear level part for a hearing device may include a body containing at least two microphones acoustically connected to at least two microphone openings, the at least two microphone openings arranged in a microphone line, the body further comprising a flange, wherein a receiver is arranged within the body, wherein the flange has a sound exit for the receiver; and an upper tab generally protruding in a lateral direction from the body and configured to be positioned above the tragus of a user's ear and a lower tab generally protruding in a lateral direction from the body and configured to be positioned beneath the tragus of the user's ear thereby aligning the ear level part.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a shape-memory in-ear biosensor for polysomnography and monitoring physiological signals are provided. Various embodiments include an earpiece made from a shape memory or temperature-dependent phase transition material embedded into polydimethylsiloxane elastomer body. The earpiece can use electrodes to detect physiological signals by making direct contact with a user's skin and without the use of electrically conductive gel. When heated above the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer, various embodiments of the biosensor may be folded. When cooled, the biosensor will maintain the folded shape. The folded biosensor may then be inserted into the ear canal of a user where, in response to heating by the user's body, it partially unfolds to conform to the shape of the ear canal.

Abstract: A hearing aid (1) comprises a flexible ear tip (36) for an ear piece (62) adapted for insertion into the ear canal of a user. The ear piece comprises a shroud having a generally ball-shaped hollow bulb made of soft resilient material. The shroud is oval for better adaptation to the ear canal, as ear canals of humans are generally oval. The invention further provides an ear piece, an ear plug, and a component for a communications device.

Abstract: The present invention provides system for shaping at least a foam portion of an earpiece, the system including a sizer configured to receive at least the foam portion of the earpiece such that at least the foam portion of the earpiece is reduced in size before being placed into an ear of a user, wherein the sizer includes a hollow structure having an open first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a first cross-sectional area, wherein the second end has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An injection moulded acoustic filter comprising a foil piece or filter structure having a plurality of micro-slits configured to act as acoustic channels through the foil piece for filtering sound waves impinging the foil piece. The micro-slits have a maximum slit width across a surface of the foil piece of less than one hundred micrometres and a combined slit length along the surface of the foil piece of at least five millimetres. An earplug comprising the acoustic filter. A method and mould for manufacturing the acoustic filter.

Abstract: A safety garment with integrated earplugs designed to provide both hearing protection and high-visibility to the user in a single garment. The safety garment with integrated earplugs includes a garment, such as a vest or sweatshirt, designed to enclose a user's torso, with a neck aperture along a top end designed to receive a head and neck therethrough and a pair of arm apertures on opposing sides, wherein each arm aperture is designed to receive an arm therethrough. A reflective material is disposed along an exterior surface of the garment, such that the garment qualifies as a high-visibility safety garment. Additionally, a cord having a pair of opposing ends is affixed to the garment, wherein an earplug is affixed to each end of the cord. In this way, a user is able to wear a single garment that provides both high visibility to the user and has hearing protection attached.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress supported by the frame and arranged to support a patient thereon. A sensor is included to detect moisture on the patient and/or the patient support apparatus. The sensor produces signals indicative of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus. One or more alerts are output in response to the signals provided by the sensor to notify a caregiver of the presence of moisture on the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A breakaway stethoscope includes a chest piece, a headset, a tube, and a coupler. The chest piece captures sounds generated inside a person's body when the chest piece is positioned adjacent the person's body. The headset directs the sounds captured by the chest piece toward a person's ear when the headset is positioned on an ear of the person. The tube connects the chest piece to the headset and conveys the sounds captured by the chest piece toward the headset. The tube has a length and includes a first portion connected to the chest piece and a second portion connected to the headset. The coupler releasably connects the tube's first portion to the tube's second portion and releases one of the tube's portions when the tube experiences a force that urges at least one of the tube's portions to move away from the coupler.

Abstract: Sound attenuation devices are provided that may be temporarily worn in a person's ear. The devices generally include a first flange that is configured to be disposed in a person's ear; a second flange that is positioned proximate to the first flange and is also configured to be disposed in the person's ear (with the second flange having a proximate end that exhibits an oblong perimeter); and a cylindrical shaft extending from an interior portion of the second flange. The shaft includes an integrally connected pull tab; it extends beyond the proximate end of the second flange; and the shaft includes an integrally formed reinforcing member that spans an exterior side of the shaft and at least a portion of the pull tab. The devices further include a sound filter disposed within an internal cavity of the shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dome-type inserts, or simply domes, for a hearing aid. The dome is intended to be attached to a housing, such as an in-the-ear housing, and abut the ear canal. The dome-type insert comprises one or more vent channels for alleviating air pressure built-up and/or occlusion.

Abstract: Various embodiments of an earbud for insertion into an ear canal and a hearing device that includes such earbud are disclosed. The earbud includes an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a cavity that extends along a body axis between the first end and the second end of the elongated body. The earbud also includes a first flange connected to the elongated body, where the first flange includes a first end adjacent the first end of the elongated body, a second end, and a sound hole disposed in the first end of the first flange that is acoustically connected to the cavity of the elongated body. The first flange further includes a vent disposed through the first flange. The earbud also includes a second flange connected to the second end of the elongated body and including a first end adjacent the second end of the elongated body and a second end.

Abstract: In a soundproof member 10 including a polyurethane foam 11 and disposed apart from an engine E on a vehicle interior side of a dash panel 50 partitioning a space into an engine room having the engine E as a sound source and a vehicle interior, the polyurethane foam 11 has a surface layer 12 on at least a part of the surface thereof, a one side surface of the polyurethane foam 11 directly facing the vehicle interior side of the dash panel 50 has at least a surface layer 12A in an open cell state or a core, and a surface layer 12B of the other side surface opposite to the one side surface is a surface layer in a closed cell state.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microphone apparatus. The microphone apparatus may include a microphone and a vibration sensor. The microphone may be configured to receive a first signal including a voice signal and a first vibration signal. The vibration sensor may be configured to receive a second vibration signal. And the microphone and the vibration sensor are configured such that the first vibration signal may be offset with the second vibration signal.

Abstract: An earplug (10, 80) for selective attenuation of sound has a body with at least one sound path. An insert (34) is housed in the body (13), which has at least one sound passage with an acoustic filter. The acoustic filter is configured to provide a specific frequency response and thus a determined attenuation of sound passing through the earplug. Means (14) is arranged at a top surface adapted to activate or deactivate the sound path. Each acoustic filter comprises an upper acoustic port (36, 37), at least one acoustic mesh (35) and/or acoustic membrane (37, 39), an acoustic chamber (41, 44) and a lower acoustic port (42, 43). An insert (34) with an acoustic filter for selective attenuation of sound is provided for use in an earplug.

Abstract: Occlusion devices, earpiece devices and methods of forming occlusion devices are provided. An occlusion device is configured to occlude an ear canal, but other biological and non-biological conduits or chambers can be occluded using the devices and methods herein. The occlusion device includes an insertion element and at least one occluding member or element (which can be expandable) disposed on the insertion element. The occluding member is configured to receive a medium via the insertion element and is configured to expand, responsive to the medium, to contact the ear canal. Alternatively, the occluding member is made of a non-Newtonian fluid and can be enclosed by a balloon or not. Physical parameters of the occlusion device are selected to produce a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic over a frequency band. Use of a non-Newtonian fluid provides additional options or variables in customizing or designing a predetermined sound attenuation characteristic.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure adjustment apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: An acoustically transparent protector for an audio device provided with a sound generating transducer having a sound port covered by said protector for use with a human ear for the reproduction of sound which allows sound to pass through with little attenuation or distortion but does not allow foreign material such as ear wax, dust, debris, or water to pass into the sound port. The protector of the invention is provided with a sound radiating element having at least a curve portion and a suspension part. The protector of the invention realizes a “perfect” barrier that attenuates the sound entering the audio device as little as possible and does not suffer from significant sound distortions.

Abstract: A plug is configured to maintain position within a Eustachian tube of a patient. The plug includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion includes a first body dimensioned bear radially outwardly against the Eustachian tube of the patient. The distal portion includes an anchoring assembly that is configured to lock the plug in the Eustachian tube of the patient. The plug may be formed of a bioabsorbable material.

Abstract: A custom fit hearing device that includes an in-ear housing designed to fit at least partially in a hearing device user's ear canal. The in-ear housing includes one or more areas on its outer-surface that are designed to provide retention of the in-ear housing in the ear canal. The one of more area may be rougher than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may have greater a friction coefficient than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may be made of a different material than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may contain granular material and/or may include surface features such as shapes extending outward from the outer-surface or undulations/ripples in the outer-surface. The in-ear housing may be produced using virtual designs and a 3D scan of the ear canal and may be manufactured using additive manufacturing or 3D printing.

Abstract: Hearing devices, configured to fit within the ear canal, having a hearing device core defining an exterior surface with a medial end and a medial corner, and including a battery, a microphone and a receiver, at least one seal, defining a seal compliance, carried on the hearing device core, and a medial bumper, defining a medial bumper compliance that is greater than the seal compliance, carried on the hearing device core.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a cost-effective earplug device that delivers minimally distorted sound, offers sound protection, can fit most users, and can protect human hearing from dangerously-high acoustic levels without the cost or inconvenience of a custom earplug.

Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of hearing protection assigned to a worker, and a portable computing device assigned to the worker; a remote computing device communicatively coupled to the portable computing device, the remote computing device configured to receive sound level data that indicate different sound levels at different, respective locations of a work environment; determine, based on location data received from the portable computing device, an amount of sound received by the worker over a period of time; identify an updated location in the work environment having a sound level that is different from a current location, based at least in part on the article of hearing protection, the amount of sound, and the sound level data that indicates different sound levels at different, respective locations; and generate a notification that instructs the worker to move from the current location to the updated location.

Abstract: A hearing device includes: an earphone that is adapted to be worn in a concha auriculae or an external auditory canal of an ear; and a cord that is adapted to extend so as to pass through an upper portion of a root of the ear from a back side of an auricle of the ear when the earphone is worn, and that is connected to the earphone, the cord that is adapted to abut against a cymba conchae of the ear when the earphone is worn.

Abstract: An earplug device that is placed in the ear canal to attenuate sound frequencies within a selected frequency range. The earplug has a plug body with a first end, an opposite second end, and an exterior surface that extends from the first end to the second end. An opening is formed in the plug body at the first end. The opening leads to an internal conduit within the plug body. The internal conduit terminates at a closed membrane wall proximate the second end of the plug body. The internal conduit and the membrane wall both act upon incoming acoustic signals to both lower volume and attenuate certain undesired frequency ranges.

Abstract: An ear tip device for padding an in-ear headphone includes a cylinder, which comprises silicone and viscoelastic polyurethane foam so that the cylinder is resiliently compressible. A channel is axially positioned in and extends through the cylinder. The channel is configured to expand to allow insertion of a headphone and to contract to couple the cylinder to the headphone. The cylinder is configured to be compressed between digits of a hand of a user, positioning the user to at least partially insert the cylinder into an ear canal of the user. The cylinder is positioned to expand to conform to the ear canal and to couple the cylinder to the ear. The cylinder is configured to attenuate ambient noise and to direct a sound transmitted by the headphone to an eardrum of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible adaptive hearing aid characterized by comprising: a part made of rigid material (1) which will contain the electronic circuit of the hearing aid, and a part made of flexible adaptive material (2) which will have at least one annular flange (3) which will improve the fit between the assembly and the internal auditory canal of the user. The part made of flexible material will cover at least a portion (4) of the surface of the part of rigid material. It will additionally have a cover to assure assembly tightness.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer includes an electromechanical transducer and a casing. The electromechanical transducer transduces an electric signal into mechanical vibration. The housing can be attached to a cavum conchae without blocking an external auditory canal, in which the electromechanical transducer is housed, and vibrates due to the mechanical vibration caused by the electromechanical transducer to generate sound. The housing includes an inner housing portion located on the external auditory canal side and an outer housing portion located on an external environment side when the housing is attached to the cavum conchae. The housing has an ellipsoidal shape or an oval shape.

Abstract: An audio output apparatus has a simplified structure and is stably fitted in an ear assuredly. The audio output apparatus includes: a speaker that outputs a sound; a base body that includes a facing surface and is at least partially inserted into an ear canal of an ear; a rotating body that includes a relative surface at least partially facing the facing surface and is rotatable relative to the base body; and a fulcrum shaft that is present at least at one of a position displaced from a middle portion of the facing surface or a position displaced from a middle portion of the relative surface, the fulcrum shaft serving as a fulcrum of rotation of the rotating body relative to the base body, in which, in a state where the base body is inserted into the ear canal, the rotating body rotated relative to the base body is allowed to be in contact with part of the ear.

Abstract: Embodiments describe an eartip including an eartip body having an attachment end and an interfacing end opposite from the attachment end, and an attachment structure coupled to the inner eartip body at the attachment end. The eartip body can include: an inner eartip body having a sidewall extending between the interfacing end and the attachment end, the sidewall defining a channel and having a first thickness near the attachment end and a second thickness different from the first thickness at the interfacing end; and an outer eartip body sized and shaped to be inserted into an ear canal and extending from the interfacing end, the outer eartip body extending toward the attachment end of the eartip. The attachment structure including a sidewall extending around a periphery of the attachment structure and defining an opening extending through the sidewall that fluidly couples the channel to an ambient environment.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a noise-reducing earmuff, comprising: an earmuff shell forming an earmuff cavity; a separator being installed in the earmuff cavity and forming an independent chamber; and a conduit being installed on the separator, the conduit being provided with an opening at each of the two ends thereof; wherein one of the openings being located in the chamber, and the other extending out of the chamber and being located in the earmuff cavity; wherein the chamber and the conduit form a low-frequency resonator whose resonance frequency is equivalent to a corner frequency of a low-pass filter formed by the earmuff.

Abstract: Wearable devices (100) capable of measuring a core body temperature and other vital signs of a user in a range of situations are described herein. The wearable device is arranged to be retained within the ear canal of the ear, in order to prevent the wearable device from inadvertently removing itself from the ear. Providing an infrared thermopile (101) at the innermost end of the ear insert ensures that the infrared thermopile is provided as close as possible to the tympanic membrane which will be used to provide an indication of the core body temperature. The device has an audio conduction channel (111) at least partly defined within an ear canal extending member (114), the audio conduction channel configured as a waveguide to conduct sound through a blocking member (212) to a distal portion of the ear insert.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an ear tip for increasing mid-range frequency perception of an earpiece is provided. The ear tip includes a hollow main body having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening for coupling to a coupling portion of a housing of the earpiece, and a peripheral portion integrally coupled to an outer surface of the first opening and shaped to conform to a surface of an ear canal. The peripheral portion has an outer edge with a plurality of wedge-shaped apertures formed integrally and spaced around the outer edge. The second opening and/or the coupling portion of the housing are adapted to be acoustically coupled with each other.

Abstract: An inflatable in-ear device includes a core member with a platform provided with a sealing assembly in the form of a locating recess for the registration of a retention ring formed around a defining opening of a sheath arranged in close circumjacent manner around the platform attached to the core member, an abutment surface being formed on a capping for the platform and the core member whereby in use positive location of the retention ring within the recess is achieved by the closure of the recess by the abutment surface. A space is defined between the sheath and the core member for the injection of a settable material used for the inflation of the sheath once the device is emplaced within the ear canal of the ear.

Abstract: Aspects describe an earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal. According to aspects, the retaining structure has at least one substantially elliptical leg configured to follow the curve of the anti-helix and/or the cymba concha at the rear of the concha. The leg increases in thickness from a tip of the earpiece towards the body of the earpiece. The sealing structure is substantially frusto-conical and extends from a nozzle. The nozzle is angled to align with ear geometry. In an example, he sealing structure has a slight radius on an outer surface of the sealing structure. In another example, the sealing structure has a substantially constant thickness from the nozzle to the wide end of the sealing structure.

Abstract: Headphone eartips with internal support components and methods for making the same are provided. Different support components may provide specific amounts and types of additional rigidity at specific portions of an exterior surface of an outer eartip body that may be expected to interface with specific portions of an ear canal geometry when an eartip subassembly is positioned within the ear canal, such that the eartip subassembly may conform to the various shapes of the ear canal while maintaining an acoustic seal.

Abstract: A hearing device such as a hearing aid, ear pod, headphone, or other wearable is provided, whose components include the following: an acoustic transducer with a vent port operable to produce sound, a housing of the acoustic transducer with a sound opening, and an actuatable acoustic valve disposed in the housing, where the acoustic valve is actuatable to alter passage of sound through the acoustic vent to change the state of the hearing device between an open vent state and a closed vent state, so that actuation of the valve changes an acoustic characteristic of the hearing device.

Abstract: An earphone comprises an acoustic waveguide (305), for coupling sound waves from an acoustic transducer into an ear (5), the waveguide having an outer end (315) and an inner end (320), at least the inner end being open. The acoustic transducer (310) is arranged at the outer end (315) of the acoustic waveguide and the inner end (320) of the acoustic waveguide is configured to be located in the ear (5). The acoustic waveguide (305) has a neck (340) between the outer end (315) and the inner end (320), and has a cross section at the neck that is smaller than a cross section at each of the outer end and the inner end.

Abstract: An earphone comprises an acoustic waveguide (305), for coupling sound waves from an acoustic transducer into an ear (5), the waveguide having an outer end (315) and an inner end (320), at least the inner end being open. The acoustic transducer (310) is arranged at the outer end (315) of the acoustic waveguide and the inner end (320) of the acoustic waveguide is configured to be located in the ear (5). The acoustic waveguide (305) has a neck (340) between the outer end (315) and the inner end (320), and has a cross section at the neck that is smaller than a cross section at each of the outer end and the inner end.

Abstract: A sound-filtering device can include an entry port that receives sound from an environment when the device is coupled to an ear of a user. The device can further include an exit port that delivers sound that has passed through the device to the ear of the user. The device can further include a channel extending between the entry port and the exit port to define a path along which sound travels from the entry port to the exit port. The device can also include a side port in fluid communication with the channel and a resonant chamber offset from the path defined by the channel and in fluid communication with the channel via the side port. The resonant chamber can attenuate at least a portion of any sound passing through the channel that is within a band of frequencies narrower than a full audible spectrum of the user.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a sound output device includes: a sound acquisition part configured to acquire sound to be output to the other end of a sound guide part, one end of which is arranged near an entrance of an ear canal of a listener, the sound guide part having a hollow structure; and a head-related transfer function adjustment part configured to adjust a head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part. Since the head-related transfer function adjustment part adjusts the head-related transfer function of sound captured by the sound guide part, it is possible to listen to both ambient sound and sound provided from a sound output device such that the listener does not feel strangeness even in the state in which the listener is wearing the sound output device.

Abstract: An earphone includes an earphone body and an adjustment assembly. The earphone includes a shell and a speaker unit. The shell has a chamber, an audio hole and a ventilation hole. The audio hole and the ventilation hole are connected to the chamber. The speaker unit is located in the chamber and is corresponding to the audio hole. The adjustment assembly includes a baffle and a button. The baffle is located in the chamber and is located between the speaker unit and the ventilation hole. The button is connected to the baffle and is movably disposed on the shell so that the baffle is movable to connect the ventilation hole to the chamber or to disconnect the ventilation hole from the chamber by the button.

Abstract: Generic adjustable in-ear monitors (IEMs) may suffer from a limited range of resilient ear plugs that may not adequately fit each user, and the user may prefer different ear plugs for different purposes (e.g., the user's interest in secure fitment may be higher when exercising, while the user's interest in comfort may be higher when the user is relaxing). The presently disclosed technology is directed to IEMs that permit a user to adjust without removing and replacing an associated ear plug. Instead, the ear plug is adjustable by the user to achieve a desired fit and may be adjusted repeatedly for different desired fits and/or different users.

Abstract: The potential to develop disturbing tinnitus may result from repeated unprotected exposure to loud sounds such as rock concerts, machinery, automobile traffic, and crowds at sporting events. Older adults, especially above the age of 50, may be more susceptible to tinnitus resulting from pathologic conditions in the inner ear apparatus. The present device is designed to electronically reduce stressed hearing during the auditory insult and to return to normal function when the insult is removed. No manual adjustment by the user is necessary between these phases. This device is miniaturized to allow wearing it in the outer ear canal during periods of sound excesses and removal at other times. Unlike prior auditory aids, this one acts to block loud noises without the need to remember to place or activate auxiliary devices such as ear plugs to protect against or compete with potentially destructive external factors each time an insult is encountered.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cartilage conduction audio device is disclosed. A manufacturing system receives data describing a three-dimensional shape of an ear (e.g., the outer ear, behind the ear, the concha bowel, etc.) of a user. The system identifies one or more locations for one or more transducers along a back of an auricle of the ear for the user that vibrate the auricle over a frequency range causing the auricle to create an acoustic pressure wave at an entrance of the ear canal. The system then generates a design for a cartilage conduction audio device for the user based on the one or more identified locations of the transducers at which acoustic pressure waves generated by the one or more transducers satisfy a threshold performance metric for the user. The design may then be used to fabricate the cartilage conduction audio device.

Abstract: An ear tip for an earphone includes an interior mating surface for attaching the ear tip to the earphone, the interior mating surface at least partially surrounding a cavity where the earphone will be located when the ear tip may be so attached, an outer surface including features corresponding to human ear anatomy, a nozzle extension providing a passageway from the interior cavity to space outside the ear tip, a wax guard in the nozzle extension, the wax guard blocking the passageway, and a plurality of holes through the wax guard, the holes sized and arranged to allow sound to pass along the passageway, while inhibiting ear wax from passing along the passageway.

Abstract: An earplug structure includes a sound guide part, a body part, a sound guide component, and a gap. The sound guide part is configured to be inserted into an ear canal of an ear. The sound guide part includes a sound guide chamber and a sound output opening. The sound guide chamber is disposed inside the sound guide part, and the sound output opening is disposed on the sound guide part for outputting sound to the ear canal. The body part is extending outwardly from the sound guide part and configured to face an auricle region of the ear. The body part includes a receiving space and an opening. The sound guide component is positioned inside the sound guide chamber and is made of hard material. The gap is formed by the sound guide part and sound guide component.

Abstract: An ear tip made partially of a secondary insert, clamp, sleeve band or other memory retaining elastic material that, when integrated with a biocompatible, soft, highly elastic and vibration and sound damping material provides improved containment and isolation of sound pressure within a sound transmission path and provides the necessary retention for this type of acoustically superior material to be retained properly on a sound generating assembly.