Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker, receives input audio signals from the microphone, extracts a rate of respiration from the input audio signals, adjusts the output audio signals based on the extracted rate of respiration, and provides the adjusted output audio signals to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user is provided. The method includes the step of prompting, via a first audio cue emitted by an earpiece worn by a user, the user to inhale at a first point in time. The method may further include the step of prompting, via a second audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a second point in time. The method may further include the step of stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with a first electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the second point in time. The first electrical signal may be applied to a concha of an ear of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to an ear canal of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to a tragus of the user.

Abstract: A method of providing vagus nerve stimulation to a user is provided. The method includes the step of prompting, via a first audio cue emitted by an earpiece worn by a user, the user to inhale at a first point in time. The method may further include the step of prompting, via a second audio cue emitted by the earpiece, the user to exhale at a second point in time. The method may further include the step of stimulating a vagus nerve of the user with a first electrical signal generated by the earpiece at the second point in time. The first electrical signal may be applied to a concha of an ear of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to an ear canal of the user. The first electrical signal may be applied to a tragus of the user.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ear tip including the steps of: providing an ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end; and forming a first electrically conductive element along the outer surface of the outer wall and an inner surface of the inner wall; or forming a first electrically conductive element on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall and a second electrically conductive element connected to the first electrically conductive element, wherein the second electrically conductive element extends along an inner surface of the outer wall and an outer surface of the inner wall.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and an ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker which represent sounds across a first frequency band, the audio signals including a notch in which the sounds lack energy within a second frequency band narrower than the first frequency band, receives input audio signals from the microphone, applies a band-pass filter to the input audio signals to limit the input audio signals to a third frequency band contained within the second frequency band, and demodulates the filtered input audio signals to compute a rate of respiration corresponding to energy in the input audio signals in the third frequency band.

Abstract: An ear tip for an earpiece including a body having first and second ends, an inner wall extending between the first and second ends to define a hollow passage to conduct sound waves, and an outer wall connected to the inner wall of the body at the first end and tapering away from the inner wall toward the second end. The ear tip further includes first and second electrically conductive elements arranged on an outer surface of the deformable outer wall.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker, receives input audio signals from the microphone, extracts a rate of respiration from the input audio signals, adjusts the output audio signals based on the extracted rate of respiration, and provides the adjusted output audio signals to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker, receives input audio signals from the microphone, extracts a rate of respiration from the input audio signals, adjusts the output audio signals based on the extracted rate of respiration, and provides the adjusted output audio signals to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A light guide system for a physiological sensor includes a light channel in optical communication with an emitter and a light channel in optical communication with a detector. The light channels are formed of a bio-compatible resilient plastic, such as a silicone, that is blended with a colorant. Each light channel has an optical transmission spectrum that passes the emitter spectral band and rejects most or all ambient light. The colorant can be a pigment provided as a suspension in a liquid or a dye provided in liquid form. The optical transmission spectrum defines a longpass optical filter where the shortest wavelength of the optical spectrum of the emitter is greater than the transition wavelength of the longpass optical filter. Each of the light channels is configured to be in contact with the skin, thereby reducing or eliminating optical loss due to transmission through an air gap.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker, receives input audio signals from the microphone, extracts a rate of respiration from the input audio signals, adjusts the output audio signals based on the extracted rate of respiration, and provides the adjusted output audio signals to the loudspeaker.

Abstract: An earphone includes a loudspeaker, a microphone, a housing supporting the loudspeaker and microphone, and an ear tip surrounding the housing and configured to acoustically couple both the loudspeaker and the microphone to an ear canal of a user, and to acoustically close the entrance to the user's ear canal. A processor provides output audio signals to the loudspeaker which represent sounds across a first frequency band, the audio signals including a notch in which the sounds lack energy within a second frequency band narrower than the first frequency band, receives input audio signals from the microphone, applies a band-pass filter to the input audio signals to limit the input audio signals to a third frequency band contained within the second frequency band, and demodulates the filtered input audio signals to compute a rate of respiration corresponding to energy in the input audio signals in the third frequency band.

Abstract: An in-ear earphone includes a body shaped to fit in the wearer's ear, a nozzle extending from the body towards the ear canal of the wearer's ear, the nozzle including an acoustic passage to conduct sound waves to the ear canal of the wearer, an ear canal sealing structure extending from the nozzle, and a sensor coupled to the nozzle. The sealing structure includes a thin sheet of material forming a hollow shape surrounding the nozzle and sensor, and the body, nozzle, sealing structure, and sensor are arranged such that when the earphone is located in the wearer's ear, the sensor faces the tragus of the ear, and the sealing structure simultaneously forms an acoustic seal to the entrance to the ear canal and provides optical coupling between the sensor and the tragus with minimal air gaps between the sensor, the sealing structure, and the tragus.

Abstract: An in-ear earphone includes a body shaped to fit in the wearer's ear, a nozzle extending from the body towards the ear canal of the wearer's ear, the nozzle including an acoustic passage to conduct sound waves to the ear canal of the wearer, an ear canal sealing structure extending from the nozzle, and a sensor coupled to the nozzle. The sealing structure includes a thin sheet of material forming a hollow shape surrounding the nozzle and sensor, and the body, nozzle, sealing structure, and sensor are arranged such that when the earphone is located in the wearer's ear, the sensor faces the tragus of the ear, and the sealing structure simultaneously forms an acoustic seal to the entrance to the ear canal and provides optical coupling between the sensor and the tragus with minimal air gaps between the sensor, the sealing structure, and the tragus.

Abstract: A light guide system for a physiological sensor includes a light channel in optical communication with an emitter and a light channel in optical communication with a detector. The light channels are formed of a bio-compatible resilient plastic, such as a silicone, that is blended with a colorant. Each light channel has an optical transmission spectrum that passes the emitter spectral band and rejects most or all ambient light. The colorant can be a pigment provided as a suspension in a liquid or a dye provided in liquid form. The optical transmission spectrum defines a longpass optical filter where the shortest wavelength of the optical spectrum of the emitter is greater than the transition wavelength of the longpass optical filter. Each of the light channels is configured to be in contact with the skin, thereby reducing or eliminating optical loss due to transmission through an air gap.