Aural Protectors (e.g., Ear) Patents (Class 128/864)
  • Patent number: 11696854
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a rigid body, a flexible sealing element, a nozzle assembly, and an electrode. The rigid body defines a channel, a reservoir, and a vent path. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the channel. The vent path is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to provide spacing between the channel and the vent path. The sealing element is positioned distal to the rigid body. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle head and a post. The post extends distally through the channel of the rigid body. The nozzle head projects distally from a distal end of the post. The electrode is disposed within the channel of the rigid body. The reservoir extends laterally from a longitudinal axis defined by the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TUSKER MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Miranda M. Ray, Rohit Girotra, Anh Quoc Truong, Radhika Patel, Thomas D. Gross, Alfredo Cantu
  • Patent number: 11523233
    Abstract: A hearing aid device adapted for use within the ear canal and of partially exposed in the canal types. This aid allows an air gap to substantially surround the hearing aid shell and air passages which communicate with the inner ear minimizing occlusion sensations and providing the user with an enhanced natural hearing experience. An aspect of this device is the provision of air passages in the mounting insert which securely positions the hearing aid shell in the wearer's canal. These passages are designed to stay open after insertion of the aid in the ear canal. In use, unamplified sound from the outside passes around the hearing aid shell, through the air passages in the mounting insert blending with the amplified sound emanating from the receiver. The area of air passages in the mounting insert can be tailored by the technician adapting to the hearing loss characteristics of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ANOVA HEARING LABS, INC.
    Inventor: James F. Caldarola
  • Patent number: 11446461
    Abstract: A respiratory mask for continuous positive airway pressure treatment includes a cushion adapted to be positioned against the face of a patient. The cushion is configured in a gasket arrangement around an entrance to the airways of the patient. The cushion is constructed from a polyurethane foam and has a thickness of greater than about 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Lee James Veliss, Scott Douglas Brackenreg, Fiona Catherine Carroll, David Mark Gilliver, Bruce David Gregory, Joshua Adam Gudiksen, Philip John Gunning, Robert Edward Henry, Philip Rodney Kwok, Gregory Robert Peake, Gerard Michael Rummery, Karthikeyan Selvarajan, Clive Solari, Jamie Graeme Wehbeh
  • Patent number: 11304851
    Abstract: An earplug comprises a core and a sound-attenuating body attached to the core, the sound-attenuating body comprising a tip cavity extending proximally from the tip of the sound-attenuating body and comprising a distal opening. The tip cavity side wall includes a plurality of protrusions extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the core. The plurality of protrusions may include from 2 to 12 protrusions. A method of making an earplug includes covering at least a portion of a core with a material including unactivated foaming agent; inserting an end of the core and at least a portion of the material into a mold cavity; and activating the foaming agent to create a sound-attenuating body. The sound-attenuating body has a base, tip, and tip cavity with a plurality of protrusions. The mold cavity may include a boss with a cup and plurality of cut-outs on the cup for forming the protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert C. Coffin, Matthew V. Stonebraker, Jr., Jacob H. Ely, Jeff L. Hamer, Kenneth F. Teeters, Ravi Thomas
  • Patent number: 11218792
    Abstract: An earpiece with structure for positioning and retaining the earpiece and with structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal to provide passive noise attenuation. The positioning and retaining structure engages features of the lateral surface of the ear. The structure for sealing against the entrance to the ear canal includes a conical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Monahan, Ryan C. Silvestri, Eric M. Wallace, Kevin P. Annunziato
  • Patent number: 11179273
    Abstract: A sound attenuation system can include a first end that can include a shaft and a flange, the flange can be coupled to the shaft, and a second end that can include a filter stem and a cap. The filter stem can have a hole. The cap can have a first position in which the cap occludes the hole and can have a second position in which the cap is clear of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: JMJ Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: David M. Chenal
  • Patent number: 11173069
    Abstract: A hearing-protective earplug (1) with a resilient polymeric foam body (10) and with a grippable stem (110) that includes a forward portion (111) with an annular sleeve (112) that at least partially defines an open-ended, front-facing cavity (114) within which a rearward portion (21) of the resilient polymeric foam body resides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Caitlin E. Meree, James P. Endle, Joshua M. Fishman, Hannah L. Mathers, Travis L. Potts, Joseph D. Rule, Richard J. Webb, Caroline M. Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 11146877
    Abstract: A sound output device includes a sound generating portion that generates a sound, a sound guiding portion that takes in the sound generated in the sound generating portion from one end, and a holding portion that holds the sound guiding portion in the vicinity of the other end. The holding portion is engaged with an intertragic notch, and supports the sound guiding portion such that a sound output hole of the other end of the sound guiding portion to face a depth side of an ear canal. Even in a state where the listener wears the sound output device, the sound output device does not block an ear cavity of the listener, and the listener can listen to the ambient sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Igarashi, Satoshi Suzuki, Kohei Asada, Koji Nageno
  • Patent number: 11076995
    Abstract: An earplug assembly and method of forming the same is described. The method includes uniaxially stretching a cord formed of copolymer including ethylene segments and vinyl acetate segments to form a cold-drawn cord. The cold drawn cord has an elongation to break of 250% or less. The method then includes fixing the cold drawn cord to an earplug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James D. Brown, Feng Cai, Robert C. Coffin
  • Patent number: 11014125
    Abstract: Guards for a space access device are configured to be attached to, as well as removed from the space access device by hand, without the need to resort to any tools to perform the attachment or the removal. A distal guard includes at least first and second filters separated by at least one convoluted pathway, and also includes outwardly extending members projecting outwardly from a base of the distal guard. A proximal guard forms at least one convoluted pathway with a cap forming a proximal end of the space access device. A pull tab provides redundancy against failure. The pull tab may be incorporated into the distal guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Eargo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Sarjeant Aase, Michael Barrett, Daniel Z. Shen
  • Patent number: 11013637
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: John Clark
  • Patent number: 10966867
    Abstract: A push-in earplug including an elongate core and outer layer is disclosed. The outer layer includes a sound attenuating portion having a first average density and a stem portion having a second average density, and the second average density is greater than the first average density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James P. Endle, Jeffrey L. Hamer, Alan R. Seville, Kenneth F. Teeters
  • Patent number: 10940043
    Abstract: A sound attenuation system can include a first end that can include a shaft and a flange, the flange can be coupled to the shaft, and a second end that can include a filter stem and a cap. The filter stem can have a hole. The cap can have a first position in which the cap occludes the hole and can have a second position in which the cap is clear of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: JMJ Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: David M. Chenal
  • Patent number: 10897666
    Abstract: A sound-attenuating assembly may have a headpiece and two covered dampening assembly that may be detachably attached to the locations of the headpiece that oppose a wearer's ear; the dampening assembly may have a padded member that may be in contact with a dividing member that may be in a contact with a compressible member which may be disposed within a concave member; the dampening assembly may be disposed within a cover such a fastener of the cover detachably attaches to a fastener of the headpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: Olivia Washburn, Stephen Washburn, Melissa Washburn
  • Patent number: 10807687
    Abstract: A snorkel mask is disclosed comprising a faceplate having a lateral partition on an interior surface delineating an upper and lower section, the lower section comprising a region that extends away from the upper section and includes a cutout section fitted with a complementary-shaped flexible insert that enables a user to grasp the nose. The snorkel mask further includes a rigid frame bonded to the faceplate and sandwiched between the faceplate and a flexible annular sidewall skirt that is hollow and filled with a gas or other cushioning substance. The flexible skirt includes a lateral nose piece section attached to the partition. The lateral nose piece section having an inlet aperture and check valve for inhaled air, and an orifice through which an exhalation conduit extends from the lower chamber to a snorkel device forming a passageway for exhaled air to pass through the upper chamber to the snorkel device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Inventor: Wenzi Xiao
  • Patent number: 10582286
    Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperacusis is presented. The system uses a customizable, patient-specific, in-ear device combining sound attenuation with loudness suppression and a noise generator to expand the dynamic range of a patient. This device is used with novel software and counseling to provide a patient-specific treatment to hypersensitivity to sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: University of South Florida, The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, SoundsGood Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: David Alan Eddins, Charles Craig Formby, Stephen W. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10517339
    Abstract: A perspiration diverting headband is provided having a flexible tubing having a first and second end, an elastic band, wherein the band is disposed within the tubing, a first connector coupled to a first end of the tubing, and a second connector coupled to a second end of the tubing, wherein the first and second connector secure the elastic band and tubing, and a slidable tension fastener configured to secure the elastic band. In addition, the tubing can be flexible tubing that is cylindrical in cross-section. Further, the flexible tubing can be configured to divert perspiration fluids away from a forehead region to a temple region of a user's head. Further, the headband can be simple to use and adjust, simple to manufacture, made of light weight moisture resistant and anti-microbial material, hygienic, and can be customized and configured to any shape, color, or design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventor: David Baxter
  • Patent number: 10484805
    Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SoundMed, LLC
    Inventor: Amir A. Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 10441471
    Abstract: A push-in earplug including an elongate core and outer layer is disclosed. The outer layer includes a sound attenuating portion having a first average density and a stem portion having a second average density, and the second average density is greater than the first average density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James P. Endle, Jeffrey L. Hamer, Alan R. Seville, Kenneth F. Teeters
  • Patent number: 10441469
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of making a corded earplug, including a flexible cord material having a particular cross-section. An earplug having a nose portion for insertion into the ear and a handle portion extending from the nose portion and lying outside of the ear when the nose portion is inserted into the ear. The handle portion including at least two openings physically displaced from each other. At least one of the openings extends within the handle portion and with at least one of the openings having a cross-section different than the cross-section of the cord material. An end portion of the flexible cord material is inserted into the at least one opening extending within the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MOLDEX-METRIC, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Magidson, Crest Turdjian, Fred Ryan
  • Patent number: 10441470
    Abstract: In-ear monitors, earphones and noise-attenuating earplugs are provided with a vent to improve insertion, removal and wearing comfort, and to protect delicate audio drivers from excessive pressure excursions. The vent is fitted with a pressure-management material such as a viscoelastic open-cell foam to control the rate at which air can pass through the vent. The pressure-management material permits tuning of the vent to achieve acoustically flat attenuation of ambient sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: 1964 Ears, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Ogut, Vitaliy Y. Gordeyev
  • Patent number: 10369057
    Abstract: A wireless audio system suppresses exterior noise and directs desired sound into a user's ear canal. An audio system may include an earplug to create a seal in the interior of an ear canal. The earplug may include a ribbed exterior profile and can be flexible to create the seal. A speaker may be inserted within the earplug. A channel may extend through a body of the earplug to direct sound into a user's ear canal. A proximal opening may extend from the speaker to the channel of the earplug, and an audio wire may be connected to the speaker. The audio wire may connect to a wireless receiver, or other receiver, to allow audio data to pass through the wire and to the speaker, where it can be converted to audio that is passed directly into the ear canal of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Innate Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Knudsen, Shaun Knudsen
  • Patent number: 10325585
    Abstract: Ambient sound is converted into digital signals. A processor performs active noise cancellation and/or a transformation operation that is distinct from the active noise cancellation on the digital signals. The active noise cancellation and the transformation operation transform the digital signals into modified digital signals. The modified digital signals are converted into modified analog signals. The modified analog signals are outputted as audio waves. An interior microphone is configured to output an output signal to the processor in response to receiving the modified analog signals. In response to receiving the output signal from the interior microphone, the processor is configured to determine whether the modified digital signals produce desired audio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Baker, Anthony Parks, Sal Gregory Garcia, Thomas Ezekiel Burgess, Matthew Fumio Yamamoto, Nils Jacob Palmborg, Noah Kraft, Richard Fritz Lanman, III, Daniel C. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 10292811
    Abstract: An expansible ear canal insert for treating TMJ disorders and headaches which acts directly on the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures to reduce stress and loads placed on the articulator disc located between the temporal bone and the mandible, as well as supportive muscles and ligaments near the TMJ. The insert is adapted to expand by application of body heat. In the expanded condition, the insert provides support to the TMJ and associated ligament and muscle structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventors: William Coole, Lawrence G. Clayton
  • Patent number: 10284974
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for mitigating foreign material buildup for hearing assistance device components. The present subject matter includes a hearing assistance device transducer barrier layer configured to resist accumulation and passage of foreign materials. In various embodiments, the barrier layer includes a membrane that is coated with oleophobic and hydrophobic materials, wherein the barrier is acoustically transparent but prevents the accumulation and passage of unwanted materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Kazemzadeh, Robert Jacoby, Gerald Shamla, Brian Dobson, Richard Huynh, Wei Li Lin
  • Patent number: 10064758
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, apparatus and computer program for provision of meteorological data pertaining to a particular atmospheric condition to assist in the timing of a remedy to ameliorate involuntary physical distress caused by a change in the atmospheric condition. The remedy according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be an earplug including a body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, a bore defined within the body and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal axis of the body, and a pressure regulator positioned within the bore and providing an air flow rate of 3.4×10?6 to 7.8×10?5 cc/sec through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CIRRUS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Drew E. O'Connell, Sr., Nicholas A. Petry, Lansing M. Lewis, III, Bradley Dean
  • Patent number: 10045133
    Abstract: A device combining a variable sound attenuator with a hearing device, (such as a hearing aid or tinnitus device) that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation of environmental sound in a variable, continuous fashion or in a discrete controlled fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from the ear. The attenuator includes a housing having a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the housing and a variable control, the variable control able to control the size of the passageway through the housing and the device including a second passageway for transmitting amplified sound from the hearing device into the ear of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventors: Natan Bauman, Ralph T. Campagna
  • Patent number: 9980067
    Abstract: A hearing device contains a hearing device housing, which is insertable into an auditory canal of a person wearing the hearing device and which has a through-opening leading to the interior of the hearing device housing. The hearing device has a wax guard which is inserted into the through-opening and serves to protect against dirt, and wax, entering the hearing device housing. The guard contains a filter housing, which carries a filter element. At least one aperture is formed in a peripheral wall of the filter housing, which peripheral wall, in the correct insertion state, faces toward a peripheral wall of the hearing device housing delimiting the through-opening, and, in order to carry way and/or take up dirt, the aperture communicates with at least one hollow space arranged in the hearing device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Sivantos Pte, Ltd.
    Inventor: Theo Dorn
  • Patent number: 9924276
    Abstract: An ear tip apparatus for use with a hearing device is provided and comprises a malleable structure. The malleable structure is sized and configured for placement in an ear canal of a user. The malleable structure is deformable to allow an adjustable venting of the ear canal, thereby minimizing the occlusion effect. Methodology for adjusting a degree of venting of the ear canal is also provided, including the automatic adjustments. Adjusting the degree of venting may be done in response to one or more of detected feedback or an environmental cue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: EarLens Corporation
    Inventor: Stuart W. Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9906878
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other hone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SoundMed, LLC
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Vahid Saadat, Loc X. Phan
  • Patent number: 9900714
    Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SoundMed, LLC
    Inventor: Amir A. Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 9854342
    Abstract: An in-ear earphone featuring a housing, an audio output device carried in the housing, a hollow elongated stem formed integral with the housing and a toroidal-shaped ear dome. The stem having a first output end extending therefrom and being audibly coupled at a second input end to the output device. The ear dome integrally formed on the output end of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Chicago Custom Acoustics
    Inventors: Stavros Basseas, Russ Schreiner, Sargon Khamo, Rony Michael
  • Patent number: 9781525
    Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SoundMed, LLC
    Inventor: Amir A. Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 9769557
    Abstract: A proximity sensing headphone may include a gyroscopic sensor to determine the motion of the headphone structure and a proximity sensor to determine the movement of an external object through a three-dimensional ambient environment. A proximity sensing headphone control circuit determines the relative motion or movement between the headphone structure in the three-dimensional ambient environment and the external object in the three-dimensional ambient environment to determine at least a distance between the headphone structure and the external object and a velocity of the external object through the three-dimensional ambient environment about the headphone structure. The control circuit may provide an alert output if the determined distance between the headphone structure and the external object is less than a defined distance threshold or the velocity of the external object through the three-dimensional ambient environment about the headphone structure exceeds a defined velocity threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Suraj Sindia, Meggie Hakim, Robert F. Kwasnick
  • Patent number: 9763832
    Abstract: An earplug for blocking sound can be installed uniformly deep in a person's ear canal and can be easily withdrawn. The earplug includes a foam cylinder (12) and a string (14) extending in a loop from the rear of the cylinder, with opposite front ends (32, 34) of the string loop projecting into the body and held therein as by adhesive (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Howard S. Leight
  • Patent number: 9737439
    Abstract: A push-in earplug including an elongate core and outer layer is disclosed. The outer layer includes a sound attenuating portion having a first average density and a stem portion having a second average density, and the second average density is greater than the first average density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James P. Endle, Jeffrey L. Hamer, Alan R. Seville, Kenneth F. Teeters
  • Patent number: 9615182
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SoundMed LLC
    Inventors: Amir A. Abolfathi, Vahid Saadat, Loc X. Phan
  • Patent number: 9521495
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an acoustic seal for a CIC hearing aid has the steps of: embedding sacrificial particles of 50 ?m to 250 ?m into a silicone rubber matrix, the concentration and size of the sacrificial particles being selected to achieve a porosity of at least 40%; molding the silicone rubber matrix using a mold and curing the silicone rubber matrix; removing the sacrificial particles from the silicone rubber matrix by leaching out the sacrificial particles in a solvent; and drying the silicone rubber matrix. The seal is to surround at least part of the hearing aid and by selection of the size and/or concentration and/or the distribution of the sacrificial particles, to provide for an acoustic attenuation of at least 20 dB in a frequency range between 200 Hz and 6 kHz, with a compliance of at least 50 mm/N when the hearing aid is inserted into the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Stuart Wenzel
  • Patent number: 9521480
    Abstract: An ear attenuator headset that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation in a variable, continuous fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from a user's head. The ear attenuator headset includes a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the headset and a control element, the control element able to control the amount of sound that passes through the passageway of the ear attenuator headset. The ear attenuator can be used in headsets, headphones, and earbuds where electronic sounds are transmitted and added variable attenuation is also available for the consumer to take advantage of for reduction of the external environmental sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventors: Natan Bauman, Ralph T. Campagna
  • Patent number: 9486365
    Abstract: An earplug includes a sleeve, a resonance tube, and a tip. The sleeve has a plurality of slits, and the resonance tube is connected between the sleeve and the tip. When the sleeve is pressed to deform, the slits are opened to allow sound to enter the sleeve, and pass through the resonance tube and the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Chuan-Hsien Cheng
  • Patent number: 9414966
    Abstract: An earpad (1) to provide an interface between an earcup (4) of a headset (7), a headphone (8) or an ear defender (9). The earpad (1) comprises a contact surface (2) contacting the skin (10) of the ear (11) or ear surroundings of the user. The earpad (1) comprises one or more metal members (3, 6, 12, 13, 33) to transfer heat away from the contact surface (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GN Netcom A/S
    Inventor: Sunny Ji
  • Patent number: 9398370
    Abstract: An intra-oral appliance for transmitting sound via bone conduction and optimized for comfort, safety, speech intelligibility, eating and drinking and extended wear by the user including an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: SoundMed, LLC
    Inventor: Amir A. Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 9333116
    Abstract: A sound attenuator that allows a user to adjust the amount of attenuation in a variable, continuous fashion or in a discrete controlled fashion from zero attenuation to maximum attenuation without removing the device from the ear. The ear attenuator includes a housing having a passageway, the passageway allowing for sound to pass through the housing and a variable control, the variable control able to control the size of the passageway through the housing and the amount of attenuating material located within the passageway through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventors: Natan Bauman, Ralph T. Campagna
  • Patent number: 9265664
    Abstract: An ear plug (1) for a hearing aid is made of a resilient material and provided with an extraction cord (4) for providing a grip by which a user can pull the ear plug (1) out of an ear canal. The extraction cord (4) is arranged partly in the resilient material and partly outside the ear plug. A securing bulge (6) is arranged on the part of the extraction cord arranged in the resilient material, in order to secure the position of the extraction cord in the resilient material. The extraction cord is bonded to the resilient material. The invention further concerns a method for manufacturing the ear plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Widex A/S
    Inventors: Klaus Henrik Vaarbroe, Peter Nordland Jensen
  • Patent number: 9185481
    Abstract: An earpiece is provided containing a thermal activator layer comprised of a first polymer, the thermal activator layer being separated from the tympanic membrane of the user's ear by an air gap, and an acoustical reflector layer, containing a second polymer and pigment particles, adjacent to the thermal activator layer. The earpiece may be produced by sequential introduction of various liquefied components in layers within the ear canal, with the components being cured to provide the thermal activator layer and the acoustical reflector layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Personics Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Goldstein, John Patrick Keady, Paul Calvert
  • Patent number: 9078783
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for clearing effusion from an ear. The method may include applying liquid to an ear canal, which is proximal to a perforated tympanic membrane, which is proximal to a middle ear containing effusion, applying an ear device to seal and pressurize the liquid inside the ear canal, the ear device regulating the amount of pressure inside the ear canal, and inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open, which causes the fluid to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Morriss, Greg Liu, Rohit Girotra, Tom Thanh Vo, Richard Roy Newhauser, Jr., Thomas Jenkins, Joshua Makower
  • Publication number: 20150068539
    Abstract: A system and method for use in iontophoretic anesthesia of a tympanic membrane are disclosed. The system generally includes an earplug and an electrode device. The earplug includes at least one sealing member for sealing the earplug in an ear canal. The sealing member includes microholes which vent fluid above a certain pressure threshold. A headset may connect the earplug to a second earplug. The method involves using the system on a human or animal subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: John H. Morriss, Greg Liu, Rohit Girotra, Bernard H. Andreas, Scott J. Baron, Paul G. Hayter, Thomas R. Jenkins, Richard R. Newhauser, JR., Jeffrey A. Walker
  • Publication number: 20150059775
    Abstract: An earplug is provided to prevent the tinnitus, which comprises an earplug body and at least one tube. The earplug body is made from a soft moldable material. The tube is placed inside the earplug body surrounded by the soft moldable material, and having two openings at two ends of the tube, and a diameter of the tube is in a range from 0.03 cm to 0.15 cm. The tube is configured for communicating outside air to maintain the balance of the air pressure, and thus the earplug of the present invention is able to prevent the tinnitus of the user. Further, although the earplug of the present invention blocks most of the external sound, it still allows some thimbleful sound entering through the tube. In this way, the user does not need to worry about losing contact with the outside and remain the ability of noise reduction, so the user may feel more relieved while sleeping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Hung-Wen Hung
  • Publication number: 20150047650
    Abstract: An ear tip is disclosed that comprises an annular flange having a first end tapering downwardly to a second end and having a circular lateral cross-section. The annular flange is defined by a plurality of sections and each section has a varying wall thickness. An inner body extends internally from the first end within a hollow interior defined by the annular flange toward the second end. An acoustic channel extends through the inner body, where the annular flange at least partially occludes an ear canal from ambient noise and creates at least a partial air seal in the ear canal and the acoustic channel is configured to allow the passage of sound into the ear canal when the inner body is connected with a sound source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Klipsch Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8955519
    Abstract: An earplug insertion device can include a housing that is configured to hold a first earplug and a second earplug. The device can also include an ejection mechanism that can be configured to respond to a first user force by ejecting the first earplug from the device in a first ejection motion. The ejection mechanism can also being configured to respond to a second user force by ejecting the second earplug from the device in a second ejection motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: J3 Group, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn Matthew Johnson, John Matthew Johnson, Joshua Ingvald Kenneth Johnson