Abstract: The present invention provides a sound attenuation system that includes a base having a first portion on an emitter end of the base and a second portion on a receiver end of the base, wherein the first portion has a first longitudinal axis, wherein the second portion has a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the first longitudinal axis is at a first angle to the second longitudinal axis; an adapter having a first end and a second end; a sound-attenuation plug, wherein the first end of the adapter is configured to couple to the sound-attenuation plug, and wherein the second end of the adapter is configured to couple to the first portion of the base; and a receiver-end component configured to insert into the second portion of the base.

Abstract: Conformable sealing eartips having ribs formed on an interior surface of one or more eartip flanges are provided. The eartip may include a body and one or more flanges. The body may include an ear insertion end, an earphone insertion end opposite the ear insertion end, and a central opening extending between the ear insertion end and the earphone insertion end to form an inner sound channel through the body. The one or more flanges may extend from the body and may include an outer sealing surface and an inner surface. At least one of the one or more flanges may include a plurality of ribs protruding from the inner surface of the at least one of the one or more flanges.

Abstract: A sound channel with a valve positioned in a sound channel, the valve based on an electro-magnetic positioned in a housing positioned in the sound channel without sound travelling through the housing. The valve may be used in hearing devices.

Abstract: A personal listening device including at least one direct-radiating balanced-armature audio transducer and at least one substantially enclosed, indirect-radiating, or tube-coupled balanced-armature transducer. The tube-connected transducer emits sound waves which pass through a hole, slot, tube or bore before entering an airspace near the eardrum of a user, while the direct-radiating transducer emits sound waves directly into the airspace adjacent the indirect-radiating transducer or tube, which airspace is contiguous with the airspace near the eardrum of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receiver assembly comprising a membrane structure comprising a frame portion and a moveable diaphragm, an assembly housing, and an acoustical venting opening connecting an interior volume of the receiver assembly to an exterior volume outside assembly housing, the acoustical venting opening forming an acoustical passage at least through the membrane structure.

Abstract: Provided is an acoustic transducer which is used by being fitted into an ear of a listener, is formed in a compact and lightweight shape, and preferably prevents re-reflection of a sound wave. An acoustic transducer 100 is formed of a film-shaped material having an expanding and contracting action and includes a cylindrical acoustic transducing element 101. The cylindrical acoustic transducing element 101 also functions as a sound guide tube. The acoustic transducing element 101 prevents re-reflection of the sound wave reflected by an eardrum when the sound wave has been generated and prevents localization phenomenon and a feeling of pressure in auditory sense.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an electret film that contains silicon oxide; and a protective film formed over the electret film and constituted of aluminum oxide deposited through an atomic layer deposition method.

Abstract: An acoustical device includes a housing operative to be placed proximate to an ear of a wearer and a front volume partially defined by the housing. A controlled leakage path is disposed to acoustically and selectively couple the front volume of the housing with an exterior of the device.

Abstract: An earphone device includes a housing having a driver unit, and a sound guide tube mounted on a front surface of the housing to protrude from the front surface, in which the sound guide tube is disposed at a position deviated from a center position of the housing.

Abstract: A concha-fit electronic hearing protection device including an eartip and an earpiece body. When the device is fitted in the ear of a user, the eartip externally occludes the ear canal and the earpiece body internally occludes the eartip.

Abstract: An acoustic system includes a conduit, a microphone coupled to an end of the conduit, and a rigid moisture resistant barrier coupled to another end of the conduit to prevent moisture from traversing the length of the conduit towards the receiver. The moisture resistant barrier dampens an audio signal traversing the conduit. The moisture resistant barrier has a submersion rating at least equal to a 7 Ingress Protection rating.

Abstract: An electronic audio device including an enclosure having an acoustic output opening and a speaker positioned within the enclosure. The speaker and the acoustic output opening are acoustically coupled by an acoustic output pathway. The acoustic output pathway includes a damping chamber to dampen a resonance frequency of the acoustic output pathway. The speaker is between the damping chamber and the acoustic output opening.

Abstract: A canalphone system may include a high frequency sound bore carried within a canalphone. The system may also include a low frequency sound bore adjacent to the high frequency sound bore to form a single unit, the low frequency sound bore and the high frequency sound bore being sized so that the low frequency sound bore and the high frequency sound bore each deliver sound with similar time and phase. The system may further include a high acoustical driver carried within the canalphone where the high acoustical driver delivers sound through the high frequency sound bore. The system may additionally include a low acoustical driver carried within the canalphone where the low acoustical driver delivers sound through the low frequency sound bore.

Abstract: An earplug which conforms to the concha of the ear and extends into the ear canal. The construction consists of a flexible outer skin with at least one filler material, preferably two or more materials of varying hardness, to form an essentially solid structure except for sound channels, or electronics packages, or other devices, parts and cavities that may be located within the flexible skin. The flexible skin can be fabricated using a rapid-prototyping printing process.

Abstract: A transducer system is disclosed for detecting actual or simulated body sounds. An audio signal generation and detection system is disclosed for the purposes of simulating the medical examination of a patient or simulating the listening of sounds seeming to emanate from a live or inanimate body. A signal generator sets up a voltage potential at an electrode physically attached to the body, or electrically connected to a body, thereby setting up a voltage potential on a surface area of the body. An electric field potential sensor or a capacitive electrical sensor placed in proximity to the electrode or body surface then detects the voltage potential. The signals produced by the signal generator can represent heart, lung, bowel or other sounds and the electrical sensor can take the physical form of a listening device such as a stethoscope, thereby creating a simulation of listening to body sounds for medical diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: An earphone device integrated with a microphone has a main body, a microphone unit and a speaker unit. The microphone unit has a sound-absorbing film and a circuit unit, the sound-absorbing film being a hollow column and being connected to the main body through a rear end thereof, and the circuit unit being fixed on the main body and electrically connected to the sound-absorbing film. The speaker unit is mounted inside the sound-absorbing film of the microphone unit such that the microphone unit is located peripheral to the speaker unit. A microphone and an earphone can thus be integrated together as a whole so as to form an earphone device that can be used conveniently.

Abstract: In well-known electronic stethoscopic transducers the sensitive element is influenced by signals transmitted via the skin, and the rear side is enclosed in a housing to prevent airborne noise from reaching the sensitive element. According to the invention, an improved signal-to-noise ratio is obtained by letting the transducer be a piezoelectric transflexural diaphragm in contact with the skin, the rear side of the diaphragm communicating with the surrounding air via an acoustical network, thereby receiving airborne noise which acts to counteract the influence of noise coming from the skin.

Abstract: An active stethoscope or other sound detection device, including a diaphragm, at least one floating mass mounted to the diaphragm (at at least one coupling point of the diaphragm), and an acoustic transducer mounted to the floating mass. Preferably, each floating mass is configured and mounted so that as each floating mass and each coupling point of the diaphragm move in sympathy with acoustic waves (to be detected) that impinge on the diaphragm, the acoustic transducer rides with and is stabilized by the floating mass to which it is mounted and the diaphragm is stabilized by each floating mass. The acoustic transducer can be of any of many different types. For example, it can be a microphone, or an optical, capacitive, or inductive transducer. The diaphragm can have an isolating portion which absorbs acoustic surface wave energy incident thereon, or otherwise prevents or reduces transmission of acoustic surface waves through the isolating portion between regions of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hearing device including providing a hearing aid housing having an opening, providing an electric/acoustic transducer, providing a support plate forming a blind hole having a membrane as a base, inserting the transducer into the blind hole, bringing the housing and support plate together such that a portion of the transducer enters through the opening in the housing, bonding the housing to the support plate, and trimming excess portion of the support plate.

Abstract: An in-the-ear hearing aid having an electric/acoustic transducer system and a freely vibrating membrane in acoustic communication with the hearing aid transducer and the hearing aid surroundings. The membrane seals the hearing aid from its surroundings to aid in protecting the hearing aid from dirt and debris.

Abstract: A quick-updating stethoscope receiver comprises a receiver, a listening disk at a lower end of the receiver, the listening disk can be embedded into a lower end of the receiver; an upper cover at a top end of the receiver; and a transducer combining at a lateral wall of the receiver and a connector at a rear end of the transducer. A lower end of the receiver has an axial extended shaft. The shaft is formed with an annular trench. An elastic tightening ring is embedded into the trench. A diameter of a cross section of the tightening ring is larger than a depth of the trench so that part of the tightening ring protrudes out of the trench. A center of the round disk has an opening. By the elastic expanding force of the tightening ring, the round disk is tightly engaged to the shaft so that the round disk can not drop out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing selective acoustic signal filtering. The apparatus comprises two acoustic ports, an electrical output port and an acoustic signal processing device, where all three ports have an impedance characteristic. The acoustic signal processing device includes a diaphragm which will manifest vibration in response to an admitted input acoustic signal and generates an output acoustic signal. The signal processing device is characterized by a frequency response such that the spectrum level of the output acoustic signal will have predetermined differences with respect to the input acoustic signal. The frequency response characteristic of the signal processing device may be set and adjusted by the manipulation of the impedance characteristics of either the acoustic output load or the electrical output load.

Abstract: The diaphragm assembly includes a diaphragm adhesively attached to a rim. The rim has a C-shaped cross section with the C-shape facing inward and a membrane extending radially inward from one of the radial portions of the C-shaped portion. The diaphragm is attached to the membrane. The thickness of the membrane is about two tenths of the thickness of the section of the C-shaped portion. The groove formed by the C-shape engages a rib on a stethoscope chest piece to install the diaphragm assembly.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer for a sound reproducing system includes an electro-acoustic transducer in a cabinet and a sound guide tube for conducting the sound from the transducer unit out of the cabinet. The sound guide tube has a sound radiating end with a smaller diameter than the external acoustic meatus to allow the sound radiating end to be inserted into the external auditory meatus.

Abstract: A modular auscultation sensor and telemetry system ("MASTS") for sensing body sounds of a patient in a noisy environment where both desired body sounds and undesirable noise may be detected. The MASTS includes a transducer head that comprises two sensors that are substantially acoustically and mechanically isolated from each other. The first sensor is positioned to sense body sounds of a patient when the transducer head is placed against a patient's skin, and the second sensor is positioned to sense primarily noise, if any. The sound signals are transmitted to a digital signal processor carried in a waist-pack or similar container. The digital signal processor processes the sound signals using an adaptive filter scheme to produce an output signal that is indicative of primarily of the body sounds emanating from the patient.

Abstract: An immersion-resistant housing adapted to receive a vibratable diaphragm spanning the interior of the housing to divide the housing into first and second chambers includes a first port communicating between the first chamber and the exterior environment. The first port is configured as a tubulation. A second port communicates between the second chamber and the external environment. The tubulation has sufficiently small diameter that water entering therein moves essentially as a piston without breakup. The tubulation is configured to have a volume at least equal to that of the first chamber, and a hydrostatic head of about 32 feet of water is necessary before water can be forced into the first chamber. In the preferred embodiment the diaphragm completely seals the housing against direct communication between the two chambers.

Abstract: An earplug uses damping to render unimportant a Helmholtz resonance between the acoustic mass intrinsic to a sound channel thereof and the compliance of air in the earcanal, in combination with a readily manufacturable external structure coupled to the sound channel to increase response characteristics at higher frequencies in a predictable and well controlled manner in order to provide a highly desireable uniform frequency response.

Abstract: An earmold and a method of manufacturing an earmold for a hearing aid that conveys amplified sound from the hearing aid into the ear canal to a closed cavity adjacent the tympanic membrane. The earmold includes an acoustic conduction tube having an external diameter smaller than the ear canal and a flexible flanged tip that exerts negligible pressure on the wall of the canal. One end of the tube is held in place in the canal by the flanged tip. The opposite end of the tube may be positioned in the ear aperture by a fitting in the ear concha that may be integral with the tube. The hearing aid and the earmold leave the canal open preferably to a point past the canal isthmus.

Abstract: A sound reproducing apparatus is provided formed of an acoustic tube having first and second opposite ends, and having substantially a same inside diameter as that of an external acoustic meatus of the user who is wearing the sound reproducing apparatus. A loudspeaker unit is mounted to the acoustic tube intermediate the first and second ends such that a sound radiating surface thereof is directed to one side of the acoustic tube. The acoustic tube has at its first end an auricular attachment which is received at the external acoustic meatus. A second end is formed as a non-sound-reflecting end. The sound reproducing apparatus may also be adapted to have two loudspeaker units mounted to one or more acoustic tubes, respectively, and two auricular attachment sections may be provided, one for each ear. Left and right channel acoustical signals may be respectively input to the respective first and second loudspeaker units for stereo operation.

Abstract: A stethoscope head adapter for a diaphragm microphone is provided. The adapter creates a smaller surface area for the diaphragm microphone without diminishing the acoustical reception by the diaphragm of normal or pathological conditions in a patient. The adapter is made from an elastomeric material to permit easy placement on the stethoscope head and to provide an effective acoustical seal against the uneven surface of the skin of a patient. A secondary diaphragm may also be provided in the adapter to focus the reception by the diaphragm microphone of the specific frequencies desired to be monitored. With the adapter on the stethoscope head, the intensities of sound at frequencies not desired to be monitored are attenuated when compared with the use of the stethoscope head without the adapter present.

Abstract: An earplug uses damping to render unimportant a Helmholtz resonance between the acoustic mass intrinsic to a sound channel thereof and the compliance of air in the earcanal unimportant, in combination with an external structure coupled to the sound channel to increase response characteristics at higher frequencies in a predictable and well controlled manner in order to provide a highly desireable uniform frequency response.

Abstract: An ear pad for earphones comprises a foam-like material formed into a pad enclosing the user's ear in use in order to expand the essentially linear frequency response of a good earphone so that it brings also the lowest still audible frequencies into the linear region, and simultaneously with the expansion of the transmission range of the earphone, to make the reproduction of stereophonic acoustic events more natural. The ear pad is advantageously shaped and made of open-cell elastic foam material having on its inner and/or its outer side or in its interior so as to be disposed in the sound path from the coupling space outward, at least one passive membrane supported for vibration and having a natural resonance which lies in the range of the lower frequencies.

Abstract: A sound attenuation device is disclosed which is capable of simultaneously attenuating sound waves of both high and low frequencies bands while leaving other frequencies undisturbed. The device is comprised of an outer shell having inlet and outlet apertures at its opposite ends and containing a pair of sound absorbing plates having a pair of thin sheets of a fabric of substantial air permeability and elasticity disposed therebetween and forming an air chamber between the sheets.

Abstract: A lightweight adjustable headset is disclosed for use with telephones. The headset includes a housing having a microphone boom mounted in a manner to permit rotational and translational movement. A support member is provided for affixing the headset to the wearer. In one embodiment of the subject invention, which includes a wire headband for support, a cushion is affixed to the housing and is adapted to rest against the ear of the wearer. The cushion is configured such that it functions as a load bearing support and as a pivot point to permit the adjustment of the position of the headset relative to the user's head. In addition, the cushion functions to reduce the likelihood of infections and for dissipating sound surges. In an alternate embodiment of the subject invention, the support member includes a clip to permit the mounting of the headset to the frame of the pair of eyeglasses. The subject clip is capable of gripping temples of various thicknesses.