DE29800758U1 - Ear probe for audiometric devices - Google Patents

Description

Description

Applicant

Hortmann AG Neuro-Otometry, Robert-Bosch-Str. 6, 72654 Neckartenzlingen

Designation

Ear probe for audiometric devices

Summary

Ear probe for audiometric devices, consisting of a body that can contain, for example, the acoustic transducer and other electronic and acoustic components, as well as a tip made up of several open passages separated by bridges, which are only closed off into separate passages by putting on a preferably elastic cap. Since, unlike conventional probes for sound conduction, no closed tubes are used, the diameter of the probe in the front part can be smaller and therefore better suited to small ear canals. In addition, the open passages are easy to clean.

Description

State of the art

Various audiometric examination procedures require ear probes with which acoustic signals can be introduced into the ear canal and, if necessary, the resulting sound pressure can be recorded again via a microphone.

For example, in tympanometry, an acoustic signal, usually a pure tone, is introduced into the ear canal via an electroacoustic transducer and the sound pressure resulting from the impressed sound flow is measured with another electroacoustic transducer (microphone). During this measurement, the static pressure in the closed ear canal volume is changed and the resulting change in impedance is measured and displayed.

When measuring the so-called otoacoustic emissions (patent no. EPOO15258), short sound signals are generated by an electroacoustic transducer in the closed ear canal and then other acoustic events, which are interpreted as an expression of activity in the inner ear, are registered by another electroacoustic transducer.

The measurement of distortion products of otoacoustic emissions works in a similar way. Here, two pure tones are usually fed into the closed external auditory canal via electroacoustic transducers, and an acoustic signal of a different frequency, which is also considered an expression of inner ear activity, can be registered in the ear canal with another electroacoustic transducer.

All of these procedures use an ear probe that either contains the miniaturized electroacoustic transducers or contains acoustic ducts (tubes or hoses) through which sound is conducted from the transducers mounted outside the probe into the ear canal or sound is conducted from the ear canal to the transducers.

Utility model application "Ear probe for audiometric devices": Description ♦ 07.01.98 ♦ Description.doc ♦ 1 of 2

To dampen external noise or to build up static pressure in the ear canal, the ear canal must be sealed off from the outside. To adapt to different anatomical conditions, a ring made of elastic or soft material is usually placed on the tip of the ear probe, which, when the tip of the ear probe is inserted into the ear canal, seals it off from the outside world in a sound-insulating or airtight manner.

The disadvantage of all these solutions is that the ear probe tip, which consists of several tubes, and the elastic or soft attachment together can have a diameter that makes it impossible to use in very small ear canals, e.g. in babies. For example, for a widely used device for measuring otoacoustic emissions and distortion products, the infant probe can only measure otoacoustic emissions that are possible with two tubes for the stimulus sound generator and microphone. The measurement of distortion products, which requires three tubes for two stimulus sound generators and a microphone, is not possible due to space constraints.

Another problem with existing probes based on sound-conducting tubes is that these tubes can easily become clogged with cerumen or other contaminants, thus impairing their function. This is why detachable probes are available, where the front parts of the probe can be removed and cleaned separately. However, due to the high level of miniaturization, dismantling the probe is not an easy task for the user. In addition, the manufacturing effort for such a multi-part probe is higher than for simple, one-part models.

Advantages of the invention

Due to the mechanical arrangement described below, the sound-conducting passages in an ear probe according to the invention have smaller wall thicknesses, so that a probe with more than two sound-conducting passages can be realized in such a way that it can also be used in very small ear canals.

Furthermore, the mechanical arrangement described below in an ear probe according to the invention makes it significantly easier to clean the sound-conducting ducts of cerumen and other contaminants without the probe body having to be constructed in several parts and in a dismantled manner.

Preferred design

In the preferred design, the ear probe consists of a closed rear part or body (A), which contains the electroacoustic transducers (D) or leads to them, and an open front part or tip (B), which is divided into several compartments by bars (C). Only by attaching an elastic or soft ring are these compartments supplemented to form closed tubes, which only have one opening each at the front end, i.e. towards the eardrum, and at the rear end, i.e. towards the probe body and the transducers.

Utility model application "Ear probe for audiometric devices": Description ♦ 07.01.98 ♦ Description.doc ♦ 2 of 2

Claims (13)

Claims Applicant Hortmann AG Neuro-Otometrie, Robert-Bosch-Str. 6, 72654 Neckartenzlingen Description Ear probe for audiometric devices Claims 1. Device for carrying out audiometric measurements, which enables the emission of sound into the ear canal and optionally the measurement of sound in the ear canal by means of electroacoustic transducers, characterized in that the device has open passages in the front part, separated by webs, which are only completed into closed passages by adding an additional cover, which only have one opening each at the front end, i.e. towards the eardrum, and at the rear end, i.e. towards the probe body and the transducers. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover, which is plugged or screwed onto the ear probe, consists of hard material and must be supplemented by an additional elastic or soft ring in order to achieve the sealing of the ear canal with different ear canal diameters. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover, which is plugged or screwed onto the ear probe, consists of elastic or soft material and does not have to be supplemented by an additional elastic or soft ring in order to achieve the sealing of the ear canal with different ear canal diameters. 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the probe body contains electroacoustic transducers which are directly coupled to the rear end of the above-described passages 5. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the probe body is connected to electroacoustic transducers located outside the probe in such a way that the coupling to the rear end of the above-described passages is effected via flexible or rigid tubes. 6. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that an opening is provided for the connection to the outside (towards the eardrum). 7. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that several openings are provided for the connection to the outside (towards the eardrum). 8. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that an opening is provided for the connection to the inside (towards the electroacoustic transducers). Utility model application "Ear probe for audiometric devices": Claims ♦ 07.01.98 ♦ Claims.doc ♦ 1 of 2 9. Device according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that several openings are provided for the connection to the inside (towards the electroacoustic transducers). 10. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the passages for sound transmission between the transducers and the probe tip are of circular cross-section. 11. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the passages for sound propagation between transducers and probe tip are not of circular cross-section in order to prevent the formation of standing waves and strong resonances. 12. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the passages for sound transmission between transducers and probe tip have a constant cross-sectional area over their entire length. 13. Device according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the passages for sound transmission between transducers and probe tip do not have a uniform cross-sectional area over their entire length in order to prevent the formation of standing waves and strong resonances. Utility model application "Ear probe for audiometric devices": Claims ♦ 07.01.98 ♦ Claims.doc ♦ 2 of 2