Patent · US Expired

Expandable in-ear device

US6754357B2 · kind B2 · utility

33Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 2003
Grant dateJun 22, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04R25/659
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An expandable in-ear device being implantable within an ear canal of an individual and being customizable in-situ to the shape of the ear canal, and cavum concha, using a settable compound. The device includes a core-form with a nipple extending from a platform, the nipple and the platform being insertable into the ear canal and the cavum concha, respectively. A sound bore extends through the nipple from a position located outside the ear canal to a position located inside for allowing sound transmission therethrough. A deformable sheath attached integrally to the core-form is deformable between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. In the unfolded configuration, the sheath extends generally away from the core-form. The sheath is foldable inside-out from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration wherein the sheet substantially covers the core-form while defining a spacing between the sheath and the core-form, the spacing being fillable by the settable compound.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.