Patent ID: 6139507
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A61B,G01H

Abstract:
A system for measuring the acoustic power flow in an ear canal comprising:a signal processor;a probe terminating in a probe tip comprising a microphone and a receiver source transducer electrically connected to said signal processor;an eartip removably connectable to said probe and adapted to receive said source transducer, said eartip being made of a soft resilient material for providing an airtight seal between said probe and said ear canal, said earphone further comprising a sound delivery tube extending along its axis for relaying a periodic signal into said ear canal; anda calibration device comprising an L-shaped base and stand configuration having a circular bore, and a cylinder extending outward from said stand having a plurality of unequal length cavities which are parallel to its axis, and screw means extending the length of the cylinder axis into and through said stand for fastening said cylinder to said stand and allowing said cylinder to rotate about its axis;a probe head rest bar extending across said stand and having a partial cut out semi-circular portion aligned with said circular bore in said stand for receiving and securing said probe within said circular bore,whereinsaid probe is inserted into said ear canal and a periodic signal is introduced into said ear canal via said transducer for measuring and relaying said ear canal's frequency response to said signal processor, said probe is then inserted into each calibration cavity and a periodic signal is introduced into each said calibration cavity for measuring and relaying each said calibration cavity's frequency response to said signal processor where said signal processor calculates the acoustic power flow of said ear canal utilizing said measured ear canal frequency response and said calibration cavity frequency responses.